Originally Posted by Radiant Flyer (Post 20707432)

My travel is mostly in CA, NYC, DC, TX, Miami, Chicago, London, Paris, and Australia and I have always gotten points for alcohol unless the bar or restaurant is own by a third party. I simply call gold passport... points added. But... I tend to be a wine snob and most Hyatt's carry less than the desired wines I would drink.

Originally Posted by Radiant Flyer (Post 20708768)

Well like I have said before not all Diamonds are treated the same. I email my receipt to gold passport and points are earned. They have only told me if the the food and beverage establishment is not operated by Hyatt we can't give you points.

I'm clearly on a different level than most:D or I know how to ask!

FYI: the hotel see more than Diamond, they know how much you spend, how long you have been elite and your total base point. I was just told this by a manager at a Hyatt in NYC. He looked at my profile was impressed. I've have been gold passport member for almost 25 years and this is my 10th year as diamond. I get points for every dollar I spent unless what I stated above.

I also worked for Hyatt.

Originally Posted by Ducatibiker (Post 20699922)

This is also what I thought but since December 1, the standard seems to have changed - yet T&C did not. I first noticed it in several countries outside the U.S. where since beginning of December of last year, the bottom of the restaurant invoice had some text stating that points could be awarded on specific items. Some of my friends reported not receiving point for wine at PH Vendôme. Regulations did not change in those countries, and especially not in France. Collecting points on wine, when you are a registered guest, is not prohibited. In fact other programs continue to do so. My last Hyatt stay was in the U.S where I read exactly the same text at the bottom of the invoice. I got the same explanation, except my stay was in a "wet county" with no restriction on collecting points for alcohol when you are a registered guest in a Hotel. By the way, there seems to be no restriction on collecting points with the Credit Cards for wine consumed at the hotel, even in some countries of the Middle East.

Originally Posted by Vinodavid (Post 20721447)

Yikes, that didn't come across as snotty and condescending.

We had a $4000+ plus dinner at La Toque at the Westin Napa and didn't get points for wine that represented 65% of bill.

I have had many dinners with lesser bills where the points for booze were added after the fact by pressing GP.

Originally Posted by m0hamed (Post 20699980)

This is GP policy, and is also the case in Australia. Quite annoying when the bill for large dinners in the hotel's restaurant can be mostly the bottles of wine.

Originally Posted by SanDiego1K (Post 20697425)

There are a number of states including California where it is illegal to give an incentive to purchase alcohol. You'll find the exceptions have been discussed in the Starwood forum as well.

Originally Posted by JackE (Post 21545596)

Is it also illegal to give an incentive to NOT purchase alcohol? Because I had a recent stay at Grand Hyatt San Francisco with a $75 corkage charge at dinner. No points for corkage!

Originally Posted by Ducatibiker (Post 21548553)

Thanks for bringing the subject of corkage fee. While some restaurants in Europe are no longer charging, especially when established in wine country, I am curious to see how this property can justify such a high price. Seems higher than a entry price bottle of wine. Last time I visited the GH San Francisco, there was no professional sommelier, the wine glasses were very standard and the wine came at the wrong temperature. Not awarding points for this service is another sign that some procedures seem to be applied blindly by some properties. It just does not make sense.

Originally Posted by RTW1 (Post 20699995)

What I find the most annoying about this is that you never know which expenses will not earn you any points... food, drinks, spa, etc.
When I'm on holiday these sometimes are major expenses and only when you get your points does it become clear (I've seen entries with no points post) or not what was earning points.

Originally Posted by sensei (Post 20698554)

I too have recently noticed that by default no GP points are awarded for beverage purchases. It is quite apparent when one looks at the amount that is marked as eligible for point redemption/accrual on checks. I don't believe this was the case until fairly recently.

As best as I can tell, it is not state-specific, e.g. a stay at an SPG property will result in points being awarded, whereas a stay in the same city at a Hyatt will not. So far, GP customer service has fixed this issue every time I brought it to their attention.

If this is a program change, it would seem rather foolish as it would eliminate an incentive to spend F&B dollars at hotel outlets...

Originally Posted by DCA-Flyer (Post 21551427)

If anyone is curious, I have spammed Hyatt Customer Service asking for a SPECIFIC property by property list multiple times. First few times they said it was blanket policy, no points for alcohol. I quoted their own website (which indicates some properties depending on jurisdiction/laws/etc), and ultimately received this response after some escalation:

"There are certain locations around the world where alcohol charges would be an eligible incidental charge. We do not have a list of hotels or which countries it would be eligible. At the time of check-in at any Hyatt property, you can confirm this with the front desk."

Frankly, I find this answer completely unsatisfactory. If they're going to restrict points earning at certain places, I want to know, especially when alcohol can easily cost more than the meal (as many other posters have noted).

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist (Post 21552497)

Even if one asks at check in, would one receive correct or consistent answers?