LuisHK

I figured that often handling such situation sensibly will give you a better outcome.

I won't insist on staying in the room till 4pm if they press me to leave, but will lodge a case as it is against starwood corporate policy

RogerD408

I've run into many properties where the housekeeping staff is farmed out and they are paid by-the-room. Some that I've talked with have second or third jobs and need to move on to the next place as quickly as possible. It's a fair guess that they are not paid a living wage and need to stack as much as they can in their day.

It's easy for us to say well I'm entitled to a 4pm check out and therefore I'm going to take it. But the impact that has on the rest of the world has not been factored into the program. Yes, I do use late check-out when I need to, but I'm usually one to head out by 8am and never look back.

MSPeconomist

This would be an issue between the property and their housekeeping staff. Customers shouldn't be inconvenienced by the hotel's decisions regarding staffing versus cost cutting.If the hotel wants to be a Starwood, it should be prepared to play by the SPG rules.

TIGA31328

I think the issue here is that you think they are obligated to give you the late checkout at 4pm. When you book and ask for it you are only making a request to the hotel, they can choose to allow it, or not. In this case they did not choose too and even told you why, they didn't even need to tell you why. It is what it is, not an issue other than not getting what you wanted.

Patrick

EuropeanPete

And why do you say that, as that's obviously different from the Starwood program commitments.

daniellam

Perhaps it is always the non-Starwood owned properties (especially those owned by property developers who may also own multiple hotels across various brands) that have issues with 4PM late check-out (or even SPG benefits)?

I remember staying at a (Starwood-owned?) property which always gave me 4PM late check-out if asked. However, almost every time I had 4PM late check-out at that property, I would see a note under my door on the day of check-out offering me 5,000 points if I forgo late check-out.

LuisHK

Most hotels are not owned by Starwood - I think my point is if the property join a program, they need to play by the rules.

In your case, at least they offer you 5,000 points to forgo late checkout - I would bite the bait if the circumstance is reasonable.

supatight80

Because only those who are not Gold/Plat based on actual nights/stays of the SPG Program don't know what they're talking about

gengar

They are obligated to give 4pm checkout to Gold/Plat members.

UKTraveller4Fun

I think the issue might be you do not understand the way SPG program works, the Op is a Platinum SPG member and as such is entitled to a 4pm checkout and the hotel is thus obligated to give a 4pm late checkout and is in breach of the terms and conditions when it refuses.

alphaod

They are obligated and every SPG hotel I've stayed so far has come on and automatically asked if I'll be needing late checkout at 4 pm, even for hotels I've done morning check-ins they've asked if I needed a late checkout.

It's only when I'm asking for later than 4 pm checkout, it's up to the graces of the hotel. I rarely checkout after 4 pm anyways (usually I check out in the morning) and I've been denied once saying they are expecting another guest even so I ended up checking out around 4:45 pm and they did not complain at all.

If a hotel can't offer the same SPG commitment to every guest then they need to reconsider their membership into the program.

theddo

Find a new job? None of that is my problem.

billygui

I'd stay in the room until 4, pay whatever they charged extra for that and get corporate to refund it...

BRITINJAPAN3

OK so, now you feel we should give up our entirlememts, those which over the years we have earned and payed for, which are guranteed by the progream, which might cause a lot of problems if we cannot use, BECAUSE the hotel that signed up for the SPG program obligationg them selves to provide these servicers, want to save money ?

Sorry for the staff but while I dont staty longet than I need, I do stay to 4 if I do need.

UKTraveller4Fun

I don't think it is down to the guests of a hotel and members of a program that offers benefits for its most frequent guests to decide to leave a hotel before the time they are entitled because the hotel might not be employing the staff at the right times or on the correct rates. By leaving early you are just enabling the hotel to get away with paying even less and cutting down the hours even more.

I would keep a room past a time I needed, not because I am thinking of the hotel but because I am thinking of the next guest that might be checking into that room. If I keep it until 4pm it is quite possible someone wont get it until 5 or 6pm.

If a hotel approached me after giving me an upgrade saying we know you have the right to keep the suite until 4pm but we have a paying / regular guest arriving and this is the only suite becoming vacant today will you be requiring a late checkout I would be willing to work with the hotel. With the hope / expectation that should I return to the hotel they will look after me in a similar way next time or maybe offer me a drink in the bar before leaving or something similar. If however the approached it like they did in this situation I would be anything but helpful and raise the issue with Starwood and seek compensation.

The issue here is how the hotel goes about treating its guests and it is simply not acceptable anf they shouldn't be allowed to do so.