Originally Posted by
Jasper2009
There have been a few such reports, but fortunately Iīve had nothing but excellent service over the years, regardless of whether I had booked the FAF rate or any other rate. Some hotels even gave me some extra benefits as an employee friend (e.g. 20% discount on F&B)
IMO the "attitude" comes from the fact that the FAF rate was available to the public for quite a while and it probably was hard to distinguish the "real employee friends" from other people using the NFAF code.
I agree the attitude probably was more so when the rate was public.. my personal concierge made this statement to me about 6 months ago during the summer.. so it could be that NFAF is on the cusp, but as far as I know status quo on upgrades.. so I'm pretty happy
Originally Posted by
Jasper2009
I agree that the rate booked may result in a different level of service, but IMO itīs pretty much impossible to say whether itīs good or bad, it very much depends on the employee handling the booking and the hotel, e.g.
TA rate: treat the guest worse because he paid a lower rate or treat him better because he influences the decision of other customers?
FAF rates: treat the guest worse because he paid a lower rate and may not even personally know an employee or treat him better because heīs a friend of a long-time, valued Fairmont colleague?
What Iīm basically saying is that itīs not worth it to spend too much time thinking about worse/better treatment as a consequence of booking a particular rate.
The only rates I tend to avoid for various reasons are GRGD and third party bookings (expedia, travelzoo etc.)
I would agree with you it could go either way.. the point I was making that the booking factors, rate, who you are, status of FPC.. does affect the customized service you ultimately receive.. could be good, could be bad.. could be a half empty glass of water, could be a half full glass of water.
For example, Fairmont probably has quite a few travel professionals.. run of the mill they have a standard way of treating travel agents.. however, if you're like my friend who booked hundreds of Fairmont room nights for corporate use at Jasper, and you know the same reservation manager that used to be in Jasper and just moved to Banff Springs.. Budda Boom Budda Bing.. Banff Springs Presidential Suite. I can't say this has ever happen to me before.