Pictures Of The New Thompson Hollywood (A World Of Hyatt Property)
The Thomson Hollywood opened its doors a little over two weeks ago so in between the meetings and endless zoom calls that seem to have taken over my life, I took the opportunity to take a walk to Hyatt's latest Los Angeles property to see what it was like.
3rd Night Free At Mandarin Oriental Properties In Europe & Abu Dhabi
With Europe now open to fully vaccinated travelers visiting from the United States and with travel within Europe currently more relaxed than it has been for over a year, Mandarin Oriental has launched a promotion in which it's offering guests a "3rd night free" at ten European properties as well as its property in Abu Dhabi.
Hyatt Is Expanding Again – New Luxury Resorts Being Added In $2.7bn Purchase
Following rumors of a deal late last week, Sunday saw Hyatt confirm that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Apple Leisure Group, a luxury resort-management services, travel, and hospitality group for $2.7 billion.
Tip: Hyatt Properties Showing No Award Availability May Have Bookable Award Nights
I've just been checking for award availability at a Hyatt property in California and stumbled across a small but potentially significant anomaly that I didn't know about - it's possible for the Hyatt website to display no award availability for your chosen travel dates when the property that you'd like to stay at actually has rooms available for award bookings on the dates in question.
Save Up To 40% & Earn 60,000 Points With Choice All-Inclusive Resort Bookings
Choice Hotels has just announced an extension to a promotion that I have to admit I hadn't noticed up until now. The hotelier is offering up to 40% off stays at select all-inclusive resorts in its portfolio as well as bonus points, resort credits and free stays for kids.
Be Careful. Another New Hyatt Will Charge You A “Destination Fee”
I’m a big fan of Hyatt and I make no apologies for believing that the World of Hyatt program is the best major hotel loyalty program around…and by some considerable difference. I am, however, getting more than a little tired of seeing an ever-increasing number of World of Hyatt properties charging guests inexcusable Resort/Destinations fees. It’s also very disappointing to see that a new Hyatt that’s soon to open in Los Angeles will be adding this rip-off fee to most guest’s folios.
DEAL: Get 10% cash back (Or 10 Amex points/dollar) on IHG bookings (USA)
Over the past few years, Rakuten has been getting quite a bit of attention thanks to its partnership with Amex's Membership Rewards and the fact that it offers very good cash back sales on a reasonably frequent basis. Now the portal is back with a good cashback offer for bookings at various IHG brands (InterContinental, Crowne Plaza etc...)
Hyatt Promo: Get Up To 25% Off Or Get Free Nights On Stays
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Marriott Bonvoy co-branded cardholders can earn 10x on Homes & Villas spending [through Dec...
Over the past few months, Marriott has been pretty aggressive when it comes to advertising its "Homes & Villas by Marriott" program, and the hotelier is now attempting to make its luxury self-catering option a little more tempting to Marriott loyalists by offering bonus points on Homes & Villas spending when a stay is paid for using a Bonvoy co-branded credit card.
Hyatt & SVC Reach Agreement – Only Five US Hyatt Properties To Disappear
At the beginning of January, it looked like Hyatt was going down a similar path to both Marriott and IHG as it entered into a dispute with an owner of 22 properties that were flagged under the Hyatt Place brand. At that point, it looked like Services Properties Trust was going to move control of its Hyatt Place properties to Sonesta, but following negotiations, it now seems that an agreement has been reached in the case of 17 of those 22 properties.
Australia Will Get A New InterContinental Property This Year
Australia is already home to seven InterContinental properties but by the end of 2021, that number will go up to eight following the announcement that the Hotel Continental on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula will reopen as the InterContinental Sorrento later this year.
Some Six Senses Resorts Are Now Bookable With IHG Rewards Points
IHG announced the purchase of Six Senses Hotels Resorts for $300m in February 2019 and IHG Rewards members shave been waiting patiently ever since to be given a chance to use their points to book these luxurious properties. Now, that wait is over (at least in part) because 6 of the Six Senses properties are now showing award night availability on IHG's website.
Hyatt Plans To Open Six New Properties In India In 2021
India already has over 30 Hyatt properties spread across the vast country with most Hyatt brands represented, but 2021 will see a further 6 properties (across two brands) added to Hyatt's India portfolio and the hotelier plans to have over 50 properties in the country by 2023.
Flash Sale Returns: Radisson Central London Properties Bookable From £89/$124 (Flexible)
Radisson has brought back a flash sale we first saw a little over a week ago in which it's offering great discounts at four of its central London properties. Three of the participating properties are bookable from just £89/$124 per night (including taxes) and the rates on offer are all cancellable up to 48 hours prior to the day of arrival.
Hyatt Has Opened Two Great-Looking Luxury Properties In California
In the past four days, Hyatt has announced the opening of two properties that are new to the World of Hyatt program, and with both properties belonging to the upscale Alila brand and with both properties located in my home state of California, this is news that I'm genuinely excited about.
Hyatt Will Move Into The Refurbished Rio Las Vegas
Hyatt already has a foothold in Las Vegas through its partnership with MGM but following a major refurbishment of the Rio Las Vegas, World of Hyatt fans visiting Las Vegas will soon have the option of enjoying multiple Hyatt full-service properties too.
Deal: Buy A $100/ £100/ €100 Best Western eGift Card & Get A $20/...
Best Western is running a promotion on the sale of its gift cards which sees customers being offered a $20/ £20/ €20 bonus gift card for every $100/ £100/ €100 gift card that they purchase. For some, this will be a very good deal while for others a key condition of this sale will be an issue.
Flash Deal: Get Up To $300 Credit At Select Ritz-Carlton, EDITION & St Regis...
Marriott has brought back its "Escape to Luxury" promotion in which it offers guests up to $300 in credits on stays of 2-nights or more at some of its more luxurious properties in the Americas and the Caribbean. The catch is that bookings must be made by this coming Sunday.
Hyatt Lists 13 New Properties That It Will Open In 2021
Back in December, Hyatt announced that it expects to open 13 new US lifestyle brand properties in 2021, in January it announced that it was adding 3 more properties to its European portfolio, and now it has named a further 16 properties that it says we can expect to open their doors and welcome guests at various points this year.
Be Careful: It’s Easy To Miss The Latest Hyatt Discounts & Free Nights
Yesterday, Hyatt continued its run of offering promotion after promotion (a run which now dates back to September of last year) when it announced a number of offers for stays made through the middle of September. Some of these offers can be great money-savers, but they're also offers that can be easily missed when booking a stay on the Hyatt website.
Review: Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill
Back in the fall, I took the opportunity of a gap between the first two lockdowns in the UK to pay a visit to the Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill to take a look at what London's most central Hyatt property has to offer. I stayed at the Churchill for a total of five nights and although COVID-19 restrictions were still in force, they didn't have a major impact on the experience or on what the Hyatt Regency offers.
NEW: Hyatt Launches Free Nights & Discounts Promotion
The latest Hyatt Bonus Journeys promotion only launched yesterday but Hyatt's already following it up with another offer for travelers looking to book stays through mid-September. While Bonus Journeys focuses on World of Hyatt points, this promotion focuses on discounts and free nights.
Impressions: The Hyatt Place West London Hayes (A Mini Review)
The Hyatt Place West London Hayes is one of two Hyatt properties in the vicinity of London Heathrow and it's the cheapest Hyatt property in the UK. I visited this property earlier in the year as part of a mattress run on my way to Hyatt Globalist status so what follows are some of the pictures I took during my stay and a few observations from my visit.
Marriott Now Offers Free COVID Testing At Select Resorts
Hyatt got some very good press when, at the end of last month, it announced that all 19 of its resorts in Latin America and the Caribbean would offer free coronavirus testing for guests returning to the United States. Now Marriott appears to be joining in...albeit a little less wholeheartedly.
Promo: Double Points & Free Gift Cards From Best Western
Best Western has just launched its first major promotion of 2021 and by Best Western standards it's pretty good. Members of the Best Western Rewards program can earn multiple gift cards and double points for stays made through 9 May 2021.
Marriott will open a new property on Maui in April (or May)
Amidst a variety of announcements that we've recently seen Marriott making, one small bit of news appears to have slipped under the radar. Within the next few months, Marriott Bonvoy members will have a new Hawaiian property at which to burn their hard-earned points.
What’s New In The Marriott Bonvoy Mobile App?
The Marriott Bonvoy app has been refreshed, redesigned, and been given a full makeover and while some of the changes may appear to be cosmetic, others include new booking options, better functionality, improvements to the search facility, and improvements to the way information is displayed. Here, in brief, is what's new in the refreshed Marriott Bonvoy app.
Marriott Bonvoy Is Set To Absorb 19 Properties Into Its All-Inclusive Portfolio
Marriott has today announced that it has entered into a deal with Blue Diamond Resorts to incorporate 19 of its all-inclusive resorts into its Autograph Collection portfolio. The resorts are spread across six destinations and will add almost 7,000 rooms to Marriott's current all-inclusive offering.
Fantastic Deals With Hyatt’s Long Stay Rates In Europe, Middle East & India
Hyatt is offering what it's calling a "The Great Relocate" rate at 125 of its properties spread across Europe, the Middle East, and India, and if you're prepared to book a stay of at least 29 nights at any of the participating locations, you could lock in some truly fantastic rates.
Marriott has opened the W Melbourne
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Marriott's plans to open almost 100 new Asia Pacific properties in 2021, and now we already have one of the properties featured in that article welcoming guests - the W Hotel Melbourne is officially open.
Radisson Sale: Save Up To 30% At Properties In North America, Latin America &...
Radisson has launched a new sale for Spring/Summer 2021 in which it's offering discounts of up to 30% at its properties in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Hyatt Announces Three New Properties In Sweden
A frequent and increasingly lazy complaint about Hyatt is that it doesn't have a particularly large footprint when compared to some of the other big hotel chains and that this makes it difficult to stay "loyal" to the hotelier. Well, Hyatt has clearly taken those complaints onboard (its significant expansion in the last 2 years proves that) and now it is adding a further 3 properties to its European portfolio.
Marriott Showcases Its New Sheraton Hotels & Their Designs
Way back in 2018 (in what seems like an age ago), Marriott announced that it would be giving its Sheraton brand a much-needed facelift and dragging the brand into the 21st century. Now, three years down the road, Marriott is ready to show us the promised changes that are now coming to fruition and the new look Sheratons that have been refurbished from top to bottom.
Marriott Launches Eco-Friendly Experiences Pilot In Asia Pacific
Marriott has announced the launch of the 'Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy' program which the hotelier says is aimed at creating opportunities for its guests in the Asia Pacific region to engage with local communities and their local environment during their stay.
Hyatt Introduces Complimentary COVID Testing In Latin America
With the United States now requiring most international travelers to provide evidence of a negative COVID test before being allowed to visit the country, Hyatt has taken the first steps to make life a bit easier for guests staying at its resorts across various locations in Latin America.
Hyatt Is Offering Discounted Dining, Early/Late Check-in, Discounted Parking & More At Select...
Hyatt has launched a new mini-promotion in which it's offering signature experiences alongside a variety of other benefits at select properties in the United States, South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean as it looks to try to tempt people to use its properties for a local staycation.
Is Hyatt About To Lose 22 Properties In The United States?
Two of the more interesting bits of fallout that we've seen from the current crisis have been IHG losing over 100 North American properties in August 2020 and Marriott losing 122 properties in North America in October 2020 and both of those events had one thing in common - the owner of the hotels. Now it looks like Hyatt may be going down a similar (if slightly different) road with the same owner.
Marriott Adds A New Boutique Hotel In Tuscany
These may not be the best of times in which to be opening a new hotel but that hasn't stopped Marriott from unveiling a new Autograph Collection property in Tuscany, Italy. The Grand Universe Lucca, a former 16th Century Palazzo, opened its doors yesterday and joins the Marriott Bonvoy program as a Category 4 property.
Save Up To 30% With Radisson’s Friends & Family Sale (Americas & Caribbean)
Radisson has brought back its annual Friends & Family sale in which it's offering members of its Radisson Rewards program a discount of 30% on bookings made by the middle of January. The sale\s travel window is disappointingly small but if you're planning to travel soon, the discounts on offer may make this a promotion that's worth considering.
The Sofitel Heathrow T5’s COVID Test Qualifies For England’s “Test To Release” Program
The UK government currently imposes a mandatory 10-day quarantine on visitors arriving into England from a wide variety of countries around the world (including the US). Since the middle of December, however, visitors have been able to shorten that quarantine period to as little as 6 days thanks to the 'Test To Release' program that was introduced. A little surprisingly, the COVID test available at the Sofitel Heathrow T5 qualifies for this program.
Hyatt Expects To Open 13 New Lifestyle Brand Properties In The United States In...
Hyatt has announced that 2020 has seen it open 7 new US properties across its Thompson and Hyatt Centric brands and it has also now confirmed that it expects to see a further 13 new properties (from the Alila, Hyatt Centric, and Thompson brands) open up across the United States in 2021.
Chase Has Loaded Two New IHG Offers To Its Cards
American Express is currently running a number of offers for stays at IHG properties in the United States (I wrote about the latest offer earlier today) and now it looks as if Chase has joined in too. I'm currently seeing two different offers on two different Chase-issued credit cards but there may be other versions of these offers out there.
Reminder: Hyatt Is Offering An Easy 500 Points To Everyone (TODAY) & Special Rates...
Hyatt is hoping to encourage more people to take some time out to be mindful and to honor Hyatt's third annual Global Day of Gratitude by offering 500 World of Hyatt points to everyone who completes a guided meditation today. In addition, Hyatt is also offering special discounted rates for healthcare workers from around the world.
Hyatt Says It Will Add 20+ European Properties By The End Of 2023
Hyatt has said that it plans to add over 20 European properties to its portfolio by the end of 2023 which will represent a 30%+ increase in the number of hotels that operate in Europe under various Hyatt brands.
IHG Announces A New Kimpton For Europe
IHG's Kimpton brand has a staunchly loyal following (one that dates back well before the brand was purchased by IHG) but it has long been a brand with a very US-centric portfolio. In recent years, however, Kimpton has been expanding outside of the United States and the latest property to be announced is a second new Kimpton for Spain.
Hyatt’s “Office For The Day” Offers Super-Cheap Mattress Run Opportunities
Hyatt has now added a new, "Office for the Day" element to its Work From Hyatt offering as it moves to match the likes of Marriott and Hilton who have both been offering their rooms as offices for some time. As deals go (I've checked the prices) this looks like a good one, but it's as a mattress run opportunity that this will appeal to a lot of TFM's readership.
Kimpton’s New Secret Password Has Been Revealed
Kimpton is the boutique hotel brand that has built itself up into a position in which it generates a great deal of loyalty and affection from its more frequent guests, and its the boutique hotel brand which has somehow pulled off the trick of maintaining this relationship despite being engulfed by the behemoth that is IHG.
Quick Review: The Sofitel Heathrow Terminal 5 (Covid Edition)
At the time of my stay a the Sofitel T5, England was under its second lockdown of 2020 (a lockdown which has ended today) so there isn't much point in writing a full review of the property as a lot of what the Sofitel usually offers wasn't available while I was there. Still, the rooms don't change because there's a pandemic raging outside, and a lot of the current safety precautions will be with us for some time to come, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on the Sofitel as I found it in the middle of last month.
Marriott Now Has One Fewer Hotels In Central London
Back in the summer, news broke that Marriott would be losing one of its properties in the heart of London this fall and, as of a few days ago, the Le Meridien Picadilly is no longer part of the Marriott network.
2 Days Only: Save 15% On Marriott Gift Cards (Should Stack With Chase Offer)
Marriott has launched a 2-day sale in which it’s offering customers a 15% discount on e-gift card purchases made through the end of tomorrow. This sale is restricted to residents of the United States and Canada only (which is disappointing) but this could be a good deal for frequent visitors to Marriott portfolio properties.
Extended: Now Earn 3x or 4x Hyatt Points And Get 25% Back On Award...
Today is very clearly a day of Hyatt news on Traveling For Miles. The big news from earlier is that Hyatt is reducing its elite status targets by an incredible 50% for 2021, and now I'm pleased to report that Hyatt has said that it is extending three of its current promotions (including its fantastic Bonus Journeys promotion) through to the end of February 2021 - that an extension of almost two months.
TODAY: Excellent Deals At The Hyatt Regency London Churchill (2 Nights For £280 +...
The Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill is Hyatt's most centrally located property in the UK's capital and, based on recent experience, can be an excellent option for anyone visiting the city. Right now, the hotel is running a Cyber Week sale (that I've only just noticed) which appears to offer a great deal on stays and spending at the property.
Cyber Sale: Save 25% At Kimpton Properties Worldwide
Kimpton is the very popular boutique brand that sits within the IHG portfolio and which, over the past couple of years, has started appearing in more and more locations outside of the United States. Right now you can save 25% off Kimpton's best flexible rates for stays into September 2021.
Choice Hotels Promotions: 20% – 30% Off & 2,000 Or 5,000 Bonus Points On...
Choice Hotels is currently running a couple of promotions that should stack together very nicely. The first promotion is offering between 20% and 30% off stays taken by the end of the year (US only), while the second promotion is offering 2,000 or 5,000 points depending on the number of nights you stay by the end of the year.
Marriott Black Friday Flash Sale – 40% Off Weekends In Europe, Middle East &...
Marriott is currently running a sale in which it's offering up to 40% off its standard rates on weekend stays in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The sale runs through 30 November so there are still a few days in which to do some research and to book but don't leave things too late as there are a limited number of rooms available at the promotional rates.
IHG Black Friday Deal: 50% Off Stays In Asia, Australasia, South Pacific, Middle East...
I haven't yet noticed any great IHG deals for stays in the United States or Europe, but the current IHG flash sale that's running for stays in Asia, Australasia, South Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa looks to be one of the better hotel deals around.
Great News: London Is Finally Getting A Park Hyatt
I'm an unabashed fan of most Park Hyatt properties so I'm always especially happy when news of a new property drops into my inbox. Last year saw the announcement of a new Park Hyatt for Los Angeles and now we're getting details that London will be getting a new Park Hyatt within a couple of years.
Earn 1,000 AAdvantage Miles/Night At Select World Of Hyatt Resorts
I'm not sure what's going on at Hyatt HQ but we're seeing promotion after promotion coming out of Chicago right now. This latest promotion is offering guests 1,000 bonus American Airlines AAdvantage Miles for every qualifying night spent at select Hyatt resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean.
Hyatt Promotion – Dream Away & Get Away With Up To 22% Off
Hyatt has just announced a new promotion which runs through 4 April 2021. The promotion offers World of Hyatt members a discount of up to 22% on the Hyatt Standard Rate at over 900 properties around the world, with all properties offering free cancellations up to 24 hours before check-in.
Amex Offer: Save Up To 25% At EVEN Hotels (IHG)
Amex cardholders are being targeted for a new but niche offer for savings at IHG's EVEN Hotels brand. With only 11 EVEN hotels currently available in the United States this isn't going to be an offer to excite the whole country, but if you'll planning a break and there's an EVEN Hotel in your chosen destination, the savings here could be worthwhile.
Hyatt Expands Its Work From Home Packages (Again)
Towards the end of August, Hyatt introduced its "Work From Hyatt" packages which it hopes will allow individuals, couples, and families to combine work and relaxation all in one place and away from the confines of home. At the time the program was rolled out, only around 25 properties were participating and that made options a little limiting. By the end of September, Hyatt had increased the number of participating properties to nearly 60 and now, as we enter November, there are almost 90 participating locations.
$75 Off Select Stays With Hyatt Credit Cards
Hyatt is in the process of emailing Hyatt and World of Hyatt credit card holders with an offer of a $75 statement credit when they use their card to book a stay at one of Hyatt’s independent collection brand properties. A minimum spend is required but this offer doesn't appear to be targeted to specific cardholders so if you hold a Hyatt or World of Hyatt credit card this should be an offer open to you.
IHG Adds 400 Mr & Mrs Smith Properties (More Coming)
A little over a year ago, IHG announced a new partnership with Mr & Mrs Smith (a boutique hotel "travel club") and, earlier this month, a trickle of Mr & Mrs Smith properties started appearing on the IHG website. Now that trickle has turned into a flow with IHG confirming that 400 Mr & Mrs Smith properties are now bookable on its site.
Marriott Unveils New ‘Work Anywhere’ Plans (Good Deal Or Not?)
Marriott has followed in Hyatt's footsteps and is now offering guests the chance to book three new rate options which will allow them to use select Marriott properties as a "home office", either for a day or as part of a stay of one or more nights. In theory, this sounds like a nice idea, but is what Marriott is offering a good deal or not?
How To Book A Room With Covid Test At The Sofitel Heathrow T5
On Monday, we received news that a number of Heathrow hotels will soon be offering room rates that include a Covid test. The Sofitel Heathrow Terminal 5 is the first hotel to offer this option and its 'Test & Rest' package is now available so, as it may not be entirely obvious how to book this rate, here's a quick guide.
London Heathrow Hotels To Offer Covid-19 Testing With Room Bookings
Arora Group is a corporation that owns a number of airport properties in the UK which are all operated under the banners and branding of well-known hotel chains like Marriott, IHG, and Accor. In the coming days and weeks, the London Heathrow hotels owned by Arora will begin offering room rates which, amongst other things, will include a test for Covid-19.
Why I’m Ignoring Marriott’s New Ritz-Carlton In The Maldives
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Marriott Bonvoy’s “Week Of Wonders” Promotions Are Now Live
Marriott has launched a 7-day set of promotions which when bundled together it's calling its "Week of Wonders". The deals on offer include discounted awards nights, discounts on Marriott's boutique (amenity) ranges, free nights for Homes & Villas bookings, and more.
Amazing. Marriott Just Lost 122 Properties In North America (Including a Major Hawaii Resort)
Service Properties Trust, a company that owns over a hundred properties that are currently operating under various Marriott brands, has announced that it is terminating all of its agreements with Marriott effective 31 January 2021. There doesn't look to be any going back so from 1 February next year, Marriott's North America portfolio will have noticeably fewer properties in it than it did the day before.
IHG Is Starting To Add Mr & Mrs Smith Properties To IHG Rewards
On 23 September 2019 IHG announced that it was entering into a partnership with "Mr & Mrs Smith" which would allow IHG Rewards Club members to earn and burn points at 500+ more properties around the world. With Mr & Mrs Smith offering a significant number of upscale boutique hotels this was huge news for fans of IHG Rewards but up until now, there have been no further updates from IHG.
Hilton’s Has Updated Its Flexible Cancellation Policy – It’s Not Good News
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BE CAREFUL: Don’t Assume That All Hotels Are Still Offering Free Cancellations – They’re...
When the major hotel chains realized that no one was traveling and that no one was making any plans to travel, they all brought in policies that meant that travelers could cancel or change their bookings without fear of penalty (regardless of the type of rate they were booking) as they attempted to persuade people to make plans for the future. A number of these policies are now either no longer in place or are in danger of expiring.
Review: Conrad London St James (Covid Edition)
The Conrad London St James is arguably Hilton's best property in London, but it's a property I had never visited until recently as I usually prefer to make the most of the fantastic weekend deals that are often on offer at the London Marriott Canary Wharf. On this occasion, Joanna and I were looking for a change of scenery and with the Conrad selling award nights at a very reasonable price, it was easy to decide to see what the property has to offer.
Marriott Bonvoy Announces “Escape To Luxury” Packages
Marriott has announced a new offering which it's calling "Escape to Luxury" and in which guests can make the most of "singular experiences" at a variety of luxury properties in North America, the Caribbean, and Latin America which celebrate each unique destination and which can be paid for (in part or in full) by up to $300 in credits that the properties are offering.
Marriott’s Secret Website Will Tell You What Services Its Hotels Are Offering During The...
Marriott has built a website that is designed to show travelers what services and amenities its properties are offering during the current crisis. The site isn't yet official and its contents are not yet complete, but with in-house offerings varying wildly from property to property (even for properties in the same town or city), this can still be an invaluable resource for anyone trying to decide what Marriott to book for their next trip.
Marriott Partners With Quintessentially To Encourage Luxury Road Trips This Fall
Marriott has joined forces with high-end concierge company Quintessentially, to pull together a series of road trip options for travelers that may prefer to vacation closer to home or for those who would still like to travel but who would like to see more of the regions they're visiting. Each of the curated itineraries includes stays at some of Marriott's top properties in the US and Europe.
Warning: IHG & Marriott Flexible Cancellation Policies Are Ending
IHG and Marriott are the first major hotel chains to confirm that they're ending their flexible cancellation policies which have been available on all bookings since the beginning of the current crisis. At the time of writing, Hilton, Hyatt, and Radisson have not yet followed suit, but with their current policies expiring at the same time as the Marriott and IHG policies expire, there's scope for these three chains to go down the same path.
Flash Sale: Save 25% With Marriott (North America, Caribbean & Latin America)
Details of the latest "Marriott Bonvoy Escapes" are now out and there are savings of up to 25% on offer for stays through 20 September at select locations within North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean. If you in a position to travel and are happy to travel, these are deals that could be worth checking out.
Incredible: IHG Is Set To Lose Over 100 Properties In North America
The next time you're searching IHG.com for accommodation in North America you may find that a number of properties you've been used to seeing in the past are no longer there. This isn't a glitch or a temporary system error, it's because IHG has just lost over 100 of it's North American properties to a considerably smaller operator.
Check Your Reservations – Some Hotels Aren’t Very Good At Communicating Cancellations
If you have a reservation for a hotel that is supposed to be reopening in the weeks before you're due to arrive, I suggest you double-check the property's latest information online and make sure that all is still going according to plan. Based on my experience, some hotels are not very good at informing guests that their reservations can no longer be honored in a timely way.
Hyatt Resorts Introduce “Work From Hyatt” Packages
As hotels continue to struggle to get their occupancy levels moving in the right direction, we're starting to see the more forward-thinking properties and chains adapting to the "new normal" by introducing plans and packages to suit the current environment. Hyatt's latest idea is to offer the "Work From Hyatt" package which aims to allow individuals, couples, and families to combine work and relaxation all in once place and away from the confines of home.
Save Up To 20% At Hyatt With This Amex Offer [Targeted]
Building on its offers for spending at various IHG properties (see here and here) American Express has now launched another hotel offer for cardholders fortunate enough to have been targeted. This offer is for stays booked with Hyatt and can be used into November of this year.
Amex Offer: Get Up To 25% Off At Marriott Properties [Targeted]
American Express has launched the first travel-related offer that I've seen for months (luggage offers don't count!) so if you're planning on making any Marriott bookings in the next couple of months, I suggest you check your accounts to see if you have been targeted.
London Hotels Not Passing On Tax Savings To Guests
As of today, 15 July 2020, the level of VAT being charged on UK hotel accommodation is 5% (down from 20%) and as VAT is a tax on the consumer and not the hotelier (VAT is a sales tax so the hotelier is only acting as a government tax collector), it would be reasonable to expect the cost of a hotel night to drop in proportion to the drop in VAT...but this isn't necessarily the case.
Deals: Save At Conrad Properties With These Three Offers
Various Conrad Hotels around the world are currently promoting deals and offers with a view to tempting guests back into their properties so, if you're considering making a booking, it's worth checking these out before you make any firm plans. Keep in mind that these deals are not available at all Conrad properties so make sure you pay close attention to the participating locations lists in the post below.
Wow! The Park Hyatt Mallorca Won’t Re Open Until 2021
It's not much of a surprise to find out that the current health crisis combined with the catastrophic crash in the demand for travel has been taken a serious toll on the hospitality industry, but considering the European borders are already starting to open up it's more than a little shocking to find out that the Park Hyatt Mallorca will not be reopening before Spring 2021.
IHG Is Opening An InterContinental Property In Rome
IHG has announced that it will be reintroducing the InterContinental brand to Rome 6 years after the last property to carry the InterContinental name in the Italian capital (the InterContinental De La Ville) was reflagged as a Rocco Forte property.
I’ve Had A Lot Of Trouble Buying Marriott Gift Cards
Last month, in the week that Marriott was selling its e-gift cards at a discount, I made 4 separate gift card purchases in an attempt to see how the transactions would be treated by various credit cards I hold and in an attempt to use up the Marriott travel credit offered by the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant credit card from American Express. Things did not progress smoothly.
Marriott Raises $920 Million From Chase & American Express
Marriot has just announced that it has raised $920 million in cash through the agreements it holds with JPMorgan Chase and American Express and, in doing so, follows Hilton in using its credit card partners to raise much needed liquidity during the current crisis.
American Express Buys $1 Billion Worth Of Hilton Honors Points
Just as we saw in the Great Recession it looks like major corporations are starting to turn to their financial partners to help with any liquidity problems that they may have and, this time around, it looks like Hilton is first to the well with a 1 billion dollar cash injection from American Express.
How IHG Has Gone From Hero To Zero Very Quickly
It was way back on 12 March that IHG Rewards was the first major loyalty program (from the hotel or airline industry) to take measures to make it easier for its members to earn/retain status this year but that appears to have been the end of the program's interest in looking after its members and guests.
Hilton’s New (Temporary) Booking Policy Is Excellent
Back on 12 March Hilton made a customer-friendly change to its change/cancellation fee policy when, amongst other things, it added all the EU countries to the list of destinations where change and cancellation fees are being waived and where refunds are being offered. As of yesterday, that policy got even better.
Remember How Airlines, Hotels and Agencies Are Acting Right Now
At some point in the future, life will return to what it was like just a few months ago and people will be going about their lives and doing their best to forget the chaos that we're witnessing right now...but I hope we don't forget everything.
Use The New Marriott Tool To See Room Rates With All Fees & Taxes...
In countries where the hotel industry lobby doesn't own the people's elected representatives (at least, not entirely), hotel websites are obliged to show the total cost of a room with all taxes and fees added in. Sadly the United States isn't such a country so, on most US hotel websites, the cost of a room that a customer is first presented with often has little in common with the final price paid.
Hilton Makes Customer-Friendly Changes In The Face Of The Current Travel Crisis
Earlier today I wrote about IHG Rewards taking the decision to lower its requirements for earning elite status in 2020 in the face of the travel chaos that's engulfing the world and now Hilton has stepped up with its own set of changes to help alleviate its guests' concerns.
Hyatt Is Offering 10,000 Points To Guests Cancelling Non-Refundable Reservations
Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian is in the process of sending out emails to Hyatt loyalists detailing all the precautionary measures that the hotel chain is taking in the light of the worldwide coronavirus situation and to reinforce Hyatt's "increased flexibility with travel planning".
IHG Is Offering A Free Night On 4-Night Stays At Select Properties
IHG is currently running a promotion it's calling "Stretch the holiday further" in which it's offering a free fourth night at select properties in Europe, the Middle East, Asia/Pacific, Australasia/Oceania, and Africa.
Marriott opens the refurbished Ritz-Carlton South Beach
Marriott has announced the reopening of the Ritz-Carlton South Beach following a $90m renovation project that has seen the property keep its Art Deco design but has also seen a wholescale floor-to-ceiling modernization of the property.
Did You Know That You Can Earn American Airlines Business Extra Points With Rocketmiles?
I haven't really paid much notice to Rocketmiles over the years because bookings made through the site aren't eligible for elite status recognition nor do they earn guests points in any hotel programs but a recent tweet caught my eye and taught me something I didn't know - Rocketmiles also partners with the American Airlines Business Extra program.
Marriott Bonvoy’s ‘The Langley’ reviewed
Earlier this year, with very little fanfare, a new Marriott property opened outside London. The property is called The Langley (a Luxury Collection property) and it sits within a 130-acre park in the British countryside a little over 7 miles from Heathrow airport.
Joanna and I spent 2 nights at the property and, having reflected on our stay, I feel confident in stating that this property offers one of the very best redemption options in the whole Marriott Bonvoy hotel chart - it's fantastic.
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