Hurricane Gustav is whipping through the Caribbean right now and while no one knows just yet what it's impact will be when it hits the US, hotels in its wake are getting their emergency management plans in order.
In preparation for the storm, Half Moon will waive all cancellation fees for reservations scheduled for August 28 to September 1, 2008. Guests will be able to reschedule their visit at the original rate booked up to December 15, 2008 and between May - October 2009.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) for Half Moon, dealing with hurricane drama is nothing new. Thus the hotel boasts about being well-prepared to deal with hurricanes.
Last year, guests staying the midst of Hurricane dean were relocated to conference facilities in the Half Moon Shopping Village which doubled as a shelter. Let's hope Gustav doesn't force guests into that position again.
Oopsie. Much like Bloomberg News went too early releasing Steve Job's obituary, Marriott's Web site went live too early with Platinum enhancements.
Marriot rewards members were abuzz on flyertalk earlier this week about an announcement on Marriott's Web site that promised some nice enhancements for Platinum members beginning Jan 15, 2009:
· No blackout dates for points redemption for standard rooms · Increase of Platinum member elite bonus from 30% to 50% · 4th night free on a three-night hotel redemption using points
These are some pretty exciting developments, and made some Platinum members who don't think there's enough difference in Gold and Platinum levels quite happy.
However, less than two hours after the initial post went up on the FlyerTalk board, the announcement was gone. Shortly thereafter, Ira, a member of the Marriott Concierge Team, said:
"Earlier today, information about possible changes to the Marriott Rewards program was mistakenly published on Marriott.com.
Based upon your feedback regarding blackout dates and capacity controls, we are evaluating potential program enhancements. We have nothing to announce at this time. We're sorry for any confusion this might have caused and we'll be sure to provide advanced notice of any future changes."
So now we're left wondering if Marriott will make these changes for real. We certainly hope so! Staying 75 nights a year should really count for something.
Last week we told you about our experience checking into the Marriott Marco Island in Florida and our attempts to wrestle our luggage from the bellmen in order to make a clean getaway to our room for some much needed R&R.
Now we'd like to follow that up with an account of our ideal check-in experience at the Sofitel Lafayette Square in Washington D.C. last winter.
When our taxi pulled up in front of the hotel late one evening, two bellmen rushed over to open the door and alleviate us of our luggage--much as they did at the Marco Island Marriott.
Except, when we refused their assistant, they didn't push the issue, but simply told us where to find reception and then wished us a pleasant stay.
On September 1st, the Trump Hotel and Tower Chicago will unveil 53 new spa guestrooms connected to the Spa at Trump to pamper guests in true over-the-top Trumplike fashion.
The rooms feature in-room treatments, a healthy minibar (does that mean no booze?), yoga kits, a whole menu of Bath Packages, and spa amenities and toiletries that evolve with the seasons.
As guests are led to the spa guest room by their Spa Attaché, who will customize the guest experience from start to finish, they will be enveloped by a custom spa scent in the corridor and soft music playing overhead. Upon entering their room, they will find inspiring city and riverfront views, gentle earth tones, light oak woods, fresh orchids, ambient candles and a music library.
Wooden Electronic Key Cards--do they work or do they not work? That is the question going on around hotels in Denver during the Democratic National Convention.
As you might know already, the NY Sun said the key cards were a bust and we wrote about that. Then a PR rep for the key cards said that wasn't true and the general manager of the Sheraton (where the cards were reported to be abandoned) backed up that claim, saying the key cards were working just fine after an initial "user error." The Sun then issued an update.
Yesterday, we got word that the key cards were working just fine at the Hotel Gold Crown near the Denver airport.
So it seems like these wooden key cards are working and everything is fine and green dandy. Not quite. Thanks to a tipster who did some research for us, there have been some more incidents of these eco-friendly key cards not working. After the jump, see the problems people are having with the key card.
"Lucky You," Manhattanites. During September 5-10 you may just find your cab fare paid if your taxi has these words emblazoned on the side.
Cole Haan, an American brand known for their quality leather shoes and bags, celebrates their 80th Anniversary on September 5, coinciding with Fashion Week in New York.
Since this also marks a period where tastemakers and the fashion elite rely on car services and hotel rooms as headquarters, Cole Haan has a strategy to influence by sending subliminal messages through random bump-ups.
That's right. Thompson Hotels, having finished with their monopoly on New York, is expanding overseas to Seoul, Korea.
We have to say, this destination is shocking. We thought for sure a London property was in the works. Yet today a press release was making the rounds of the interweb that Jason Pomeranc and co. are heading off to Seoul.
We love coming across creative use of words in unexpected places -- pretty sentiments carved into cement or deep thoughts scrawled on bathroom walls -- so it made us smile to see that the new Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver is almost literally building their hotel with poetry.
The text of an original poem by Liam Gillick (a British artist) will wrap around the exteriors of the building all the way up to the 23rd floor.
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by juliana
Oopsie. Much like Bloomberg News went too early releasing 
A second installment of the 
"Lucky You," Manhattanites. During September 5-10 you may just find your cab fare paid if your taxi has these words emblazoned on the side.
That's right. 
