We're not quite sure what to make of these two "When Hotel Managers Attack" stories yet, so we'll just deliver what TMZ and Page Six report to be the, uh, facts.
Zachery Ty Bryan (a.k.a. Brad Taylor from Home Improvement) was staying at a Choice Hotels property in San Diego in April. He left the hotel to grab a Gatorade, and when he came back, the hotel allegedly refused to let him upstairs because the room wasn't in his name. Okay. Fine. But then:
Bryan's lawyer claims Zach tried explaining his wife was in the room, but the hotel refused to call her. He claims an off-duty manager, who was not involved in the initial argument, came out of nowhere and tasered Zach in the neck.
The Summer of Gas Packages shows no signs of stopping. This time the offers are coming from Choice Hotels.
It's a little bit more complex than just booking a room and getting a gas gift card. It requires joining the hotel group's loyalty program Choice Privileges. Once you do that, here's where the offer comes in.
Choice Privileges rewards program members who book their stay at choicehotels.com or 800.4CHOICE this summer and stay three separate times, with arrival between June 1 and August 14, will be eligible to receive a $50 gas card.
After each third qualifying stay at any Choice brand hotel in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, Choice Privileges members will receive enough bonus points on top of the points for their three stays to reach 16,000 points, which can be redeemed at any time for a $50 gas card or other rewards.
Ok, that's way more complex. You need to stay three separate times at a Choice Hotel this summer which should earn you enough points for a gas card. It's not the easiest gas card package out there but if you are a frequent Choice Hotels guest (Comfort Inns, Clarions, Quality Inns), you might like this perk.
Evidently there's some news to tell from Choice Hotels. While it's gone unreported, for the most part, by those in the know, we did a little research. And now that we know, we'll tell you.
During a convention earlier this year, the staff got to meet and greet the company's new President and future CEO, former Marriott International bigwig Steve Joyce. And once Steve took the mic, he announced something big was in the works.
Seems there's a rebranding campaign afoot regarding the company's more upscale Clarion Collection of hotels. Word is they'll be rebranded as the Ascend Collection, complete with nifty new logo and designations as "historic," "boutique" or "unique." Hmmmm...this also sounds alot like Aloft by Starwood.
While all this news continues to fly under the radar, such is not the case with Mr. Joyce's earnings. Word is his new gig got him a major raise worth $1.3 million in stock incentives before he even officially assumed his role at the company May 1st.
Forget the nunnery, we say, get thee to a job at Choice Hotels.
At the behest of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Senior Editor Juliana spent four days roaming around the island of Eleuthera. Discovered in 1648 by shipwrecked adventurers, the island's name is derived from the Greek word for freedom. And freedom she found. Away from phones, TV and internet. Sadly, her emancipation from technology was shortlived and she's back to tell you about where to stay when you visit Eleuthera, one of the Bahamas' Out Islands that stretches for 110 miles.
[Ed. Note: There's a little bit of a glitch in the video. After the HC credits, move the marker to 0:06 and it should play again.]
Even far far away in the Caribbean, Choice Hotel members have an option to use their loyalty reward points--at the Quality Inn Cigatoo. We didn't actually stay at this hotel, but the managers kindly allowed us to take a room tour (above.)
The Quality Inn is located in Governor's Harbour which is centrally located on the island of Eleuthera. This area has more of a real town compared to the area near The Cove. A gas station, small supermarket, liquor store, and a bank can be found in the town's center. Also nearby is a library which has wireless internet and a few government offices. And down the road is our favorite restaurant, Tippy's, but we'll tell you more about that tomorrow.
As for the Quality Inn Cigatoo (which is the original native name for the island of Eleuthera), the rooms have shockingly bright floral patterns on the bedspreads and curtains and the rest of the decor is rather simple. Nothing fancy here. Although the rooms do have TVs. But with room rates in high season at only $119, this place is extremely affordable.
The hotel has its own pool which is a plus and its own restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The fare is pretty good so long as you like fried anything. But that can be said for the entire island of Eleuthera. Fried Grouper (a fish), fried conch, fried chicken, etc.
Additionally, the managers of the place are part-time film producers having just wrapped on the film "Mysterious" featuring Antonio Sabatini Jr and James Brolin. While filming the movie in Eleuthera most of the cast and crew stayed here. But when Brolin's famous wife, Barbra Streisand, came into town we heard she stayed on her yacht. And we wouldn't expect anything less from Babs.
[Update: Cambria Suites is 100% smoke free as well, according to the Choice peeps]
Despite the growing trend of hotels to go 100 percent smoke-free in their guest rooms and public spaces, not everyone is thrilled with these changes. And "not everyone" is mainly smokers.
Audrey Silk, founder of the NYC C.L.A.S.H. (Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment), sent us an email wondering if all Choice Hotels were 100 percent smoke-free as advertised on the Choice Hotels commercials. She writes:
The television commercial for Comfort Suites (with the catchy tune -- I'll give you that) includes the pronouncement "smoke-free everywhere..." At the end of the commercial several of the hotel chains under the Choice Hotel umbrella are promoted. This leaves the viewer with the impression that all of these brand name chains share/offer the same "100% smoke-free" accommodations.
I'm fairly certain that the only brand name hotel associated with Choice Hotels Int'l that has banned smoking even inside the guest rooms is Comfort Suites and not also Comfort Inn, Quality, and the few others included in the commercial.
Indeed, we tracked down a press release from March of this year that announced the Comfort Suites decision to go smoke-free by May 1, 2007.
We can't vouch for the rest of the brand but we have a feeling it is just Choice Hotels that is smoke-free. However, we've put in an email to a Choice Hotels rep but feel free to share your experiences with smoking at Choice Hotels here.
Meanwhile, we have posted the full email from Audrey after the jump.
Until recently we thought hotel loyalty programs were for Account Executives rolling their business travel points into a family vacation at a bland resort every year or two. However, funny thing happened when we started investigating these programs -- we found some of them are downright useful if you know how to cut through the red tape. This series is meant as a jumping off point to full fledged discussions on each loyalty program we feature. So comment, contribute, question, and cajole here.
Choice Hotels includes a variety of places to stay such as Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Cambria Suites and EconoLodge. Their rewards program is the ChoicePrivileges program but luckily for you, the points you earn here can be used for more upscale resorts and hotels when you want to take a nice vacation.
Choice Hotels which runs such worldwide brands like Comfort Suites, Quality, Cambria Suites, and Econo Lodge, is offering people the chance to win a walk-on spot in their newest commercial.
This campaign is part of the new fall promotion for the company's customer loyalty rewards program, Choice Privileges where members can earn a free night when they stay two separate times at any participating hotels.
Much like those aspiring to be P. Diddy's next assistant, Choice Hotels want contestants to create a video showing how this new fall promotion will bring you closer to "a loved one, an old friend, an important business client, or someone else."
Video submissions can be uploaded here from now through October 22. Choice Hotels will review all entries and select ten of the best ones. These will then be viewed on the website in on October 25, where visitors can vote once a day for the contestant they like the best. Phew, is that enough interactivity for you?
Voting ends November 30 and the winner of the contest will be officially announced sometime in early December.
The winner will get the commercial gig and roundtrip airfare to the location of the commercial shoot, accommodations, meals, spending money, and ground transportation between the hotel and airport. Just like a real star...well, you know one that stays in Econo Lodge.
The Summer of Gas Packages shows no signs of stopping. This time the offers are coming from 
Evidently there's some news to tell from 
Choice Hotels which runs such worldwide brands like Comfort Suites, Quality, Cambria Suites, and Econo Lodge, is offering people the chance to win a walk-on spot in their newest commercial.
