jackal

I admit I didn't propose specific solutions, because I was hopeful we (including a lot of people on FT much smarter than me) would have some time as a community to discuss the concerns and figure it out. I posted as much in the other thread before you proposed the motion:

I feel like the rush to get the motion moved and seconded nearly a week before the ultimate deadline seems to have prematurely shortened the timeframe for that discussion to take place.

Regardless, unless there is whatever consensus we need to withdraw the motion and work on improving it over the next couple of days before proposing it again, this is all water under the bridge, and as I said, I will be voting yes on this motion.

SkiAdcock

You could have come up with some suggestions/solutions both on the public and private forum, as could others. You didn't. Neither did other TB members. Even if you thought your solutions needed tweaking you could have suggested them. I have respect for you, so this is more a generic comment for others who now have concerns but didn't detail them.

BTW - I did read and re-read the comments about OTAs and hotel chains before doing the motion. Airbnb, vrbo are obviously not booked through OTAs, nor is anyone going to mistake them for a hotel chain.

Actually in the Marriott forum someone posted they booked airbnb because there was no Marriott or starwood property where they were going.

Cheers

Canarsie

I will most likely vote in support of this motion.

Prospero

I understand your rationale but airbnb bookings via the QF and DL channels are very much an outlier and since none of the major lodging service providers actually have a frequent stay programme of their own, I think housing this forum in the Miles & Points would cause some confusion. Much better to have it in Travel & Dining along side Luxury Hotels and Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies.

Other than that, its a great idea.

jackal

I agree.

SkiAdcock

I proposed it in the M&P forum for the reason outlined (and we don't know that DL/Q are outliers). If the CD decides to put it in T&D I'm ok w/ that too. FWIW - Ride Services got put into the Car Rental programs forum.

Cheers.

CMK10

Voting opened at 4:30 PM today

obscure2k

This is an example of what I consider to be a fit for the proposed forum. It was posted in the Europe/Italy Forum. The OP has credibility on FT.
Here is a B&B in Puglia, near Lecce, that is offering free nights to a small band who can play jazz in the evening in their garden, or to someone who can make a high definition video of their property so they can use it to publicize themselves, and also to anyone who can give them an hour of lessons in speaking either German or English, and also help them write and edit a website they want to put up in either of these two languages. It seems as if Baratto has a lot going on.

The OP has suggested that in Italy, there are sites which barter.

Prospero

I don't believe the Ride Services forum offers a valid precedent as it is not being used to discuss mileage or points earning. That does really surprise me given neither of the major providers, Uber and Lyft have a frequent ride programme.

Uber is an SPG partner and it is possible to earn SPG points on Uber trips. There is an active discussion covering this but it is not housed in the Ride Services forum; you'll find it in the Starwood forum. Similarly, I suppose the Delta Air Lines forum will become the de facto place to discuss Delta SkyMiles earning via airbnb's Skymiles partnership.

If we are to follow the logic of locating forums into the Miles & Points section on the basis of a peripheral points proposition, then Luxury Hotels, Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies, and Travel News could be moved over because FFP partnerships also exist in these spaces. For example, I can earn Avios on hotel stays booked with Kaligo, Rocketmiles and Agoda PointsMAX, and Virgin Flying Club points via PointsHound plus Avios on Business Traveller subscriptions. I can also earn Lufthansa M&M points on Rimowa luggage purchases so should we also move the Travel Products forum into the Miles & Points section? I'd argue not and for the same reason suggest that unless any of the lodging services providers launch their own frequent stay programme (and there is no evidence of this happening) then the Travel & Dining section is the most logical fit.

Not only would it be a clear fit, a Lodging Services forum would compliment the existing Luxury Hotels and Online Travel Booking forums.

T8191

All sources of information can be valuable.

I support the recommendation, and let others decide where it should be located and what it's called

SkiAdcock

I outlined why I picked miles & points when doing the motion. I also said up thread that if the CD chooses to place it in Travel & Dining rather than Miles & Points I'd be ok w/ that.

FWIW - I went back/forth when creating the motion on whether it should reside in M&P or T&D, which is why I'm not set in stone on where it finally resides. I'm more interested in seeing the forum created, which is why, absent a groundswell against, I'll probably vote yes.

Cheers.

tcook052

Does TB's remit extend beyond recommending forum creation to the CD to include forum location?

FWIW I agree with Prospero that placing a new Lodging Services forum in the Travel & Dining section is the most natural fit.

SkiAdcock

TB recommendations often includes where a forum will reside, but it's not set in stone. The CD can go w/ the recommendation or determine if she thinks there's a better place for it. She's done both in the past.

As I mentioned I waffled on where it should reside before I made the motion, so if everyone believes that T&D section is a better fit I'm fine w/ that.

Cheers.

wyvern

It's a much needed forum and I think it would be best positioned in T&D.

GUWonder

I support this forum creation. I also support it being in the "travel & dining" section of FT.

Non-hotel lodging services is what I would prefer it to be called, even as there are hotel condominiums/hotel-managed condominium units.