Hotels

Category Archives for Hotels.

How The King Of Thailand Is Self-Quarantining (He Isn’t Even In Thailand)

by Gary Leff on March 28, 2020

Starwood's Business Card is Better than the Personal American Express Card

Mar 28 2020

Thailand was the first country outside of China with a confirmed COVID-19 patient. It’s generally considered to have done well containing the virus, currently reporting just 1245 total cases, though I’m skeptical of testing and reporting at least outside of Bangkok.

The King of Thailand also must be skeptical, because he’s quarantined himself in Germany where there are over 56,000 cases. King Maha Vajiralongkorn has rented out the entire Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl to isolate himself “with his harem of 20 women and his servants.”

Hilton Offers 90 Days Of Free Gold Status, Fast Track To Keep Gold Or Diamond

by Gary Leff on March 28, 2020

Mar 28 2020

Hilton has offered status matches and fast tracks to elite for years. They’ve just extended their latest offer. Hilton will give you 90 days of Gold status which largely means free breakfast or lounge access and avoiding the bad rooms at the hotel.

This Is What Happens When A Travel Brand Can’t Get Out Of Their Ad Budget

by Gary Leff on March 28, 2020

Mar 28 2020

Between March 11 – 22 Hotels.com “spent nearly $3 million on TV ads, with the majority on reality TV and movies.” You don’t have to be Captain Obvious to realize that’s a lower-return investment than a drive through strip club or bottled watered for pets.

Marriott Lays Off Ambassador Customer Service Staff

by Gary Leff on March 27, 2020

Mar 27 2020

Marriott has laid off several members of their Ambassador customer service team, and will no longer provided dedicated agents to their best customers until “returning to business as usual.” Instead, Marriott tells me, the remaining group of their best customer service agents will be “dedicated to Ambassador Elites.”

Data Shows Just How Empty And Cheap Hotels Are Right Now

by Gary Leff on March 26, 2020

Mar 26 2020

For the week ending March 21, U.S. hotel occupancy fell to its lowest level ever recorded. Occupancy fell by 56% and average room rates fell 30%. Group (event) occupancy was down to 1%. And occupancy rates are likely even lower right now – we’ll just have to wait about a week to learn just how low.

What’s Happening To Expiring Hyatt Free Night Certificates?

by Gary Leff on March 26, 2020

Mar 26 2020

I’ve had several readers ask about expiring Hyatt free nights. They’re offering reservation cancellation flexibility, postponing peak season award pricing and hotel category changes and have paused expiration of points through May 31.

Like many other programs they haven’t said anything about elite status for the year yet. And they haven’t spoken to free nights – I have one myself expiring April 2. Here’s what I learned.

Hilton Extends Everyone’s Status and Freezes Points Expiration

by Gary Leff on March 25, 2020

Mar 25 2020

Hilton has come out with new accommodations for prepaid reservations, points expiration, free weekend night certificates and elite status. With customers largely not staying at hotels, Hilton is going to hang onto elites, extending everyone’s status. They’re extending the validity of everyone’s points and any credit card free weekend night certificates. And they’re extending flexible cancellation of prepaid hotel bookings by two months through the end of June.

Marriott Furloughing Majority Of Corporate Staff

by Gary Leff on March 22, 2020

Mar 22 2020

After furloughing tens of thousands of hotel employees Marriott is set to furlough two thirds of its corporate staff both from among its 4000 employees at corporate headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland and abroad.

Data: How Badly Are Hotels Hurting So Far?

by Gary Leff on March 19, 2020

Mar 19 2020

For the week of March 8 – 14, hotel data on occupancy and room rates is now available. In the U.S. revenue per available room was down a whopping 32.5% year-over-year. Since occupancy was ‘only’ down 24.4% by then, we can confidently state that things are worse this week, and will gett worse still.

Chinese Marriotts and Hiltons Not Accepting American Guests

by Gary Leff on March 19, 2020

Mar 19 2020

As China recovers from COVID-19, and hopes to stave off a second wave of infections, they’re testing people entering the country. Even with a low volume of international flights that’s led to long delays and frustrations entering the country. As a result there’s a strong fear of foreigners.

Hotels

How The King Of Thailand Is Self-Quarantining (He Isn’t Even In Thailand)

Hilton Offers 90 Days Of Free Gold Status, Fast Track To Keep Gold Or Diamond

This Is What Happens When A Travel Brand Can’t Get Out Of Their Ad Budget

Marriott Lays Off Ambassador Customer Service Staff

Data Shows Just How Empty And Cheap Hotels Are Right Now

What’s Happening To Expiring Hyatt Free Night Certificates?

Hilton Extends Everyone’s Status and Freezes Points Expiration

Marriott Furloughing Majority Of Corporate Staff

Data: How Badly Are Hotels Hurting So Far?

Chinese Marriotts and Hiltons Not Accepting American Guests

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About Gary Leff

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