Hotwire - Given Lower Star Hotel Than Booked
Oct 30, 2015, 1:04 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
I'm confused now. OP says he booked a 3 star, and got the Quality Hotel. I assume he means the Quality Hotel & Suites Airport East. If so, that's rated 3 stars on Hotwire. If you look at the logo listed in the 1 star section as an example, it's the Quality INN logo, not the Quality HOTEL logo. Looks like Quality Hotel isn't the same as Quality Inn, they're both sub-brands of Choice's Quality brand.
Nov 2, 2015, 4:08 am
#17
Ambassador, New England
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Maineiac, USA
Programs: Amtrak, WN RR, Choice
Posts: 2,655
OP, I also see the following under Hotwire's examples of 3 stars: Best Western, La Quinta, and Country Inn. Considering the same star level contains both Sheraton and those three I just listed, that should tell you all you need to know about what "3 star" could mean.
Obviously the hotel you received is not the nicest place in Toronto (as evidenced by the Tripadvisor reviews), and obviously you disagree with Hotwire calling it 3 star (as mentioned previously, I don't disagree with you, but nothing says their rating system has to match anyone else's), but the fact is, you knew all of the information before hitting the submit button and I think it's a bit unfair to blame Hotwire because they gave you what you asked for, albeit not what you were hoping for.
For the future, I know it appears you've sworn off of using Hotwire again, but sites like betterbidding.com could be of help to you to determine which hotel you could potentially get. No guarantee of course, but more information and guidance might be a better way to temper your expectations when dealing with an opaque booking site.
Obviously the hotel you received is not the nicest place in Toronto (as evidenced by the Tripadvisor reviews), and obviously you disagree with Hotwire calling it 3 star (as mentioned previously, I don't disagree with you, but nothing says their rating system has to match anyone else's), but the fact is, you knew all of the information before hitting the submit button and I think it's a bit unfair to blame Hotwire because they gave you what you asked for, albeit not what you were hoping for.
For the future, I know it appears you've sworn off of using Hotwire again, but sites like betterbidding.com could be of help to you to determine which hotel you could potentially get. No guarantee of course, but more information and guidance might be a better way to temper your expectations when dealing with an opaque booking site.
Nov 4, 2015, 5:50 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: FRA
Posts: 1,398
How does Hotwire approach countries that have official star ratings for hotels? Do they also take the liberty to sometimes adjust the rating based on some intransparent criteria?
So far, my experience in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands was that the hotels officially had the rating Hotwire claimed it would have. Of course, four stars in Italy does not mean the same as in the US, though.
So far, my experience in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands was that the hotels officially had the rating Hotwire claimed it would have. Of course, four stars in Italy does not mean the same as in the US, though.
