scruffy
Oct 24, 04, 11:28 am
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Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - NY Times article about Priceline and biddingfortravel
View Full Version : NY Times article about Priceline and biddingfortravel
GEM
Oct 24, 04, 12:52 pm
I really have to wonder if this journalist did *any* research at all. This certainly reads like a "puff piece" to me.
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2004/10/24/travel/24prac.html
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2004/10/24/travel/24prac.html
Tino
Oct 25, 04, 12:18 am
Brian Ek, a Priceline spokesman, calls the notion of such Priceline prejudice "an urban myth"
Brian Ek must either be completely clueless, or lying through his teeth.
Many hotels are upfront in their designation of "special rooms" for Priceline stays. Many examples are available by searching the hotel reviews on biddingfortravel, and I have personally been told of this practice by hotel management.
Brian Ek must either be completely clueless, or lying through his teeth.
Many hotels are upfront in their designation of "special rooms" for Priceline stays. Many examples are available by searching the hotel reviews on biddingfortravel, and I have personally been told of this practice by hotel management.
gleff
Oct 25, 04, 6:13 am
Well, some urban legends are true. Just check out snopes.com.. ;)
Some hotels treat PL guests just as well as regular guests. Others do not. That's part of bidding.
There are, of course, stories of successful PL bids being upgraded to Presidential suites... and that's even after most hotel chains stopped giving elite benefits on PL stays.
Some hotels treat PL guests just as well as regular guests. Others do not. That's part of bidding.
There are, of course, stories of successful PL bids being upgraded to Presidential suites... and that's even after most hotel chains stopped giving elite benefits on PL stays.
Non-NonRev
Oct 25, 04, 6:45 am
This is one of the reasons I prefer 2.5* places like Courtyards and Hilton Garden Inns - the rooms are pretty much alike.
Going to the same property multiple times in a short time period is one indicator of a "PL ghetto". Last year I stayed four times within three months at the MCI Airport Hilton. Each time, I was assigned a handicapped room with one full bed on the first floor in an area with adjacent meeting rooms. On only one occasion was the hotel full (during a fire chief's convention): during the other stays the place was nearly deserted.
Going to the same property multiple times in a short time period is one indicator of a "PL ghetto". Last year I stayed four times within three months at the MCI Airport Hilton. Each time, I was assigned a handicapped room with one full bed on the first floor in an area with adjacent meeting rooms. On only one occasion was the hotel full (during a fire chief's convention): during the other stays the place was nearly deserted.
ScottC
Oct 25, 04, 6:46 am
Well, some urban legends are true. Just check out snopes.com.. ;)
Some hotels treat PL guests just as well as regular guests. Others do not. That's part of bidding.
There are, of course, stories of successful PL bids being upgraded to Presidential suites... and that's even after most hotel chains stopped giving elite benefits on PL stays.
Indeed...
Sometimes when a hotel pops up on PL for a certain period there is a reason...
Last year the Venetian was on PL, at just $80 a real bargain, but the rooms were in a block overlooking the building site, had lower grade amenities, bad towels and were not cleaned. These rooms were obviously being held for the PL bidders as a paying guest would not accept that.
Some hotels treat PL guests just as well as regular guests. Others do not. That's part of bidding.
There are, of course, stories of successful PL bids being upgraded to Presidential suites... and that's even after most hotel chains stopped giving elite benefits on PL stays.
Indeed...
Sometimes when a hotel pops up on PL for a certain period there is a reason...
Last year the Venetian was on PL, at just $80 a real bargain, but the rooms were in a block overlooking the building site, had lower grade amenities, bad towels and were not cleaned. These rooms were obviously being held for the PL bidders as a paying guest would not accept that.
WillTravel
Oct 25, 04, 10:13 am
Indeed...
Sometimes when a hotel pops up on PL for a certain period there is a reason...
Last year the Venetian was on PL, at just $80 a real bargain, but the rooms were in a block overlooking the building site, had lower grade amenities, bad towels and were not cleaned. These rooms were obviously being held for the PL bidders as a paying guest would not accept that.
PL bidders are paying guests. They just aren't paying as much (usually).
It seems that generally people do get the Venetian in Las Vegas on either Priceline or Hotwire and are happy with what they get, based on reviews at betterbidding.com .
Sometimes when a hotel pops up on PL for a certain period there is a reason...
Last year the Venetian was on PL, at just $80 a real bargain, but the rooms were in a block overlooking the building site, had lower grade amenities, bad towels and were not cleaned. These rooms were obviously being held for the PL bidders as a paying guest would not accept that.
PL bidders are paying guests. They just aren't paying as much (usually).
It seems that generally people do get the Venetian in Las Vegas on either Priceline or Hotwire and are happy with what they get, based on reviews at betterbidding.com .