No, this was a points booking with an incidentals spend at the hotel (booked in-app, booked within the timeframes, paid for using a visa, emailed in advance to check it was okay). I wouldn't have bothered on the incidental spend, and probably not even the stay at that particular hotel without the 5000 points so I'm rather annoyed particularly given that I had emailed in advance to check it was okay. There are more than enough hotels in the local area for equivalent number of points in other programs; the 5000 points back was enough of a rebate to think "might as well pick there even though it is not my usual hotel".

For me (but maybe not others), every promotion seems to have an issue with the IT or with the policy not applying to a certain stay. The hotels are often fairly good and I get good customer service - sometimes a minor problem, less often a major problem, more often than not no problems. I feel positive towards the hotel but then something happens with the IT and the points, and irritation ensues after the stay. These admin and IT issues get in the way of an otherwise enjoyable stay.