Ritz Paris (reopened June, 2016)
#92
#94
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Asheville, NC
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, STARS, MO FAN Club, PEN Club, Bellini Club, Dorchester Diamond Club, Travel Leaders
Posts: 1,854
A sales manager once described American Express as the elephant in the (luxury hotel industry's) living room. They get so much business from their FHR contract that they feel they cannot live without it. But they don't like working with FHR!
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
hotels will also negotiate free guaranteed things with clients and agents
hotels' perception of FHR varies by hotel/location and FHR country/plat/cent
ritz looks like >
13 / 15 suites sold individually, not as category
(2 of 15 suites not loaded online)
71 rooms - superior, exec, deluxe, grand
56 suites - jr, exec, deluxe
anyone (agents) known room counts?
i agree with Pierre&Cedric i would prefer ritz sold these other 4 individually.
few if any other hotels sell as many as 15 suites individually (only 5 at FS paris)
considering that, perhaps there is (more) hope that ritz will add those other 4.
and the hotel did only just reopen on june 6, only two and a half months ago.
on trisara's latest website/reservations, they now sell 10 residences individually.
that's the only other hotel coming to mind with similar number, and it's a change.
there are examples discussed on forum at other hotels of 'special' rooms within a room category, that have some kind of unique special feature (sometimes substantial) that should be requested in advance. room "requests" in general have come up here fairly frequently.
also lots of quotes from hotels as well as travel agents, saying certain rooms (within categories) are the "most requested"
there may be a possibility that in some of these kinds of situations, the special rooms are usually given to certain guests/owner/etc.
for example casino properties will take rooms (especially top rooms) away from paid guests to give to gambling guests.
interesting ritz loads all individual suites online, while FS/etc keep taking more and more offline >
feltrinelli >
villa - 13 rooms in 3 categories
rustica - 3 rooms in 1 category
Palais de la Méditerranée >
9 to 12 suites in 4 categories
panoramic suite is 2nd best
does ritz sell different bedding, with limited number of rooms per category having certain bedding? may help book special 4
of course room categories and the rooms in them can also change anytime, or be renamed, etc, so have to keep updated
but operations wise, ritz is not hundreds of rooms per category. some FS (paris) have 100+, most (FS) have dozens per.
hotels' perception of FHR varies by hotel/location and FHR country/plat/cent
ritz looks like >
13 / 15 suites sold individually, not as category
(2 of 15 suites not loaded online)
71 rooms - superior, exec, deluxe, grand
56 suites - jr, exec, deluxe
anyone (agents) known room counts?
few if any other hotels sell as many as 15 suites individually (only 5 at FS paris)
considering that, perhaps there is (more) hope that ritz will add those other 4.
and the hotel did only just reopen on june 6, only two and a half months ago.
on trisara's latest website/reservations, they now sell 10 residences individually.
that's the only other hotel coming to mind with similar number, and it's a change.
there are examples discussed on forum at other hotels of 'special' rooms within a room category, that have some kind of unique special feature (sometimes substantial) that should be requested in advance. room "requests" in general have come up here fairly frequently.
also lots of quotes from hotels as well as travel agents, saying certain rooms (within categories) are the "most requested"
there may be a possibility that in some of these kinds of situations, the special rooms are usually given to certain guests/owner/etc.
for example casino properties will take rooms (especially top rooms) away from paid guests to give to gambling guests.
interesting ritz loads all individual suites online, while FS/etc keep taking more and more offline >
villa - 13 rooms in 3 categories
rustica - 3 rooms in 1 category
Palais de la Méditerranée >
9 to 12 suites in 4 categories
panoramic suite is 2nd best
does ritz sell different bedding, with limited number of rooms per category having certain bedding? may help book special 4
of course room categories and the rooms in them can also change anytime, or be renamed, etc, so have to keep updated
but operations wise, ritz is not hundreds of rooms per category. some FS (paris) have 100+, most (FS) have dozens per.
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Aug 22, 2016 at 7:05 pm
#96
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: France
Posts: 971
Palais de la Médiettrannée has only 1 panoramic suite. The best suite of the hotel (with also a huge terrace) is called the 'penthouse suite' but the lay out is not so great.
I guess it's the same with all programs guaranteeing a 4pm late check out including Virtuoso. And this 4pm late check-out is precisely the main reason why I like FHR. All the rest can be purchased easily or negotiated or already included in promotions by making a reservation directly on hotels websites.
Anyway, sorry for digressing and let's come back to the Ritz Paris. I hope others will have better experiences and will actually stay there Or may be just like the Pen 2 years ago they need more time to iron out all current issues.
Last edited by Pierre&Cédric; Aug 23, 2016 at 2:06 am
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
again, what hotels guarantee within a room category? (not category with only 1 room in it, like 15 ritz suites..)
seem to recall discussion of not getting 'best' room in category at certain amans (kila ocean suite for example)
'guaranteed' late checkout or anything else just means better compensation / negotiation if they do not deliver
seem to recall discussion of not getting 'best' room in category at certain amans (kila ocean suite for example)
'guaranteed' late checkout or anything else just means better compensation / negotiation if they do not deliver
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Aug 23, 2016 at 11:29 am
#98
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
If the Ritz is what you call a 'good hotel' because they are not able to confirm a specific room (again, there are 4 rooms in this particular area among which 3 have a private rooftop garden, three!) then I prefer to stay in not so good hotels like Aman, FS, MO, etc. And it's not the Ritz GM who replied, it was the 'deputy guests relations manager', a truly kind but absolutely inefficient lady with the now already so typical condescending Ritz Paris approach. I'm French so I'm supposed to know what arrogant means In this way I can tell that Ritz Paris is definitely the 'frenchiest' Paris hotel
I guess it's the same with all programs guaranteeing a 4pm late check out including Virtuoso. And this 4pm late check-out is precisely the main reason why I like FHR. All the rest can be purchased easily or negotiated or already included in promotions by making a reservation directly on hotels websites.
#99
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Asheville, NC
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, STARS, MO FAN Club, PEN Club, Bellini Club, Dorchester Diamond Club, Travel Leaders
Posts: 1,854
Virtuoso amenities are MUCH better than FHR:
Can you convert AX points to gift cards?
- Guaranteed upgrade at time of booking
- No set check-in/check-out time (hotel must be advised of estimated arrival time)
- Daily full breakfast, for up to two in room guests (valid at restaurant or in-room)
- Complimentary two-way private airport transfer (with VIP meet & greet at the airport on arrival)
Can you convert AX points to gift cards?
#100
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Lexington, KY (but never there)
Programs: Delta Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Hilton/Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 32
Virtuoso amenities are MUCH better than FHR:
Can you convert AX points to gift cards?
- Guaranteed upgrade at time of booking
- No set check-in/check-out time (hotel must be advised of estimated arrival time)
- Daily full breakfast, for up to two in room guests (valid at restaurant or in-room)
- Complimentary two-way private airport transfer (with VIP meet & greet at the airport on arrival)
Can you convert AX points to gift cards?
#101
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 9
I've decided to split my Paris stay next summer between the Ritz and the FSGV. The attention to detail in the renovation seems too well executed to miss. Hopefully by then a number of the "opening soon" hotel features will have arrived. They include:"The Gallery and Concept Store", at least part of the Spa as "Chanel au Ritz" carries this moniker, and the "at home" boutique.
One question I have is about the cooking classes they have here. Apparently they have been quite a tradition at the Ritz. Anyone ever taken one?
One question I have is about the cooking classes they have here. Apparently they have been quite a tradition at the Ritz. Anyone ever taken one?
#102
#103
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Virtuoso | Four Seasons Preferred Partner | Rosewood Elite | Hyatt Prive - and more
Posts: 2,096
I wonder how strictly true that is in a world with so many alternatives. Surely guests keen to stay at a hotel would find a way to stay there regardless of whether it had a FHR contract or otherwise - seeing as other affiliations offer very similar benefits (*cough*Virtuoso*cough*)?
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I wonder how strictly true that is in a world with so many alternatives. Surely guests keen to stay at a hotel would find a way to stay there regardless of whether it had a FHR contract or otherwise - seeing as other affiliations offer very similar benefits (*cough*Virtuoso*cough*)?
You are right that if any of us wanted to stay at a hotel that wasn't FHR, we would find a way. But how would we have found out about the hotel in the first place if it hadn't been marketed to us? Word of mouth only goes so far.