Originally Posted by
TOMFORD
Hah, glad you dug this up. 8 years later, I still feel the same way. I would rather a free night every dozen nights than any informal recognition. It's nice if staff remembers how I like my coffee and all, but I would rather say my coffee order everyday if it means I can save $1k on a night of room rate.
Originally Posted by
KatW
Yet the sad truth, for us as guests, is most luxe venues do just fine without the fuss and bother of managing a reward program. In this case, the economics are on their side.
Just really depends on a person's discretionary income and what they value in time and what they want out of their experience/customer service. Ultimately, time is the most expensive commodity to purchase.
For example, services that I get at MO/FS as a first time stayer at a property surpasses what I will get at any PH as a Hyatt Globalist, and I didn't have to spend all that time/effort to jump through the hoops to get globalist. So you are paying a higher cost to get much better customer service without the time investment of a loyalty program.
Ultimately, each traveler's budget will justify what is worth it to them. Luxury is a never ending chase, as there will always be a higher level of service from what you have purchased last. Millionaires are the middle class now, and no longer the rich.