|
 That was an easy choice recently for Glenda Oakley, 31, who stayed
at a Westin hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. When Oakley checked
in, she was offered vouchers for hotel services or loyalty points to
forego housekeeping - everything from having the bed made to having
the bathroom cleaned. She ended up parlaying the hotel credits into
$100 worth of Internet service during her nine-day stay.
"I don't need extra towels...or someone else to make mybed daily,"
said Oakley, an Army veteran and motivational speaker from San
Antonio, Texas.
Giving up in-room hotel housekeeping in exchange for points,
discounts or a cash voucher is a growing trend, fully embraced by
Starwood, one of the largest hotel operators in the country.
Also on board are an assortment of independent properties, like the
Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Lake House at High
Peaks Resort in Lake Placid, New York; and Seven Springs Mountain
Resort in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania.
In Starwood's case, guests are given the choice of a $5 voucher to
use on-site, 250-500 points in the Starwood frequent traveler
program (depending on the hotel), or other ways to trade for on-site
services for each day other than checkout day.
About 3.4 million guests participated in 2012, and a projected 7.5
million will participate in the "Make a Green Choice" program this
year at Starwood's properties, among which are Sheraton, Westin,
Four Points, Luxury Collection and W, said Andrea Pinabell, vice
president for sustainability, global citizenship for Starwood. The
options should be available at most of the company's properties
globally by next year.
Starwood benefits by saving on labor costs, utilities and supplies.
It also gets to tout a "green" initiative, said Jason Cochran,
editor-in-chief of the travel website Frommers.com.
"They have the happy effect of both letting housekeeping off the
hook for cleaning, which can save a hotel money, and establishing a
lower expectation of maintenance on the part of the customer, which
can result in a higher satisfaction rate," Cochran said.
UNMADE BED
Experts say the key question to ask yourself is: How important is it
that the room be cleaned every day? At most hotels that offer these
deals, you can still get certain amenities upon request, like clean
towels or a bottle of shampoo. But are you really going to miss
having the bed made?
Washington, D.C.-based business strategist Jonathan Smith, 44, was
happy to skip the service and take 500 points during a stay at a
Sheraton in Hartford, Connecticut. "I made my bed just as I do at
home and called housekeeping when I needed fresh towels," Smith
said.[to top of second column] |
If you go the DIY-cleaning route, be sure to grill the staff on what
is being offered and the duration of the deal. Travel experts say
hotel points, when offered, typically have a greater value than $5
food and beverage vouchers. Ryan Lile, who runs the Frequent Flyer
Academy, says 500 Starwood points are worth about $20. Food
vouchers, experts say, are more likely just to get you to spend more
money.
Another key point: What do you have to do if you want to switch back
to full housekeeping? Simply call the front desk is all that's
needed, according to Starwood, but cleaning won't start until the
next day. Once you've opted out, your room is not eligible for
cleaning that day under the program's rules.
RATCHETING UP THE OFFERS
For the past two decades, hotels have been encouraging guests to
dial back on cleaning services. See a card requesting that towels be
left on the floor in order to be replaced? Notice that placard by
the bedside you can use if you want to skip having the sheets
changed? Even the "do not disturb" signs have morphed into a way to
opt out of the process.
Cochran says some hotel chains - like the no-frills Malaysia-based
Tune Hotels - have gone to another extreme: Instead of crediting
back guests who choose to not have housekeeping, they charge extra
for such items as towels, soap or shampoo.
"I don't think the major international chains will be unbundling
prices to that extreme," Cochran said. "Their core customer is the
business traveler who is happy to pay for the standard slate of
extras."
(Follow us @ReutersMoney or at http://www.reuters.com/finance/personal-finance;
Editing by Beth Pinsker, Lauren Young and Leslie Adler)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
