MileageGoblin

And Vicki corrected me on 4/10, so why should I?

catharsis

google the terms above for some interesting insights into exactly how the SPG program was handling this issue, and for how these procedures may have been used by certain hotels to their benefit.

I presume there's an FT thread but I will leave that to others to dig out...

socrates

the programs are all very similar regardless of hotel company.....

SkiAdcock

I've never understood the fascination some FTers have with how hotels get compensated when using points. I have little interest & really don't care, but obviously for others it's important because the topic comes up yearly.

Cheers.

joshua362

Me too. What does it matter as long as we can use them (the points)?

I think we've debunked the myth (at Marriott) that point stays get crappy treatment (in general, there might be some renegade FD clerks out there). I've seen tiny amounts $13-$15 appear on my folio in the past that took some effort to remove and these must be related somehow but other than that, who cares?

keeton

It is along the same lines as "what are my points worth..." threads you will see on FT (including this forum).

Understanding the business model of the award programs can help the customer understand the motivation of some properties in their treatment of award guests. Yes, they say it shouldn't make any difference, but sometimes it does.

socrates

unfortunately the programs are complex for the hotels too and some folks just never fully understand how to maximize the return on them (and yes I'm talking about hotels here not guests)

keeton

And some properties do it "all to well"...see lawsuit referenced above.

In my own experience, I have had several "$13.00" folios slipped under my door. On the other hand, one time when I was staying in Boston and having to switch hotels due to award availability, and lack thereof, I mentioned this when I was checking out of my first property and the manager said "Oh, we can get you a room..." and encouraged me to stay. Afterwards, I realized that they would get reimbursed at the higher rate and would make money on the deal.

Hilton unwittingly posted their boilerplate franchise agreements for their different brands on their unsecured web site a while back. This included the hotel's participation in HHonors and the policies thereof. As a frequent traveler, it was an eye-opening read. As you said:

dayone

$22.73 for a Rewards night at Vancouver Airport Marriott.

socrates

FYI - Marriott only pays in whole dollars

ZZYZXROAD

Plus 1. Seriously why would anyone care?

sdsearch

Whole dollars in which currency?

What's whole dollars in US dollars is not necessarily whole dollars in Canadian dollars. And last I checked, Vancouver Airport is in Canada.

dayone

Good point. My info was in USD. 25.00 CAD would be a reasonable conversion.

socrates

USD - but having just looked at the hotels minimum reimbursement amount I can assure you the amount posted here is not even close to being correct in either CAD or USD (the amount is posted in CAD)

djp98374

Every FTer may have different motives...

for me personally Im curious from a business standpoint from a revenue management and customer service angle.

With Marriott---are points different than cert stays?

If the hotel feels there are screwed by points or free night certificate stays then this will likely reflect on how they treat you as a customer.

If they expect to get $200 per night but the points/cert stay only gets them $100 per night or even less, then they may treat you poorly by putting you in the problem rooms.

If the hotel knows they will get max compensation for a cert/points stay that is great then the current market rate for a stay there, then they will go out of their way to get you to use those certs/points to stay there.