No GP points for Alcohol
 

Looks like there is a new standard and GP points can no longer be collected for wine when having dinner, even if you are a registered guest. Does anyone know any other Frequent Guest programs with similar standards ?

Are you sure this is a GP standard and not a local hotel standard?

This might have something to do with local laws that prohibit any loyalty programs for purchasing alcohol.

Yes, I experienced this in various location, not only in the U.S. but also abroad. Was also told by a Hyatt Rep that it was 'a standard' although I did not read it yet in the T&C.

You don't get points for any tips you leave for diamond breakfasts either.

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.

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...

Here's Ts and Cs for Starwood:

2.2 Eligible Charges.

2.2.a. During a stay at an SPG Participating Hotel, "Eligible Charges" are charges incurred by an SPG Member on his/her folio for up to three rooms:
i. Eligible Rates;
ii. food and beverage (excluding alcoholic beverage purchases where prohibited by law and excluding charges incurred at restaurants that are not located within or adjacent to SPG Participating Hotels)

And here is the FT discussion re same:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...n-updated.html

If a state law prevents Starwood from awarding points for alcohol purchases, the same law will prevent Hyatt from doing so.

Here are the Hyatt Ts and Cs:

8.
What is eligible for earning at restaurants and spas?
Eligible changes vary on a hotel-by-hotel basis, but generally include spa and salon services, spa and salon retail items, and food and beverage expenditures (except at outlets not operated by the hotel). Points will not be awarded on tips, service charges, taxes, gratuities and alcoholic beverage purchases in certain jurisdictions. (Alcohol excluded where prohibited by law). Other exclusions may apply.

I apologize if I was unclear. I have observed that at various Hyatt properties across various states, including my home state of IL, GP points have not been awarded for alcoholic beverages of late (we tend to have significant F&B spend). As a data point, stays at SPG properties continue to accrue points as expected, so I don't believe local laws are involved.

I don't frequently travel to the four states listed below. As it happens, I did check out of the St. Regis in San Francisco today and did not receive points for alcohol consumption (per the folio), as expected. Nor did I at the Grand Hyatt earlier in the week. The issue described by the OP appears to affect states where no local law prevents the accrual of points.

The question is whether this is a policy change, an IT issue, or a local management decision.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I can say, unequivocally, that you do not earn points for alcohol in the hotel's restaurant or bar as a guest of the PH SYD or MEL. My PL agent confirmed this when I questioned the amounts.

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.