Mar 9, 2014, 4:07 am
Last edit by: bhatnasx
The Friends and Family rate is intended to be offered to travellers who are "friend and family members" of a Carlson employee. That could be a hotel employee, a travel agent (Carlson Wagonlit) or restaurant employee (TGIF) (TGIF sold to Sentinel Capital Partners as of July 2014).
When you book the rate, you are supposed to have the basic data on your friend available at check-in for the hotel to verify that you are indeed authorized to use that rate. Generally, if they ask, they ask for:
1) Employee Name
2) Work location
Please consider that, as per T&C, only employee name and location can be requested only at the check in time.
The new code is RHGRFNF
NOTE:
Booking a rate that you're not entitled to book may result in rate adjustments and Club Carlson account freezing.
In general, the rate is €80 per night in Europe.
*These stays post as "Ineligible" - non-qualifying, non-stay, non-points earning ... so, in sum, don't associate a F&F reservation with your Gold Points account, unless elite perks you hope to enjoy are worth the risk.
When you book the rate, you are supposed to have the basic data on your friend available at check-in for the hotel to verify that you are indeed authorized to use that rate. Generally, if they ask, they ask for:
1) Employee Name
2) Work location
Please consider that, as per T&C, only employee name and location can be requested only at the check in time.
The new code is RHGRFNF
NOTE:
Booking a rate that you're not entitled to book may result in rate adjustments and Club Carlson account freezing.
In general, the rate is €80 per night in Europe.
*These stays post as "Ineligible" - non-qualifying, non-stay, non-points earning ... so, in sum, don't associate a F&F reservation with your Gold Points account, unless elite perks you hope to enjoy are worth the risk.
Carlson Hotels (Radisson) Family & Friends Rate - 2009 - 2017 Thread
Jul 14, 2014, 8:54 am
#1951
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: East Hampton/Dorado Beach
Posts: 591
Radisson Blu Schiphol Hotel
Nice hotel in the middle of nowhere (an office park near the airport)
Prior to arriving I received the email asking for the employee name, email, etc.
I replied I would honor the terms and I would provide all that information at Check-In.
When I checked on my reservation a week prior to arrival I noticed they had changed the rate from 80 euro to 150. Man.......
So I cancelled the reservation and rebooked the F&F rate. Again I received the email.
This time I gave all the information as I did not want any hassle. At check-in the agent saw I was on the F&F rate and wanted the information AGAIN ! I refused as I had already provided the information and received a confirmation that the information I had provided was fine.
Check-in was quickly completed.
They should be happy for my 80 Euro !!!
Nice hotel in the middle of nowhere (an office park near the airport)
Prior to arriving I received the email asking for the employee name, email, etc.
I replied I would honor the terms and I would provide all that information at Check-In.
When I checked on my reservation a week prior to arrival I noticed they had changed the rate from 80 euro to 150. Man.......
So I cancelled the reservation and rebooked the F&F rate. Again I received the email.
This time I gave all the information as I did not want any hassle. At check-in the agent saw I was on the F&F rate and wanted the information AGAIN ! I refused as I had already provided the information and received a confirmation that the information I had provided was fine.
Check-in was quickly completed.
They should be happy for my 80 Euro !!!
Jul 15, 2014, 3:14 pm
#1953
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: C2
Programs: M&M, *G, IHG Platinium Ambassador
Posts: 66
Longyearbyen (Svalbard) - no question asked 
(march and july 2014)
(march and july 2014)
Jul 15, 2014, 5:02 pm
#1954
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
Any recent experiences with Delhi?
Aug 3, 2014, 9:40 pm
#1956
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
Looking to use the F&F rate for Copenhagen Aug 21-23 since I can't use my reward nights. How do I go about using this?
Aug 4, 2014, 12:48 am
#1957
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
2) CPH is a hot destination for the F&F rate, since it seems that recently some "investigations" has been launched.
3) about the use of the F&F rate, pls read the thread.
Enjoy
Aug 4, 2014, 8:22 am
#1958
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
Any recent experiences in REK, Iceland? I have the name of an employee of a property that I had a problem with so I have a name and location. Anyone know if the REK properties are strict? haven't received an email asking for the info and I made the res about a week ago. I booked the Saga.
Aug 7, 2014, 4:16 am
#1959
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London, England
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 3,772
Any recent experiences in REK, Iceland? I have the name of an employee of a property that I had a problem with so I have a name and location. Anyone know if the REK properties are strict? haven't received an email asking for the info and I made the res about a week ago. I booked the Saga.
Aug 10, 2014, 10:37 am
#1960
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Las Vegas or Park City
Posts: 169
Looking for a friend
I'm looking for someone to help out with a friends and family rate. Anyone work for either company and willing to let me use their name if need be? If not I'll take the risk!
Please PM me
Thanks
Paul
Please PM me
Thanks
Paul
Aug 10, 2014, 10:48 am
#1961
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 51
Same here. Anyone willing to let me use their name for the F&F rate. Please help me and PM me. I promise I will only use once.
Aug 10, 2014, 1:44 pm
#1962
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC
Posts: 379
Radisson Slavyanskaya Moscow now joined the "please email employee info" crowd.
Aug 11, 2014, 10:24 am
#1963
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
This will be the trend in the next future. Unfortunately many people abused of this rate and a small reaction was predictable.
Aug 11, 2014, 8:31 pm
#1964
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Philly, Madrid
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 2,591
While I generally agree with your sentiment, reading 3/4 of a 130 page thread is not a 10 minute venture.
Aug 12, 2014, 9:57 am
#1965
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Western US
Programs: WN CP, WN A-List Preferred, AS MVPG 75k, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 554
The Radisson Blu Madrid Prado was highly hostile at checkout due to using the F&F rate. I legitimately used it as a college friend of mine is now a GM for one of the North America hotels, he has repeatedly told me to use the rate.
At checkout the front desk manager refused to discuss an ongoing issue I had during my stay, namely receiving unwanted wake up calls each morning. Instead, she threatened retaliation towards myself, and my friend for using the rate.
At checkout the front desk manager refused to discuss an ongoing issue I had during my stay, namely receiving unwanted wake up calls each morning. Instead, she threatened retaliation towards myself, and my friend for using the rate.