Sheraton Pasadena Cancels My New Year's StarPoints Stay
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: United 1K, MR Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 804
Sheraton Pasadena Cancels My New Year's StarPoints Stay
On January 15, 2013 I made a two night reservation at the Sheraton Pasadena using points for December 31, 2013 - January 2, 2014. When I made the reservation, rooms were available for cash @ $299 per night as well as Starpoint awards. This evening I received a message from a manager at the Sheraton Pasadena telling me that my starpoints reservation was cancelled because of a system glitch that allowed me to book using Starpoints, when the hotel was really sold out. No offer of alternative arrangements was made (probably because all of the other major hotels in Pasadena are also sold out!)! We were heading to Pasadena to attend the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1. I have already secured airline and parade tickets for my family based on what I thought was a confirmed reservation.
According to the message, they were letting me know as soon as possible so that I could make alternative arrangements while there is still plenty of time. Yeah right. The only accommodations available in Pasadena for those two nights are 1 star motels asking $400 per night. The closest Starwood property is the Bonaventure 10 miles away! The whole reason I booked the Sheraton was so we could walk to the parade and wouldn't have to fight LA traffic to get in and out of Pasadena!
In 10 years with SPG, this is my first time using Starpoints and I am not happy at all with the results. Never had any problem using points at Marriott for desirable dates and locations such as the NYC Marriott Marquis on New Year's Eve, Hawaii during Christmas or New Orleans two months ago for the Superbowl!
Anyone have any ideas? Do I have any recourse or am I screwed because I made a reservation using Starpoints and the Sheraton Pasadena would rather have paying guests?
Sorry for the rant!
Regards,
RIP...
According to the message, they were letting me know as soon as possible so that I could make alternative arrangements while there is still plenty of time. Yeah right. The only accommodations available in Pasadena for those two nights are 1 star motels asking $400 per night. The closest Starwood property is the Bonaventure 10 miles away! The whole reason I booked the Sheraton was so we could walk to the parade and wouldn't have to fight LA traffic to get in and out of Pasadena!
In 10 years with SPG, this is my first time using Starpoints and I am not happy at all with the results. Never had any problem using points at Marriott for desirable dates and locations such as the NYC Marriott Marquis on New Year's Eve, Hawaii during Christmas or New Orleans two months ago for the Superbowl!
Anyone have any ideas? Do I have any recourse or am I screwed because I made a reservation using Starpoints and the Sheraton Pasadena would rather have paying guests?
Sorry for the rant!
Regards,
RIP...
#2
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: SPG Plat
Posts: 792
I think you have a valid case here but let's see what the Lurkers say.
#3
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG
Posts: 4,002
I would advise the OP to contact Corporate Customer Service by toll-free at 800-328-6242 or by email at [email protected].
Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
Last edited by Starwood Lurker II; Mar 28, 2013 at 3:57 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: KSA
Programs: Marriott AMB, Skywards Gold
Posts: 3,736
If they're sold out then and you have a booking then you should be walked to a nearby hotel. In my opinion, it wasn't a system glitch and the hotel is just trying to pull one on you.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Bonvoy Gold, UA G
Posts: 596
Looks like they're screwing you, hopefully SPG Lurker can help make it right.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: United 1K, MR Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 804
After posting here, I called the hotel and spoke with the Manager on Duty. According to the MOD, the hotel was not making any alternative arrangements for any guests impacted (he would not say how many reservations were cancelled) and that is why I was being notified now instead of closer to the event (gee, thanks)! He also said since it was a system glitch it was not the hotel's fault and therefore not their responsibility to find me a room for those two nights! He did say he thought I would be getting 5000 points for the inconvenience! I told him, that doesn't even begin to cover it! He couldn't help any further and he transferred me to the GM's voicemail.
I will post an update after I speak to the GM today
Regards,
RIP...
#7
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: SPG Plat
Posts: 792
Sheraton Pasadena Cancels My New Year's StarPoints Stay
did you contact Corporate? these guys usually whip the hotel into shape.
#8
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pasadena,Ca.,US.
Programs: AA, Delta, United, SPG plat, Hyatt dia
Posts: 7,140
You need to follow Starwood Lurkers advice here-stop dealing with the MOD
#9
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlanta but Washington DC will always be home.
Programs: Marriott LTP, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold, Hyatt Explorist,, Delta Plat,
Posts: 2,070
The GM is not going to help you, you need to contact Starwood Customer Service. In fact, the Sheraton is still selling room for your dates, just through tournamentofroses.com. Check-in December 29th and out January 2nd. I think the "glitch" was that they decided to sell the hotel as a block, and forgot to pull availability off of starwood sites. That's the hotel's problem, not yours.
BTW, the package is 4 nights at $3000(couple), or $2500 (single). Check-in December 29, out on January 2nd. Includes some extras, but clearly they cancelled out your points reservation to make big $$$ another way.
BTW, the package is 4 nights at $3000(couple), or $2500 (single). Check-in December 29, out on January 2nd. Includes some extras, but clearly they cancelled out your points reservation to make big $$$ another way.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SMF
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, SPG LTP
Posts: 1,526
Me too.
I'm in a similar boat to the OP. I reserved two rooms for the Rose Parade (one two night reservation and two one night reservations) with the intention of taking my in-laws to the parade as a birthday gift. I booked my reservations on 1/1/2013 (while watching the parade on TV) for $169 per night and have since bought tickets to the parade at a cost of nearly $400. Last week, we got a voicemail from one of the managers at the hotel saying there was a "booking error" and that all of my reservations are being canceled, but they would send me $169 per reservation. The reservations disappeared from my account within a couple of days.
My wife called and spoke with one of the managers a few days ago and he said the entire hotel is taken over by Tournament officials during that time and there is nothing they can do for us. She explained that we already purchased parade tickets and he offered to buy them off of us, which we are considering.
The $169 checks haven't materialized yet. If they do, we may just sell the parade tickets to the hotel and do something else for my father in law's birthday...or, now that I'm brewing on this, I may just raise a big stink with corporate.
My wife called and spoke with one of the managers a few days ago and he said the entire hotel is taken over by Tournament officials during that time and there is nothing they can do for us. She explained that we already purchased parade tickets and he offered to buy them off of us, which we are considering.
The $169 checks haven't materialized yet. If they do, we may just sell the parade tickets to the hotel and do something else for my father in law's birthday...or, now that I'm brewing on this, I may just raise a big stink with corporate.
#11
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: SPG Plat
Posts: 792
I'm in a similar boat to the OP. I reserved two rooms for the Rose Parade (one two night reservation and two one night reservations) with the intention of taking my in-laws to the parade as a birthday gift. I booked my reservations on 1/1/2013 (while watching the parade on TV) for $169 per night and have since bought tickets to the parade at a cost of nearly $400. Last week, we got a voicemail from one of the managers at the hotel saying there was a "booking error" and that all of my reservations are being canceled, but they would send me $169 per reservation. The reservations disappeared from my account within a couple of days.
My wife called and spoke with one of the managers a few days ago and he said the entire hotel is taken over by Tournament officials during that time and there is nothing they can do for us. She explained that we already purchased parade tickets and he offered to buy them off of us, which we are considering.
The $169 checks haven't materialized yet. If they do, we may just sell the parade tickets to the hotel and do something else for my father in law's birthday...or, now that I'm brewing on this, I may just raise a big stink with corporate.
My wife called and spoke with one of the managers a few days ago and he said the entire hotel is taken over by Tournament officials during that time and there is nothing they can do for us. She explained that we already purchased parade tickets and he offered to buy them off of us, which we are considering.
The $169 checks haven't materialized yet. If they do, we may just sell the parade tickets to the hotel and do something else for my father in law's birthday...or, now that I'm brewing on this, I may just raise a big stink with corporate.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Yes, absolutely raise the issue to corporate! Although the rooms may be promised to the group and still being sold, there is nothing that prevents the property from buying back rooms for those that were able to book via SPG.com due to their error and it's NOT "a system glitch"! They are in CYA mode and hoping no one pushes the issue.
#13
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
In 10 years of staying at Starwood properties, I have never been walked. I know when a full service Marriott walks their elites, they have the Ultimate Reservation Guarantee which provides $200 cash and certificates good for a free night at any Marriott property worldwide. Does SPG have something similar?
Or are they just liable for finding a comparable hotel and paying for transportation to the Sheraton Pasadena?
My sincerest apologies for the issues that caused this.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
#14
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,016
The best thing to do is to initiate a Corporate Customer Service case against the hotel and let it play out, since the hotel is clearly not interested in rectifying the situation.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,018
Good luck to those who have been hit with cancellations. Hopefully SPG Corporate can act to resolve it. I certainly wouldn't be happy to be in the position of the OP. SPG Corporate come through more often than not, so hopefully this will be one of those times.