spg restaurants and bars - uninformed staff
Jul 15, 2015, 10:24 am
#1
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spg restaurants and bars - uninformed staff
Last week I was in Venice and use the service at the bar of the hotel Westin Europa and Regina. Unfortunately, the waiter was not even aware of the possibility of getting points if you are not staying at the hotel. Moreover, he started to be rude when I asked about the discount.
I had to ask at reception for points and when the manager came - I got a discount and they copied my card, but there is still no points.
Why SPG do not educate staff in the bars of this promotion? This is not the first such situation I encountered.
Few days after that I was in Paris (Westin) and they even had separate prices for SPG members in the menu - as a bright example.
I had to ask at reception for points and when the manager came - I got a discount and they copied my card, but there is still no points.
Why SPG do not educate staff in the bars of this promotion? This is not the first such situation I encountered.
Few days after that I was in Paris (Westin) and they even had separate prices for SPG members in the menu - as a bright example.
Jul 15, 2015, 12:14 pm
#2
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Sometimes restaurants "in" the hotel are not operated by the hotel and therefore typically aren't included in promos. The rule is usually explained as being able to earn points if you can do a room charge to pay your restaurant bill, but YMMV. It can be very confusing and restaurant servers can't be expected to understand the fine points of the SPG program. Still, a restaurant manager should know.
To me the separate prices on a restaurant menu sounds a little bit tacky, even if one benefits from it. More typically there's a discount applied at the end, which is much more discreet.
To me the separate prices on a restaurant menu sounds a little bit tacky, even if one benefits from it. More typically there's a discount applied at the end, which is much more discreet.
Jul 15, 2015, 12:27 pm
#3
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Unfortunately the wait staff is so far down the chain they get forgotten or the material is so watered down by then. If it was me working up the program, I would arrange it so the FD issues a bogus room key and folio so the restaurant just does business as normal and then the FD closes out the folio with whatever discount is appropriate and processes the points as though it was a normal room charge (or course stopgap to prevent stays/nights from posting). I've read some properties do do this so it's not an original thought.
Jul 15, 2015, 12:53 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Best way to do this is simply get your receipt, write your spg number on it. Ask for the manager or FD supervisor at the front desk. And tell them to process this through spg link. I found this out by talking to a FD supervisor. If the manager or supervisor does not know what spg link is, it's a simple training issue.
Jul 15, 2015, 7:51 pm
#5
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Thanks for the suggestion. That sounds like a fairly low effort and high reliability solution.
Jul 15, 2015, 11:00 pm
#6
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Best way to do this is simply get your receipt, write your spg number on it. Ask for the manager or FD supervisor at the front desk. And tell them to process this through spg link. I found this out by talking to a FD supervisor. If the manager or supervisor does not know what spg link is, it's a simple training issue.
Jul 16, 2015, 1:24 am
#7
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I had to fight tooth and nail to get my SPG Restaurants and Bars discount almost every time. Sometimes, front desk denies any knowledge of this discount program even after I've shown them website. I had to escalate.
Jul 16, 2015, 3:09 am
#8
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I totally agree with this thread and theme. Very rarely waiters/restaurants seem aware and in the know what to do. Even more rarely do points actually post. A prime example is Otto at W Montreal where waiters, including the shift leader, will claim there is no such thing like 10% off and SPG points, and the information on the SPG site must be wrong. I've basically given up on this benefit and associated promotions, not worth the hassle.
Jul 16, 2015, 3:16 am
#9
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Jul 16, 2015, 5:14 am
#10
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Last week I was in Venice and use the service at the bar of the hotel Westin Europa and Regina. Unfortunately, the waiter was not even aware of the possibility of getting points if you are not staying at the hotel. Moreover, he started to be rude when I asked about the discount.
I had to ask at reception for points and when the manager came - I got a discount and they copied my card, but there is still no points.
Why SPG do not educate staff in the bars of this promotion? This is not the first such situation I encountered.
Few days after that I was in Paris (Westin) and they even had separate prices for SPG members in the menu - as a bright example.
I had to ask at reception for points and when the manager came - I got a discount and they copied my card, but there is still no points.
Why SPG do not educate staff in the bars of this promotion? This is not the first such situation I encountered.
Few days after that I was in Paris (Westin) and they even had separate prices for SPG members in the menu - as a bright example.
In addition, please review this thread.
FAQ: Yes, it's a Starwood benefit: points for meals without a stay
Mods, can this be merged?
Jul 16, 2015, 3:31 pm
#11
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This has been discussed to death. Send your receipts to [email protected]
In addition, please review this thread.
FAQ: Yes, it's a Starwood benefit: points for meals without a stay
Mods, can this be merged?
In addition, please review this thread.
FAQ: Yes, it's a Starwood benefit: points for meals without a stay
Mods, can this be merged?