Help with Omni
 

On business, I am being forced (client preference--and they pay my fees and expenses) to stay at an Omni Hotel frequently (5 times in last 9 months.). They don't seem to have any relationship with anyone to get miles, their own points, etc. Other than using an affinity credit card to get miles, anyone have any ideas on using the opportunity to get miles. Is there something I am missing? Thanks for any suggestions.

From the handy Inside Flyer Partner Index, which is also available online on this web site:
Omni Hotels -> Virgin (Asia Pacific)

Oh no -- wait til MerryFlyer and Baobab see that one...

Djlawman shows impeccable taste in wanting to avoid these establishments...

watch out for the wig shops.

I don't think MeryFlyer and Baobab will mind. I only had one OMNI-hotel experience some years ago: In New York / Manhattan (this OMNI has changed ownership since than): I had a reservation (3 nights, booked through my travel-agent) and wasn't an experienced traveller as now. Arriving late from Europe, they did not accept (find) my reservation and declared to be full (I did not have my reservation number handy and there wasn't any such number on my hotel-voucher - and it was to late/to early to call my travel agent back in Europe right away). I finally had to go (for one night) to a horrible Howard Jonson (9 Ave?) till my travel agent fixed things the next day (and I had to say thank you for an excuse of the OMNI-manager and one free breakfast overed by the OMNI; my travel agent at least paid for the taxi-transfer, the phone-calls and the first night). WHY WASN'T THIS BOARD BORN BEFORE!

So - in my (very limited and egoistic) opinion, nobody will mind if their "hated" airline has an alliance with OMNI-hotels.

Rudi, your experience reminds me of an early travel experience I had. It was a last minute business trip and Amex booked me at Sofitel in Brussels. I arrived in Brussels to find that there were two Sofitels. I went to the one by the airport and showed them my travel itinerary which mentioned Sofitel. The reservation people were very friendly and made inquiries at the other hotel also, but said that neither hotel had the reservation, and that both hotels were full. So I made arrangements at another hotel.

A couple of months later I found out that Sofitel had billed my credit card for a no show. I had to go through a lot of trouble to get that charge reversed.

Rudi's experience with Omni hotels reminds me of another CAT tip I should pass on... when you make a reserrvation for ANYTHING related
to travel, make sure you keep a copy of the reservation number. A few times when I have checked in the hotel asks for it. Most cases they don't (especially when I show my frequent quest card, but sometimes they do.)

So I keep the number in my little Sharp Wizard computer. Also ask the hotel to send a copy of the reservation confirmation (yes this is too much but I like having all my bases covered!)

I remember this from an article I read in a
Hemispheres magazine about two years ago, about a very tired business traveler who had to fight to get his room because he did have the reservation number. CATMAN

Catman's suggestion of having the reservation number with you is excellent advice, as I am sure every seasoned traveler knows. In the incident I described above, I did not have a reservation number nor did Amex have it (I tried their after hours number) since it was a very last minute trip and also because of miscommunication among the parties because of different time zones and languages.

BTW, these days I prefer (whenever possible) making reservations myself and not going through travel agents.

I will say nothing.

Except....


"Golden opinions from all sorts of people".
Macbeth, Shakespear.

MF

Okay--I have read the replies (some of which were conspicuously off-thread, folks!), and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do. Omni may be partnered with Virgin (although the Virgin program review doesn't say anything about it, the index does list it). However, I can only join Virgin after flying a minimum number of qualifying segments, according to the Virgin program review, so I seem to be out of luck. but thanks guys.
Djlawman

DJlawman... you might want to give OMNI hotels a call and first find out what travel firms they are partnered with and airlines.
It does not seem like many. Then mention
casually that it would be nice if they work
on getting MORE airline partners (now they wouldn't want to lose their business to Hilton and Marriott!)

I did this when I called Westin and Sheraton and told both that I was so disappointed about them leaving AMEX membership rewards as well as concerns about this new Starry
Starwood program. It better be a good program or Marriott and Hilton are going to see a lot more of me!

You did a smart move DJlawman.. you charge
your stays on an affinity credit card. I will
be charging onto my Hilton optima for the
Embassey Suites and the Quality Inns I will
stay in when I go to the nation of Texas
after Christmas. One of the cat's philosophies get miles and points anyway you can (LEGALLY of course.)

Sorry about the OMNI postings! I think SOME
of us got confused by seeing OMNI in the title of the board. You too are welcome to post OMNI if you like... know you won't get
EMMETT_NANCY_Roberto_ArthuRO disease! CATMAN

This is the hotel I referred to in an earlier posting: Came out of Penn Station, got in a cab, said "OMNI", and got a U-turn and the minimum meter charge. Welcome to Gotham.

Somewhat OMNI posting and NYC travel tip: with several hotel chains having several hotels in NYC... make sure you give the cabbie the EXACT name of the hotel and the EXACT adress.

When I brought my friend HOlly into town to stay at the Marriott Financial Center, she said "take me to the Marriott." She ended up in Brooklyn and I got an earful saying "You
booked me in BROOKLYN?" I said if you listened to me and gave the exact name of hotel and address... then you would be here now.

FYI: THe Marriott Downtown Brooklyn is a nice hotel. My station covered the opening.

And to find out what hotels are in Manhattan.. please sing.. (to the tune of the 12 days of Christmas)

There are now 6 Marriott's 5, 5 Hilton hotels's, Four Holiday Inns, three Sheratons, two Westins (and not a room available!)
CATMAN