Unexpected RI Philadelphia category change?
Aug 2, 2012, 3:27 pm
#1
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 574
Unexpected RI Philadelphia category change?
Just went to review my RI Philadelphia Center City reservation made at least a month ago using a Cat 1-4 certificate. Now, the website says this property is a category 5. Got in apparently in the nick of time, but I find this amazing given that they already made these changes last Feb./March. Are mid-season changes now to be expected as well?
Aug 2, 2012, 4:17 pm
#2
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Just went to review my RI Philadelphia Center City reservation made at least a month ago using a Cat 1-4 certificate. Now, the website says this property is a category 5. Got in apparently in the nick of time, but I find this amazing given that they already made these changes last Feb./March. Are mid-season changes now to be expected as well?
Cheers.
Aug 2, 2012, 8:20 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 308
I stayed there not too long ago on Cat 1-4 cert. Is there any hotel left in the world where you can spend the certs that is not a dump?
Aug 2, 2012, 8:24 pm
#4
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several hundred ++...............
https://www.marriott.com/hotel-search/Category4.hotels/
https://www.marriott.com/hotel-search/Category3.hotels/
https://www.marriott.com/hotel-search/Category4.hotels/
https://www.marriott.com/hotel-search/Category3.hotels/
Aug 2, 2012, 10:42 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 308
Read. Think. Reply!
Simply posting the list of Cat 4 / 3 hotels is NOT answering this question!
that is not a dump?
Aug 3, 2012, 12:52 am
#6
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let's see, since I live in Thailand:
Renaissance Rajaprasong
Marriott Sukhumvit 57 (due to open this yr)
Rayong Marriott (due to open this yr and 2-weeks ago wrote up a trip report on it)
and south of me in Malaysia
Renaissance Kuala Lumpur
JW Kuala Lumpur
and in Europe, several, including the Regensburg CY (and I generally do not do CYs)
now, certainly there are several Cat 1-4s that you or I may think of as sub-par but the blanket statement that ALL Cat 1-4s worldwide are dumps just ain't so............ and, I'm sure there are a few Cat 5-8s that are overrated as well.......
Renaissance Rajaprasong
Marriott Sukhumvit 57 (due to open this yr)
Rayong Marriott (due to open this yr and 2-weeks ago wrote up a trip report on it)
and south of me in Malaysia
Renaissance Kuala Lumpur
JW Kuala Lumpur
and in Europe, several, including the Regensburg CY (and I generally do not do CYs)
now, certainly there are several Cat 1-4s that you or I may think of as sub-par but the blanket statement that ALL Cat 1-4s worldwide are dumps just ain't so............ and, I'm sure there are a few Cat 5-8s that are overrated as well.......
Aug 3, 2012, 1:00 am
#7
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There are some Cat 4's in the USA that are still downtown, but this was one that stayed at a Cat 4 during the latest announced changes in March, unlike the nearby C/Y that moved up to a CAt 5 at that time.
I don't even have a problem with them changing the rate category after the announced changes, but they should give us some notice of their intention to do that.
After all, they do pre-announce category changes to us prior to the major re-categorization, why can't they give us a heads up for these sort of ones, as well?
I don't even have a problem with them changing the rate category after the announced changes, but they should give us some notice of their intention to do that.
After all, they do pre-announce category changes to us prior to the major re-categorization, why can't they give us a heads up for these sort of ones, as well?
Aug 3, 2012, 7:10 pm
#8
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 574
Well i venture to guess that any mid-season changes will be filled with many more adjustments up in category than down ...
Aug 3, 2012, 8:23 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Texas
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After the mid-year upgrades its getting kind of hard to use the Cat 1-4 certificates anywhere with vacation appeal. My favorite little Courtyard beach hotel in Kauai is now a Cat 5, not to mention DC went away too.
Aug 3, 2012, 9:19 pm
#10
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 574
I've managed to get in at several cities (Montreal, Seattle, now Philly I guess) just before a surprising category change. My issue is that even to get at a Courtyard or RI in most downtown cities you need a category 5 or weekend discounts at these places often leave prices fairly low such that I'd rather pay for a night. I'm hoping to visit Houston with my Cat 4 and thinking of either Nashville, Austin or Miami with my credit card Cat 5. May call Marriott to see if they'll upgrade my Fall promotion to the Cat 5 rather than 4 ... there really is a big difference now! I get that 4's are better value in Europe/Asia/Middle East, but I'm not in a position to go there for some years.
Aug 4, 2012, 9:06 am
#11
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I don't even have a problem with them changing the rate category after the announced changes, but they should give us some notice of their intention to do that.
After all, they do pre-announce category changes to us prior to the major re-categorization, why can't they give us a heads up for these sort of ones, as well?
After all, they do pre-announce category changes to us prior to the major re-categorization, why can't they give us a heads up for these sort of ones, as well?
Cheers.
Aug 4, 2012, 6:34 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NC
Programs: Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Platinum
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To answer your question - Yes, I can think of quite a few non-dump hotels where we have spent certs and had a rather nice time.
Aug 5, 2012, 2:45 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 1999
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I agree that it's become almost impossible to use Cat 4 certs in downtown locations in the U.S. Perhaps the fact that some people were targeted with Cat 5 certs for the Fall Megabonus is a sign that Marriott recognizes how much the value of a Cat 4 cert has dropped... but then again, it's discouraging to see that some people were still targeted with the Cat 4 promotion this time around.
Aug 5, 2012, 6:40 pm
#14
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 574
Sadly I was one of the ones in the 4's and could not get them to change it. Wondering if they targeted the 5's at the highest or the lowest ends ...
Aug 8, 2012, 7:03 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 688
I have used the Cat 4 certs at the RI Philly Center City. I was looking forward to using them again at the RI Philly or CY Philly. It stinks that they are both Cat 5's now.
I like to stay downtown but now it is extremely difficult to find a Downtown Cat 4 hotel within 3 hrs of NYC or in NYC.
I like to stay downtown but now it is extremely difficult to find a Downtown Cat 4 hotel within 3 hrs of NYC or in NYC.
Last edited by rtraveler; Aug 8, 2012 at 7:16 pm