G702TT

ethernal

In fairness their check-in time is earlier than most hotels by starting at 2 PM... that gives you a solid 4 hours in which you can check in knowing your reservation is safe

This does seem like an odd and rather disappointing approach. What possible value is there to this for the hotel other than allowing super aggressive overbooking without (legal) recourse from customers?

Also.. can you post a screenshot? I can't find the verbiage you reference when I make a dummy booking for next week.

G702TT

Below are the rate details for my search for a stay from November 22 - 29. It mentions it under "Holding Reservation."

However, When I checked November 1 - 8, it did not mention the 6pm rule and merely stated, " We will need a credit card number to reserve your room." in the Holding Reservation section.

Looks like they are picking and choosing which time periods to mandate this 6pm check-in time deadline.

cfischer

very strange indeed.

ucfjoe

So they’re taking ideas from rental car companies now? This is something I really expect large hotel operators to flatly prohibit in their management/franchise agreements. Charging a cancellation fee if cancelled three days before and not guaranteeing reservation would get some state AG’s fired up and yes I realize this is HK but still. Would love a lurker comment on this.

laxmillenial

Why don't you just call and inform them that you're arriving late. This is a risk that occurs if you check in super late as hotels don't know if you're a no-show or if you're actually coming. Informing them that you're planning on arriving super late can ensure they hold a room upgrade for you ahead of time...

That being said, I always arrive post 6PM at the Renaissance HK, I normally stroll in around 10PM from my flights out of the west coast. I've never had an issue.

catocony

If you don't show they will charge you for the night you didn't show and then cancel the reservation. The hotel isn't out a penny in that case, they just have one less room to clean the next day. I could see calling if you're trying to upgrade to a suite, but not just to keep your reservation.

RobOnLI

Or play this the other way. It says "6pm on the day of your arrival". Arrive after midnight which makes your arrival "the next day" and you're also there before 6pm. Problem solved

Actually, I have seen this warning on rooms before in Hong Kong and never once had an issue. Maybe having Marriott status helped. If nothing else, make the reservation and then call/email the hotel and tell them what your expected arrival time is. Or, use the utterly useless mobile app check-in and set your arrival time in that.

-RM

ethernal

It seems like this is a rarely used clause, but i'm very curious as to how Marriott would respond to it in context of the Platinum Elite room guarantee if it was invoked - would Marriott force compensation despite the booking? It is such a strange condition that I would have to assume Marriott would side with the guest. But then again, I guess technically your reservation was "honored".. you just didn't hold up your end of the bargain I guess

myperks

ucfjoe

Okay we heard about this in another country a week ago and I think somewhere else where the OP wanted to keep it a secret but here is a repeatable specific set of two examples where you’ve gotta use a credit card to book and you must cancel 3 days in advance to not get hit with a penalty BUT they will only guarantee the room until 6pm, day of checkin. These are Sheratons (Vistana) Orlando and this IMHO is how you quickly piss off a loyal contingent. Yes I realize these are timeshare properties but last I checked “Sheraton Vistana” isn’t the 31st new special brand. Also, for fun, I looked at a few other Vistana properties and it seems to be the same across the board. Didn’t check them all but the ones I did had the same “Guarantee Policy.” These properties show up just like any other when searching for a place so if they want to make it special they pull it from the app. I have screenshots and will post when I figure it out on mobile. Tried searching and if I missed this somewhere else please merge into another thread. The real rub here is that while I guess they spun off at this point these properties are about as corporately owned as you can get. “Vistana™ Signature Experiences, Inc., an operating business of Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, designs, builds, manages and maintains resort properties under the Westin and Sheraton brands, ensuring the highest quality standards.Through exclusive license agreements, we will continue to develop products primarily within these two signature brands. By leveraging these highly recognizable brands, plus Gold Elite status in the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program, Vistana drives value for customers by delivering exceptional levels of service and programming that are unique to the brands and distinct in the market.”

EuropeanPete

MSPeconomist

stant

no.
This is a 1000+ room property. Staff are on hand 24/7

why on earth they wont hold your room past 6pm is beyond me, especially for a property like this. there is always a line to check in past 6pm, and i have been there at close to midnight and still found people in the lobby

genotonda

Is it a special rate/cheaper rate, if you book it that way? You have to cancel 3 days out, but yet if you arrive after 6pm on day of, your room could be gone anyways. Almost like a gamble, where you can get a lower rate, but you better get there before 6pm. Weird. 3-day cancel, and must arrive before 6pm on day of, seem so contradictory.