Star Mega Do 5
Oct 28, 2013 | 8:07 am
#181
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in VIENNA, AUSTRIA!
Posts: 61,926
Really annoyed that for those of us that paid more money to stay at the RC:
- At the Marriott, E+ would have gotten upgraded to the lounge. At RC, no upgrades were arranged, so on the first day, breakfast was out of pocket.
- On the other two days, we had a really lame breakfast (pastries only). No eggs, ham, bacon, anything. A few people had gluten/carb intolerances and were left scrambling.
- On the day that AC cancelled their hangar event so that Marriott could show us a "behind the scenes".... the event was *not* replicated at the RC. People at the RC woke up at 8am just to be shown off the housekeeping team for 5 minutes, and then waited for 3 hours while the guests at Marriott had fun with the tour. I actually left as soon as I heard this and went to the Marriott -- it was a LOT of fun, and when the RC people got there at 11 they seem really annoyed... there was nothing to do 8-11 except go to the Aquarium.
There were a lot of snafus (it was my first SMD), but this one was the most annoying.
- At the Marriott, E+ would have gotten upgraded to the lounge. At RC, no upgrades were arranged, so on the first day, breakfast was out of pocket.
- On the other two days, we had a really lame breakfast (pastries only). No eggs, ham, bacon, anything. A few people had gluten/carb intolerances and were left scrambling.
- On the day that AC cancelled their hangar event so that Marriott could show us a "behind the scenes".... the event was *not* replicated at the RC. People at the RC woke up at 8am just to be shown off the housekeeping team for 5 minutes, and then waited for 3 hours while the guests at Marriott had fun with the tour. I actually left as soon as I heard this and went to the Marriott -- it was a LOT of fun, and when the RC people got there at 11 they seem really annoyed... there was nothing to do 8-11 except go to the Aquarium.
There were a lot of snafus (it was my first SMD), but this one was the most annoying.
Oct 28, 2013 | 10:40 am
#182
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 7,323
Really annoyed that for those of us that paid more money to stay at the RC:
- At the Marriott, E+ would have gotten upgraded to the lounge. At RC, no upgrades were arranged, so on the first day, breakfast was out of pocket.
- On the other two days, we had a really lame breakfast (pastries only). No eggs, ham, bacon, anything. A few people had gluten/carb intolerances and were left scrambling.
- On the day that AC cancelled their hangar event so that Marriott could show us a "behind the scenes".... the event was *not* replicated at the RC. People at the RC woke up at 8am just to be shown off the housekeeping team for 5 minutes, and then waited for 3 hours while the guests at Marriott had fun with the tour. I actually left as soon as I heard this and went to the Marriott -- it was a LOT of fun, and when the RC people got there at 11 they seem really annoyed... there was nothing to do 8-11 except go to the Aquarium.
There were a lot of snafus (it was my first SMD), but this one was the most annoying.
- At the Marriott, E+ would have gotten upgraded to the lounge. At RC, no upgrades were arranged, so on the first day, breakfast was out of pocket.
- On the other two days, we had a really lame breakfast (pastries only). No eggs, ham, bacon, anything. A few people had gluten/carb intolerances and were left scrambling.
- On the day that AC cancelled their hangar event so that Marriott could show us a "behind the scenes".... the event was *not* replicated at the RC. People at the RC woke up at 8am just to be shown off the housekeeping team for 5 minutes, and then waited for 3 hours while the guests at Marriott had fun with the tour. I actually left as soon as I heard this and went to the Marriott -- it was a LOT of fun, and when the RC people got there at 11 they seem really annoyed... there was nothing to do 8-11 except go to the Aquarium.
There were a lot of snafus (it was my first SMD), but this one was the most annoying.
The famous morning line-up happens daily at all RCs around the world is something only the RCs best customers get invited to be a part of. I think it was very cool. But they should have done something in the next 1:30 (the next part of the program started at 11 at a hotel that's about a 15-20 min walk away, so definitely not 3 hours of inactivity)
When it comes to the breakfast on Wednesday, the official program started at 1130 on Wednesday. More than half of the RC guests arrived on Wednesday and went straight to Rimowa. Traditionally, everything is included after the program starts.
I, for one had a great stay at the RC even if the Marriott Rewards program doesn't give club access and club access had never been promised to the participants. But a nice, upgraded continental breakfast was provided as a courtesy from the property. If you have dietary requirements, you need to let the organizers know. We provided eggs on the fly to 3 participants at the Ritz that morning. I`m sorry you missed that.
There will be a survey going out tomorrow, I suggest you also give your feedback there.
I'd be happy to get your additional feedback via email tommy at megado dot com as I typically don't hang around this forum on Flyertalk for obvious reasons.
Oct 28, 2013 | 10:44 am
#183
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 7,323
Nothing wrong with that with all the work that goes in to an event like this
Oct 30, 2013 | 10:14 am
#184
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in VIENNA, AUSTRIA!
Posts: 61,926
Just watched the day 3 MPTV videos from the *MD5.
Looks like, as usual, the charter day was a good time even though the Boneyard tour was a bus-only tour. Well done! ^
Something for the organizers to consider: create a 'flight day only' option for those who want to do the charter but could do without tours of luggage factories or finding out how hotel maids make beds. @:-)
Looks like, as usual, the charter day was a good time even though the Boneyard tour was a bus-only tour. Well done! ^
Something for the organizers to consider: create a 'flight day only' option for those who want to do the charter but could do without tours of luggage factories or finding out how hotel maids make beds. @:-)
Oct 30, 2013 | 12:56 pm
#185
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 4,035
Just watched the day 3 MPTV videos from the *MD5.
Looks like, as usual, the charter day was a good time even though the Boneyard tour was a bus-only tour. Well done! ^
Something for the organizers to consider: create a 'flight day only' option for those who want to do the charter but could do without tours of luggage factories or finding out how hotel maids make beds. @:-)
Looks like, as usual, the charter day was a good time even though the Boneyard tour was a bus-only tour. Well done! ^
Something for the organizers to consider: create a 'flight day only' option for those who want to do the charter but could do without tours of luggage factories or finding out how hotel maids make beds. @:-)
Though I'm also happy it's over; having more than 3 hours sleep is nice and my wife is happy to see me again.A flight only option is an interesting idea. I think it could be popular, but I'd also be concerned that if half the plane went flight only, we might not have enough 'whole trip' participants to attract non-flight sponsors (hotels or otherwise). Certainly an idea to kick around though, thanks for your thoughts.
May 5, 2014 | 2:08 pm
#186
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Atlanta and the Big Island, Hawaii
Programs: DL Diamond, SPG Gold. I share these affiliations so that you can ask me questions about the programs
Posts: 834
Are there reviews of the Ritz Carlton and pics posted somewhere?
Search isn't pulling up anything for me.
Search isn't pulling up anything for me.
Mar 19, 2015 | 8:47 am
#187
Join Date: May 2012
Location: UK
Programs: Leaders Unlimited,Fairmont Platinum,SLH Loved,IC Ambassador
Posts: 490
Can't answer for the Mego?? but for the Chicago Seminars we are granted 1 free room for every 30 we sell and we use them for speaker rooms. In addition the hotel gives us ten rooms at half off so we can chip in more to charity.
We also earn meeting planner points based on total spending done on the event. This year we gave those points to an attendee as a door prize. It was about 146,000 IHG points transferred into his account.
Sorry I have no idea how the airlines work but my guess would be the price of the airline seat is inflated to cover the cost of the organizers attending for free. They charter the whole plane after all.
We also earn meeting planner points based on total spending done on the event. This year we gave those points to an attendee as a door prize. It was about 146,000 IHG points transferred into his account.
Sorry I have no idea how the airlines work but my guess would be the price of the airline seat is inflated to cover the cost of the organizers attending for free. They charter the whole plane after all.
If it helps it is likely to be a similar deal as on our own Hyatt DO happening this October in London, we get a room for filling a certain number of rooms which means we can attend and set up the events! Do bear in mind that these events take a lot of organisation and wouldn't happen if the organisers didnt put in many many hours of work, for us years in advance. I don't know the organisers of this DO as it was sold out before I had a chance to book, but I guarantee they deserve any freebies they receive for making these events happen!
Last edited by CanfordCliffs; Mar 19, 2015 at 8:48 am Reason: forgot a word