Starwood Lurker

My apologies, but I usually disable PM's here at Flyertalk when I am out of office for longer than just the weekend. It will be turned back on later today once I catch up.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Sam I Am

with regards to amenity fee: I've been repeatedly told at check-in that as a platinum, the fee is waived, but their system cannot do this automatically and to make sure it happens at check-out. I've been told this at regular and gold/plat check-in, and have had success at both registration desks at check-out. Hit-or-miss whether the associate notices/remembers on their own, versus having to request it. But I've never had a problem with getting it taken right off.

factory81

Is this hotel a good value in vegas? I have to stay in Vegas for about 6 weeks. And Hyatt has a lot of partnerships it seems in LV. Making me want to try for a Diamond status challenge.

The resort fee turns me off, although I have been told that it will be waived (I am plat 75 if that means anything to anyone).

Secondly, is this hotel good for business travelers? I do enjoy the idea of fun, but I mean, basically is it as functional as a Holiday Inn? Will this place look badly on an expense report? Given its nightly pool party and resort fee and such...

red star

Resort fee is waived for Plts (2 weeks ago) and the place itself isn't really a party location. I had a pool view room and didn't see anything going on there at night (well, the "pool" itself is not an overly convincing place).

UASPG

That's to say the least; it is quite similar to pools that can be found in some motels. It certainly will not be the cause for a red flag on an expense report.

factory81

By my normal travel standards, what you can buy in LV for $100/nt is quite nice on paper it seems. So I question just what is considered the norm. I haven't had to actually do business in LV before. I fly pretty under the radar expense wise (and am usually under budget). I will continue to be under budget (So I guess who cares where I stay, if I am under budget?), but if someone actually looks at where I stay at the client site or my own employer; I want to look sensible.

RogerD408

If you are worried about someone IN Las Vegas thinking you are going overboard staying at this property, DON'T. In fact, they may think you are being frugal. There is no big casino attached, there is no shopping mall attached, there is no collection of restaurants on-site, and it's not even on the strip. Granted you are close to all these things, but it's far from being a Treasure Island-type place.

If someone not in Las Vegas will be doing the review, then just the fact you are in Las Vegas might catch their eye. If you gotta be there, then be there and document the work events. I used to support Hawaii and it was fine for me to spend hundreds of dollars on the phone walking a customer through a problem, but heaven forbid I should make a trip to help make sales.

You might even want to break up your stay and check out a few different places. Depending upon where your customer is located maybe check out some of the suburbs and see what life is like away from the strip.

Most of all, enjoy your trip.

factory81

Unfortunately after spending some time talking with platinum concierge or whatever and confirming my daily resort fee could be waived, and going through the back and forth process there; the hotel has become sold out for the week of november 2nd - 7th. At this point, I have a Hyatt Place I could stay at and start my diamond challenge with Hyatt, but that will cause 3 weeks worth of lost bookings for SPG.

SPG wants me to pay the rack rate if I really want to stay here, which is $499/nt. I can't do that. I don't know how much starwood really cares for my business, but I said, look I want to stay with you guys all 6 weeks.

I left a message with their internal central booking....manager. Asking them to consider overriding the rack rate pricing, so that I can just book my 6 weeks at this Westin. Otherwise I will yes, book 3 weeks minimum at the Hyatt, and depending on how the promos are going - I just may stick with Hyatt for all 6 weeks.

I'm really bummed. 870 hotel rooms or something, availability all over the weekend as I am looking, and as the back/forth convo about resort fees.......and now it is sold out.

I just can't believe it, and then I felt like it was a slap in the face to advertise "Guarantee Room Availability prior to 72 hours", when in reality it should be like "Guaranteed Rack Room Rate Available prior to 72 hours".

No one tells you this until you actually want to use that benefit. I perceived that benefit as being much more valuable than it actually was.

Flews

I think your admission is more of a reflection on you than SPG.

Also, Hyatt over Westin? What happened to your big concern about perceived extravagance?

Cheers,

LovetoTravel83

Check other websites, I've always managed to find lower rates and filed a BRG claim.

factory81

Hyatt Diamond challenge + 12 stays = 4 confirmed suite upgrades usable for up to 7? days per upgrade (so in theory, like 28 days). So for the Park Hyatt's of the world....this is a cool thing.

The actual hotel I would stay at would allow me to achieve this great benefit at a low cost. I justtttt hit Plat 75, and while I have this status (it resets sometime soon, correct? Or do I maintain plat 75 status for...a year?). If I have just so many weeks left of the "More for you"...plus 4 points per dollar and then using my SPG card.....

I really want to stay at Westin here, obviously


It fits the price (every other week). It is semi-convenient. But I just need some cheese with my whine is what I am really saying.....

controller1

I wouldn't exactly be concerned since factory81 stated it was a Hyatt Place!

craigthemif

If you have the 50K promo from Hyatt, it's a no brainer to do 21 nights there. You'll also receive 1K for each 3 nights for the Vegas promo, so that's another 7K. Plus a Diamond Challenge (no real benefits at the HP though) for 2015 status.

SPG will give you 4 points / $... (+credit card)

Strangely enough, though, I usually manage to find Best Rate Guarantee rates substantially lower for the Westin as opposed to the Hyatt Place. And it is a nicer hotel, closer to the Strip.

But if the Westin don't want your business at sensible rates, go elsewhere...

OMCA

Just stayed this past Sunday. Tried to check in early (10:30am) and was told that the room blocked for me wasn't quite ready. I had been told I was the guest of the day which came with 1,000 bonus star points.

Was still offered a 1,000 point amenity or 500 plus free breakfast.

I said we'd go get breakfast then go to the pool while waiting for the room to get ready. We were given breakfast buffet vouchers for that morning and vouchers for a couple of drinks while at the pool, which was generous of them.

Room was a decent enough Westin, not a luxury property by and stretch. The pool was decent...nice music, good service but a bit small for the number of bathers...

My resort fee wasn't on my folio, while my girlfriend's (next night) was promptly removed when requested at check out.

Clearly this property is treating Plat guests very well...

redanman

Abysmal treatment as Platinum, but I need the 4 nights to reach 50 this year.

No upgrade, no club, everyone in hotel gets poolside box-quality wine and meh snacks daily at 6 p.m.

Offered points v. breakfast - whoop. No food in room, not a thank you from manager with some fruit or snacks - zilch, nada nothing. Just free self park which everyone gets.

Again, needed the nights - attended meeting/conference 0.8 miles away.