Posting this as an FYI, with the recent Mexico City Hilton fiasco in mind:

I was scheduled to be in Portland, OR last night. Had a free room at a Starwood property booked, using SPG points, for several weeks. As I usually do, I checked out prices a few days prior to arrival at the chains I frequent - Starwood and Radisson.

Well, on the Radisson web site, up came several prices for the one night I was looking at. A AAA rate, a Govt. rate, etc.. The Corporate rate was listed at "$0.00". Figured I'd give it a try. Well, it confirmed me at that rate and I got an additional e-mail confirmation that listed a phone number if I had any questions. I called it and was transferred to "Distribution Services". There,the woman, upon seeing the rate, put me on hold to enquire. When she got back she stated, "It looks like you won!". She said that they were obligated to honor it. Also, she advised me not to make any changes to the reservation, otherwise I'd lose the rate.

I immediately went back online to check out the same property for the same date. The Corporate rate was now $89 for the night I wanted.

Of course, I didn't believe it until I checked in. But, lo and behold, I checked in and the clerk mentioned the "computer error" and said that I had a rate of $0.00

Checked out this morning and my bill included only my breakfast. (I felt obligated to eat at least one meal there!)

The point of this post is obviously not to tell people of a terrific opportunity in Portland. It is more to tell of the experience that I had so that if someone comes upon this it IS possible that it will be honored.

I'm pretty certain that it helped that Radisson was informed of this error right away, AND that I didn't book the rest of May and all of June at their hotel.


Aloha