FedUp2
Sep 8, 09, 3:34 am
Is there any way to earn points for a stay in a Comfort Hotel that was booked on Expedia?
Choice Privileges - Choice Points with Expedia booking
View Full Version : Choice Points with Expedia booking
djensen623
Sep 28, 09, 9:29 am
I tried to call customer service and have my stay points applied to my Choice privledges account and the rep told me that since it was booked thru expedia, you couldnt apply it to your account, because its not a qualifying rate. you should get the same rate frm choicehotels.com as expedia anyway, so just steer clear of expedia. hope this helps
Brendan
Oct 8, 09, 8:57 am
Most if not all hotel programs have this rule :td: ! I can understand if they refuse points on deeply discounted &or opaque rates, but why disqualify full-price bookings just because they were booked on Expedia, Travelocity, etc.??
bonkrood
Oct 17, 09, 4:27 pm
I can understand if they refuse points on deeply discounted &or opaque rates, but why disqualify full-price bookings just because they were booked on Expedia, Travelocity, etc.??There are a few reasons.
Because the hotel loses a large percentage of the rate to the booking website. They pay us a lot less for the room than you paid them. They charge you full price, give us some of that and keep the rest for themselves. This is how they make their money.
Because we expect our loyalty program members to exhibit said loyalty by booking directly with us or with the brand website. Booking directly with the hotel or brand you get more flexibility (usually no-penalty cancellations in a smaller window) and more benefits (points, member benefits such as free newspapers), so we do not like rewarding people with these extras if they have not rewarded us with their direct business.
Because after paying Expedia for the honor of them having booked you at our properties, we don't want to then turn around and pay Choice to give you the points, too, further eroding our revenue. (Yes, the points cost us too, which is why even deeply discounted local rates aren't points-eligible.)
Because the rates that Expedia pays the hotel are strictly confidential. If you were allowed to receive points, you would only receive the points on their actual rate paid to us, not the amount that you paid them. Then you could do some simple math and figure out their rate which would be a breach of the contract we have with Expedia.
Because 3rd party websites are not a huge benefit to us, they are a necessary evil and we certainly do not wish to encourage people to use them any more than they already do.
Because the hotel loses a large percentage of the rate to the booking website. They pay us a lot less for the room than you paid them. They charge you full price, give us some of that and keep the rest for themselves. This is how they make their money.
Because we expect our loyalty program members to exhibit said loyalty by booking directly with us or with the brand website. Booking directly with the hotel or brand you get more flexibility (usually no-penalty cancellations in a smaller window) and more benefits (points, member benefits such as free newspapers), so we do not like rewarding people with these extras if they have not rewarded us with their direct business.
Because after paying Expedia for the honor of them having booked you at our properties, we don't want to then turn around and pay Choice to give you the points, too, further eroding our revenue. (Yes, the points cost us too, which is why even deeply discounted local rates aren't points-eligible.)
Because the rates that Expedia pays the hotel are strictly confidential. If you were allowed to receive points, you would only receive the points on their actual rate paid to us, not the amount that you paid them. Then you could do some simple math and figure out their rate which would be a breach of the contract we have with Expedia.
Because 3rd party websites are not a huge benefit to us, they are a necessary evil and we certainly do not wish to encourage people to use them any more than they already do.