change in Loews upgrade program!!

[yourgoingagain?]

I spoke to a reservationist today while making my May 2008 reservation. They still only have rack rates. I asked about when the upgrade codes would come out. I had to pay for the garden room and the parlor ($279 each by the way). She said that they were deciding on possible changes to the program. The platinum priviledge (suite upgrade) is why we stay so often even though we own at DVC.

I asked questions but she said she did not know anything. I then called back and asked a second person if she had heard anything and she said no.

Anyone else hear anything??

 

[goofy!]

Last week I was in e-mail contact with the rooms manager at the PBH as the reservationists told me that all the queen bedrooms attached to the parlor were sold out for March 2008. I questioned whether it was really because they weren't in the system yet, but the reservationists (2 of them) confirmed that they were sold out.

The rooms manager confirmed what I believed - rates weren't in the system yet. She said she would trace my e-mail and reserve my room and parlor (we are platinum) and let me know as soon as the rates were in the system.

No mention by the Portofino Rooms manager of any changes being made to the upgrades.

 

[damo]

I wouldn't worry about it yet. When we made our reservation for end of Feb. 2007, they told us there were no suites available. By the time we actually got there, the hotel was basically empty and we got our villa suite upgrade.

 

[yourgoingagain?]

Goofy & Damo, Thanks for the responses but maybe I didn't phrase my concern the best way.

I am concerned that loews is changing the benefits platinum members (and other loews members) get and/or what it takes to qualify for a particular status. I hope it's nothing as I never heard anything before but it caught me by surprise to hear the reservationist say they were "waiting hear about possible changes to the program."

If there are no changes then I have no doubt I will be able to get a room with the suite upgrade. Last year it was August before you could book rooms for the 2007. At that time they had the upgrade codes but no qualifying discount codes. I simply called later to get the lower rate (AAA) once those came out.

I do have a garden view room and suite at PBH for Feb and May already reserved, I will just need to get the portion I paid to reserve the parlor refunded on my card. I still have 3 more stays to book but they are only accepting reservations through May and only at the seasonal rate (no discounts)

Anway I just wanted to clarify, I am not worried about the room but I am worried about possible changes to the loews membership program.

 

[lookingforward]

I was told a few month ago from Loews that they were restructuring their program. The gentleman said they had not rerated accounts in a few years and that they were redesigning thier computer systems and benefits. Nothing has happened since. I'm not sure. I hope not.

 

[goofy!]

Goofy & Damo, Thanks for the responses but maybe I didn't phrase my concern the best way.

I am concerned that loews is changing the benefits platinum members (and other loews members) get and/or what it takes to qualify for a particular status. I hope it's nothing as I never heard anything before but it caught me by surprise to hear the reservationist say they were "waiting hear about possible changes to the program."

If there are no changes then I have no doubt I will be able to get a room with the suite upgrade. Last year it was August before you could book rooms for the 2007. At that time they had the upgrade codes but no qualifying discount codes. I simply called later to get the lower rate (AAA) once those came out.

I do have a garden view room and suite at PBH for Feb and May already reserved, I will just need to get the portion I paid to reserve the parlor refunded on my card. I still have 3 more stays to book but they are only accepting reservations through May and only at the seasonal rate (no discounts)

Anway I just wanted to clarify, I am not worried about the room but I am worried about possible changes to the loews membership program.

I think I know what you are saying . Perhaps I didn't phrase my answer correctly.

I had a problem with reservationists having misinformation. I went to directly to the rooms manager at the PBH to ask a few questions. She not only confirmed my Platinum status, but made no mention of any changes that might occur between now and March '07 that might affect my status.

I believe they have already made the computer upgrades, at least that is what one of the LoewsFirst people told me some time ago. What I have heard is that with the computer upgrades, they can now better enforce their in place policies; ie: you must have 15 nights or 10 stays in a calendar year to get/maintain Platinum. Your stays will not carry over. So, if I stayed 8 nights this November and another 7 nights in March - this would not count as my 15 nights. It would count as 8 nights in 2007 and 7 nights in 2008 - or Gold. This is more in line with other hotel chains reward programs - you must maintain your status each year otherwise you drop to a lower level.

 

[damo]

I would call again. If you are platinum and the suite is available they should have reserved it for you at no extra cost. As it stands right now, there are no changes to the system (they may just be enforcing their system) and your upgrade should have been honoured. I would keep calling until I got the upgrade. Some reservationists are better than others.

 

[goofy!]

I would call again. If you are platinum and the suite is available they should have reserved it for you at no extra cost. As it stands right now, there are no changes to the system (they may just be enforcing their system) and your upgrade should have been honoured. I would keep calling until I got the upgrade. Some reservationists are better than others.

Exactly. Damo just said it better than I did. The only rumor I have heard is that they might start enforcing their existing policies better.

The rooms manager at PBH told me that it will be mid July to early August before I can reserve my room/parlor for March '08 with my Platinum upgrade. But she never said that my platinum status would change.

Either call back and ask for a supervisor or just wait a few more weeks and book normally.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Goofy, are you talking about Heather? She took Brian's place.

 

[goofy!]

Goofy, are you talking about Heather? She took Brian's place.

Yup. Not realizing yet that Brian had moved to the Vegas hotel, I had e-mailed him to ask what was up - how could all the queen bedrooms attached to the Portofino parlor be completely sold out for March already? The Universal reservationists claimed they could give me a king bedroom but not a queen. They insisted that every queen room attached to the Portofino Parlor in the hotel was sold out. They also offered me a kid's suite on my platinum. WTH??? So, I e-mailed Brian and asked if he could verify that they were really all sold out or if it was just because it wasn't in the system yet.

He responded and forwarded my e-mail to Heather and her assistant Juanita. They have been extremely helpful as usual. One of the reasons I love Loews; their managers are so quick to respond to quirky questions from average families like mine.

-Michele

 

[Ariel07]

Just a thought...but couldn't it be because maybe they have a convention booked?? I used to be in the corporate travel business and they do book up far in advance and March is a very busy month for Florida conventions. Although a reservationist should be able to tell you this, if this was indeed the case.

 

[goofy!]

Just a thought...but couldn't it be because maybe they have a convention booked?? I used to be in the corporate travel business and they do book up far in advance and March is a very busy month for Florida conventions. Although a reservationist should be able to tell you this, if this was indeed the case.

Absolutely could be the case. However, what I was told was sold out were the queen bedrooms particularly attached to the Portofino suite parlors. They could give me any other kind of room, just not the queens attached to the parlors. And the parlors were available - so it wasn't that the suites were sold out. I could have the king bedroom on the other side of the parlor and the parlor, but not the queen. And I could have a queen elsewhere in the hotel. I just could not have the queen bedroom attached to the Portofino Suite.

Which made it a bit weird for a convention . If a convention, I would think they would have a variety of rooms sold out. I had a hard time believing that a convention had requested all the queen rooms attached to the parlors, but didn't want the parlors themselves, and left all the other rooms available. I could see all the suites sold out, but not just the queen bedrooms attached to the suites. Just a bit strange

 

[damo]

Just a thought...but couldn't it be because maybe they have a convention booked?? I used to be in the corporate travel business and they do book up far in advance and March is a very busy month for Florida conventions. Although a reservationist should be able to tell you this, if this was indeed the case.

But the OP has both the bedroom and the parlor booked already and they are making her pay for both. The room is there, they just aren't giving her the upgrade she has qualified for, for some strange reason.

 

[lindalinda]

What I have heard is that with the computer upgrades, they can now better enforce their in place policies; ie: you must have 15 nights or 10 stays in a calendar year to get/maintain Platinum. Your stays will not carry over. So, if I stayed 8 nights this November and another 7 nights in March - this would not count as my 15 nights. It would count as 8 nights in 2007 and 7 nights in 2008 - or Gold. This is more in line with other hotel chains reward programs - you must maintain your status each year otherwise you drop to a lower level.

I know this is what people are saying, however, I just got my platinum card a couple of weks ago, and I would NOT qualify under these rules. I had 9 nights in 2006 and 6 nights in 2007, within 12 months but not calendar year. So I am not sure if this is really being done or not, and if it is, they havent completed the change for everyone.

 

[lindalinda]

Of all the hotels PBH is the only one that gives you a double Queen suite upgrade instead of King. I bet that is what they are changing. It was too good to be true!

 

[goofy!]

OP - PM me and I will give you Juanita's e-mail address. She is Heather's assistant and has been more than helpful in securing our Platinum upgrade, despite what wacky things the reservation people are saying.

 

[yourgoingagain?]

Exactly. Damo just said it better than I did. The only rumor I have heard is that they might start enforcing their existing policies better.

The rooms manager at PBH told me that it will be mid July to early August before I can reserve my room/parlor for March '08 with my Platinum upgrade. But she never said that my platinum status would change.

Either call back and ask for a supervisor or just wait a few more weeks and book normally.

If they do not have the upgrade codes, then how can a reservation supervisor help? Now if someone else has gotten the free upgrade then I would have something to argue. I figured I should be able to get my money back for the deposit on the parlor when the codes come out in late July or early August. I don't like paying it but figured at least it would be refunded.

If all it is will be to enforce the existing policy then that's not a problem. I know I'm still platinum and have enough stays/reservations last year and this year to remain.

 

[yourgoingagain?]

OP - PM me and I will give you Juanita's e-mail address. She is Heather's assistant and has been more than helpful in securing our Platinum upgrade, despite what wacky things the reservation people are saying.

Thanks, I just sent you a PM (I think, I am terrible with computers). I wasn't in any wasy trying to be a smart*** about the discussion with a reservation supervisor but I don' think I would get far if no one else has gotten there free upgrade for 2008 and everyone of the reservationist I have spoken to (5 different ones) says the upgrade codes are not out so they cannot do it on the system.

Now the person directly at PBH will probably be a different story. I actually staying there nest week for 3 nights.

 

[damo]

I've never heard anyone talk about upgrade codes before. That's a new term to me and I've been around here a while!

 

[yourgoingagain?]

I've never heard anyone talk about upgrade codes before. That's a new term to me and I've been around here a while!

I agree. I never heard it mentioned until this year. Not that I am a computer expert but it does kind of make since to have a code that they input to let the system know not to charge for the suite upgrade. I guess it would be similar to a code letting system know to give a AAA, AP, FL resident, or some other type of discount for a particular room.

I made my Feb 2008 reservation last month and at that time "the code" came up for the first time. I have called every week since then to ask if the upgrade codes are out and each reservationist I talk to seems to know what I mean, and each one sys "no, not yet". It was Monday though when the person I spoke with mentioned "changing the prgram" that lead me to start this thread.

I thought some of the other U/O regulars might have heard something.