Precisely the point by FPC, Shelley said that the private condos being rented out as part of the hotel, I assume by the choice of the owners, and their agreements with the owners, state strictly no use of certs allowed.. thus the restrictions placed on the use of certs at this property.

Another angle regarding names is that the private owners of these hotels don't want the Fairmont name to overshadow their grand properties, thus instead of calling it the Fairmont Plaza, its called the Plaza, a Fairmont Hotel.. The Savoy as far as I understand does not restrict the use of certs.

Fairmont is just stingy with the certificates plain and simple. They can give you any excuse they want. The HOTEL (not the CONDOTEL portion) has enough rooms to accomodate upgrade certificates without dipping into the "owners" inventory. But Fairmont chooses to not. It is on Fairmont.

Doesn't matter how you name it. The name of many hotels transcend the company managing the hotel. Lots of hotels have names and you don't even think about the Fairmont name. I call it Le Ch�teau Frontenac, not Fairmont Le Ch�teau Frontenac. Ch�teau Laurier, Chateau Lake Louise etc.
Applies to other brands too, I simply call it the Waldorf=Astoria not the Hilton Waldorf=Astoria.

I don't believe these luxury condos are being rented out as hotel rooms regardless of what this call centre agent supposedly said. Why on earth would anyone who pays millions, up to $50 million according to this article, for one of these luxury condos need to have them rented out to the public?

LOL Here's hoping they come to their sense and let us suite upgrade to the $50 million property.

Yeah, I agree, I would probably make the trip down to NY if they gave us the ability to use certs. Visit the 911 epicenter and check out the city.

TCook052, I agree with you, it wouldn't make sense.. but straight from FPC Loyalty, that is their explanation, and they DO rent out these private condos as part of the hotel system, thus limits the ability to use certs currently at the hotel. You can talk to Shelley, thats who communicated the info, and we can get the record straight.^

To make it more confusing... There is the hotel, condotel and residences. Hotel: exactly that.
Condotel: Residences that you let the hotel rent out when you're not in residence.
Residence: Private, not rented out.

http://www.theplazaresidences.com/index.php

Thanks Andy and that does put everything into perspective and we can use the proper terms when discussing this unique landmark.

I guess that clarifies the confusion..^ There is this condotel, that is part of the hotel when the owners decide when it will or will not be.. I think this condotel is throwing a wrench into the FPC ability use of certs, and looks like they are trying to sort it out.. seems like later on the year we can start using free night certs.

I have not heard positive thoughts on the Plaza for a while now and wanted to see if there were any recent reviews. I was thinking of going down to NYC for 5 nights and staying here. Couple questions:

• Can I use 3 free nights + a 3rd night free cert together at this property?
• Is NFAF available for this property? I'd just need one of the nights

Let me know your thoughts!

How did you acquire 3 free night plat certs? Not normally combinable with 3rd night certs neither. I've heard that you can't use free night certs yet at this property.. maybe starting in October.. but this was from my personal concierge who really is not at all impressed with the ability to use certs at this property.

NFAF you can get through your employee Fairmont contact.. still going to be 4 benjamins and more.. talk to Kokinos.. he's been down there and although he's an avid plat member loyal to Fairmont, prefers to stay at another hotel when visiting NY because Plaza is a bit overpriced, and can't use upgrade certs, free night certs or dining certs.

Wife has 1 3rd night free (from Premier), 1 free night (from Platinum) and I have 1 free night (from prior year Platinum) - actually that is only 3 nights. Either way, doesn't seem like its worth the $400+/night for the other two nights anyways.

I just dropped 2 plat free nights last stay at the springs, and a third night free cert at CLL.. I tried to use the 3rd night free, at Kea Lani, but I used one free night plat cert at Kea Lani instead. 7 years, I've never successfully been able to combine a plat free night cert or two, in place of one or two paid nights with a third night free cert.. but I've never called reservations two or three times like some of the other FPCers on FT did. So it is possible.. not by T&C, rather an exception would have to be made with whomever you're talking to at reservations.

Have you ever tried using your free nights at Kea Lani?.. there you get free nights on one bedroom suites without using a suite upgrade cert, basically the best value of all Fairmont properties because Kea Lani is an all-suite hotel.

I havent as it would require me to get out to Maui - maybe one day!

Maui is the most popular vacation destination for Albertans, and much of the world to vacation at.. If you haven't gone.. Kea Lani sits on the most beautiful side of the island in Wailea.. Neighboring Kea Lani is Four Seasons, and Grand Wailea, which is the highest end of all tourist spots in all of the Islands and arguably for all of US. I'm almost convincing myself to go again typing this.

You've got the tools.. em' free night certs.. to make it fabulous low cost trip. I would use all of my aeroplan miles to get a trip in for my family and stay for three weeks. They've got a renovation sale going on, basically from $199 per night (regularly $399 or $499 per night) happening in Sept and Oct.. I would go October because the main pool and adult pool will be open. Killer Deal!

I'll admit that you've peaked my interest ... any experience going over the Christmas holidays? Can I use my free nights and/or 3for2 certs at that time or would they be blacked out? Could I get NFAF during that time to cover the remaining nights? Hmmm...

From my experience at the plaza during the initial phase of the NFAF program, think 70 lattes, or 50 gl of gas in CA at 4.00$ a gallon, or two centuries.

I wouldn't stay there again even at THOSE prices. 10$ more than that would be too much. It is a shame, I used to stay there about 15 nights a year for business, back in the 90's early 00's, but now the IC Barclay or the St. Regis or the Peni gets my business even at higher prices.