http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2008-09-05T09:27:51Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Rydges%20Hotels http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/4/25/83153/9893 <![CDATA[<p> <object width="399" height="317"><param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KDGVXXtLYH4" name="movie"></param><embed width="399" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KDGVXXtLYH4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="317"></embed></object><p> <p>Hotel videos are all the rage this week, but we still haven't found too many that we actually like. And while we thought that the promo videos from the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/4/21/64135/5644/hotels/Hilton_Caribbean_Gets_Halfway_There_With_YouTube_Promos">Hilton Caribbean</a> hotels were pretty average, we've unfortunately found a variety of hotel YouTube efforts that are worse.</p><p>Our problem with the Hilton Caribbean promo vids was that they were so, well, promotional. But in retrospect, we liked the fact that the Hilton Caribbean videos actually featured video. The waves rolled, the palm trees blew in the wind and there were real live people walking around.</p><p>If you turn your attention to a hotel video like the one just featured on the amandak 2008-04-25T12:00:01-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/3/21/81249/4033 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Rydges_Hotel_Sign.jpg" class="imgborder"><p> <p>It does take a little longer for things to travel all the way to Australia, but now the concept of checking in online is beginning to catch on. According to the <a href="http://blog.rydges.com/blogindex.asp">blog</a> belonging to the <a href="http://www.rydges.com/about/"><b>Rydges</b></a> hotel chain, Rydges properties across Australia (and, in fact, New Zealand) are now offering a web check in service for anyone belonging to their PriorityGUEST loyalty program.</p><p>The bit we think is very convenient, although somehow kind of odd, is that you do your online check in at the same time as you make your booking. You only have to check a box during the reservation process and you're considered checked in. When you arrive at the hotel, showing your amandak 2008-03-21T15:30:01-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/