Starwood Preferred Guest - Stop the Media Hype re: NOBODY travelling!

Called today to get reservations at the W Seattle for tonight (twice a year I "play tourist"). Rate provided was $199 plus all of the usual taxes. I was told that is the "best" rate. I asked about Seattle Super Saver rate ($159) and was told it didn't exist. When I persisted I was told it was only available through that website. When I asked if they had better rates (this is OCTOBER, a normally slower season in Seattle) available on other days, I was told no. This is the best rate. I asked if they were very busy these days and was told by BOTH the agent in SLC and in SEA that they were VERY busy and didn't understand all of the media reports that hotels aren't being occupied.

This is the fifth time in the last two weeks that I've called a hotel only to find that the rates are much more expensive than usual. I wish the media would stop all of the stories about how people aren't travelling! And I really wish that hotels would stop advertising they have all of these specials. I certainly haven't found it in SF, SEA, or PDX at any Starwood properties.

Just got my 10/29 Forbes in the mail today (SAT, 10/13)...was flipping through it, and on page 52, article entitled "Unaccomodating Accomodations", subtitle "Why aren't luxury hotels bending over backwards to attract lots more business" says it all - at least according to this Forbes article, here is the entire article since it is so short -

"With demand collapsing, you'ld expect the hospitality industry to be a bit more hospitable about pricing. Nope. Many luxury hotel chains, such as Hilton and Starwood, would rather lose some business than cheapen their image with discounts."

"Once you cut prices, it's hard to get them back up", says Jeffrey Dallas, a hotel industry consultant with Ernst and Young.

Article goes further to say:
"The decline in traffic hurts, but it doesn't all come out of the bottom line: Fewer guests mean less spent on utilities and bellhops".

Article concludes with this:
Contradicting the general pattern, a few high-endhotels are offering attractive deals....and the list includes Waldorf-Astoria (NYC), Mark Hopkins Inter-Continental (SF, CA), Willard Inter-Continental (WA, DC), and a few others.

So - we have it in writing from a reputable business magazine - appears Starwood and Hilton are playing this disaster according to a certain strategy. I don't disagree - the few quotes I've researched confirm prices are absolutely higher than some summer promotions I took advantage of...either rates are actually RAISED, or promotions are not out there, or poorly marketed and advertised at best.

After seeing the auto industry turn their deals upside down to stimulate sales, this is an intriguing development in the hotel business IMHO.

FWIW

Even more interesting why does Marriot and Starwood want aid from the govt, where as the Hilton doesn't... I can't imagine Hilton is doing better..



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