Hyatt Changes More Generous Than I Thought: Unlimited Guest Of Honor Remains In 2024

Park Hyatt New York Proves Why Hotel Loyalty Makes Sense
Dec 05 2023

Hyatt is making major changes to its Guest of Honor benefit, making them transferable certificates earned as Milestone Rewards and valid both on points and paid stays – replacing the unlimited points-only benefit that exists today. However in addition to starting out top tier members with 5 transferable certificates next year, it turns out the unlimited benefit is also available through February 2025.

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Tech Billionaire Builds “Office In The Sky” On American Airlines Flight, And I’m Here For It

Dec 05 2023

Indian tech billionaire Bhavin Turakhia choose American Airlines first class because of its “swivel seat” on the Boeing 777-300ER for long haul. That lets him set up his “rig” for working inflight with “laptop stand…keyboard, mouse, screen, power bank.” American Airlines endorsed the setup.

He brings a second computer screen, attaching to his laptop magnetically and connected via USB. Turakhia says it takes him just 30 seconds to get his inflight office set up and he claims a benefit of a 40% producitivty boost on a long haul flight. With this aircraft and seat he doesn’t even need to dismantle the electronic office for meals.

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The Ups and Downs of Marriott’s Elite Ambassador Program: A Tale of Service, Layoffs, and Revival

Dec 04 2023

Marriott has the most exclusive top elite tier with published earning criteria. The Ambassador level requires not just 100 nights in hotels but also a minimum of $23,000 in spend, nearly impossible to achieve in many parts of the world with low hotel rates.

Yet for three years the Ambassador level didn’t even come with Ambassador service. Marriott eliminated dedicated Ambassadors during the pandemic, even while Hyatt (which offers concierges at just 60 nights without minimum spend) kept theirs.

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Luxury Larceny: How 5-Star Hotel Guests Are Stealing More Than Just Towels

Dec 04 2023

A new study shows that guests at 5-star hotels are more likely to steal high-value items like tablet computers, artwork, TVs, and mattresses, reflecting a trend among wealthier guests. There’s been an increase in the theft of more valuable items since 2019, including coffee makers, mattresses, and tablet computers. Mini fridges are now commonly stolen from 4-star hotels.

The survey categorizes theft behavior in hotels by nationality.

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