Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

Marriott Has A Gap Between Promises And Reality, And The Gap Is Growing

by Gary Leff on January 5, 2021

Jan 05 2021

Before the pandemic there was no greater loyalty program with a gap between what it promised and what it delivered than Marriott Bonvoy. On paper it took the best features of Starwood Preferred Guest with the scale of properties of Marriott and merged them together. And yet the program has simply failed to deliver elite benefits consistently at the property level.

The irony of course is that before acquiring Starwood, Marriott Rewards wasn’t very generous with elites but they were consistent. The Marriott brand across the board was consistency. Now they’re the Forrest Gump of loyalty: you never know what you’re going to get until check-in. This have only gotten worse.

Why Marriott Suite Night Awards Don’t Clear

by Gary Leff on January 4, 2021

Jan 04 2021

Just because a room is available for sale doesn’t mean a member requesting a Suite Night Award will be upgraded to it if Marriott forecasts that the room will be sold.

A room can be available 24 hours prior to check-in, but Marriott’s systems will still hold back the inventory to possibly sell to someone rather than upgrade the member into that room.

4.3 Million Marriott Points Per Night At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives (Not A Mistake)

by Gary Leff on January 3, 2021

Jan 03 2021

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives presidential suite runs 4.3 million Marriott points per night, though standard villas are better value. Some hotels offer premium room redemptions for more points, but those are generally going to give you about half a cent per point.

Hotel Guests Jump From Rooftop Bar At The Grand Hyatt Nashville, Speed Off In A Car Across The Street

by Gary Leff on January 3, 2021

Jan 03 2021

Two hotel guests BASE jumped off the 25th floor rooftop bar at the Grand Hyatt Nashville on Friday evening as other patrons caught the scene on video.

The jumpers parachuted “across the road and landed in an adjacent parking lot.” They then got into a car that was parked in the lot and headed off. They’re now banned from the hotel, and remain at -large according to a police report.

When You Ask A Hotel To Ship Something For You, They Might Look Inside The Package

by Gary Leff on December 29, 2020

Dec 29 2020

The problem with living outside the law is you lose its protection. And the more people who are involved in your activities, the greater the risk of getting caught. Asking hotel employees to assist in crimes may seem logical, it is supposed to be a service industry after all. And what happens in Vegas doesn’t truly stay there – that level of discretion is a myth. At least unless you tip really well.

Hilton’s First Promotion Of 2021 Is Out, Register Now

by Gary Leff on December 28, 2020

Dec 28 2020

Hilton has announced its promotion for the first part of 2021. Registration required and you should register now just in case you have a Hilton stay between January 1 and May 2, 2021 because you won’t remember to do so later.

Why French Polynesia Hotels So Often Disappoint

by Gary Leff on December 26, 2020

Dec 26 2020

A correspondent shares his recent experience with an overwater bungalow at the Hilton Moorea. He found “the grounds are lovely, the staff was very nice, the breakfast excellent” (though service not proactive). However this was overshadowed by problems with his room and with the hotel’s service, truly creating a ‘stay from hell’.

I’m Just Back From An Airbnb And I Have Thoughts

by Gary Leff on December 23, 2020

Dec 23 2020

Overall it was exactly the stay I was looking for, and Airbnb was the right option for booking something in this location where there aren’t nice chain resorts where I could spend points and where other homesharing sites lacked the same beachfront inventory at the price for a similar home.

At the same time the Airbnb experience left me frustrated in many ways.

7 Ways Hotel Stays Will Change After The Pandemic

by Gary Leff on December 20, 2020

Dec 20 2020

Hotels have gone through a deeper recession than any current executive or property owner has ever experienced. Many properties have closed, some will change hands. And costs have been cut wherever possible.

Guest expectations have changed too – around service and cleanliness – while there’s never been more of a need to compete for a limited amount of business, something that will remain true even as the pandemic comes to a close. Here are 7 things to expect for hotel stays going forward.

How On Earth Are Hotel Stocks Doing Well, When Hotels Are Doing So Badly?