Starwood Preferred Guest - Be wary of Starwood reservations' foreign conversions

Perhaps an obvious tip, but always double check any foreign currency conversions Starwood provides you for hotel rates.

I just booked a room in Rome and the agent provided me with rate in dollars. I called back to double check something and asked for the rate in lira and the agent said, "894,500, which is $307." By today's exchange rate 894,500 lira is more like $380. On another room, the conversion was calculated correctly.

The agent told me the rates are in their computers. I asked if they would stand behind their conversions or if they could guarantee the $307 rate if I paid in advance and she said no.

Our currency conversions are loaded at the beginning of each month and are based on the exchange rates printed in the WSJ. They are only updated once a month. Our associates are trained to quote rates in local currency if that is how they are loaded and, if asked, can provide an approximate USD equivalent. If you were quoted a rate of 894,000 lira then that is what you can expect to pay, regardless of the exchange rate to USD. The USD equivalent may be higher or lower by the time you arrive at the hotel, which is why you should have been told the USD value was approximate based on the current exchange rate. Therefore the $307 you were quoted is not guaranteed.

Thank you for brining this to our attention. I will make sure the appropriate parties in Reservations are made aware of this retraining opportunity.

Jae

Thanks Jae!

Indeed, it seems that the true amount that you actually pay in the end really depends on the currency conversion one gets on the day of your checkout/bill submission, in my experince!

I'm still now "steamed" at Marriott for overcharging me each day at the JW Marriott Bangkok, where I had a gauranteed dollar rate that they INSISTED I book, rather than a local Baht rate. Depite early assurances upon checking in and so on, a massive appreciation of the Baht vs Dollar in the week before I checked out left me with a never to be solved middle of the night hassle upon trying to check out for my 6 am flight! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Travelling the world confronts one regularly with currency conversions. A fact of life. Hotel rooms are almost always quoted in the local currency, and any US$ rate given is only an estimate unless specifically guaranteed through special arrangements in US$s. With the strong American dollar, it is seldom worth getting a US$ rate (unless it is a special promo that really works out cheaper than the local currency rate) since the local currency is likely to go down, not up, against the dollar by the time you do your stay.

It really isn't something to complain about. Think of those of us on the other end who, when staying in the US, must always pay in weaker currencies through conversions unfavourable to us.

Thanks for the response Jae. This may have been a case of the wrong numbers being put into the computer. For L894,500 to equal $307 that would mean a conversion rate of 2900-to-1. The best I've seen during the month of November was 2450-to-1. Also, during the same conversation, for another room at the same hotel she quoted me rates that worked out to a conversion of 2350-to-1. Seems odd the system would offer such inconsistencies in the same currency.

Shareholder: I'm not complaining. Just pointing out that to save any unpleasant surprises that it's important to get the rate in the local currency and take responsibility for doing your own conversions. This was not an example of a currency fluctuation issue, but a possible computer input problem as, to my knowledge, that conversion rate has not been correct any time in recent history.



[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 11-30-2000).]

Just FYI, a great www site for currency conversions is www.oanda.com (http://www.oanda.com)

You can specify today or any previous date, and add whatever percent desired to the wholesale rate. Also lets you print great "cheat sheets" to carry with you.

------------------
Have passport, will travel...
LAX, LHR, et.al.

JAE,

Why isn't Starwood using the Euro for European Properties?

Since all currencies in the Euro Zone are FIXED at a LOCKED IN RATE the Euro would be the best currency to quote.

Sir your rate is E184.00
Sir your rate is 933,794.18 Drachmas
What sounds better, and easier to you?

Originally posted by Canadian:
JAE,

Why isn't Starwood using the Euro for European Properties?

Since all currencies in the Euro Zone are FIXED at a LOCKED IN RATE the Euro would be the best currency to quote.

Sir your rate is E184.00
Sir your rate is 933,794.18 Drachmas
What sounds better, and easier to you?

Good point.
Actually, under European law, if you are in the Euro zone, you must quote your prices in Euro. Most (if not all) business quote their prices in Euros and the "local" currency.

Then of course, there's my situation in Egypt a few weeks ago. I was quoted USD$60/night at the Sheraton Luxor Resort (a superb rate, BTW, especially for double occupancy.) Upon checkout, converting the Egyptian Pounds charged to USD revealed an actual rate of about USD$54.

You win some you loose some.
Good for you that this time you won!

Let's face it: unless you're calling for rates the day you check in, any conversion is merely an estimate. And the further out you're booking, the worse the changes can be.

Two years ago a friend and I planned a trip to Hong Kong & Japan. From the time we started planning in mid-to-late August, to the time we went in mid-October, the Yen rose by 25%. Our trip cost way more than we had planned http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif; thank goodness our flights were using miles (in First, no less http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif)