Lowes Hotels - "Our Gift To You" Email re: YouFirst Benefit Extension

[NashvilleTrio]

I just received the following email from Lowes Hotels. It looks like your current membership level will be extended through Dec 31, 2009. This may not matter to some people, but we were on our way down from Gold to Blue since we didn't complete a stay after July 15.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY to sincerely thank you for your loyalty to Loews Hotels, especially during these challenging economic times. While we are always mindful of our commitment to provide you with the best experience possible, we understand that in today’s climate, it is more important than ever before.

Therefore, to say thank you to you, our most loyal guests, we will be extending your current YouFirst status through December 31, 2009, with the hope that the coming year allows us all to rest a little easier and travel a lot more.

We truly believe that “Value is the New Luxury,” so much so that we’ve made it the cornerstone of our brand messaging for 2009. It also represents our pledge to continue to provide you with the brand of hospitality you have come to value from Loews Hotels, whatever the future brings.

On behalf of all of us, we wish you peace, health, happiness and the time and space to enjoy it. We look forward to welcoming you back for many years to come.

Sincerely,


Jonathan Tisch
Chairman & CEO

 

[calgarygary]

I just received the same email - I believe that if you are currently gold, you will remain gold through Dec. 31, 2009. So I don't think you are on your way to blue just yet.

 

[damo]

I got it too. It should help a lot of people!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Well, while this is nice, it is a tiny slap in the face to those of us who did make our post July 15 stay, so we could maintain our current level.

Mine reads slightly different:

Replace your second paragraph with this:

We thank you for your business and congratulate you on re-qualifying for your YouFirst level. And as promised, we will be extending your current YouFirst status through December 31, 2009, with the hope that the coming year allows us all to rest a little easier and travel a lot more.


BFD.

That was I was supposed to get in the first place.

I don't think I'd be ticked if the subject header didn't read "Our Gift to You."

A "gift" would've been to extend my level through 2010.

A "gift" isn't what I was entitled to and earned in the first place under their rules. Hmpph.

So, to me, Loews, you can take that email and "gift" and suck it.

 

[NashvilleTrio]

I can understand why you feel that way. I had considered booking a one night stay at the Loews Vanderbilt here in Nashville this month, but decided against it.

 

[NashvilleTrio]

I just received the same email - I believe that if you are currently gold, you will remain gold through Dec. 31, 2009. So I don't think you are on your way to blue just yet.

Right, since I hadn't made a stay after Jul 15, I was expecting to be bumped down from Gold to Blue.

Speaking of Gold, we've booked a Deluxe room at PBH next June. When I called today to speak to an agent, they said an upgrade wasn't available at this time. Just curious what the free upgrade would be from a Deluxe Room? I know you can upgrade from a Deluxe Room to a suite for $50/night, but what room category comes after a Deluxe Room?

Thanks guys.

 

[macraven]

Right, since I hadn't made a stay after Jul 15, I was expecting to be bumped down from Gold to Blue.

Speaking of Gold, we've booked a Deluxe room at PBH next June. When I called today to speak to an agent, they said an upgrade wasn't available at this time. Just curious what the free upgrade would be from a Deluxe Room? I know you can upgrade from a Deluxe Room to a suite for $50/night, but what room category comes after a Deluxe Room?

Thanks guys.

you book a standard room and the next step up is the free upgrade.
that is basically how the hotels have been handling it.

get a standard room, upgrade to a pool view.

there are no free upgrades from a deluxe room w/ loews perks.



for me, i feel the same as jodie.
due to circumstances on my last trip, i was already extended to end of 09.


i received the email as jodie did, i already earned the following year so i am out on the "gift" also that is being given to all loews members. my stay was in october which was a qualifying stay for my platinum status.

i am assuming due to the economy, bookings would be down for next year.
if a person was not going to be able to enjoy the perks from loews membership, they might stay off site instead.

now there is a better chance for the loews hotels to keep bookings at a better level.

 

[keishashadow]

is it wrong to feel that those who did follow the new rules to keep their status intact for next year (i.e. booking a stay to qualify after June cutoff) are getting scrooge-ed?

NO

 

[petrymom]

Got an email from Loews asking me to Join this club. Can you tell me about it? What is it?

 

[rie'smom]

Well, while this is nice, it is a tiny slap in the face to those of us who did make our post July 15 stay, so we could maintain our current level.

Mine reads slightly different:

Replace your second paragraph with this:

We thank you for your business and congratulate you on re-qualifying for your YouFirst level. And as promised, we will be extending your current YouFirst status through December 31, 2009, with the hope that the coming year allows us all to rest a little easier and travel a lot more.
BFD.

That was I was supposed to get in the first place.

I don't think I'd be ticked if the subject header didn't read "Our Gift to You."

A "gift" would've been to extend my level through 2010.

A "gift" isn't what I was entitled to and earned in the first place under their rules. Hmpph.

So, to me, Loews, you can take that email and "gift" and suck it.

I feel the exact same way. Don't you appreciate them being generous enough to give us what we earned? What a joke. Don't you want to slap that smug Jonathan Tisch?

Those of you who did get a gift, I really am very happy for you.

 

[macraven]

i have no problem for those that did receive the extension for the loews program would have lost the level they were on if this "gift" would have not been issued.

i am happy for you as i know many count on the level you are on for the different perks you can receive. your email gift is a gift.

what displeases me is the way loews is attempting to be cheap to the members that did scramble to meet the new rules.

it reminds me of the "regifting" process that some do.
give something away because you don't want to put forth any effort to give a gift.

and that's all i have to say about this.

 

[ky07]

I know how most of you feel cause I am a member and where everything switched over last year and my stay in july didn't qualify .
But what can ya do they make the rules

 

[patster734]

Well they definitely made things confusing on what qualifyies as a "You First" stay! I stayed twice on Universal property this past year and I don't think either one qualified.

My May trip was for an AP rate at RPR, so that didn't qualify. My October trip was at the SS rate which does qualify, but my stay was at the HRH, which no longer participates in the Loew's frequent stay program. Therefore that stay didn't qualify either!

 

[lindalinda]

Well, sorry to those that got "scrooged" but I am thrilled. I was going to book a night in Nashville to tide me over, but I couldn't swing it.

Think of it this way though, I had a 9 night trip this year, but it was before July. Should those that had trips after July this year get to retain status, and not those of us that took our trips on spring break (think $$$$$$).

My trip next year is going to be at Christmas, so I am not positive it will do much for me..does anyone know if upgrades are generally available the week after Christmas?

I imagine I will be staying at Portofino again, unless RP has changed their suites (are they still a king bed?)

Of course, I would be going whether I was able to keep my platinum of not. I had already decided that it wasn't that important. There is no way I can keep it forever anyway.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Think of it this way though, I had a 9 night trip this year, but it was before July. Should those that had trips after July this year get to retain status, and not those of us that took our trips on spring break (think $$$$$$).

Moot. Some of us had trips BEFORE and AFTER July this year. Multiple ones, and yet, here we are treated the same as the occasional, casual once a year or once every other year traveler. I'm not mad at those who managed to benefit. I am mad at Loews for slapping me in the face with this and having the nerve to call it a gift.

 

[rie'smom]

Think of it this way though, I had a 9 night trip this year, but it was before July. Should those that had trips after July this year get to retain status, and not those of us that took our trips on spring break (think $$$$$$).

Look, I don't care if Loews extended YouFirst to those that had NO stays, I'm happy for you. My point is why send a fatuous email to those who have earned their stays saying "Our Gift to You" or some crap like that.

I really would have preferred not receiving an email but I still would have been thrilled for those who did get the extension.

Think of it this way:
Your kid is in school and studies their rear end off and another kid plays around. The teacher gives back the tests and says to your kid, Here's a present, you have a perfect paper and you have an "A".

The other kid- "Here's my gift to you, an "A" even though you failed the test.
Don't you think your kid would think, Gee thanks for the gift. Apply the same to work,etc.

 

[MassMom94]

I'm one of those people who were "grandfathered" into Gold status, but since all my previous and probably future Loews stays were at HRH and those don't count anymore, my Gold days are numbered.

I agree with those who qualified - that "gift" e-mail was an insult. But I don't think nuance or honesty is Loew's strong suit. All of their e-mails and print materials re the change to You First have been disingenuous. Doesn't give me a lot of confidence in them.

 

[donaldduck352]

We are a member,but bieng a Florida Ressie with AP's it really dont make a diff too us..

We get a better deal bieng a AP's and living in here..We dont get the upgrades or nothing,but we get good deals..

But for the peeps that got this E-Mail it is a slapp in the face!!

Wate and see what will happen this comming year..The economy will make them rethink the wayes just to bring peeps too the parks!!!

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

Well, while this is nice, it is a tiny slap in the face to those of us who did make our post July 15 stay, so we could maintain our current level.



Me too! I made a special trip just to keep my status to a part of the country I really did not care that much about, but it was the closest Loews to me!

 

[keishashadow]

I know how most of you feel cause I am a member and where everything switched over last year and my stay in july didn't qualify .
But what can ya do they make the rules

few things come to mind:

1) call/write re my displeasure

2) take my business elsewhere...news flash, the economy is teetering...deals will be a dime a dozen if it continues

3) ignore them the next time they 'cry wolf' as to necessity to book to maintain ones' reward status

i could go on evidently, they are confident that the risk of alienating their 'loyal' customers is offset by the need to offer 'gifts' disguised as nothing more than churning past customer base

the proviso in the fine print of the YouFirst contract as to all is subject to change is just that, a loophole

ba-humbug