Starwood Tmall Site (Ali Travel)
Apr 30, 2016 | 10:44 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Starwood Tmall Site (Ali Travel)
Does anyone know if stays booked on this site count as being booked directly with Starwood?
I found a couple of good deals (the site is all in Chinese) but backed away when I saw the consumer ranking. In some categories they were only better than 2 or 3% of similar sites. Which means they are in the bottom 3 or 4%. That's really not good.
I found a couple of good deals (the site is all in Chinese) but backed away when I saw the consumer ranking. In some categories they were only better than 2 or 3% of similar sites. Which means they are in the bottom 3 or 4%. That's really not good.
Apr 30, 2016 | 7:13 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,782
https://starwoodhotels.alitrip.com/shop/view_shop.htm
Is Ali Travel owned by Starwood in any way?
If not, I am baffled why this is even a question.
Last edited by TerryK; Apr 30, 2016 at 7:18 pm
Apr 30, 2016 | 9:23 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,756
Isn't this statement an oxymoron?
https://starwoodhotels.alitrip.com/shop/view_shop.htm
Is Ali Travel owned by Starwood in any way? If not, I am baffled why this is even a question.
https://starwoodhotels.alitrip.com/shop/view_shop.htm
Is Ali Travel owned by Starwood in any way?
If not, I am baffled why this is even a question.OP, Google shows some outdated links to "official" Starwood sites, mentioning promos linked to the TMall shop. So it seems very likely it's the official Starwood portal.
Suggest you wait for official word from the Lurkers... Christina Zhou?
Apr 30, 2016 | 9:45 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Liftime Titanium Elite Marriott
Posts: 1,752
More often than not this is not done by Starwood. So many bogus operators run on Tmall and Taobao. If anything I would try to find a cheaper rate on a reputable homepage and do a BRG.
Apr 30, 2016 | 10:24 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,134
I could be wrong, but I don't see why these would not be eligible rates. Here's a former T&C from one of the promotions (from a Sheraton website not an Alibaba website).
This is, however, an official Starwood portal on the TMall portal. The fact that there are multiple Starwood-hosted websites with the information says all you need to know about the legitimacy of the portal. Here's the link from one of the Starwood hotel websites: http://deals.sheraton.com/Sheraton-C...language=en_US
- Offer is subject to availability at the time of reservation.
- A limited number of rooms may be available at these rates.
- Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.
- Offer not applicable to groups.
- Not to be combined with other offers or promotions and subject to change.
- Not responsible for omissions or typographical errors.
- Void where prohibited by law.
- Starwood reserves the right to discontinue this offer at any time.
- Starpoints, SPG, Starwood Preferred Guest, Sheraton, Four Points, W, Aloft, Le Meridien, The Luxury Collection, Element, Westin, St. Regis and their respective logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.
May 1, 2016 | 4:16 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Isn't this statement an oxymoron?
https://starwoodhotels.alitrip.com/shop/view_shop.htm
Is Ali Travel owned by Starwood in any way? If not, I am baffled why this is even a question.
https://starwoodhotels.alitrip.com/shop/view_shop.htm
Is Ali Travel owned by Starwood in any way?
If not, I am baffled why this is even a question.Do you know what TMall is? Numerous "name" brands use it to establish a presence in China's online marketplace. It is not impossible that this is an official Starwood online portal for China.
OP, Google shows some outdated links to "official" Starwood sites, mentioning promos linked to the TMall shop. So it seems very likely it's the official Starwood portal.
Suggest you wait for official word from the Lurkers... Christina Zhou?
OP, Google shows some outdated links to "official" Starwood sites, mentioning promos linked to the TMall shop. So it seems very likely it's the official Starwood portal.
Suggest you wait for official word from the Lurkers... Christina Zhou?
At first I thought it must be real, but then I saw the low customer service ratings and now have doubts.
Yes, Christina to the rescue please.... !
May 1, 2016 | 8:00 am
#7
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,782
It is hard for me to believe that Starwood, a major corporation not a small business, would use TMall to establish an official portal. Hence, I thought the question was if Ali Travel is owned by Starwood. On closer look, Ali Travel seems to be owned by Alibaba.
May 1, 2016 | 8:06 am
#8
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......Here's the link from one of the Starwood hotel websites: http://deals.sheraton.com/Sheraton-C...language=en_US
OP's question is about a subdomain of alitrip.com (TMall).
May 1, 2016 | 9:59 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: HOT
Posts: 9
Starwood Tmall portal is owned by 星木酒店管理咨询（上海）有限公司 in China.
"星木酒店" is in English STAR (星) WOOD (木) Hotels (酒店).
"星木酒店" also owns the following websites in China.
星木酒店管理咨询（上海）有限公司
网站备案信息
豪华精选酒店官网
www.1c.com
沪ICP备12030668号-1
喜达屋酒店官网
www.starwoodhotels.com
沪ICP备12030668号-12
威斯汀酒店官网
www.westin.com
沪ICP备12030668号-6
喜达屋人才发展与企业文化管理平台
starwoodtdc.com
沪ICP备12030668号-16
"星木酒店" is in English STAR (星) WOOD (木) Hotels (酒店).
"星木酒店" also owns the following websites in China.
星木酒店管理咨询（上海）有限公司
网站备案信息
豪华精选酒店官网
www.1c.com
沪ICP备12030668号-1
喜达屋酒店官网
www.starwoodhotels.com
沪ICP备12030668号-12
威斯汀酒店官网
www.westin.com
沪ICP备12030668号-6
喜达屋人才发展与企业文化管理平台
starwoodtdc.com
沪ICP备12030668号-16
May 1, 2016 | 11:29 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,782
Result from Google translate for that Chinese name:
Looks pretty unofficial to me.
Why would Starwood corporate register a consulting firm in Shanghai with similar name, then use alitrip to create an official portal for China? Looks like typical Chinese scam where they confuse you with similar names.
What is the source of your claim? I randomly looked up www.westin.com by ICANN and it shows:
Nowhere does it indicate that it is owned by said Chinese consulting firm.
Star Wood Hotel Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Why would Starwood corporate register a consulting firm in Shanghai with similar name, then use alitrip to create an official portal for China? Looks like typical Chinese scam where they confuse you with similar names....."星木酒店" also owns the following websites in China.
星木酒店管理咨询（上海）有限公司
网站备案信息
豪华精选酒店官网
www.1c.com
沪ICP备12030668号-1
喜达屋酒店官网
www.starwoodhotels.com
沪ICP备12030668号-12
威斯汀酒店官网
www.westin.com
沪ICP备12030668号-6
喜达屋人才发展与企业文化管理平台
starwoodtdc.com
沪ICP备12030668号-16
星木酒店管理咨询（上海）有限公司
网站备案信息
豪华精选酒店官网
www.1c.com
沪ICP备12030668号-1
喜达屋酒店官网
www.starwoodhotels.com
沪ICP备12030668号-12
威斯汀酒店官网
www.westin.com
沪ICP备12030668号-6
喜达屋人才发展与企业文化管理平台
starwoodtdc.com
沪ICP备12030668号-16
I randomly looked up www.westin.com by ICANN and it shows:
Registrant Contact
Name: Domain Administrator
Organization: STARWOOD HOTELS AND RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.
Mailing Address: One StarPoint, Stamford CT 06902 US
Phone: +1.2039646000
Ext:
Fax:
Fax Ext:
Email: [email protected]
Name: Domain Administrator
Organization: STARWOOD HOTELS AND RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.
Mailing Address: One StarPoint, Stamford CT 06902 US
Phone: +1.2039646000
Ext:
Fax:
Fax Ext:
Email: [email protected]
Last edited by TerryK; May 1, 2016 at 11:39 am
May 1, 2016 | 4:34 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,134
========================
WELCOME STARWOODHOTELS BRAND TMALL SHOP
The Opening! You can get more offer from Starwoodhotels Brand TMall Shop.
Please follow me...
Starwoodhotels Brand TMall Shop [LEARN MORE]
Starwoodhotels Brand TMall Shop-Sheraton Chengdu Lido Hotel [BOOK NOW]
Terms & Conditions
========================
Both links - LEARN MORE and BOOK NOW - lead to starwoodhotels.alitrip.com, which is the same "subdomain of alitrip.com (TMall)" mentioned by OP. GOLLY GEE WIZ BATMAN!
May 1, 2016 | 6:11 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: HOT
Posts: 9
Starwood owns Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts Pte Ltd.
Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts Pte Ltd owns 星木酒店管理咨询（上海）有限公司.
星木酒店管理咨询（上海）有限公司 owns Starwood Tmall.
Q for Starwood reps!!!
Do you get star points from booking at the Starwood Tmall?
Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts Pte Ltd owns 星木酒店管理咨询（上海）有限公司.
星木酒店管理咨询（上海）有限公司 owns Starwood Tmall.
Q for Starwood reps!!!
Do you get star points from booking at the Starwood Tmall?
May 1, 2016 | 6:37 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 44
Before you have to find out whether the store is a legitimate Starwood channel, probably just read the T&C for the booking.
This one clearly says the booking will not earn points or stay credits.
---
Now, is this an official channel? I think it is. Of course I cannot be sure but:
- There're links from the official Sheraton website.
- Why does it belong to a Chinese consulting company? Well, it's probably required to do business in China that you have to be registered locally.
- And the ICP license simply says the business operates under said domains and nothing about ownership.
This one clearly says the booking will not earn points or stay credits.
---
Now, is this an official channel? I think it is. Of course I cannot be sure but:
- There're links from the official Sheraton website.
- Why does it belong to a Chinese consulting company? Well, it's probably required to do business in China that you have to be registered locally.
- And the ICP license simply says the business operates under said domains and nothing about ownership.
May 2, 2016 | 9:35 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,782
Before you have to find out whether the store is a legitimate Starwood channel, probably just read the T&C for the booking.
This one clearly says the booking will not earn points or stay credits........
This one clearly says the booking will not earn points or stay credits........
Without confirmation from Lurker, I am still skeptical that starwoodhotels.alitrip.com is a Starwood corporate site. The link provided was from a Chinese property's local promotion page. It looks more like a travel agent selling special package deals.
Last edited by TerryK; May 2, 2016 at 10:38 am
