Hotel gets reflagged, reward night guests lose out
Jun 3, 2020, 10:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: HIlton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Southwest
Posts: 312
Hotel gets reflagged, reward night guests lose out
IHG notified me today that its HIE in Bend, OR has been reflagged as a Best Western, which leaves three members of my family, all booking on points for an August trip, out of luck. What really ticks me off is that in early August a new HIE in Bend will open with very high rates and no reward night availability, but has IHG made a deal with them to allow guests to use points? Not on your life. Although the Best Western is offering good rates, the idea in these challenging times was not to have to lay out money and instead burn some of our points.
Jun 3, 2020, 6:45 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Manhattan NV
Programs: Hilton LTD, Hyatt Glob, Marriott LTTE, AA LTP, Avis PC, National EE, Seabourn DE
Posts: 3,030
The Best Western conversion hotel mentioned is selling rooms for $90 during August. Unless they remove the plumbing, a fantastic deal among Bend hotel rooms in August. .
Jun 3, 2020, 10:53 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Lincoln, CA
Programs: HHonors/Marriott/Starwood/SWA Rapid Rewards
Posts: 240
haha - good one
thanks for making me laugh! I needed that during this time of too much information in the media! I came to Flyertalk to escape and it worked! But to the OP, I'm sorry this happened to you. It seems like all we are getting these days is more bad news!
Jun 4, 2020, 12:49 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Window Seat
Programs: National Executive, HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Visitor
Posts: 2,495
IHG notified me today that its HIE in Bend, OR has been reflagged as a Best Western, which leaves three members of my family, all booking on points for an August trip, out of luck. What really ticks me off is that in early August a new HIE in Bend will open with very high rates and no reward night availability, but has IHG made a deal with them to allow guests to use points? Not on your life. Although the Best Western is offering good rates, the idea in these challenging times was not to have to lay out money and instead burn some of our points.
Jun 4, 2020, 6:16 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,225
I had this happen on a reward stay at a Hilton in Copenhagen at the airport. The only problem was it was the only Hilton property in the country, so I had to decide either to stay there and pay cash, or find another hotel in the city.
I chose a hotel in the city, which was more expensive than what the airport hotel was charging, but better located.
It happens, and it isn't great, but the $90 a night sounds like a steal, I would call the hotel and try to convert my reservation to cash. Especially if you were willing to stay there already.
I chose a hotel in the city, which was more expensive than what the airport hotel was charging, but better located.
It happens, and it isn't great, but the $90 a night sounds like a steal, I would call the hotel and try to convert my reservation to cash. Especially if you were willing to stay there already.
Jun 7, 2020, 6:09 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: HIlton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Southwest
Posts: 312
Good news!
Pleased to report that the new HIE in Bend, South is now accepting reservations for 20,000 points per night - 5,000 less than their previous HIE property. I would like to think that my post helped prompt this action, but it's probably just a coincidence.
Jun 8, 2020, 12:37 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,710
Interesting. I was looking at the HIE Bend last week and noticed no award availability at all - now I know why. $90 in summer is fantastic indeed.
OP - I had the exact scenario happen to me, except it was at the Holiday Inn Resort - Lodge at Eagle Crest. They ended up putting me at HIE Bend for the same rate, which I suppose was OK, but Eagle Crest was a much more interesting property. I wrote about it here: https://saverocity.com/pointsadventu...-leaves-chain/
IHG is terrible in this regard.
OP - I had the exact scenario happen to me, except it was at the Holiday Inn Resort - Lodge at Eagle Crest. They ended up putting me at HIE Bend for the same rate, which I suppose was OK, but Eagle Crest was a much more interesting property. I wrote about it here: https://saverocity.com/pointsadventu...-leaves-chain/
IHG is terrible in this regard.
Jun 8, 2020, 1:04 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Window Seat
Programs: National Executive, HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Visitor
Posts: 2,495
Hey that is great news and a really good deal. Definitely worth booking.
Jun 8, 2020, 2:15 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,046
Never stayed there, but if a HIX is so nasty that it reflags to a Best Western, perhaps they've done you a favour... 
Jun 9, 2020, 7:09 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Window Seat
Programs: National Executive, HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Visitor
Posts: 2,495
Have been seeing a few of those 00's HIX properties reflag and new gray HIX built nearby. Medford, OR and Elko, NV last year as well.
Jun 11, 2020, 11:05 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
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Posts: 12,948
Sorry for being pedantic but the use of the word reflag in this context is wrong English. Rebranded would be a better word to describe the change.
Happy it all worked out for you OP.
Happy it all worked out for you OP.
Jun 11, 2020, 1:36 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
There is a Hilton a mere 20 miles from the airport though, just across the bridge in Malmö and with very good public transport connections between Copenhagen airport and Malmö (about 20 mins to Malmö by train compared with about 10-15 mins to Central Copenhagen also by train).
Jun 12, 2020, 6:51 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
Another example is the use of the word "walk" to refer to relocating a guest to a different hotel when the reserved hotel is overbooked.