Adelphos

Also remember that suites require more cleaning than other rooms; and with the new cleaning requirements, they take more time to clean. Hotels will probably want to open these rooms last when they have more of their staff back. Upgrading an elite that is staying at a depressed room rate to a room that will cost exponentially more to clean isn’t gonna make much sense

jpdx

True. And that's precisely why this is the logical response:

It simply doesn't make sense to shell out (in cash or points) for full service properties with severely reduced services and/or limited benefits. FWIW, I traveled a lot more this year than most people (72 hotel nights YTD), and although I've been home for over 6 weeks now, I had a number of dismal hotel experiences in March (including the otherwise very solid Sheraton Sydney, which had closed its lounge and provided a subpar replacement benefit). If I were to travel to Sydney again these next few months, there's zero chance I'd stay at the Sheraton; I'd choose the excellent but much cheaper 4P.

I would say these cuts are ill advised. Hotels and chains desperately need guests to return. Cutting benefits seems to be a very poor strategy if you're trying to lure back guests. Obviously, if government regulation requires closure of facilities, there's nothing the hotel can do. In contrast, telling elites the lounge is closed (for business reasons) and you're not getting any replacement benefits (e.g., breakfast and evening cocktails at a venue that is open) is not smart. And things like denying 4PM checkout (in a hotel with 10% occupancy) are mindbogglingly stupid. Most people are in no rush to travel again, but a handful are itching to get out. Welcoming them with, "you're getting a room, but your usual benefits are limited or suspended" will mean that one stay is it; these guests will either realize that it's a bad year for travel, or if they travel again, just book as free agents, without allegiance to a specific program. So I think making sure that elite members have a great experience despite the legal/practical constrains is of utmost importance. Once you've driven people to stay home or book Airbnb or Priceline, they're not gonna help you out of this slump.

Based on that rationale, I've pretty much given up on Marriott and Hyatt for the next half year. Instead, this is an excellent time to burn some IHG points. They appear to have just introduced dynamic pricing, which results in some ludicrously cheap points redemptions in some countries. For instance, I just booked IC Vienna at 17.5k, IC Geneva at 27.5k, a bunch of German/Austrian CP/HI/HIX at 12.5k, and (speculatively for Spring 2021), IC Danang at 40k, and Indigo Taipei at 15k. There's a lot of whining about lack of benefits for IHG Spires, but when all chains can be expecte to give you mediocre performance, there's no point in paying €160 (or 25k points) for Marriott Heidelberg, when you can get the CP for 12.5k IHG points.

Flying for Fun

Typical "all take & no give" response. Not everyone shares your "ideals," myself included. Bonvoy has treated me very well and I will return the favour when I can travel again, despite what the benefits look like. I spent a week at the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park through early March. It was a very memorable stay. Despite 50 Elites checking in that morning, including Ambassador Elites, I received a great upgrade on a 7 night TP stay. We relaxed in the lounge until our room was ready, kept updated by the lounge Concierge who personally checked the room before escorting us there 3 1/2 hours before standard check-in time. I was even greeted by name by off-duty staff when I was away from the hotel. I will happily return again.

What doesn't make sense is spending money to entice people to book at their properties when the goverment has closed it's borders & imposed quarentines to everyone except essential workers. There isn't a demand for stays and spending money they don't have isn't going to change that. Once people can travel and services & amenities return, the rates will be commensurate.

Not everyone has points in multiple programs they can cherry pick properties from. If the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park had redemptions at 5K a night, all I could say is, "boy that is cheap!" I can't take advantage of that.

James

Kacee

I'm choosing hotels based on overall quality and value, just as I did before COVID-19. Marriott still comes out ahead a reasonable percentage of the time. Some of the factors that can still favor Marriott:

1. Of Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, Marriott seems to have kept the most properties open. By contrast, most full service Hyatts are currently closed.
2. Bought Marriott gift cards at a 20% discount, so I can get a $500 room for $400.
3. Still get an effective rebate of around 18% in Marriott points.
4. Can burn points when rates are high (as they have been for 4/5 star properties in the Scottsdale area).
5. IME, properties are still providing benefits, though it's inconsistent. For example, Camelback Inn is still providing a breakfast benefit.
6. I've also been able to leverage status for favorable room assignments . . . this week at Camelback, for example, I rejected the room they originally offered, and had the FDA identify all options before selecting a nice sundeck casita as the best available. Then got them to block off the adjoining connecting room so wouldn't have to deal with noise transmission through the connecting doors.
7. I would expect to get a 4 pm late checkout if necessary.

That said, I just booked an FHR stay at Four Seasons Scottsdale Troon North for about the same price as the Camelback. That was not a hard call based on relative value.

What I definitely won't do now is direct stays to inferior, limited service Hyatt properties, since the likelihood of my hitting 60 Hyatt this year seems quite low.

clarkef

I wouldn't agree. A full-service hotel has many advantages and it's really a matter of which benefits are important to you. Obviously a full-service hotel generally has valet parking, on-site restaurants, etc. But they also tend to be well-appointed, great locations, etc. This past Memorial Day weekend I went to Monterey to get away. I stayed at the local full-service Marriott. No services were provided and the restaurant was closed, but its location across from the beach made the trip worth it.

cfabar1

When I go to a Full-Service hotel, I expect full-service. I can be flexible with what that means during pandemic, but generally here is what I expect:

- Someone who can direct me to information I need
- Access to room service most hours of the day
- A breakfast amenity if my status merits it
- A club lounge evening benefit, which in this time of pandemic likely could be substituted for say a room-service appetizer or dessert brought to my room each evening.


The rest would be lovely, but I am flexible in the name of safety. That said, you can't have it both ways, don't charge resort fees and offer none of the so-called amenities other than high-speed internet.

rylan

This right here

tarheelnj

Stayed at a Gaylord with pick-it-up-yourself room service and really liked it. I tend to be the first one in the lounge (if they have them) or restaurant. With room service you often get a range of times, which may not work if you're juggling early morning calls. I like being able to call Room Service, wait 10-15 minutes, then head down to pick up my own order - back in the room in 10 minutes. No delivery charge. Of course with family at a resort, I would feel differently. But by myself in a non-Lounge FS hotel, the pick-up option works well.

churning

Stayed at a Marriott a week and a half ago. There was no breakfast and nothing offered in exchange. Titanium.

MSPeconomist

Did you ask for anything in exchange for breakfast, assuming this was a brand/property/type/location that normally gives breakfast to Titaniums?

BTW, was a restaurant or room service open and service breakfast during your stay? Did any laws/regulations prevent the hotel from providing food service?

churning

It was a property that normally gives breakfast to Titaniums. They had a restaurant that was open for dinner each day, I think it was closed for Breakfast/Lunch. I believe room service existed. I don't think any laws prevented it. I checked in close to midnight after driving many hours, so the last thing on my mind unfortunately was pushing it for the breakfast benefit.

MSPeconomist

Some hotels have an area near the front desk that sells various types of packaged takeaway food. It would be easy (and cheap) to provide breakfast this way if it's part of the hotel (and not a Starbucks, etc.). Aloft and element are examples of Bonvoy brands with this type of setup (but typically no restaurant), which seems more common in various Hyatt brand properties, including those with restaurants.

It's also more common with Hyatt, but some hotels either give or require the option that one picks up "room service" (without the service charge). In Marriotts that have been delivering room service in paper containers, this would be an easy modification that saves time and requires fewer staff.

hhoope01

We stayed for a night at the Battlehouse Ren in Mobile last weekend and that is what they did. We ordered by phone and went down to pick it up.

MSPeconomist

Often I'd rather do this than wait for an indeterminate amount of time for room service to knock on my door. In the meantime, you can't change clothes, take a bath/shower, make business calls, do serious work, etc., so you're really just waiting for the food to arrive.

Jon Maiman

+1

The few times I have ordered room service, the waiting has always been the major drawback. If I am ordering room service (pre-Covid anyway), it is because I am totally dead and don't have the energy to go anywhere. I.e. I want to change into comfortable clothes and relax ASAP. Being able to call in an order and pick it up myself in relatively short order is nice.

--Jon