I like except why still have the "specialty suites excluded" language? All that will happen is an SPG-like change to how the hotels that really don't want to give out suites (and pushed for the change?) list their rooms. I picture lots more suites put into the special category with an explicit T&C exception for them. The way the system works now is great - as you note with your sweet suite success rate - why fix something that isn't broken?

Cheers

I think they do upgrade to specialty suites, availability permitting. I've gotten the amazing penthouse suite at the Wilshire, with a terrace that could hold 50 people, and on an award night no less. But they're more likely to sell it for cash, or upgrade someone who bought a lesser suite, than an IC who bought the cheapest room available. At least IMHO, that's quite reasonable.

Hi Everyone,

Hope I'm not jumping in here too much; I just know that there are a lot of questions with the new program and I want to address them as much as possible.

As for suite upgrades, we may take your advice and tweak the language in our T&Cs over the coming weeks. We put that wording in, not because we plan on limiting the availability to upgrades, but because we need to cover our smaller hotels. Some, like The Sky, have only 6 suites on property and others have even fewer. Some of our members, having become used to being upgraded regularly to suites, have expressed frustration when they visit these smaller properties, and we just want to give these hotels the ability to book their rooms as they see fit. Basically, nothing will change with the upgrades, and we'll always do our best to make sure you get a great room.

But I think you're right, that we could have done a better job of clarifying it in the Terms. Stay tuned for some better language in the future and, as always, thanks for your feedback.

Susan

Hi Susan,

Any information on whether we will be able to view the number of different properties visited? Is the My Passport section gone for good? I tried e-mailing Kimpton Karma, but all they did was tell me the number of different properties I'd visited (which I already knew but for some reason that information was incomplete on the website).

Keep jumping in. Whether we agree with your response or not, at least we know someone is reading our posts.

As for members that complain about not getting a suite, I say let them whine, but don't let them cause changes for the rest of us. Maybe BIG BOLDED CAPITALIZED UNDERLINED LETTERS: UPGRADES ARE NOT GUARANTEED

Hah - thanks thegrailer.

I appreciate your words.

Susan

Hi AP,

Passport Rewards are now called “Journey Rewards” and, unfortunately, the beautiful tracking bar we had ready to go on the website had to be temporarily removed at the very last moment due to an issue we discovered right as we were launching.

We should have the bar on your profile in the near future but for now, as you've already done, you need to call our Karma Advisors (888-695-4678) to find out how far along you are in your Journey Rewards. But very soon you should see the progress bar when you sign into your account.

We apologize for the inconvenience - getting this to go live on the website is at the top of our priorities right now.

I tried 6 different dates with no luck booking reward nights
 

So I just tried 6 different dates for reward nights with very little luck! A completely new (and disappointing) experience for me. I was told that there have been policy changes as of April/May 2014. They can't even call the properties anymore to secure reward nights for frequent visitors.:(

But, I suppose this will make it easier for me to choose between Kimpton/Non-Kimpton hotels in the future. No more stays a few miles away from a meeting site just to be at a Kimpton property! ;)

Yikes! Care to elaborate on the property/properties you tried?

New York --all four properties. A hot market to be sure, but that is where I always book free nights and have historically not had a problem (they have called the properties a few times for me).

Kimpton Karma Rewards
 

Recently completed my first stay since transition to Karma at the Palomar Philadelphia. I received an upgrade to a spa room and all four items listed in my profile (!!!). Today when I logged into my account I noticed that I was credited for two nights (not stays) on my account. I did dine in the restaurant so perhaps my first taste of Karma there.

Overall, great stay. The staff and property are great, can't wait to return.

Here is what I was looking to ask: Where can I find what hotels I have stayed at this calendar year? I can see the # of stay/nights but not which ones, i.e., my progress towards 10/15 different Kimpton hotels.

Cheers

it's not online. you have to call to find out.

You can look under "my stays" and manually count the unique properties you have stayed at for 2014. I am looking forward to Kimpton bringing back the tracking of the "passport/journey."

Hi grailer,

Jumping in to assure you that your Journey Rewards (previously Passport) will be visible on your dashboard as soon as we work out a couple of technical glitches. We have a beautiful progress bar all ready to go once we get the ok from our friends in IT. Right now you need to call our Karma Advisors (888-695-4678) to find out how far along you are in your Journey Rewards. Sorry for the inconvenience!