[ARCHIVE to 2019] Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort {US-HI}
#2491
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Have you seen the prices of some of the Sunday brunch buffets in Vegas? Sterling at Bally's is $105 pp, Wynn and Bellagio and Bacchanal are not quite that much but they are well into the $50s, and not all include mimosas, etc.
#2492
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,945
If you don't drink it's probably not a good "value", but we liked it very much and will do it again.
Have you seen the prices of some of the Sunday brunch buffets in Vegas? Sterling at Bally's is $105 pp, Wynn and Bellagio and Bacchanal are not quite that much but they are well into the $50s, and not all include mimosas, etc.
Have you seen the prices of some of the Sunday brunch buffets in Vegas? Sterling at Bally's is $105 pp, Wynn and Bellagio and Bacchanal are not quite that much but they are well into the $50s, and not all include mimosas, etc.
#2493
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, AAdvantage Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 263
Staying at a high-end resort in Hawaii on points, and only consuming whatever food credit they give you, is tacky and potentially ruins it for the rest of us. I'm not telling you to spend money at the resort because I'm a snob, I'm telling you because the resort surely operates at a loss whenever the freeloaders show up, and they'll tighten the rules on everyone as a result.
EDIT: Here's an estimate on what Hilton reimburses properties on award stays (about $50/nt in this case) REVEALED: How Much Hilton Reimburses Hotels When You Book Awards
Last edited by patmcpsu; Dec 17, 2018 at 12:45 pm Reason: added link
#2494
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,872
Now we've gone from "cheapskates" to "freeloaders". This just gets richer. Franchise owners and Blackstone itself flag their properties with clear knowledge regarding how loyalty programs affect profitability; they undoubtedly have significantly more data than you on which to base their decisions.
#2495
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, AAdvantage Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 263
Now we've gone from "cheapskates" to "freeloaders". This just gets richer. Franchise owners and Blackstone itself flag their properties with clear knowledge regarding how loyalty programs affect profitability; they undoubtedly have significantly more data than you on which to base their decisions.
We both recognize that the people who show up on points, and obtain maximum consumption with zero spending, present a burden onto the hotel. And, as you said, those people are considered by the hotel when shaping the policy into what it is. We agree on all this; we disagree on if we should do our part to preserve the currently-generous policy.
EDIT: For what it's worth, the Waldorf Astoria breakfast policy changed this year. This hotel didn't sign up for it. I can see the corporate policy changing if enough hotels complain about the new policy.
Last edited by patmcpsu; Dec 17, 2018 at 1:12 pm Reason: added edit
#2496
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Well, you can't blame me...on most of our 5 night all points stays we spend well over $1,000 on whatever. Easy to do.
#2497
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, AAdvantage Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 263
Couple that with the fact that the hotel was tight-fisted about award night availability, and I get sensitive about what I'm seeing here. I'll stop repeating myself and let everyone be their own judge.
Sorry, one last edit: I'm sure the hotel turns an overall profit. But if award stays are seen as attracting the worst customers, "our kind" will be seen as a cost-center that they will want to minimize (no matter how profitable their "good" customers make them).
Last edited by patmcpsu; Dec 17, 2018 at 1:42 pm Reason: added edit
#2498
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Yup, I just checked my receipt and I spent $870 (after $150 credit applied) on my 5 night stay, which is roughly $1,000 of true consumption. The resort had to "eat" $150 of it, which is a 15% hit, and exactly why I'm so concerned about the benefit's sustainability. It becomes an ∞% hit (and a definite loss) if the guest only consumes what the credit covers.
Couple that with the fact that the hotel was tight-fisted about award night availability, and I get sensitive about what I'm seeing here. I'll stop repeating myself and let everyone be their own judge.
Sorry, one last edit: I'm sure the hotel turns an overall profit. But if award stays are seen as attracting the worst customers, "our kind" will be seen as a cost-center that they will want to minimize (no matter how profitable their "good" customers make them).
Couple that with the fact that the hotel was tight-fisted about award night availability, and I get sensitive about what I'm seeing here. I'll stop repeating myself and let everyone be their own judge.
Sorry, one last edit: I'm sure the hotel turns an overall profit. But if award stays are seen as attracting the worst customers, "our kind" will be seen as a cost-center that they will want to minimize (no matter how profitable their "good" customers make them).
#2499
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, AAdvantage Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 263
Deleted
Last edited by patmcpsu; Dec 17, 2018 at 11:52 pm Reason: Deleted
#2500
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
I just wanted to note that the hotel is compensated for award stays by Hilton Honors. I believe the amount of compensation depends on how full the hotel is each night of an award stay: when the occupancy rate is low, the hotel is minimally compensated (since the rooms would otherwise be vacant), and when the occupancy rate is above a threshold, the hotel receives reimbursement based on average room charges for the night, if I recall correctly.
#2501
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
However: since they add on a 7$ delivery charge and a 20% service charge, that means you get roughly $ 19 net food credit per day.
Not to defend this change, but your math is off. If you are given $15x2 each day, the $7 delivery charge leaves $23. I would hope that you would have tipped 20% even on the free breakfast
Not to defend this change, but your math is off. If you are given $15x2 each day, the $7 delivery charge leaves $23. I would hope that you would have tipped 20% even on the free breakfast
#2503
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
Now we've gone from "cheapskates" to "freeloaders". This just gets richer. Franchise owners and Blackstone itself flag their properties with clear knowledge regarding how loyalty programs affect profitability; they undoubtedly have significantly more data than you on which to base their decisions.
#2504
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
#2505
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, AAdvantage Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 263
I just wanted to note that the hotel is compensated for award stays by Hilton Honors. I believe the amount of compensation depends on how full the hotel is each night of an award stay: when the occupancy rate is low, the hotel is minimally compensated (since the rooms would otherwise be vacant), and when the occupancy rate is above a threshold, the hotel receives reimbursement based on average room charges for the night, if I recall correctly.
Here is the same link I posted on this thread a couple days ago: REVEALED: How Much Hilton Reimburses Hotels When You Book Awards
Well, I’ll for sure be “freeloading”. GW is free to charge whatever they want to charge and I’m free to buy or not buy as I see fit. Also, my points aren’t free, they are earned from other stays and whatever points Amex wants to give me in exchange for my spending. So me cashing in 380,000 points is me spending a form of currency. As far as how it affects GW on the backend, don’t give a rip. It looks like I’ll spend just enough to knock off my daily credit and go eat elsewhere as I please 😜