Third Party Rates Listed on Starwood Websites
Jan 8, 2011, 8:58 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 251
Third Party Rates Listed on Starwood Websites
Hi:
I have noticed a few properties where one can book a `sale` rate as part of the hotels exclulsive offers page which provides a special rate plan for a third party vendor. I had already talked to starwood corporate which told me if I booked that rate it would turn out to be an ineligible rate for status or points (even though this is not mentioned under the terms and conditions for the booking and is booked directly via the starwood engine). The special rate plan that came up was lastminute.com and today I found another offer for a different property offering a TRVLZOO1 rate as part of the hotel`s exclusive offers. I am assuming that these rates also do not qualify for points or status as well.
I am rather disappointed by this as it seems that any ineligiblity should be clearly denoted. Anyone run into these rate plan specials as well?
I have noticed a few properties where one can book a `sale` rate as part of the hotels exclulsive offers page which provides a special rate plan for a third party vendor. I had already talked to starwood corporate which told me if I booked that rate it would turn out to be an ineligible rate for status or points (even though this is not mentioned under the terms and conditions for the booking and is booked directly via the starwood engine). The special rate plan that came up was lastminute.com and today I found another offer for a different property offering a TRVLZOO1 rate as part of the hotel`s exclusive offers. I am assuming that these rates also do not qualify for points or status as well.
I am rather disappointed by this as it seems that any ineligiblity should be clearly denoted. Anyone run into these rate plan specials as well?
Jan 8, 2011, 9:18 am
#2
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Location: New York, NY
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Hi:
I have noticed a few properties where one can book a `sale` rate as part of the hotels exclulsive offers page which provides a special rate plan for a third party vendor. I had already talked to starwood corporate which told me if I booked that rate it would turn out to be an ineligible rate for status or points (even though this is not mentioned under the terms and conditions for the booking and is booked directly via the starwood engine). The special rate plan that came up was lastminute.com and today I found another offer for a different property offering a TRVLZOO1 rate as part of the hotel`s exclusive offers. I am assuming that these rates also do not qualify for points or status as well.
I am rather disappointed by this as it seems that any ineligiblity should be clearly denoted. Anyone run into these rate plan specials as well?
I have noticed a few properties where one can book a `sale` rate as part of the hotels exclulsive offers page which provides a special rate plan for a third party vendor. I had already talked to starwood corporate which told me if I booked that rate it would turn out to be an ineligible rate for status or points (even though this is not mentioned under the terms and conditions for the booking and is booked directly via the starwood engine). The special rate plan that came up was lastminute.com and today I found another offer for a different property offering a TRVLZOO1 rate as part of the hotel`s exclusive offers. I am assuming that these rates also do not qualify for points or status as well.
I am rather disappointed by this as it seems that any ineligiblity should be clearly denoted. Anyone run into these rate plan specials as well?
If you book and pay for a rate on SPG, then it is an eligible stay. Most TravelZoo rates take you back to SPG, where you book the rate. Those bookings are considered eligible and hotel coordinators have been advised. We've talked about that here before.
Spg booking question (Travelzoo)
Jan 8, 2011, 9:19 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston
Programs: SPG Plat, MAR Lifetime Plat, UAMM, AA3MM
Posts: 119
Hi:
I have noticed a few properties where one can book a `sale` rate as part of the hotels exclulsive offers page which provides a special rate plan for a third party vendor. I had already talked to starwood corporate which told me if I booked that rate it would turn out to be an ineligible rate for status or points (even though this is not mentioned under the terms and conditions for the booking and is booked directly via the starwood engine). The special rate plan that came up was lastminute.com and today I found another offer for a different property offering a TRVLZOO1 rate as part of the hotel`s exclusive offers. I am assuming that these rates also do not qualify for points or status as well.
I am rather disappointed by this as it seems that any ineligiblity should be clearly denoted. Anyone run into these rate plan specials as well?
I have noticed a few properties where one can book a `sale` rate as part of the hotels exclulsive offers page which provides a special rate plan for a third party vendor. I had already talked to starwood corporate which told me if I booked that rate it would turn out to be an ineligible rate for status or points (even though this is not mentioned under the terms and conditions for the booking and is booked directly via the starwood engine). The special rate plan that came up was lastminute.com and today I found another offer for a different property offering a TRVLZOO1 rate as part of the hotel`s exclusive offers. I am assuming that these rates also do not qualify for points or status as well.
I am rather disappointed by this as it seems that any ineligiblity should be clearly denoted. Anyone run into these rate plan specials as well?
Jan 8, 2011, 9:28 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 251
Can you provide a link?? CDNtravler, you've been here long enough to know better. If you know the answer you've received doesn't sound right, hang up and call again.
If you book and pay for a rate on SPG, then it is an eligible stay. Most TravelZoo rates take you back to SPG, where you book the rate. Those bookings are considered eligible and hotel coordinators have been advised. We've talked about that here before.
Spg booking question (Travelzoo)
If you book and pay for a rate on SPG, then it is an eligible stay. Most TravelZoo rates take you back to SPG, where you book the rate. Those bookings are considered eligible and hotel coordinators have been advised. We've talked about that here before.
Spg booking question (Travelzoo)
http://deals.westin.com/Westin-South...38&iATANumber=
2. I did not call about the travelzoo rate. But did about the LastMinute.com rate.
Jan 8, 2011, 9:33 am
#5
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Location: New York, NY
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1. If Customer Care says no, it is not eligible, and then I still don't believe them and asked to be transferred to Corporate Customer Care who replicates what I am seeing and then researches it and also says it would not be elgible - who am I to argue with?
http://deals.westin.com/Westin-South...38&iATANumber=
2. I did not call about the travelzoo rate. But did about the LastMinute.com rate.
http://deals.westin.com/Westin-South...38&iATANumber=
2. I did not call about the travelzoo rate. But did about the LastMinute.com rate.
), it takes me to the SPG booking page. Every promo on the page above takes me to the SPG booking page.Where are you seeing "lastminute.com"??? What is the issue here??
Jan 8, 2011, 9:41 am
#6
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Location: New York, NY
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Just had a thought. Are you confusing a "pre paid" rate on SPG with a "third party pre paid" rate?
Jan 8, 2011, 9:42 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Posts: 1,276
Can you provide a link?? CDNtravler, you've been here long enough to know better. If you know the answer you've received doesn't sound right, hang up and call again.
If you book and pay for a rate on SPG, then it is an eligible stay. Most TravelZoo rates take you back to SPG, where you book the rate. Those bookings are considered eligible and hotel coordinators have been advised. We've talked about that here before.
Spg booking question (Travelzoo)
If you book and pay for a rate on SPG, then it is an eligible stay. Most TravelZoo rates take you back to SPG, where you book the rate. Those bookings are considered eligible and hotel coordinators have been advised. We've talked about that here before.
Spg booking question (Travelzoo)
I am assuming that this is an elligible rate... if it is not than the SPG.com booking system is very misleading!
I will post after I return if I find out anything intereting on this.
Jan 8, 2011, 9:47 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 251
When I called Starwood to check to see if it was an eligible rate as it was bookable entirely through the SPG booking page - I was told no it was not an eligible rate even though they apparently opened up a browser and entered the same steps I did on the hotel page to ensure they could see what I saw.
The person who I spoke to at corporate checked with others before informing me that it was an ineligible rate. I ended up passing on this specific low rate as I was clearly informed by corporate customer service that it is an "ineligble rate" and I wanted the stay credit for the quarterly promo. They were aware of my position that "any rate booked through SPG.com would be an eligible rate" but was told not in the case.
Based on this experience, I was leery of booking a travelzoo rate even though it was directly bookable through SPG.com.
Jan 8, 2011, 9:53 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 251
My position is that it is a hotel "special" and uses a rate plan description that matches what a third party vendor is using and hence should be eligible.
However, because it was my first time running into it, I decided to call and verify that it would be because of the quarterly promo. Thats where I
was informed it would not be because it was clearly a lastminute.com rate that just happened to be bookable through spg.com. I mentioned it should have been denoted as an ineligible rate in the terms & conditions of the booking and they agreed.
Jan 8, 2011, 9:57 am
#10
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Location: New York, NY
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Unfortunately, that promo is expired. However, when it was bookable, it took you to the find&Book available rooms and under rate plan description it listed it as a "lastminute.com" rate.
When I called Starwood to check to see if it was an eligible rate as it was bookable entirely through the SPG booking page - I was told no it was not an eligible rate even though they apparently opened up a browser and entered the same steps I did on the hotel page to ensure they could see what I saw.
The person who I spoke to at corporate checked with others before informing me that it was an ineligible rate. I ended up passing on this specific low rate as I was clearly informed by corporate customer service that it is an "ineligble rate" and I wanted the stay credit for the quarterly promo. They were aware of my position that "any rate booked through SPG.com would be an eligible rate" but was told not in the case.
Based on this experience, I was leery of booking a travelzoo rate even though it was directly bookable through SPG.com.
When I called Starwood to check to see if it was an eligible rate as it was bookable entirely through the SPG booking page - I was told no it was not an eligible rate even though they apparently opened up a browser and entered the same steps I did on the hotel page to ensure they could see what I saw.
The person who I spoke to at corporate checked with others before informing me that it was an ineligible rate. I ended up passing on this specific low rate as I was clearly informed by corporate customer service that it is an "ineligble rate" and I wanted the stay credit for the quarterly promo. They were aware of my position that "any rate booked through SPG.com would be an eligible rate" but was told not in the case.
Based on this experience, I was leery of booking a travelzoo rate even though it was directly bookable through SPG.com.
I've booked a ton of travelzoo promos that took me back to the spg.com site and have always received credit without intervention.
I think you'll be fine.
Jan 8, 2011, 9:59 am
#11
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Jan 8, 2011, 10:26 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 251
The important question, since you left out a lot in your initial post, is did you book on SPG.com or lastminute.com?
I've booked a ton of travelzoo promos that took me back to the spg.com site and have always received credit without intervention.
I think you'll be fine.
I've booked a ton of travelzoo promos that took me back to the spg.com site and have always received credit without intervention.
I think you'll be fine.
The lastminute.com rate would have been booked entirely through SPG.com
and that was what corporate customer service was responding to. I am aware of the policy on booking through third party sites not being eligible.
I will admit that I was not aware of the policy of travelzoo promos being an eligible rate.
Jan 8, 2011, 10:34 am
#13
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Thanks.
The lastminute.com rate would have been booked entirely through SPG.com
and that was what corporate customer service was responding to. I am aware of the policy on booking through third party sites not being eligible.
I will admit that I was not aware of the policy of travelzoo promos being an eligible rate.
The lastminute.com rate would have been booked entirely through SPG.com
and that was what corporate customer service was responding to. I am aware of the policy on booking through third party sites not being eligible.
I will admit that I was not aware of the policy of travelzoo promos being an eligible rate.
A third party vendor rate cannot be booked on SPG.com It's either you made a booking on SPG.com or you didn't.
Jan 8, 2011, 11:17 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 251
Maybe this will make it less confusing:
I went to the hotel website. Clicked on the hotel special. Was provided the page to enter dates and number in room. Then it went to the next page of available rooms and types. Under rate plan description it wasn't "book now and save" or "BAR" it said "lastminute.com". This is through SPG.com.
When I asked customer service and ultimately corporate services, I was told that the rate was ineglible even though it would be entirely booked through SPG.com. The person at corporate services even couldn't find it in their system until they loaded their browser and replicated the steps I did through the hotel website. They then said NO it would not be eligible and then I asked if they were sure as it was a hotel special rate and they checked with others and said it would not be eligible.
I thought I was clear when I indicated in the original post "booked directly via the starwood engine" that this specific rate plan came up.
Jan 8, 2011, 12:19 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lafayette, CO, USA
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I went to the hotel website. Clicked on the hotel special. Was provided the page to enter dates and number in room. Then it went to the next page of available rooms and types. Under rate plan description it wasn't "book now and save" or "BAR" it said "lastminute.com". This is through SPG.com.
When I asked customer service and ultimately corporate services, I was told that the rate was ineglible even though it would be entirely booked through SPG.com. The person at corporate services even couldn't find it in their system until they loaded their browser and replicated the steps I did through the hotel website. They then said NO it would not be eligible and then I asked if they were sure as it was a hotel special rate and they checked with others and said it would not be eligible.
When I asked customer service and ultimately corporate services, I was told that the rate was ineglible even though it would be entirely booked through SPG.com. The person at corporate services even couldn't find it in their system until they loaded their browser and replicated the steps I did through the hotel website. They then said NO it would not be eligible and then I asked if they were sure as it was a hotel special rate and they checked with others and said it would not be eligible.
I firmly believe that the Customer Service folks were wrong. If it was booked on spg.com, it would've been eligible even if it was a plan marketed through a third-party.
I can only imagine how this would've been received if the OP had submitted a BRG claim.
My comments might not be welcome in this forum but would probably be safe enough for OMNI. Regardless, that offer expired on Dec 30, 2010. A shame, because I'm sure that some would have liked it for NYE.