A Nice Website

Dear Contessa,

Dare ye tell us in which botique chain you stayed?

I like the hotel websites that let me enter all kinds of info about my preferences to my profile. Some options other hotel sites offer: floor preference, near or away from elevator, fridge request for room, extra pillows. I have checked into hotels when I have these extras on my profile, and the items are either already in my room when I arrive, or the front desk clerk informs me it will be delivered shortly. I also like strong rich coffee and prefer liquid creamer to the awful powder packs, so I love hotels that have superior coffee set ups. Not very many IHG properties have what I would consider excellent coffee, although there are a few.

If you belong to a Marriott leisure club in the UK you membership card allows you 20% discount on most food and beverages at your base hotel. This is often extended to other Marriott's in the UK a very worthwhile benefit.

I can't say I have struck a restaurant that served bad food at an ICH hotel (have struck poor service at the restaurant at one HI to the extent that I avoid the particular hotel)

i like the breakfast to go bags that Hamptons give.  I don't always have time to sit and eat.  Bottle of water, fruit and a breakfast bar comes in handy to snack on during the day.

I've seen a few hotels around with things like 'express breakfast', 'breakfast in a box', which sound the same thing. Maybe I should try one sometime!

In San Antonio after eating a Texas Style BQ place on the River Walk I presented my HHonors Amex card a and what was my status.nd the waiter asked me if I was a Hilton Honors member and what was my status? I told him Gold and told me he could take 25% of my bill because it was a Hilton run establishment. He asked to see my member card that I did not have. In a flash he called his manager and the bill was dropped $22.00. I gave him a good tip and he reminded me that is a perk Hilton offered it loyal customers. Plus it was on the Dining List so I received points from them

So it now looks like all the other major chains (Starwood, Marriott, and Hyatt) are now offering free internet for their elites -- at least the top tier (admittedly -- Marriott is only offering it at US & Canadian properties).

Might it be time for Priority Club/InterContinental to offer the same for their top tier elites at ALL of their hotels as well?

For me, personally, most of my stays are at InterContinental properties -- and internet is sometimes offered for free to Ambassadors/Royal Ambassadors, but not across the board. 

I realize this is incremental revenue for the individual hotels, and usually free access can be had in the club lounge, etc. But I'd rather be able to have it all the time, in my room!

Elizabeth,

Thank you for the update regarding internet service and the competitors.  You make a good point!

Thanks,

Amanda Kehoe