Does anyone know whether the Ritz-Carlton hotels have a loyalty program? Thanks in advance for your responses.

Welcome to FlyerTalk mileseeker!

The Ritz-Carlton does not offer a Frequent Guest or Loyalty program. However, Marriott Rewards members may select various rewards at participating Ritz-Carlton Hotels.

[*]60,000 Points - 1 Night Reward - Code 791 [*]110,000 Points - 2 Night Reward - Code 792[*]150,000 Points - 3 Night Reward - Code 752[*]200,000 Points - 5 Night Reward - Code 753 [*]250,000 Points - 7 Night Reward - Code 754

However, each individual hotel tracks how many times you have stayed there. I read somewhere that if it is three stays in a certain period, you get monogrammed bath robes or something along those lines.

[This message has been edited by Tute84 (edited 12-04-2000).]

How do those mammogrammed bathrobes work?

25 nights, 6 stays in the last 3 months. I've gotten nothing.
I also had a bad experience with dry cleaning there, wrote a comment on the comment card, and have gotten no response. While some hotels within ther system (STL) are far above the competition, I find it too hard to direct thousands of dollars their way without any rewards or special recognition.
And they have lost my business for now.

I have also been a frequent guest at Ritz-Carltons and have always been puzzled by how their guest recognition works. It seems that they might have some sort of system that tracks guests by credit card (i.e. if you use the same card at different hotels, you will be recognized by the system-- otherwise, nothing).

This is just a hunch.

I stay at Ritz's 30+ nights a year and mostly at the same hotel. Aside from a "nice" card that says "Welcome Back" I get nothing.

I have frequented (frequently !) the Ritz Carltons in HK, Singapore, KL etc. My observations would say that they have guest recognition systems in the INDIVIDUAL hotels, not across the chain. I certainly have never received any gifts, amenities let alone bathrobes. Great hotels individually but that's about it.

Their system does seem to be by hotel, and is more designed to address personal preferences. Two visits ago in San Francisco I mentioned that I really liked my room - the best I had been assigned in all my stays. Then on my last return visit to San Francisco, they gave me the same room I had on the prior stay. Also, they send up my extra feather pillows without asking, things like that.

A few years back, I had the opportunity to do some consulting work with Ritz Carlton (right before they were bought by Marriott). Indivudual hotels have the ability to track guest preferences. For instance, if you call the front desk to get extra pillows sent to your room, the request is put in the computer and they will make sure you have extra pillows every time you check in to that hotel (in theory, not sure how well it works). Every employee is supposed to carry a note pad to observe/record guest preferences. They can then have those preferences placed in your record so that they will be acknowledged whenever you check in to the hotel. Unfortunately, I think the system is for individual hotels only so your record for the St. Thomas Ritz will not be the same as the Atlanta Ritz. Of course, they may have upgraded their system by now.

Having stayed at the RC Tyson's Corner for about 20 nights within a short period during late '98 and early '99, I can say that the guest recognition at that hotel is somewhat hit-and-miss. A few times I have been greeted with a bottle of wine in the room. Some other times with a welcome back note from the manager. Other times, nothing at all except the welcome back greeting at the desk (that is one thing you always get). Sometimes the desk staff will give you access to the Club if you ask for it. At other times, they will not. You never know what recognition you're going to get. I probably would stay there more often if the nights counted toward Marriott status, whether or not points were given.

The offical follow up from Ritz:

"Dear rsilver

Thank you for your message and for your interest in The Ritz-Carlton.

With regard to your question, rather than participating in a frequency or
reward program, our focus is on guest recognition. Our efforts revolve
around providing personalized service to loyal guests based upon their
personal preferences and needs. You are included in the process by virtue
of your being a repeat guest as opposed to being a "member".

We look forward to welcoming you in the near future and please do not
hesitate to let me know if I may be of further assistance.

Regards,
Lauren Rotchford"