...of SPG status! Well OK, I didn’t, I only made Gold, but I came close to Plat once. But I still dream of reaching those lofty heights...
I really slept around, too. I slept in Phoenix and Tucson in August, Anchorage in January, Kyoto during the accord. Akron. Some place in New Jersey. I slept in Kamloops and Nanaimo. I slept in San Jose on weekends when all my friends were heading to the beach. I’m thinking of going to Cape Town so I can sleep there. I would have slept in Kalamazoo, but there’s no Starwood there. But I thought Cheektowaga came pretty close. (Maybe a little too close!) I slept in Piscataway, Tuscaloosa, Beltsville, and in Woolloomooloo I almost slept with a sheep (or was that Auckland?).
I tried to ask for what I needed, what I wanted... in French in Moorea, Spanish in Quito, Turkish in Ashkabat, Canadian in Winnipeg.
Agadir, Albufeira, Antalya, Asolo ... let’s put them in alphabetic order!
I did it everywhere. On heavenly beds, sleigh beds, Murphy beds, sofa beds... and even those 4-points-of-pain beds. I did it in the dark in Toronto. If I come back in another life, I want to be a dog so I can do it on the heavenly dog bed.
And now just because I danced with someone else, they treat me like trash. Hey, I still come home to sleep with Starwood, don’t I? Sure, I booked the room through one of those quickie back-alley web sites, but it’s not like they actually managed to entice me to sleep on the other side of town. They sent me right back to Starwood. But as soon as I walk in the door, they treat me like trailer trash... I just don’t know what to think anymore...
(My apologies if this has already been done before.... and I'm sure some version of it has been...)
fireworksboy
Sep 3, 03, 8:03 pm
Very nice Abby. Now that you've stated where you have slept, maybe you can tell us where you will be sleeping in the future. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
P.S. Love the title but it may irritate FCTSTY/others out of their minds.
Fireworksboy willing to share his Plat status if allowed under T & Cs.
This is the funniest thing I"ve read on this board in a longgggggggg time. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif Thank you!
PremEx
Sep 3, 03, 9:19 pm
You deserve a comp Platinum for that, IMHO. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
LH738
Sep 4, 03, 1:24 am
The first topic I opened today because I supposed something funny. And I wasn't disappointed. A good read to start the day http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif .
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Pictures from hotel stays (http://www.e-traveller.net/lh738/triprep/hotel.php)
Basic Hotel stays/nights/points calculator (http://www.e-traveller.net/fgp/fgp01calc.php)
Short overview: KLM FD, LH M&M (http://www.e-traveller.net/ffp/kl01.php)
kv99
Sep 4, 03, 4:50 am
Absolutely brilliant... Thanks for the laugh, Abby, and let's hope that our friends at Starwood read this one.
ILUVCITIBANK
Sep 4, 03, 7:24 am
Abby, the Starwood ****. What a hoot. great illustration.
OTOH...
I guess I have finally concluded the motivation behind starwood's initiative to eliminate starwood perks for priceline and other "opaque" stayers runs along these lines ====> starwood must feel since there was no brand loyalty in the booking process, per se, and only a prime directive (by the consumer) to stay at the lowest cost (remember - priceline can dump you into any number of brands, so its a crapshoot that you'll end up in a starwood or hilton or marriott), then they owe you no "affinity perks", per se. Tit for tat. Brutal yet fundamental logic.
This "mission statement" has never been stated that I've seen, but it seems the only logic I can find, and I find it to be acceptable and reasonable logic for this trade-off personally.
starwood gets what it minimally wants out of priceline - incremental revenue for a room that would otherwise go unsold, and travelers get what they want - brand immmaterial cheapest room possible in the category they feel comfortable bidding on. Why can't this be "good enough" ?
Personally, I don't see why travelers, and I mean across all brands, should expect full perks from a brand when booking on these lowest rates, when they, by definition, could care less about the brand they got ? Not saying its wrong to make a case to try to get them (human nature) but I have to admit I am more supportive of starwood's position here, strictly as a businessman myself, than I am of those who seem aghast that starwood would roll back the perks for such bookings.
As we all learned by the third grade, nothing is "for free".
Want an airline model for this ? The weekend "netsaver" fares most airlines now offer...many don't earn airline miles or segment credits, and they are RIFE with restrictions and "gotchas", not to mention "totally nonrefundable". Don't even think you can upgrade into fc seats on these weekend netsaver fares. yet, everyone who books them knows going in what the benefits are (cheap r/t seat and little more), and no one complains.
Want another economic model for this ? eBay also confirms this logic. Anyone can go to Best Buy and pay retail "x" for item "y", or the same "thrifty consumer" can easily get "y" on eBay for "x minus some savings "z"", savings "z" being earned by the consumer taking risk of the mailorder process, buying from unknown vendor or seller, taking on the risk of warranty not being honored if the product was deemed to have been bought "gray market", and the list is endless. And the eBay buyer does get the exact same item [cheap room] for as much as 15-25% savings. So the concept of 'tit for tat" seems perfectly reasonable for so many other areas of consumerism. Why is this not acceptable for starwood to implement such logic ?
Similar comparative models are everywhere, and we all agree the internet, seach engines, and priceline phenomena, and just raw speed of information transfer on message boards such as this...all combine to create literally new conditions starwood, hilton, marriott, hyatt, et al, are only now coming to grips with. As the economy begrudgingly improves, starwood, in classic economic theory, is shoring up the bottom line, and cleaning up this priceline/opaque booking/full benefits mess (ie full benefits for rates 1/3rd normaly room rates) seems to be first on their list. Would be on mine if I were ceo, and I know precious little about the lodging industry.
We all know, or should realize, that
starwood, and other hotel brands screwed up by allowing perks on priceline stays from the start, thus making these recent moves appear to be "takebacks", and NO ONE likes takebacks. Only fair way to implement a "takeback", if it HAS TO BE, is to give FAR OUT notice, and suck up the financial hit until the implementation. Jan 1, 2004 meets that goal in my view. This was the classic no no (provide FAR OUT notice for take-backs) starwood violated on Jan 1 when they modified their award ratios with literally 24hr notice Dec 31st, 2002. I still believe that action was the blackest moment in my brief starwood affinity tenure.
So, Abby, don't take it personally...in my view, starwood doesn't consider you a *STARWOOD* ****...they consider you a no-offense-intended bottom-dollar NON-brand-loyal cheap ****...worthy of a cheap room in exchange for a cheap price, but not worthy of starwood benefits since you didn't, after all, select the starwood brand. You/I may not like this logic, but I easily understand it and more than halfway agree with it.
[This message has been edited by ILUVCITIBANK (edited 09-05-2003).]
ski
Sep 4, 03, 8:39 am
Stawood told us that no matter what we pay, if we pay or who we pay, benefits would be extended with regard to status - no if, ands, or buts. In Jan 2003, they said with regard to the future, there would be no further changes, if anything they were going to increase benefits. Many based their decision to make platinum based on this promise. They stayed the extra nights, spent the extra money, gave their loyalty to have these promised benefits for 2004. Starwood keeps changing the rules in the middle of the promises. That is not loyalty to your preferred guests, but as another FT said, you are not the preferred guest any more, but the preferred rate. I would not be surprised to see the 5000 bonus for 20,000 airline mile transfer go next.
Abby
Sep 4, 03, 9:23 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ILUVCITIBANK:
So, Abby, don't take it personally...in my view, starwood doesn't consider you a *STARWOOD* ****...they consider you a no-offense-intended bottom-dollar NON-brand-loyal cheap ****...worthy of a cheap room in exchange for a cheap price, but not worthy of starwood benefits since you didn't, after all, select the starwood brand.</font>
Well, now that you put it in those terms, I feel MUCH better! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Actually, I was poking a bit of fun at us as well as Starwood.
To be honest, I think the well-run properties are going to continue to recognize their top-level guests, no matter what. Especially if they make frequent stays at the same property. After all, they are probably making a lot of qualifying stays in order to get to the Plat level -- who cares if they show up on the occasional discount rate? They're still a great customer and a well-run property will recognize that. And it's at that level - the individual property and its staff - that really great stays are usually determined, anyway. The overall Starwood benefits tend to be a bit hit and miss...
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ski:They stayed the extra nights, spent the extra money, gave their loyalty to have these promised benefits for 2004.</font>
See, I'm not the only Starwood ****!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
arturo
Sep 4, 03, 9:54 am
deer abby,
shall we "spind the nite together"? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
shall we "spind the nite together"? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
</font>
But, my darling arturo...
Are you Plat? Upgrade-worthy?
Who would get the points? And the stay credit?
A girl's gotta think of these things... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif
ILUVCITIBANK
Sep 4, 03, 10:19 am
abby, for the record....I am poking fun, of course. Also, to my surprise, this forum's software auto-zaps some words like s l u t. So please don't envision words I didn't mean.
ski, I realize starwood may have promised all benefits would pass any rate, so this is just a shift (take-back) in their position, like any other change to any other affinity program. American Airlines promised me 20,000 domestic r/t awards when I signed up mid-90s in the AAdvantage program...that went the way of the dinosaur also.
I can see the economic justification for starwood to implement this shift (takeback), and IMO, 5mo warning is somewhat short, but beats 24hrs that we all received dec 31st, 2002.
The logic still holds though - a priceline guest, by definition, could care less about brands. Its all about price for these buyers, and that's a fine motivation. So, why should starwood, GOING FORWARD in 2004, especially given the economy we've just experienced, dilute my benefits by passing them around like candy for guests staying at rates 1/3rd of what I pay ? I hold no animosity at all for beneficiaries of spg perks through Dec 31, 2003, btw...means nothing to me either way. But - in the long run, giving perks to these $40/night guests...does in fact dilute my own starpoints, and defies common sense that starwood can do this forever.
WITH PROPER NOTICE, I think its fair and reasonable starwood can and should change this policy.
[This message has been edited by ILUVCITIBANK (edited 09-04-2003).]
Abby
Sep 4, 03, 10:50 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ILUVCITIBANK:
abby, for the record....I am poking fun, of course.</font>
Of course! As am I! I started this thread for fun, I won't take offense if you poke a bit of fun back!!! Promise!
Besides, there are bigger points wh**es than me! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
(OK, I have to get past this exclamation mark obsession!!!)
arturo
Sep 4, 03, 11:03 am
deer abby,
arturo es plat an yu kan hav the sta kredets an points, jus sew yu doo knot feal bad about "spindeng the nite twogather". arturo nose thet yu disirve "awl thet yu hav slept fore". http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fireworksboy:
Very nice Abby. Now that you've stated where you have slept, maybe you can tell us where you will be sleeping in the future. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif</font>
[This message has been edited by Abby (edited 09-04-2003).]</font>
It's not wottheheck, it's hootheheck is FCTSTY? He preys on those who are not specific enough in their choosing of a topic title therefore causing him to reading threads (because of their topic ambiguity) that he need not read. You don't want to upset FCTSTY http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif but I believe he has come across this thread already and given you a pass because of the smile that it produced. Forget arturo and the rest and opt for the best - fireworksboy! See you at the new property in Vegas perhaps? New Heavenly beds will need someone to test them out. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
Abby
Sep 4, 03, 12:32 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fireworksboy:
See you at the new property in Vegas perhaps? New Heavenly beds will need someone to test them out. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif</font>
No, no... I vote for the new Sheraton Barra (http://www.starwood.com/sheraton/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1452) in Rio! But I think it is mis-spelled - I am sure it is supposed to be Berra! As in "Berra with our web site, or we won't do Berra well by you!"
Ah, Rio... I can be the girl from Ipanema, you can be the Copacabana boy!
Sounds of Barry Manilow gradually pick up in the background.... (Where's that 'finger down throat' emoticon??? Make him stop singing ... please!)
[This message has been edited by Abby (edited 09-04-2003).]
arturo
Sep 4, 03, 12:48 pm
deer abby,
fctsty es short fore "flie corntinintel too see the yankees". he beech awl the tim abot sumtheng, sew yu knot lik hem. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
az fore fir-kracker-boy, wel, jus luuk out.............. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
arturo es best of awl. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
[This message has been edited by arturo (edited 09-04-2003).]
Abby
Sep 4, 03, 1:19 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by arturo:
az fore fir-kracker-boy, wel, jus luuk out.............. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
arturo es best of awl. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
</font>
Awww... Who could possibly resist that accent? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
fireworksboy
Sep 4, 03, 5:09 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Abby:
Awww... Who could possibly resist that accent? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>
You must resist arturo! arturo es knot fore yu. arturo shood knot pursoo abby. abby es fore fireworksboy. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
LIH Prem
Sep 4, 03, 6:57 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Abby:
Wottheheck is FCTSTY?
</font>
Nothing to worry about .. just a minor annoyance. (The self-proclaimed thread title complainer.)
iF Can't understand Title, Sound off To You
-David
[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited 09-04-2003).]
rbAA
Sep 4, 03, 7:10 pm
Don't forget the new SPG promotional rates now that Spend The Night Together is over. It's their One Night Stand rates, for those that truly sleep their way there.
Abby
Sep 4, 03, 9:44 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by rbAA:
Don't forget the new SPG promotional rates now that Spend The Night Together is over. It's their One Night Stand rates, for those that truly sleep their way there.</font>
Hey, we ALL sleep our way there, don't we? But the One Night Stand is the best rate, it qualifies us for stay credits sooner, right???!!!!
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ILUVCITIBANK:
[B] Abby, don't take it personally...in my view, starwood doesn't consider you a *STARWOOD* ****...they consider you a no-offense-intended bottom-dollar NON-brand-loyal cheap ****...worthy of a cheap room in exchange for a cheap price, but not worthy of starwood benefits since you didn't, after all, select the starwood brand. You/I may not like this logic, but I easily understand it and more than halfway agree with it.B]</font>
Nice rant. Of course the new Priceline Elite levels are Tramp and Ho', since you seem to be sleeping with just about anyone. And the price is always negetiated up front.
The Lurker
Sep 5, 03, 10:21 am
Is it just me, or does this bring back fun memories of past Westin ad campaigns to anyone else? Remember "Who's the best in bed? You know its Westin." and "Who's he sleeping with?"
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No thanks, I'm just lurking. Call me the Lurker!
thezipper
Sep 5, 03, 12:18 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Abby:
No, no... I vote for the new Sheraton Barra (http://www.starwood.com/sheraton/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1452) in Rio! But I think it is mis-spelled - I am sure it is supposed to be Berra! As in "Berra with our web site, or we won't do Berra well by you!"
Ah, Rio... I can be the girl from Ipanema, you can be the Copacabana boy!
Sounds of Barry Manilow gradually pick up in the background.... (Where's that 'finger down throat' emoticon??? Make him stop singing ... please!)
</font>
Abby,
Methinks the new W in Seoul would be better suited for your tastes....smile IMHO, this is gonna be one of my stops next year!
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Each of our 253 guest rooms offers lavish comfort, unobstructed views, and a provocative design experience that is uniquely Seoul. Choose from four different room types: The Wonderful Room, with its dramatic red, black and white interiors. The Media Room, with its round rotating bed, Jacuzzi bath and private projection screen. (http://www.starwood.com/Media/Graphics/Brands/W/Properties/1451/images/ap1451gr2_md.jpg) The Spa Room, with its soothing tones of gray, pool-sized bath and plasma TVs. And the Scent Room, featuring a customized menu of aromas to enhance your visit and an outdoor terrace where you can drink in pine-scented mountain breezes</font>
[This message has been edited by thezipper (edited 09-05-2003).]
arturo
Sep 5, 03, 1:16 pm
deer abby,
arturo es heer too tel yu thet fir-kraker-boy es jus thet. et's nown awl ovr ohyo thet won pop an the nites' ovr. sew, yu mite knot evin 'spind the nite twogathr'. arturo advis yu too tak the poynts an run ef yu wiff fir-kraker-boy.
arturo es heer too tel yu thet fir-kraker-boy es jus thet. et's nown awl ovr ohyo thet won pop an the nites' ovr. sew, yu mite knot evin 'spind the nite twogathr'. arturo advis yu too tak the poynts an run ef yu wiff fir-kraker-boy.
</font>
Abby, has arturo mentioned mrs.arturo? he luvs hur veerie mutch.
Fireworksboy, contrary to arturo's posting, would "luv yu lon thyme." http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
arturo
Sep 5, 03, 2:14 pm
fir-kraker-boy,
consuelo an arturo part a long tim agoe. too, mebe tree, yeers agoe. pls doo knot rifir too enywon as mrs. arturo, speshully consuelo.
fireworksboy
Sep 5, 03, 2:35 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by arturo:
fir-kraker-boy,
consuelo an arturo part a long tim agoe. too, mebe tree, yeers agoe. pls doo knot rifir too enywon as mrs. arturo, speshully consuelo.</font>
Sorry to hear about you and consuelo. Fireworksboy believes that Abby would be much happier with him than arturo though.
Shood wee fite fore hur? Dool purrhaps?
arturo
Sep 5, 03, 3:13 pm
fir-kraker-boy,
arturo es a luvir, knot a fiter. yu goe dool wiff sumwon frum klevlan.