Anyone? Anyone?
 

Lack-of-business & security reasons are lame BS excuses. I would think that if they tried to get that one by the "Sheraton Police" they would be in serious trouble, as they are required, not "suggested" to have a lounge. And, no, a broom closet isn't what they have in mind. That doesn't explain why the "Regency Club's" have gone away though, does it? (Renovation would require that they put the lounge somewhere ELSE, I would think). Anyway..

Which brings me back to the original point, which these replies have all danced around: Compelling, innovative reasons to stay at Hyatt. OK, great, a free night (although redemption choice are limited, and yes, some of those redemption opportunites are pretty posh, to be sure), but that's only one.

Anyone? Anyone? (Smoot Hawley Tarriff Act?)??? Bueller? Bueller?

For me it seems that you have already made up your mind. You have been given most of the reasons above why I believe that the program is best for me.

1. Faster Free Nights credit for ALL stays (including opaque bookings and award stays).
2. Member benefits for ALL stays (including opaque bookings and award stays).

What Sheraton Police? Do they work in concert with the 4Points Police that were supposed to enforce the free high speed internet at all 4points when they made that a brand standard a while back . . .and then backed down when the properties failed to comply?

Do you stay at many Sheraton's? My batting average for club lounges is probably close to 50%. My batting average for club lounges that are open on weekends is closer to 5%. If I don't get lounge access at Hyatt, I at least get a free breakfast (and at SFO, very nice appetzers in the restaurant).

Don't get me wrong, I am an SPG PLAT and will requalify again this year, but consistancy with published benefits is not a strong characterstic of the SPG program. Consistancy is a bit better with Hyatt, as is customer service (at least with top level elites). Hyatts also have (as pointed out above) more generous stay credits (stay credits for PL and award nights) and promotions.

Yes, Hyatt has fewer properties than SPG, but if you want more properties you should be with Hilton or perhaps Best Western.

Customer Service
 

Back to the original question at hand, for me, Hyatt's Customer Service is innovative. While an elite in SPG's and Hilton's programs, there I feel like an ordinary visitor when I check-in; upgrades through SPG are a rareity and there's no distinct difference in service when I check in elite/non-eltie. (Although the hotels at Lanai that used to be SPG-affiliated did go out of their way ...that being the exception.)

With Hyatt, I find the service to be exceptional from moment of reservation to moment of departure. With the exception of a few places that are a little sloppy, I've gotten the feeling that Hyatt sincerely welcomes and appreciates my business and goes out of their way to be extra-nice as a Diamond. I've found their agents on the phone to be outstanding and friendly... and even online agents via email and this board (ala Julia) go out of their way to make sure every stay is a problem-free one.

I do have more points and more stays with Hilton as a Diamond there (merely a function of them having more hotels in more locations) but I find Hyatt much more customer-service focussed than they are. And for that I consider them innovative.

Pillow menus, speciality shower fixtures, custom turn-down snacks, and flashy elite membership cards are nice... but at the end of the day, I want a hassle-free stay in a quality place ...from people that appreciate and respect my business. (And the FFN program is simply icing on the cake.)

This "math" is telling me that the only "innovation" that you can think of is a targeted "2 for 1" sale. That would seem to diminish the value of the organization somewhat. Or is there a Pivot Table that says otherwise?

The only other "innovation" mentioned anywhere here is an allegedly good CS department, which is hardly an innovation.

In any case, you all answered my question, whether you intended to or not, so thanks very much!

Under occupation, it says you're a hotel manager. Which hotel chain would that be?

You are mixing your brands. The only hotel chain that uses targeting as a business practice in their course of doing buisness is SPG, or haven't you frequented the SPG board to read the rants of those who stay at your properties?

Yet another "innovation" that SPG has championed, that neither Hyatt, nor Hilton, nor Marriott is laboring under, is SPG's crushing debt burden. Word has it that if there is a downturn in the economy or world travel, SPG will be the next to go the way of Le Meridien, the company that you are ostensibly rehabilitating.

Aside from Delta and USAir -- companies that you seem to be all too familiar with -- What is it with you, anyway, are you the touch of death for those companies that you patronize/work for? -- SPG and Wyndham are quite overextended, and are of great concern to many.

Except, of course, bankruptcy attorneys. :D

With respect to your question being answered, the less we see of you on this board, the better. :p :cool:

Your suppositions are all, repeat, ALL incorrect. And, might I add, your personal attacks are the rudest and most inappropriate response I have EVER seen! Shame!

By any math, spending $100 to get a free room sure sounds like "buy one get one free"....

I have not supported or represented any brands here, just pointed out some competing brands qualities, compared to Hyatt's lack thereof. Simply asking for some innovations gets this reaction? Sheesh.

So, again, NJ, I'll direct the question to YOU:

Give me those innovations that makes Hyatt great!!!! And no personal attacks this time!!!! :mad:

None of the above!!!!

Let me repeat the original question
 

Can anyone enlighten me as to Hyatt "innovations" that would make anyone brand loyal? ;)

Flat screen TVs in the bathrooms of the Grand Hyatt Berlin...

Let me ask you back...what innovations can you name for Starwood or Hilton that are better than what Hyatt has to offer?

Those would be great if they were in every hotel. Better yet, skip the bathroom TV and just upgrade the bedroom to something spectacular.

I might point out that the Ramada Plaza in Berlin at Prager Platz has rooms and facilities that would compete with (actually would exceed) any upper tier domestic brand. Actually, the heated bath floors, heated towel racks, Club lounge with 3 Plasma TV's (open 24 hours, serving at all times), beds, etc. are all superior to a standard domestic upper end product. Oddly enough, it's a Ramada.

To answer your question, I like the Hhonors program for the double dipping feature. I've found that every time I have had an issue with Hhonors, I have gotten a resolution within minutes. I was stranded at CVG one night at 2am, and I got an award room within minutes, via phone. And the Point Stretcher awards are pretty cool as well.

Starwood...all of their brands....have clearly made significant achievments in regards to the product. Bed, bath, menu, you name it. There's a forum on SPG that discusses the ROI for those beds, perhaps the single greatest innovation in recent history? (I'm paraphrasing).

Actually, I forgot to mention, they only have them on the club floor, but they are pretty cool.

Double dipping is a good thing, but I usually take the offer to have increased base points instead with Hilton. I fly enough to earn enough miles anyway, and the hotel points have a higher value to me. With regards to the point stretcher rewards, Hilton has discontinued point stretcher rewards for category 1 hotels, and the other point stretchers are very rare and they were posted way too late.

With regards to those beds...I am not sure what is so special about the "heavenly" bed? Honest question, as I just don't understand...I slept in them and they are pretty good, but whatever the bed in the Grand Hyatt Berlin is called, it seems to be better, as well as whatever bed they use in the Conrad Bangkok.

I guess it somewhat comes down to whatever competing properties you are looking at. E.g., in Berlin, the Hyatt blows the Westin and the Hilton out of the water. It might be different in other locations.

Same with the loyalty programs. I used to call the regular Hilton hotline and they were just horrible. Rude, uninformed, incapable. Diamond line is better. I haven't had too much interaction with Starwood customer service, but what I don't like very much about their elite benefits is that breakfast is not included. I DO like the "best room available" guarantee (if it is actually provided in practice) for diamonds, though. On the other hand, I think FFN is the best promo out there of any hotel program.

So, every program has its advantages and drawbacks...just take the best from each one and maximize your benefits as well as your travel plans allow you to.

Within the last year, I stayed in great properties such as the Conrad Bangkok, the HWV, the Hilton Maldives, the Grand Hyatt Berlin, the Sheraton Iguazu (nice view), both Sheratons in Rio, etc., etc....but one of the nicest places I have stayed at was actually some 0-star Pousada in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil...no points earned, either :).

Oddly enough, I was able to get Point Stretcher awards at the Hilton Munich City Center, right there in your hometown.

Beds in the USA have always been poorer than the European (particularly German) counterparts. Marriott used to use (and maybe still does in places) a 3" slab of foam rubber, placed over a box spring. Actually they are not that uncomfortable, but it just goes to show you that the USA beds were just not up to par.

While every other hotel company had "real mattresses" (Hyatt and Hilton included) , the heavenly bed was the first real program to make the bed a truly pleasurable experience with the comforter, lots of pillows, etc. While you may be used to the German federbett, Americans had generally no such counterpart, particuarly system wide in any brand of hotels.

The Diamond Amenity was a good enough "innovation" that Starwood decided to rip it off ... doesn't really put them ahead of Sheraton now though since it was ripped off ...

Being a longtime Flyertalker I always give Hyatt credit for being the first program to have an official presence here.

There's also 1-800-Check-in ...