Starhot rate (for family of employees) not eligible for Starpoints or elite benefits
#91
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: spg gold, CO Platinum, MR Gold
Posts: 619
So what? You'd go crazy if an upgrade room was not available? What if there are more plats checking in than upgraded rooms available? you're gonna jump on a table saying hey, I'm guaranteed a suite, its a promise, I'm supposed to get a suite.. you do realize that there are probably only X amount of rooms considered an upgraded room? If a hotel has say 400 rooms, I'd bet maybe 20 to 30 percent of the total amount of rooms would be considered an upgraded room.
#92
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SJC/SFO/OAK
Programs: DL PM, SW, Hilton, , UAL PM, AA Gold-skeptic
Posts: 1,632
To change the subject a little bit albeit on the subject of upgrades, how about this? a hotel has, for example, 94 upgradeable rooms (including suites)..they have 95 PLT checking in..94 plats check in, and you are the last one to come.. FDA says to you, sorry sir but all suites/upgraded rooms are sold out..we have rooms on a floor below the SPG floor.. I would guess you're the type of person who would cry and say why? Am I not as important a PLT as another PLT? or Are you the type of person who would just accept it and say its just a room, no big deal?
#93
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: spg gold, CO Platinum, MR Gold
Posts: 619
of course not, but if the 94th plat (from my previous example) was assigned to a different room, and you had the last suite, the FDA would unblock your suite and give it to the Plt guest who is checking in, especially if he/she asked for an upgrade. It has been known to happen that rooms will be swapped around, even if its already pre-assigned.
#94
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SJC/SFO/OAK
Programs: DL PM, SW, Hilton, , UAL PM, AA Gold-skeptic
Posts: 1,632
If you are ever in the position as a Front Desk manager to have to explain to a Platinum or similar that you gave away his suite/upgraded room/whatever to an employees family member at a Starhot/MARH/etc. rate, chances are that you would be acting contrary to policy and not only would probably have a very unhappy Elite member, but your GM would probably not be amused either.
AGAIN.....it all depends on the specific hotel/company policy re: the eligibility of upgrades for these low low rates. If your company supports it, so be it. If not, so be it. So again, I would encourage you to find out the specific policy as it relates to your opinion and live with it.
I doubt any rational hotel would knowlingly forgo an elite upgrade for an employee rate reservation. If, OTOH, they have plenty of inventory that would otherwise sit empty, it's up to the management of the hotel if they want to spend the money. As I've pointed out before, upgrades are usually not free to the hotel and employee rates are at cost. Suites in particular cost more to use, clean, maintain. Many properties, however, maintain a no favors no waivers policy for this type of reservation for this reason.
Did you ever consider that upgrading a non-SPG member (or HH, MM, etc.) as a reward for enrollment might have even stronger goodwill effects than upgrading an employee room?
On a side note, I tried VERY hard to work an upgrade on Continental (and it was a full business class ticket by the way), and the agent politely explained that if he violated CO's policy, he would be fired. (I verified this later, he was quite correct. They don't play).
#95
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SJC/SFO/OAK
Programs: DL PM, SW, Hilton, , UAL PM, AA Gold-skeptic
Posts: 1,632
of course not, but if the 94th plat (from my previous example) was assigned to a different room, and you had the last suite, the FDA would unblock your suite and give it to the Plt guest who is checking in, especially if he/she asked for an upgrade. It has been known to happen that rooms will be swapped around, even if its already pre-assigned.
Similar with who gets walked in an oversell.
#96
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SJC/SFO/OAK
Programs: DL PM, SW, Hilton, , UAL PM, AA Gold-skeptic
Posts: 1,632
Quips added
So what? You'd go crazy if an upgrade room was not available? What if there are more plats checking in than upgraded rooms available? you're gonna jump on a table saying hey, I'm guaranteed a suite, its a promise, I'm supposed to get a suite.. you do realize that there are probably only X amount of rooms considered an upgraded room? If a hotel has say 400 rooms, I'd bet maybe 20 to 30 percent of the total amount of rooms would be considered an upgraded room.
Last edited by rrz518; Feb 19, 2011 at 8:40 pm Reason: added some quips
#97
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: spg gold, CO Platinum, MR Gold
Posts: 619
and if the 94 plats have already checked in and your suite was given to another plt? you're gonna call the Plt desk as a result or even go so far as to open a customer complaint file? I'm not trying to be a smart *** but it seems you and I have to agree to disagree.. all I can say is if the hotel decides to upgrade a person on a low rate for a special occassion, good for them, if they don't thats fine too.. after all, its only a request.. nobody should expect anything.. if you keep your expectations low, then there won't be any shock or surprises.
#98
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SJC/SFO/OAK
Programs: DL PM, SW, Hilton, , UAL PM, AA Gold-skeptic
Posts: 1,632
and if the 94 plats have already checked in and your suite was given to another plt? you're gonna call the Plt desk as a result or even go so far as to open a customer complaint file? I'm not trying to be a smart *** but it seems you and I have to agree to disagree.. all I can say is if the hotel decides to upgrade a person on a low rate for a special occassion, good for them, if they don't thats fine too.. after all, its only a request.. nobody should expect anything.. if you keep your expectations low, then there won't be any shock or surprises.
As to expectations.....SW, and others, lay out their terms and conditions quite plainly, and if the hotel in question does not uphold those on their end, then that's a problem.
FWIW, if a property has 95 Platinums and a fairly limited inventory, I for one would be duly impressed with their popularity, they must be doing something right to have that kind of demand.
That said, generally the higher the rate, the higher the expectations. And vice versa.
Last edited by rrz518; Feb 19, 2011 at 8:52 pm
#99
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Houston,Texas,USA
Programs: Starwood Gold, HH Diamond,Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 961
95 bottles of beer on the wall 95 bottles of beer ,if one of those bottles should happen to fall there'd be 94 bottles of beer on the wall.
This thread in my opinion has gotten off track and flaming the simple question of Star Hot rates and what they deliver.
What you do get:
Cheapest standard room ,no view *
50% off food and beverage ( no alcohol ) for those registered in the room
Most properties room service not allowed and the 50% discount may apply only to certain restaurants on the property, not all
What you don't get
No additional perks ie, parking, late checkouts, water bottles, internet or wi fi*
No lounge access where available
No stay credit or points for your stay ( see exception below)
What you may get:
If you get lucky and the occupancy is low, a friendly desk clerk may up your accommodation to a higher floor ,better view and even a suite. Just kindness and luck on this. Perhaps status or familiarity would bias his kindness
You do get points on any additional monies you spend for food and beverage that you will pay when you settle your account.
From my experience the true benefit is the rate itself ,especially at resorts, and the food discount in whatever restaurant it applies.It saves a bundle.
Other folks have posted on how to procure a Star Hot rate , along with the paperwork and documentation necessary to substantiate your eligibility so I won't go into that here.
One caution that I have experienced is that the star hot rates are not available for booking too far into the future. Some resorts release them at either 30, 60, or 90 days out depending on the property.I could even be wrong on the 60 and 90 day out release and it may only be 30 days.I'm not sure.
Hope this helps
This thread in my opinion has gotten off track and flaming the simple question of Star Hot rates and what they deliver.
What you do get:
Cheapest standard room ,no view *
50% off food and beverage ( no alcohol ) for those registered in the room
Most properties room service not allowed and the 50% discount may apply only to certain restaurants on the property, not all
What you don't get
No additional perks ie, parking, late checkouts, water bottles, internet or wi fi*
No lounge access where available
No stay credit or points for your stay ( see exception below)
What you may get:
If you get lucky and the occupancy is low, a friendly desk clerk may up your accommodation to a higher floor ,better view and even a suite. Just kindness and luck on this. Perhaps status or familiarity would bias his kindness
You do get points on any additional monies you spend for food and beverage that you will pay when you settle your account.
From my experience the true benefit is the rate itself ,especially at resorts, and the food discount in whatever restaurant it applies.It saves a bundle.
Other folks have posted on how to procure a Star Hot rate , along with the paperwork and documentation necessary to substantiate your eligibility so I won't go into that here.
One caution that I have experienced is that the star hot rates are not available for booking too far into the future. Some resorts release them at either 30, 60, or 90 days out depending on the property.I could even be wrong on the 60 and 90 day out release and it may only be 30 days.I'm not sure.
Hope this helps
#100
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Boulder, CO
Programs: SPG Plat, AA Plat, UA Silver, kettle everywhere else
Posts: 363
Have you ever READ this forum? "I have been a Plat for 50 years but had to wait an extra 20 seconds for check in and then there wasn't a pen on the desk in my room and only two washcloths instead of three, and I asked them for points to make up for it all but the GM refused, so after all this trouble I am NEVER staying at a SPG again and am changing my allegiance to HoJo. SO THERE!!!"
#101
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: *G, SPG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 132
you are correct about the friends rate but I was just using examples..as for the rate being ineligible for upgrades and using upgrades for higher paying customers you are correct.. but for a once in a lifetime sort of experience, I'm sure they would do something nice. There is no such thing as a rate being ineligible for an upgrade.
YMMV.
#102
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH diamond
Posts: 2,646
you are correct about the friends rate but I was just using examples..as for the rate being ineligible for upgrades and using upgrades for higher paying customers you are correct.. but for a once in a lifetime sort of experience, I'm sure they would do something nice. There is no such thing as a rate being ineligible for an upgrade. Any rate is eligible for an upgrade (complimentary upgrades notwithstanding). As for business sense, its not about business but about going above and beyond in service. It's all about putting yourself in the traveler's shoes. If I'm a front desk manager of a hotel and I see someone at a starhot rate or even a starfriends rate and they are on a honeymoon, I would most definitely upgrade them, not because of business sense but courtesy and creating a memorable experience because a honeymoon is not something that happens on a regular basis, much like a birthday, things of that nature. That is how you make business. I can understand peoples' distaste for upgrading people who pay low fees. If it was your sister on a honeymoon, wouldn't you want her upgraded, regardless of what price she paid, even if she booked through priceline or hotwire to save money? Granted PLT's should be upgraded 1st, but I'm sure not getting upgraded just once won't ruin their loyalty to starwood.
As a Plt, I WOULD be upset if a Starhot reservation got a better upgrade than me. A honey in NOT a good enough reason. That person is ALREADY getting a fantastic gift - a massive discount at a nice hotel. Sorry, expecting anything more would be wrong! If you want the upgrade, PAY for it!
#103
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: spg gold, CO Platinum, MR Gold
Posts: 619
I don't agree. If you are booking the cheapst rate possible, you can NOT expect any upgrade, esp if it is NOT eligible for upgrade. To expect to be upgraded just because it is "once in a lifetime" (not true for most ppl, BTW) event is arrogant and entitled. If you want to make it special, PAY for it to be ensured.
As a Plt, I WOULD be upset if a Starhot reservation got a better upgrade than me. A honey in NOT a good enough reason. That person is ALREADY getting a fantastic gift - a massive discount at a nice hotel. Sorry, expecting anything more would be wrong! If you want the upgrade, PAY for it!
As a Plt, I WOULD be upset if a Starhot reservation got a better upgrade than me. A honey in NOT a good enough reason. That person is ALREADY getting a fantastic gift - a massive discount at a nice hotel. Sorry, expecting anything more would be wrong! If you want the upgrade, PAY for it!
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,474
If hotels do honeymoon upgrades, some will have honeymoon ten times a year.
Some may even become fast friends with Starwood employees and take honeymoon trips all the time.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...ds-family.html
Some may even become fast friends with Starwood employees and take honeymoon trips all the time.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...ds-family.html
#105
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: SEA(sia)
Posts: 5,181
Actually there are some resorts where most of their guests are on their honeymoon.
Hey, why not offer anyone on their honeymoon a free stay ! I am sure they will be thrilled and will return for a second (free) honeymoon !
Perhaps some posters should get out of their 'honeymoon' cocoon & live in the real world. And if (s)he actually managed to get employed in a hotel, (s)he will soon realise that 'honeymoon' is not all that special but the hotel may not be in business anymore by then ...
Hey, why not offer anyone on their honeymoon a free stay ! I am sure they will be thrilled and will return for a second (free) honeymoon !
Perhaps some posters should get out of their 'honeymoon' cocoon & live in the real world. And if (s)he actually managed to get employed in a hotel, (s)he will soon realise that 'honeymoon' is not all that special but the hotel may not be in business anymore by then ...
Last edited by mario33; Feb 21, 2011 at 8:47 am