Free Night at Radisson
May 20, 2001 | 4:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Ambassador/Lifetime Titanium, Accor Silver, Club Carlson Gold, BW Diamond
Posts: 2,432
Free Night at Radisson
Posting this as an FYI, with the recent Mexico City Hilton fiasco in mind:
I was scheduled to be in Portland, OR last night. Had a free room at a Starwood property booked, using SPG points, for several weeks. As I usually do, I checked out prices a few days prior to arrival at the chains I frequent - Starwood and Radisson.
Well, on the Radisson web site, up came several prices for the one night I was looking at. A AAA rate, a Govt. rate, etc.. The Corporate rate was listed at "$0.00". Figured I'd give it a try. Well, it confirmed me at that rate and I got an additional e-mail confirmation that listed a phone number if I had any questions. I called it and was transferred to "Distribution Services". There,the woman, upon seeing the rate, put me on hold to enquire. When she got back she stated, "It looks like you won!". She said that they were obligated to honor it. Also, she advised me not to make any changes to the reservation, otherwise I'd lose the rate.
I immediately went back online to check out the same property for the same date. The Corporate rate was now $89 for the night I wanted.
Of course, I didn't believe it until I checked in. But, lo and behold, I checked in and the clerk mentioned the "computer error" and said that I had a rate of $0.00
Checked out this morning and my bill included only my breakfast. (I felt obligated to eat at least one meal there!)
The point of this post is obviously not to tell people of a terrific opportunity in Portland. It is more to tell of the experience that I had so that if someone comes upon this it IS possible that it will be honored.
I'm pretty certain that it helped that Radisson was informed of this error right away, AND that I didn't book the rest of May and all of June at their hotel.
Aloha
I was scheduled to be in Portland, OR last night. Had a free room at a Starwood property booked, using SPG points, for several weeks. As I usually do, I checked out prices a few days prior to arrival at the chains I frequent - Starwood and Radisson.
Well, on the Radisson web site, up came several prices for the one night I was looking at. A AAA rate, a Govt. rate, etc.. The Corporate rate was listed at "$0.00". Figured I'd give it a try. Well, it confirmed me at that rate and I got an additional e-mail confirmation that listed a phone number if I had any questions. I called it and was transferred to "Distribution Services". There,the woman, upon seeing the rate, put me on hold to enquire. When she got back she stated, "It looks like you won!". She said that they were obligated to honor it. Also, she advised me not to make any changes to the reservation, otherwise I'd lose the rate.
I immediately went back online to check out the same property for the same date. The Corporate rate was now $89 for the night I wanted.
Of course, I didn't believe it until I checked in. But, lo and behold, I checked in and the clerk mentioned the "computer error" and said that I had a rate of $0.00
Checked out this morning and my bill included only my breakfast. (I felt obligated to eat at least one meal there!)
The point of this post is obviously not to tell people of a terrific opportunity in Portland. It is more to tell of the experience that I had so that if someone comes upon this it IS possible that it will be honored.
I'm pretty certain that it helped that Radisson was informed of this error right away, AND that I didn't book the rest of May and all of June at their hotel.
Aloha
May 20, 2001 | 9:08 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Good for you, however, I don't know of any law or statute that says that they are obligated to honor it. It is good that you called first to confirm. I think that it is a wise thing to do.
I concur that it was appropriate for you to have had a meal there. Again good for you!
I concur that it was appropriate for you to have had a meal there. Again good for you!
May 21, 2001 | 6:47 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: LH SEN, SPG Gold(SCI Gold), Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,482
With the confirmation they entered a binding contract, which they must honor.
The necessary steps are:
1. The hotel offers you a rate (anthing larger $1)
2. You offer the hotel to book at that rate
3. The hotel confirms the booking at that rate
[This message has been edited by peter42 (edited 05-22-2001).]
The necessary steps are:
1. The hotel offers you a rate (anthing larger $1)
2. You offer the hotel to book at that rate
3. The hotel confirms the booking at that rate
[This message has been edited by peter42 (edited 05-22-2001).]
May 21, 2001 | 7:35 am
#5
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 3,069
We've covered this ground before, but there is no binding contract without consideration (i.e. payment or something else tangible) from both parties. They probably just honored it because they believe in taking responibility for their own mistakes.
May 21, 2001 | 1:49 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Bethesda, MD USA
Posts: 2,802
I'm pretty sure that they have a disclaimer on their website that says they are not responsible for honoring typographical errors and the like. But it's nice that they went ahead and did it for you.
I wonder how many lashes the web producer got for doing that!
I wonder how many lashes the web producer got for doing that!
May 21, 2001 | 5:24 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 7,419
Even other systems have a lot of errors in their reservation systems.
Last week I wanted to book a rental car with ALAMO for Germany on the Internet. All prices for shown cars where around DM 600.00 to DM 900.00. However, a Standard car a had pricetag of DM 88,000.00!
Again and again, even when I started the search again, this one car came always with the high price.
Last week I wanted to book a rental car with ALAMO for Germany on the Internet. All prices for shown cars where around DM 600.00 to DM 900.00. However, a Standard car a had pricetag of DM 88,000.00!
Again and again, even when I started the search again, this one car came always with the high price.