Nov 28, 2014, 1:28 pm
Last edit by: Oxon Flyer
Listings of the hotels participating in the weekly SPG Hot Escapes promotion can be seen here.
[ENDED 01 Aug 2018] SPG Hot Escapes [which replace Starpicks and beatthetimer]
Oct 16, 2013, 2:31 pm
#61
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,032
Just curious as to what qualifies the Aloft Leawood-Overland Park, Kansas as a 'Romantic Getaway' when, say, the Prince de Galles, Paris isn't .....
Oct 16, 2013, 2:52 pm
#62
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Germany / Thailand
Programs: M&M/S SPG livetime gold, but not running behind status & points anymore! Now only book value for $
Posts: 3,090
poor handling 
poor availability
poor discount
poor choice
not even 1 improofment
poor availability
poor discount
poor choice
not even 1 improofment
Oct 16, 2013, 3:53 pm
#63
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: AMS
Programs: KL Platinum
Posts: 95
I fully agree with the previous comments expressing disappointment about the new website. Bad design which makes it really hard to search for suitable offers, and even worse, it is now the only option which replaces two services which were working well, especially BTT which was so good for the EMEA countries.
It is definitely a service which is of little or no use to frequent travelers, and it makes it only harder to choose for Starwood properties. BTT was a reason to stay at Starwood hotels thanks to the combination of good planning and price possibilities. Now the planning part is gone, and the choice of hotels is so limited and so random (for example, you never know when or if the list of hotels is complete every week) that it is basically a gambling game.
It is definitely a service which is of little or no use to frequent travelers, and it makes it only harder to choose for Starwood properties. BTT was a reason to stay at Starwood hotels thanks to the combination of good planning and price possibilities. Now the planning part is gone, and the choice of hotels is so limited and so random (for example, you never know when or if the list of hotels is complete every week) that it is basically a gambling game.
Oct 16, 2013, 7:25 pm
#64
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 211
This is what I thought would happen. Every time an "improvement" gets rolled out, we're actually worse off than before. The old BTT site was great (albeit there were some performance issues) and the offers were in general pretty good. I was hoping to take advantage of some on this new site for my upcoming trip to Europe next month but unfortunately it looks like I will go with another hotel chain.
And having a technical background myself... who in the world approved this design? I'm on a iMac 21.5" and the logo and the search bar are taking up half the screen. What a waste of screen real estate IMO. I also hope you guys are running analytics. I'd bet more people would scroll down or enter something in the search bar rather than click on the categories on the left, which again IMO is a waste of real estate. A dropdown box would probably be more useful for filtering and would also convey the same information.
FYI... the infinite scrolling/lazy loading feature doesn't seem to work on mobile... at least on an iPhone. For instance, when you view all deals, you only get the first six.
And having a technical background myself... who in the world approved this design? I'm on a iMac 21.5" and the logo and the search bar are taking up half the screen. What a waste of screen real estate IMO. I also hope you guys are running analytics. I'd bet more people would scroll down or enter something in the search bar rather than click on the categories on the left, which again IMO is a waste of real estate. A dropdown box would probably be more useful for filtering and would also convey the same information.
FYI... the infinite scrolling/lazy loading feature doesn't seem to work on mobile... at least on an iPhone. For instance, when you view all deals, you only get the first six.
Oct 16, 2013, 10:12 pm
#65
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: BCT. Formerly known as attorney28
Programs: LH HON,BA GGL GfL,Hyatt LT Glob,Mrtt LT P,Hilt LT D,IC Amb,Acc P,GHA Tit,LHW Strlg,Sixt/Av/Hz D/Pres
Posts: 6,826
More proof that this sucks:
Oct 17, 2013, 2:57 am
#66
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Germany
Programs: Marriott Plat., HHonors gold, IHG Plat., Accor gold, IC Amb, Hertz #1 club, Sixt plat.
Posts: 359
Now 62 properties ?! What's going on? It's really gambling. Hate it already.
+1 for "want my BTT back" !
+1 for "want my BTT back" !
Oct 17, 2013, 3:39 am
#67
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Switzerland
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 61
Back to 60
Not sure, but it seems different locations are available now
Oct 17, 2013, 3:50 am
#68
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: europe
Programs: EX²-*wood platinum, EX-hyatt diamond, sixt platinum, hilton silver, leaders club, esselunga verde...
Posts: 2,048
Oct 17, 2013, 7:40 am
#69
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: europe
Programs: EX²-*wood platinum, EX-hyatt diamond, sixt platinum, hilton silver, leaders club, esselunga verde...
Posts: 2,048
63...
Oct 17, 2013, 10:13 am
#70
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: South Germany
Programs: Miles&More Senator , EX-SPG Platinum now Bonvoy LTP, IC Platinum , Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 300
Oct 17, 2013, 12:05 pm
#71
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany-Dresden
Programs: Bonvoy AMB/LTE , Diamond HH, SEN LH
Posts: 181
Oct 17, 2013, 12:28 pm
#72
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BKK
Programs: World of Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy LTP; IHG Plat
Posts: 2,233
for me, this program totally sucks.
Oct 17, 2013, 12:43 pm
#73
Company Representative, Starwood Digital
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: MR,SPG,RC
Posts: 45
Oct 17, 2013, 1:02 pm
#74
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: South Germany
Programs: Miles&More Senator , EX-SPG Platinum now Bonvoy LTP, IC Platinum , Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 300
Oct 17, 2013, 1:29 pm
#75
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: AMS
Programs: KL Platinum
Posts: 95
There are more bugs with amazing Hot Escapes deals, apparently:
(same dates as the previous one, 7/8 January 2014)
(same dates as the previous one, 7/8 January 2014)