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
Aug 29, 2012, 5:27 am
#1081
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 11
Country Inn & Su
Country Inn
Denver Airport
Country Inn at Denver Airport.
Just stayed one night. Employees name not requested. I am a Carlson club member but was not offered an upgrade as has happened in the past but given a room directly over reception and the entrance. Ok for one night.
Just stayed one night. Employees name not requested. I am a Carlson club member but was not offered an upgrade as has happened in the past but given a room directly over reception and the entrance. Ok for one night.
Aug 30, 2012, 12:49 pm
#1082
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prague, Czech Republic, EU
Programs: Skywards blue, OK Plus, Delta Skymiles, Avios, Etihad Guest
Posts: 26
Stayed in Oslo, Nydalen for two nights on F&F rate. No question asked. Breakfast included. We were two male friends and we we booked a twin, but we were given a double for disabled person with 1 queen size bed :/.
Breakfast included. As the rate was just a 80 instead of 225 it is still a great deal (especially in Oslo - the most expensive city in the world). Thank you flyertalk
.
Breakfast included. As the rate was just a 80 instead of 225 it is still a great deal (especially in Oslo - the most expensive city in the world). Thank you flyertalk
.
Aug 30, 2012, 4:11 pm
#1083
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF Emerald EY Plat HH D
Posts: 1,270
are there any Carlson employees that wish to be my friend?
Aug 30, 2012, 4:33 pm
#1084
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,271
I suspect it must be very easy to find a name of a person who works for Carlson and their location by doing a Google search.
Has anyone not been allowed to check in because they were accused of lying when using this promotion? I'd be extremely surprised to hear if they were. If Carlson were that bothered they would have changed the rules again to prevent it being used by non F&F. Years ago one had to get the friend or family member who worked for Radisson to book it for you IIRC.
Has anyone not been allowed to check in because they were accused of lying when using this promotion? I'd be extremely surprised to hear if they were. If Carlson were that bothered they would have changed the rules again to prevent it being used by non F&F. Years ago one had to get the friend or family member who worked for Radisson to book it for you IIRC.
Aug 30, 2012, 4:51 pm
#1085
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: SAS Diamond, Hilton Diamond, IHG RA Spire
Posts: 423
Radisson Blu Bucharest was very clear that unless I produced all requested information about my friend, they would not honor the rate (this was at check-in for three rooms x three nights). I didn't have the information available at check-in, but was allowed to check-in under the condition that I brought it to the reception later that day. So I did, and the rest of the stay was fine.
Aug 30, 2012, 8:01 pm
#1086
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,271
Radisson Blu Bucharest was very clear that unless I produced all requested information about my friend, they would not honor the rate (this was at check-in for three rooms x three nights). I didn't have the information available at check-in, but was allowed to check-in under the condition that I brought it to the reception later that day. So I did, and the rest of the stay was fine.
Aug 30, 2012, 10:28 pm
#1087
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF Emerald EY Plat HH D
Posts: 1,270
Anyone used this rate in Sydney recently? did they ask for names?
Aug 31, 2012, 2:15 am
#1088
Join Date: May 2010
Location: USA
Programs: IHG Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 8
Is someone here working for Carlson group? I checked in to Park Inn in Linz, Austria and they asked for name and place of work of an employee. I was prepared for this and provided the info. They caught up with me later that evening asking for a written confirmation from an employee. Would someone here be able and willing to email them and say that they gave me the code?
Aug 31, 2012, 3:12 am
#1090
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 82
No, they have being silly in Linz. The conditions say : employee name and workplace will be required at check-in, no written confirmation or any other hassle is required to use the rate. You gave them what is needed and they should leave u in peace as they have no right to ask for more information 
Aug 31, 2012, 3:17 am
#1091
Join Date: May 2010
Location: USA
Programs: IHG Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 8
Thank you, asalmane. I told them that it's not an employee rate and I don't need anything else. They copied my reservation which says name and work place will be required and we couldn't get anywhere. When I check out, should I insist on paying my rate? Since that's what is says on the reservation.
Aug 31, 2012, 3:51 am
#1092
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 12,009
If hotel needs confirmation from the employee, you should refer the hotel (and not you) to contact the person for confirmation. It is not your job as written confirmation is not required per booking terms. I bet hotel will not bother to contact anyone; they just try to scare you off to pay full rate.
Aug 31, 2012, 3:54 am
#1093
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
Or maybe they suspect that you don't really qualify for the rate you are getting, and they are probably right in this case.
Aug 31, 2012, 12:26 pm
#1094
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 71
I used this rate earlier this month at the Syndey Radisson Blu by circular quay with no problems. I got a pretty dark room and no breakfast though. Definitely not the VIP treatment that others have had, but I was also not asked for an employee's name.