Mar 9, 2014, 4:07 am
Last edit by: bhatnasx
The Friends and Family rate is intended to be offered to travellers who are "friend and family members" of a Carlson employee. That could be a hotel employee, a travel agent (Carlson Wagonlit) or restaurant employee (TGIF) (TGIF sold to Sentinel Capital Partners as of July 2014).
When you book the rate, you are supposed to have the basic data on your friend available at check-in for the hotel to verify that you are indeed authorized to use that rate. Generally, if they ask, they ask for:
1) Employee Name
2) Work location
Please consider that, as per T&C, only employee name and location can be requested only at the check in time.
The new code is RHGRFNF
NOTE:
Booking a rate that you're not entitled to book may result in rate adjustments and Club Carlson account freezing.
In general, the rate is €80 per night in Europe.
*These stays post as "Ineligible" - non-qualifying, non-stay, non-points earning ... so, in sum, don't associate a F&F reservation with your Gold Points account, unless elite perks you hope to enjoy are worth the risk.
When you book the rate, you are supposed to have the basic data on your friend available at check-in for the hotel to verify that you are indeed authorized to use that rate. Generally, if they ask, they ask for:
1) Employee Name
2) Work location
Please consider that, as per T&C, only employee name and location can be requested only at the check in time.
The new code is RHGRFNF
NOTE:
Booking a rate that you're not entitled to book may result in rate adjustments and Club Carlson account freezing.
In general, the rate is €80 per night in Europe.
*These stays post as "Ineligible" - non-qualifying, non-stay, non-points earning ... so, in sum, don't associate a F&F reservation with your Gold Points account, unless elite perks you hope to enjoy are worth the risk.
Carlson Hotels (Radisson) Family & Friends Rate - 2009 - 2017 Thread
Nov 17, 2014, 12:52 pm
#2071
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
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Nov 17, 2014, 1:50 pm
#2073
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
Nov 17, 2014, 2:40 pm
#2074
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
And how is that dangerous? If a property is exceeding T&Cs, then the approach is to bring attention to hotel GM or Carlson corporate to this hotel's practice; just as FT members would do whenever a property is not delivering per agreement.
Nov 17, 2014, 3:55 pm
#2075
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 60137
Posts: 10,498
If corporate wants mystery shops/internal audits, they should send me a retainer against my hourly rate.
Nov 17, 2014, 4:24 pm
#2076
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
mlqsko, what sonofzeus is trying to tell you is don't provide contact information to the hotel in advance lest more hotels will start requesting that information which increasing the risk they will actually reach out to the Carlson contact provided prior to check-in to confirm whether sonofzeus is actually a friend/family of a Carlson employee.
Nov 17, 2014, 4:30 pm
#2077
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 60137
Posts: 10,498
You should have just tell mlqsko just that to begin with. If a hotel is not complying with T&Cs, normal response is to bring it to corporate; unless you don't want to draw corporate attention to this.
mlqsko, what sonofzeus is trying to tell you is don't provide contact information to the hotel in advance lest more hotels will start requesting that information which increasing the risk they will actually reach out to the Carlson contact provided prior to check-in to confirm whether sonofzeus is actually a friend/family of a Carlson employee.
mlqsko, what sonofzeus is trying to tell you is don't provide contact information to the hotel in advance lest more hotels will start requesting that information which increasing the risk they will actually reach out to the Carlson contact provided prior to check-in to confirm whether sonofzeus is actually a friend/family of a Carlson employee.
Nov 18, 2014, 4:22 am
#2078
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
this is exactly how thing shouldn't be managed in this case.
Nov 18, 2014, 9:35 am
#2079
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
Nov 18, 2014, 1:09 pm
#2081
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
If, you would have read the last 20 pages at least, you would have understood that i don't need to abuse of this rate, just because i'm entitled to use that rate. Frankly much more than how much you're...
Nov 18, 2014, 4:41 pm
#2082
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
The idea to establish a more constructive discussion is in your cords?
If, you would have read the last 20 pages at least, you would have understood that i don't need to abuse of this rate, just because i'm entitled to use that rate. Frankly much more than how much you're...
If, you would have read the last 20 pages at least, you would have understood that i don't need to abuse of this rate, just because i'm entitled to use that rate. Frankly much more than how much you're...
You are a friend/family of a Carlson employee.
You book the rate.
Hotel incorrectly ask you to provide contact in advance.
If you provide, you keep the rate.
If you don't provide and tell them they are not suppose to ask for this in advance, and they change you to rack in advance or worst yet, they change you to rack at check-in.
You suggesting one should deal with the hassle of arguing with the front desk and/or dispute with credit card instead of escalating to corporate to bring the hotel in line for the benefit of you and everyone else who comes after you who is eligible?!?!?!?
How can you say escalating to corporate and/or hotel management is not the appropriate approach given you are 100% eligible for the rate and correct in the interpretation of the T&Cs?
I'm really interested in hearing your reasons why someone who is eligible for the rate wouldn't not bring corporate to the attention of hotels that are not aligning to policy.
Nov 19, 2014, 2:14 am
#2083
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: M&M,HH Gold,Accor Plat.,Priority Club Plat. Ambassador,Club Carlson Gold,Marriott Gold,GHA Plat.
Posts: 1,627
What, then, is your recommended approach?
You are a friend/family of a Carlson employee.
You book the rate.
Hotel incorrectly ask you to provide contact in advance.
If you provide, you keep the rate.
If you don't provide and tell them they are not suppose to ask for this in advance, and they change you to rack in advance or worst yet, they change you to rack at check-in.
You suggesting one should deal with the hassle of arguing with the front desk and/or dispute with credit card instead of escalating to corporate to bring the hotel in line for the benefit of you and everyone else who comes after you who is eligible?!?!?!?
How can you say escalating to corporate and/or hotel management is not the appropriate approach given you are 100% eligible for the rate and correct in the interpretation of the T&Cs?
I'm really interested in hearing your reasons why someone who is eligible for the rate wouldn't not bring corporate to the attention of hotels that are not aligning to policy.
You are a friend/family of a Carlson employee.
You book the rate.
Hotel incorrectly ask you to provide contact in advance.
If you provide, you keep the rate.
If you don't provide and tell them they are not suppose to ask for this in advance, and they change you to rack in advance or worst yet, they change you to rack at check-in.
You suggesting one should deal with the hassle of arguing with the front desk and/or dispute with credit card instead of escalating to corporate to bring the hotel in line for the benefit of you and everyone else who comes after you who is eligible?!?!?!?
How can you say escalating to corporate and/or hotel management is not the appropriate approach given you are 100% eligible for the rate and correct in the interpretation of the T&Cs?
I'm really interested in hearing your reasons why someone who is eligible for the rate wouldn't not bring corporate to the attention of hotels that are not aligning to policy.
A low profile MUST be kept.
There're appropriate ways to manage this deal: e.g. do not reply to the hotel email and then provide the requested info during check-in, eventually claiming the rate you booked and you were eligible for.
Is it fair enough now?
Last edited by Paul4Travel; Nov 19, 2014 at 5:24 am
Nov 19, 2014, 4:47 am
#2085
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 60137
Posts: 10,498
Success yesterday @ Country Inn/Suites (Effingham, Il). No questions asked before or at checkin. Ms SOZ and her sister are enjoying their 2 night stay.