What's with Hampton not putting water & snack in room?
Feb 10, 2013, 10:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma
Programs: DL Gold, UA Ag Muti-year WN Companion Pass, A+, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat Ntl EmExElite
Posts: 941
What's with Hampton not putting water & snack in room?
Haven't been at a Hampton in a while, and had three this week and have discovered they no longer leave a snack and water in your room as part of the Diamond perk. First Hampton tells me you now get it when you check in, and they should have asked me when I checked in. At the next one I see the little plexiglass display showing you your choices, and am told I can have one of each. At the final of the 3-Hampton tour tonight I see the little box but there are only drinks in it. When I asked about it, the clerk says, "oh I didn't think you would want one, so I didn't offer." Guess I didn't look thirsty or something.
So what's going on, are they trying to eliminate the perk? Do the properties not like having to provide the perk, and are trying to slowly eliminate it? I always thought it was a nice touch, to find a candy bar, and a couple of bottles in the room, when you check in after midnight after a long day. It kind of says welcome like the Doubletree cookie, and makes you overlook other shortcomings of the hotel. It's funny how something that costs them around a buck will sway you to stay with a certain chain, yet the management doesn't seem to understand this, and it is the first thing they cut as a cost saving. All I can assume is the people running hotels never actually are hotel guests and don't have to routinely deal with night clerks who let you know working at a hotel or motel was not in their career goals.
I am becoming less and less impressed with Hampton lately as I head out to the hinterlands where it used to be the Hampton Inns were consistent and nice for what they are. Now they seem to be more hit or miss like Holiday Inns from years ago before their makeover.
Not so impressed with this new enhancement. Upside is am seeing more and more of the Hyatt Place properties starting to come out closer to the hinterlands, and are a much nicer option for about the same price as the Hamptons.
So what's going on, are they trying to eliminate the perk? Do the properties not like having to provide the perk, and are trying to slowly eliminate it? I always thought it was a nice touch, to find a candy bar, and a couple of bottles in the room, when you check in after midnight after a long day. It kind of says welcome like the Doubletree cookie, and makes you overlook other shortcomings of the hotel. It's funny how something that costs them around a buck will sway you to stay with a certain chain, yet the management doesn't seem to understand this, and it is the first thing they cut as a cost saving. All I can assume is the people running hotels never actually are hotel guests and don't have to routinely deal with night clerks who let you know working at a hotel or motel was not in their career goals.
I am becoming less and less impressed with Hampton lately as I head out to the hinterlands where it used to be the Hampton Inns were consistent and nice for what they are. Now they seem to be more hit or miss like Holiday Inns from years ago before their makeover.
Not so impressed with this new enhancement. Upside is am seeing more and more of the Hyatt Place properties starting to come out closer to the hinterlands, and are a much nicer option for about the same price as the Hamptons.
Feb 10, 2013, 10:53 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
I haven't opted to get a snack at a Hampton for a while now. However, in my experience some properties find it easier to check the guest's option choice at check-in, offering it to those who are due the goodies according to the screen. The current snack options are quite new: one food and one drink choice of those displayed. You seem to have hit a couple of not-so-efficient properties.
I did have one manager semi-snarl at me: "There may be water and cookies in your room (even though you're not entitled to them)." They were there; I hope the poor franchise owner's bottom line didn't suffer too badly.
I did have one manager semi-snarl at me: "There may be water and cookies in your room (even though you're not entitled to them)." They were there; I hope the poor franchise owner's bottom line didn't suffer too badly.
Feb 10, 2013, 11:54 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: Amex Cent, Hilton Diamond, CX Gold
Posts: 20
Haven't been at a Hampton in a while, and had three this week and have discovered they no longer leave a snack and water in your room as part of the Diamond perk. First Hampton tells me you now get it when you check in, and they should have asked me when I checked in. At the next one I see the little plexiglass display showing you your choices, and am told I can have one of each. At the final of the 3-Hampton tour tonight I see the little box but there are only drinks in it. When I asked about it, the clerk says, "oh I didn't think you would want one, so I didn't offer." Guess I didn't look thirsty or something.
So what's going on, are they trying to eliminate the perk? Do the properties not like having to provide the perk, and are trying to slowly eliminate it? I always thought it was a nice touch, to find a candy bar, and a couple of bottles in the room, when you check in after midnight after a long day. It kind of says welcome like the Doubletree cookie, and makes you overlook other shortcomings of the hotel. It's funny how something that costs them around a buck will sway you to stay with a certain chain, yet the management doesn't seem to understand this, and it is the first thing they cut as a cost saving. All I can assume is the people running hotels never actually are hotel guests and don't have to routinely deal with night clerks who let you know working at a hotel or motel was not in their career goals.
I am becoming less and less impressed with Hampton lately as I head out to the hinterlands where it used to be the Hampton Inns were consistent and nice for what they are. Now they seem to be more hit or miss like Holiday Inns from years ago before their makeover.
Not so impressed with this new enhancement. Upside is am seeing more and more of the Hyatt Place properties starting to come out closer to the hinterlands, and are a much nicer option for about the same price as the Hamptons.
So what's going on, are they trying to eliminate the perk? Do the properties not like having to provide the perk, and are trying to slowly eliminate it? I always thought it was a nice touch, to find a candy bar, and a couple of bottles in the room, when you check in after midnight after a long day. It kind of says welcome like the Doubletree cookie, and makes you overlook other shortcomings of the hotel. It's funny how something that costs them around a buck will sway you to stay with a certain chain, yet the management doesn't seem to understand this, and it is the first thing they cut as a cost saving. All I can assume is the people running hotels never actually are hotel guests and don't have to routinely deal with night clerks who let you know working at a hotel or motel was not in their career goals.
I am becoming less and less impressed with Hampton lately as I head out to the hinterlands where it used to be the Hampton Inns were consistent and nice for what they are. Now they seem to be more hit or miss like Holiday Inns from years ago before their makeover.
Not so impressed with this new enhancement. Upside is am seeing more and more of the Hyatt Place properties starting to come out closer to the hinterlands, and are a much nicer option for about the same price as the Hamptons.
Feb 11, 2013, 5:37 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: DL GM; SPG- Gold; HH-Diamond; IHG-Gold
Posts: 255
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Am I the only one ok with this? I used to get 2 bottled waters and some nasty cheeseits in my room, last werk on each of 3 stays got a vitamin water and some haribo gummy bears.
Am I the only one ok with this? I used to get 2 bottled waters and some nasty cheeseits in my room, last werk on each of 3 stays got a vitamin water and some haribo gummy bears.
Feb 11, 2013, 7:44 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: West Michigan
Programs: DL, UA, AA, B6, BA (airline status-free leisure traveler), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,963
Upgraded HH snacks and drink
The new HH Gold and Diamond snacks are truly an upgrade. You would not think so, due to the OP's unfortunate recent encounter. It stinks that the OP ran into a lazy desk clerk with this comment: "oh I didn't think you would want one, so I didn't offer."
The new snacks and drinks are "nicer" (ie. more expensive for the hotel). Also, you now get to tell the check in agent which options that you would prefer.
The one downside is that handing the goodies across the front desk counter will slow down everyone's check in process. If you want to speed up your check in process then chose 250 bonus points as your "My Way" preference.
The new snacks and drinks are "nicer" (ie. more expensive for the hotel). Also, you now get to tell the check in agent which options that you would prefer.
The one downside is that handing the goodies across the front desk counter will slow down everyone's check in process. If you want to speed up your check in process then chose 250 bonus points as your "My Way" preference.
Feb 11, 2013, 9:02 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
I haven't opted to get a snack at a Hampton for a while now. However, in my experience some properties find it easier to check the guest's option choice at check-in, offering it to those who are due the goodies according to the screen. The current snack options are quite new: one food and one drink choice of those displayed. You seem to have hit a couple of not-so-efficient properties.
I did have one manager semi-snarl at me: "There may be water and cookies in your room (even though you're not entitled to them)." They were there; I hope the poor franchise owner's bottom line didn't suffer too badly.
I did have one manager semi-snarl at me: "There may be water and cookies in your room (even though you're not entitled to them)." They were there; I hope the poor franchise owner's bottom line didn't suffer too badly.
Not a major problem IMO.
Feb 11, 2013, 9:51 am
#9
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
It's much easier to just ask when you are checking in. If you expect it to be in the room and it's not you will be disappointed.
If you want gumi bears, and they gave you oreos in the room, you will be disappointed.
If you want them to ask you instead of you asking them, you will be disappointed.
If you want gumi bears, and they gave you oreos in the room, you will be disappointed.
If you want them to ask you instead of you asking them, you will be disappointed.
Feb 11, 2013, 9:54 am
#10
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,872
It's much easier to just ask when you are checking in. If you expect it to be in the room and it's not you will be disappointed.
If you want gumi bears, and they gave you oreos in the room, you will be disappointed.
If you want them to ask you instead of you asking them, you will be disappointed.
If you want gumi bears, and they gave you oreos in the room, you will be disappointed.
If you want them to ask you instead of you asking them, you will be disappointed.
Feb 11, 2013, 10:55 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Programs: DL-Platinum / AS-PlatPro / Hyatt - Glob / Hilton-Diamond
Posts: 1,573
I too have noticed a change recently from "in your room" to "choose at chek-in".
At first I thought it was property specific way of handling it but now that I've read this thread, it does seem to be a new procedure.
So far, the FD has always asked me what choices I wanted without my asking. Of course they should, as I'm in the habit of just accepting whatever is in my room.
And IMO, this new procedure (if that's truly what it is) is much better. As already stated: you have a choice, the items to select from are of better quality than in the past, you don't risk losing your snack from a room change.
The only negative I can think of is having to manage a couple more items as I schlop my way from check-in to my room with luggage in hand
At first I thought it was property specific way of handling it but now that I've read this thread, it does seem to be a new procedure.
So far, the FD has always asked me what choices I wanted without my asking. Of course they should, as I'm in the habit of just accepting whatever is in my room.
And IMO, this new procedure (if that's truly what it is) is much better. As already stated: you have a choice, the items to select from are of better quality than in the past, you don't risk losing your snack from a room change.
The only negative I can think of is having to manage a couple more items as I schlop my way from check-in to my room with luggage in hand
Feb 11, 2013, 12:38 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville
Programs: DL DM 3 MM AA PLAT HH Lifetime Diamond Marriott Plat AMB lifetime titanium Hertz PC
Posts: 6,187
I have seen it more and more, in this case I like the choice, but carrying more stuff is a pain. Overall it seems they are slowly going more self serve, as I have not seen a paper delivered in a while and that is not just at Hamptons.
Feb 11, 2013, 5:09 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Posts: 10,003
My most recent Hampton experience was at the Reagan Airport Hampton Inn in Crystal City, VA in Nov 2012. The desk clerk told me at check-in to take a snack item of my choice from the Suite Shop, along with a bottle of water from the Suite Shop fridge. I really liked that. The water was cold and the snack item was something I actually like.