Best Western Rewards - BW Now Offering Water and Snack or Points at Checkin

Yesterday at check-in at the Best Western St. Jacobs in Waterloo, Ontario I was offered my choice of a bottle of water and a bag of chips or extra points. They said it was a new practice. Is this happening at other properties?

...Is this happening at other properties?

Yes. It's a new benefit for Platinum and Diamond Elites, effective 7/1/10.

I have not experienced this and I have stayed at 2 different properties this month. I am Diamond, is this benefit documented someplace? Like to at least receive the extra points if this is available.

...is this benefit documented someplace?...

It's not on the website, as it should be.

Btw, it's water and snack, or 250 BW points.

You have to be proactive to get the points at check-in, as there is no way to enter your choice of water/snack or points in your BW profile.

It's not on the website, as it should be.

Btw, it's water and snack, or 250 BW points.

You have to be proactive to get the points at check-in, as there is no way to enter your choice of water/snack or points in your BW profile.

Kohoutek --

Only applies to US/Canada properties?

Seems strange that Best Western would add benefits to the Elite program and not tell anyone. I wonder if just this one property is offering this on their own.

Only applies to US/Canada properties?

For now, yes.

...I wonder if just this one property is offering this on their own.

All U.S./Canada properties are required to provide this benefit. I received it on my July stays. I even received the gift on a 6/30 check-in.

If this is true, then I am owed some back points as I was never offered anything.

If this is true, then I am owed some back points as I was never offered anything.

Yes, it is true. :rolleyes: :D

If you call CS, they'll give you some courtesy points.

I contacted Best Western Rewards and they confirmed this benefit and credited the bonus points to my account. They are not sure why marketing has not advertised this new benefit.

Thanks, Kohoutek!

are all properties offering this? The only BW I stay at always gives you two bottles of water a day anyway when they clean the room, but the points would be nice.

are all properties offering this?...

No. The details are buried within this thread. ;)

No. The details are buried within this thread. ;)

Then I am owed some back points:) I wish BW would publish this benefit on thier site. I guess they are trying to do a cheap imitation of Hiltons my way.

I have not been offered anything, they said since I booked thru' expendia, I wouldn't get anything. Not upgrade even
I'm diamond.

I have not been offered anything, they said since I booked thru' expendia, I wouldn't get anything. Not upgrade even
I'm diamond.

Who be they? A particular hotel, all hotels, or Best Western?

Since you're not earning either miles or points, and not paying a qualifying rate, I s'pose it makes some sense to not give you the water and snack gift.

I'm guessing your Diamond status is from a status match. I could understand why you might not be upgraded (if rooms are available) with the rates you're paying.

I have not been offered anything, they said since I booked thru' expendia, I wouldn't get anything. Not upgrade even
I'm diamond.

Well being treated as a diamond at BW is MUCH different than being treated as a diamond at Hilton or Hyatt. I was told flat out at the only BW in the US I stay at regularly that my status didn't matter really there. If they had an upgrade I would get it as often as I stay there regardless of if I was diamond or no status at all. the only real benefit to being diamond, for US properties at least is the extra points if you don't go for airline miles instead.

If you book on expedia it might not be eligible for BW benefits. I am not sure about expedia, but I know if you use priceline or hotwire for Hilton you don't get the dimaond benefits or points.

Kahoutek,

Perhaps you can enlighten.

I read the T&C on earning points, etc. , and it explicitly states that Expedia rates don't qualify for credit, yada, yada, yada.

However, it is silent on the other 3rd party booking sites, such as Orbitz, Travelocity, Cheaptickets, Hotels.com, etc.

Does one earn points on stays booked at those sites?

Thanks,

NJ

...other 3rd party booking sites, such as Orbitz, Travelocity, Cheaptickets, Hotels.com, etc.

Does one earn points on stays booked at those sites?

from Best Western Rewards® Questions and Answers:
Q: What are qualifying rates?
A: All rates qualify for except for the following: --Leisure Club (LC), House Plan (HP), Employee/Member (E), European Employee (EE), Preferred Net (DI/D2), Priceline (PL/PN), Travelocity Promotional (D3), Orbitz Promotional (44), Expedia (FIT), Net/FIT (FI), Travel Agent Discount (TA), Tours (Group Tour Operator), Group (OF/OG), Crew and Deeply Discounted Extended Stay and Hotel Negotiated (greater than 20 percent discount), GCCI (FX), Dynamic Net Tour (X2), Dynamic Vacation Packages (WB), Amenity Packages, Unit Card (UC), Site 59 (59) and other locally negotiated hotel discount rates for crew or extended stays for longer than one week

Clear?

from Best Western Rewards® Questions and Answers:


Clear?

Thanks. Never did see the Travelocity and Orbitz promos listed and "deeply discounted" probably sweeps anything else from a 3rd party site.

Thanks. Never did see the Travelocity and Orbitz promos listed and "deeply discounted" probably sweeps anything else from a 3rd party site.

I think with a third party site no hotels give you credit. They consider priceline or whoever to be the person making the reservation not you.

I have heard of a couple times where people have booked a hilton reservation on priceline and while they didn't get the diamond benefits (not like BW has those anyway) they gave their Hhonors number at check in and then will charge an incidental item and the points will post as a stay credit. You aren't out anything giving the FD your BW number at check in

One strategy you might also try, is if Expedia has a lower rate, use the Low Price Guarantee on the BW site. You need to book through BW first, then call or use their online form. That way you can get the BW points or whatever promos perqs they are running, by using BW's web site.

From what I've read hear BW low price guarantee is pretty picky about exact matches, e.g. being able to choose smoking status of room, refundability or room, etc.

Btw, it's water and snack, or 250 BW points.


Any thoughts on whether this benefit would earn any extra miles if your BW earning preference was set to flyer miles ?

Thanks.

Any thoughts on whether this benefit would earn any extra miles if your BW earning preference was set to flyer miles ?

Thanks.

You should be able to get the points. I have gotten surveys for 250 points after a stay and even though I had my preference at miles I got the points.

We have just got this water or 250 point offer from a San Diego BW this weekend.

Yesterday at check-in at the Best Western St. Jacobs in Waterloo, Ontario I was offered my choice of a bottle of water and a bag of chips or extra points. They said it was a new practice. Is this happening at other properties?

It isn't at all US properties. I am staying in a chicago property tonight and asked the front desk about it because I wanted the 250 points and no one knew anything about this.

Just got this email from BW:

Being an Elite member of Best Western Rewards is about to get even more rewarding!
We care about you, our valued Best Western Rewards® Elite members, and are always striving to ensure that you have an even greater experience when staying at our hotels.

In the next few months, you may notice some new perks when you stay with us. In addition to the current benefits like extra bonus points, look for an enhanced hotel experience which includes:

Easier check–in process
Personalized key sleeves
Complimentary snack and beverage with every stay or 250 bonus points

Thought I'd leave that quote un-picked-apart to preserve its integrity, but Jeez- when you run the lamest elite programme in the industry, you really need to think before releasing a whole bunch of nothing!

- Easier check–in process What do they mean by this? The check in process is no worse than anywhere else in fairly efficiently getting me to my non-upgraded room!

- Personalized key sleeves- PERSONALISED FECKING KEY SLEEVES? What, so the automatic recognition of my name/Rewards number by a computer can make me feel all loved and important? Or maybe it's so I can show it to middle aged women over some toast and a waffle at breakfast and hope that they are so impressed by my bling that they immediately sleep with me? Worked in 'up in the air'...

- Complimentary snack and beverage with every stay or 250 bonus points- now we're talking. $0.05 worth of shrink wrapped cookie and a $0.10 bottle of water- awesome!
Or maybe I'll just take the just over hundredth of free night instead? ;-)

Actually, facetiousness aside, the last benefit does have some value. I don't need yet another business trying to foist a long life cookie on me, but the water is a nice touch.

To be fair to BW, I guess part of their problem when trying to improve their elite programme is that two of the 'biggies' (free internet and free breakfast) are already available to everyone and one other biggie (room upgrades) seems to be something that for whatever reason they seem totally incapable of forcing their members to honour.

Cheers,

Paul.

Thought I'd leave that quote un-picked-apart to preserve its integrity, but Jeez- when you run the lamest elite programme in the industry, you really need to think before releasing a whole bunch of nothing!

- Easier check–in process What do they mean by this? The check in process is no worse than anywhere else in fairly efficiently getting me to my non-upgraded room!

- Personalized key sleeves- PERSONALISED FECKING KEY SLEEVES? What, so the automatic recognition of my name/Rewards number by a computer can make me feel all loved and important? Or maybe it's so I can show it to middle aged women over some toast and a waffle at breakfast and hope that they are so impressed by my bling that they immediately sleep with me? Worked in 'up in the air'...

- Complimentary snack and beverage with every stay or 250 bonus points- now we're talking. $0.05 worth of shrink wrapped cookie and a $0.10 bottle of water- awesome!
Or maybe I'll just take the just over hundredth of free night instead? ;-)

Actually, facetiousness aside, the last benefit does have some value. I don't need yet another business trying to foist a long life cookie on me, but the water is a nice touch.

To be fair to BW, I guess part of their problem when trying to improve their elite programme is that two of the 'biggies' (free internet and free breakfast) are already available to everyone and one other biggie (room upgrades) seems to be something that for whatever reason they seem totally incapable of forcing their members to honour.

Cheers,

Paul.

I was wondering what the check in is also. Does this mean BW will have elite check in lines for premiums like Hilton and Hyatt finally?

I don't think the free water and points is worth much compared to hilton diamond. The only thing BW diamond gets you 30% bonus points. At Hilton you get 50% PLUS airline miles or if you don't want the miles you get a 50% premium, so if you are going for points only you get end up with 20 points per $ spent.

If BW wanted to make the program more attractive they would offer both miles and points like hilton or at least make the premium for diamonds more than 30% bonus points.

I know people will do mattress runs for hilton status. I am sure matress runs for BW status or like Mileage runs on southwest airlines, they never happen.

- Complimentary snack and beverage with every stay or 250 bonus points- now we're talking. $0.05 worth of shrink wrapped cookie and a $0.10 bottle of water- awesome!
Well, don't assume it'll always be a cookie. In the one case where I got it so far, it was a real honest-to-goodness apple!

Also, the value of water depends where you just came from. If you just stepped off a plane and went straight from the airport to the hotel in a taxi, your only chances to get a bottle water would have cost you well over $1 (ie, either at the airport or in the hotel shop, if there is one). On the other hand, if you just started out on a driving vacation from a home which is near a Trader Joe's, then while not quite a dime the water may not be worth much more than a quarter to you.

...Btw, it's water and snack, or 250 BW points...

I recently had a one-night stay during multiple MRs. Asked for the points. The hotel lumped the 250 in with the stay points. 30% Diamond bonus was applied to the total.

Result: 325 points, not 250 points, for the point gift.

I'm mentioning this, as I had assumed the 250 point gift would post separately, and not be subject to the Diamond bonus.

Not offered at the Best Western Papago Inn & Resort, though the front desk staff seemed less than knowledgeable.

Yes. It's a new benefit for Platinum and Diamond Elites, effective 7/1/10.

Do you have an active link to where this was posted on the BW site etc?

I recently had a one-night stay during multiple MRs. Asked for the points. The hotel lumped the 250 in with the stay points. 30% Diamond bonus was applied to the total.

Result: 325 points, not 250 points, for the point gift.

I'm mentioning this, as I had assumed the 250 point gift would post separately, and not be subject to the Diamond bonus.

We have exactly the same experience this week. In less then 2 hours after checking in 250+75 was posted on our account.

As for the hotels who claim not to be familiar with this perk: we simply fill out a "missing credit" form on the WB site, with a short explanation, and so far always got the 250 credit in less then 24 hours.

We have exactly the same experience this week. In less then 2 hours after checking in 250+75 was posted on our account.

As for the hotels who claim not to be familiar with this perk: we simply fill out a "missing credit" form on the WB site, with a short explanation, and so far always got the 250 credit in less then 24 hours.

I'm still yet to see this benefit once, mind you, I have only stayed 4 BW nights since it was announced.

I suppose I should fill out the missing credit form, but then again, life is short...

I earned the 250 points (plus the Diamond bonus) on a free night voucher stay!!!

In this case, the hotel asked me at check-in (with a giant picture, I guess for international travelers) whether I wanted water plus who knows what (I didn't quite understand the picture at first glance, but wasn't much interested in figuring it out) or 250 points. I said 250 points, since I had plenty of bottled water with me already and no need for who knows what snacks, and was curious if it would post.

It posted with "1" in the night/award count. The next day the Diamond bonus posted (with "0" of course).

I am seldom offered my choice at checkin at the BW where I often stay, even though the desk staff knows me by name. The points do not show up. However, when I mentioned it during a recent checkin the desk agent took the time to call BW and sort out all of my missing stays/points. Kudos for the effort! :D

Stayed at the Best Western Royal Host Inn in Lodi, CA in November. Not offered either at check-in. Remarked in the followup survey about this and was sent an apology email and the points. ^

Stayed at the Best Western Royal Host Inn in Lodi, CA in November. Not offered either at check-in. Remarked in the followup survey about this and was sent an apology email and the points. ^

Not offered in my 2 last BWs either. The guy in Thousand Oaks, CA, was just oblivious, and the guy at the nearest property to OAK kinda gave me a shirty look when I inquired whether I might get a bottle of water and then said "there's a cooler over there". Gave him a look that said, "if that's your attitude..." and he disappeared and then came back and handed me 1 bottle of Arrowhead with ill grace.

BW frustrate the crap out of me- both of these properties were otherwise nice and clean and very well priced, but I just cannot fathom why Diamond members mean nothing to the average GM!

Contrast that to the Hampton inn in Oakland where on my second ever stay I got a personalised, handwritten note in my room welcoming me back and thanking me for choosing their property again.

Blows my mind.

Paul.

p.s. just for laughs, I noticed my comment when this great new benefit was announced:

"Originally Posted by CALimey
- Complimentary snack and beverage with every stay or 250 bonus points- now we're talking. $0.05 worth of shrink wrapped cookie and a $0.10 bottle of water- awesome!"

SdSearch scolded me: "Well, don't assume it'll always be a cookie..."

He was right, generally speaking it is absolutely nothing ;-)

Stayed at the Best Western Beach Resort - Monterey, CA and was not offered anything. Seems about the norm for me sadly.

Call or email Ryan E. Olson, so he'll be made aware of properties not recognizing valued Diamond Elite members.

I have never gotten this benefit and no property ever seems to know about it.
Once an SF property gave me the snack I said I would rather the points. They knew nothing about it.

Simply call the number on your diamond card or fill out a missing credit report on-line. Both take less than 5 minutes.

Unfortunately many places do not know anything about this promotion, or often only the managers are knowledgable.

Our experience: 25% know, and give you it, 25 % know about it, but do not know how to do it, 25% claim that their porperties are not pariticipating inns, 25% do not have any clue.

I got a bottle of water and two apples (of two types) on my most recent stay at the BW in Costa Mesa (on Newport Blvd/55). I've been staying there a number of times over the half year or more since I got a similar welcome gift at the BW in Santa Ana (on Hotel Terrace Drive), and this is the first time the Costa Mesa BW has given this benefit.

They have this site specifically for rewards members’ points or recognition issues: http://bwrewards4me.com/

Or this email: bwrelite@bestwestern.com

Just got back from the BW in Gilroy, CA. At check-in, the clerk handed me a bag with two bottles of water and a bag of pretzels plus a beach ball to thank me "for being a Platinum member".

Since it was around 82 degrees, the water came in handy! I didn't ask for points since my account is set to earn miles.