Teacher Discounts Might be Phased out at s/d

[KIS]

Bummer, I just called the dolphin based on something that Sherri expressed on the boards elsewhere about the discount program for teachers being eventually, possibly phased out. I called because I needed to get a copy of my confirmation of reservation. (Apparently, they did not put in my apt number). So, I figured I'd inquire for future reference.

The reservationist said that the management has not officially cancelled the program. She said they just don't know when. I asked if it had to do with the renovations. She didn't seem to have much to say about that. She said the Swan is already renovated and they still have the program operative. I asked if once the dolphin's renovations are completed if the program will end. She said again. "We don't know when". Ugh.

I am new to this whole scene and I was disappointed to hear this. My husband and I could never afford such luxury being a teacher and a government worker. It was so delightful to learn on the boards about this program because it felt like those of us who are not getting rich helping others were acknowledged and given a break for once. I guess that might just be naivity on my part, huh?

I am grateful that we were able to book this trip and am certainly looking forward to our stay at the dolphin.

I do wonder about the motivation behind setting up that program. Was it because business was so slow? Do they think that now it will pick up or something? I thought that they must have received a tax write-off or something, but may be that wasn't it. Does anyone know?

Personally, I hope this particular reservationist is dead wrong. I hope either that or that management changes their mind.

KIS

 

[polkadotminnie]

I am a second grade teacher. I sure hope they don't discontinue this!

 

[Geoff_M]

If they do cancel it, as a fall back you may still qualify for their government rate. My wife has qualified for government rates at other hotels as a public school teacher.

 

[Muffy]

You can also get a starwood amex and rack up points. You can use the points for free stays or cash and points. cash and points at the S/D are 60.00/4000 points. You can earn alot of points in one year if you start putting everything on the card. Just pay it off every month. We put gas, groceries, school tuition, alsolutly everything on our card!

 

[KIS]

I didn't ask about the government rate specifically when it came to this prospect of closing the program. I used the word teacher discount because we all do. Since I made the reservation, our reservation is under the government worker category. Each time I've called in the recent past to discuss our case of making reservation, the hotel worker has told me that the discount is the same. I don't know specifically, however, if the prospective discontinuing of this program would include the other categories. I simply did not ask. I assume, however, this will effect all categories. May be not. I mean, teachers and us government workers deserve a break, too.

KIS

 

[Mouseteacher]

I, too, would be very unhappy if the S/D discontinue this rate. I certainly would not return to the S/D without comparing their nonteacher rates with the other Disney resorts before I decide where to stay. If the rates are close in cost, a Disney resort would be my choice (I would compare deluxes to S/D not mods or values).

 

[swilphil]

KIS--We are in the same boat. I'm a teacher and dh is a government worker. I figured they started the discount program because of the decline after 9/11 and the renovations. Plus teachers are such amiable guests Maybe the convention business is picking up enough where they don't have to worry about filling the hotel. As nice as the staff is at the Dolphin, just like everything else, it all comes down to money.

I know you can get a AAA discount, and if you sign up for the Recipe Club (or some other e-mail postcard program) at the Swandolpin.com website they will send you some specials. I know for July and August, they had a deal where you paid something like $169/night for 3 nights and got one night free.

I'm not aware of any government rates that can be gotten at hotels across the board. Can somebody tell me about this??

 

[Tinkbell]

Well, if I had to pay $300 for S/D and $300 for a Disney Deluxe, I would have to go with the Disney Deluxe resorts. It would be a shame to discontinue this.

 

[swilphil]

Tink--I agree. I'd try to get in at BC or BWI, as I love the Epcot resort area location. I'm thinking of looking into renting points for our next trip. It sounds like you can get some pretty good deals, especially if you go Sunday through Thursday, which is fine by me.

 

[Geoff_M]

I don't know specifically, however, if the prospective discontinuing of this program would include the other categories.

I don't believe there's any chance the government rate will be discontinued. The teacher's rate program is a program created locally by the S/D management... and it sounds like they are the ones reviewing the program. The government rate is a Starwood corporate program. That's why you have to call the S/D directly for the teacher's discount, but can book the same government rate off of Starwood's web site. Having a "government rate" is the norm in the hotel industry and I can't see Starwoods cancelling theirs. That's a ton of business they'd lose.

 

[KIS]

I am still hoping that the program continues, despite the conversation I had with the woman at the swan/dolphin.

It's good to know others would be disappointed. I haven't even been there and I'm disappointed. This trip to the Dolphin could literally be my family's Swan Song.

Tinkbell, you say you'd pick the disney resort over the s/d if the rate was the same. Is that because Disney does the atmosphere and theming better?

Mouseteacher, you'd compare the deluxe with the s/d. I know that s/d are deluxe resorts. I don't think I could afford a deluxe rate at the s/d or WDW. I'd have to go with the price, sadly, unless I cut our vacation in half or something. How do you figure you'd be switching like that?

Swilphil, I thought I noticed "sherry" on your screen. I'm sorry I didn't call you by your proper disboard name. You mentioned some new programs that I'm not aware of. What exactly is the recipe club? What is renting point about? How do you do it?

KIS

 

[Lewisc]

The real question is if S/D is going to continue to offer deeply discounted rooms. Doesn't really matter if it's a teacher rate, gov't rate, entertainment rate or (to a lesser extent) AP rate.

 

[Bill From PA]

Geoff_M,

I've used the 'Government' rate to book rooms in Pa. for business purposes on the SPG.COM site and my status as a College Faculty member qualified me. I always thought that the Gov't/Teacher/Nurse discount was one and the same and good for all Starwood properties. This has been my personal experience.

Bill From PA

 

[ww52]

What I find interesting is how on the Swan/Dolphin threads everyone raves about the hotel and the Club Level. Essentially, though, it seems most people are really saying "it's great for the price". Example - many people get CL with points; many people have said it is not worth paying for. Same with the overall rate - at under $200 it's a great hotel; a the same rate as a Disney deluxe (GF, Poly, YC/BC, AKL) it seems the Swan/Dolphin is out of the picture.

Knowing that, I suspect the Swan/Dolphin will continue discounting their rooms; maybe not a teacher discount, but other types. DU can get rooms under $200 without any teacher/governent restriction, so I suspect that will be the way they handle it.

By the way, not all teachers are government employees. My wife teachers at a Catholic school; many teachers there have taken advantage of the discount and they would also end up at another hotel should it be discontinued and not replaced with something comparable.

 

[Geoff_M]

Bill,

I think ww52 may have touched on the key difference between the Starwood Government rate program and the S/D Teacher's rate program. I'm assuming that "government rates" don't apply to private institutions (You didn't say if your college was state or private.)

For sure, for public institutional teachers the two programs are effectively the same, but they are in fact two distinct programs. Someone reported a month or so ago that they called S/D in an attempt to get a teacher's discount sometime in 2004 but were told the discounts hadn't been realeased for that period yet. But the equivilent Gov' discount was wide open on the Starwood web site.

 

[kimmar067]

I, for one, hope the $129/$139 rate doesn't stop....

 

[Bill From PA]

Geoff_M,

We're a private college. For our trip last Nov., I went on SPG.COM, reserved under the 'Gov't' discount, I never did see anything saying 'Teacher's' discount, booked the ressie and showed my college ID on check-in. I've found that SPG often has info on discount rates before they show up on the screens of the phone agents you talk to if tou call the S/D. I reserved for our March trip on SPG exactly one year ahead. I did this because the gal I called at Dolphin didn't have the rate on her screen. If I shouldn't have clicked on the Gov't rate, I'm sure glad they didn't call me on it at check-in time!

Bill From PA

 

[KIS]

BillfromPA, LewisC, Geoff M, and others,

I did not know that spg has a government rate as well as the s/d directly. I called the s/d directly for the discount rate. Do any of you have experience booking wiht the spg.com for the s/d? Do you know if the spg.com gov rate is the equivalent of the direct discount with the hotel? Are there better perks?

What's "DU", ww 52? I hope you're rigth about discounts.

Lewishc, I actually was looking at this program from two angles. One really was the recognition of these sort of professions. It felt good. The other is the cost, of course. But, I think teachers, nurses and some government workers don't get enough recognition for their services.

I work as a chaplain for a state psychiatric center. I'd love to see all the people who are on the frontlines of caring for the down and outs getting a break. For them, it would be a gift, not just a break.

Call me hokey, naive, but that was one angle in addition to the money.

Anyway, the program's still running right now.

KIS

 

[Tinkbell]

Originally posted by KIS
Tinkbell, you say you'd pick the disney resort over the s/d if the rate was the same. Is that because Disney does the atmosphere and theming better?

KIS

Yes, that pretty much sums it up. S/D look like nice places (haven't stayed there yet) but I would never pay rack rate there. I would pay rack rate for a Disney resort if I had to.

 

[Mouseteacher]

KIS ~ I would probably choose the Contemporary,S/D or BWI if I found I could afford to stay at a deluxe (I have also stayed at value and mods, too - it all depends on that year's vacation budget and any great rates that may be out). I have stayed at all of these and I guess it would depend on the best rate at the deluxes and my mood at the time.

I am a Catholic school principal so if they discontinue the teacher rate, I would not qualify for the gov't rate. And, yes, I guess I do agree that the S/D is a great deluxe for the rate. Place it on the same $ as a Disney deluxe would make it a difficult choice for me.

I was pleased to see that for once teachers were given a perk which we never seem to get - it would be a disappointment to see the loss of this promotion.