Frequent Flyer Miles - Beyond Bed and Bath

Contents

Airlines Use Miles to
Better Serve Program Members

Flexibility is Key to New Non-Airline 'Miles' Plans

Beyond a Bed and Bath
Hotels just keep making your stays a little nicer, packed with more miles and points than ever.

Want that TV ergonomically placed so you can watch the news while you're working at the desk in your hotel room? Would you rather not walk on the carpet in your bare feet? Even if you haven't given these tiny comfort items much thought, it's nice to know your hotel has. "We are fascinated by how our consumers think," says Mark Snyder, senior vice president for brand management of Embassy Suites Hotels.

A survey of more than 300 frequent travelers found two distinct types of travelers: upstairs and downstairs guests. Upstairs guests prefer peace and quiet, room service and roomier accommodations. Downstairs guests are more extroverted, like to dine out, use concierge services and prefer social spaces to private areas. Men tend to be downstairs guests, and women, even extroverted women, tend to be upstairs guests.

Embassy Suites Hotels, the first all-suites hotel, will use the information to fine-tune its guest services, trying to fill those needs that might even be hard for guests to articulate. To create an environment where both upstairs and downstairs guests can socialize comfortably, Embassy Suites offers a two-hour evening manager's reception at all properties.

The study also showed that while upstairs personalities enjoy staying upstairs, downstairs personalities still like a little elbow room upstairs. In fact, 75 percent of the male respondents in the survey reported increased productivity while working in larger spaces. "Every hotel has a bed, a pillow and an amenity pack," says Snyder. "When you can provide for the very idiosyncratic needs of your guests, then you're getting somewhere."

Here's what your favorite hotel chain is doing to make sure your every whim is met.

Hilton Hotels HHonors®
www.hiltonhhonors.com
Like to go by train? Hilton HHonors members can earn up to 500 Amtrak Guest Rewards points for stays at any of more than 2,000 Hilton HHonors hotels worldwide. Plus, members can earn an additional 250 HHonors travel partner bonus points for each stay by simply showing their Amtrak boarding pass at check-in.

Buy or sell a home, and earn Hilton HHonors points two ways. Fund the loan through Countrywide Home Loans, and earn 2,500 points for every $10,000 of the loan. Use a real estate agent in the Delta Corporate Services network, and earn an additional 2,500 points for every $10,000 in price for the purchase or sale of a home.

Marriott Rewards®
www.marriottrewards.com
If a Florida golf vacation seems a tame way to use the points you earn at Marriott properties, now you can pick from nine adventure travel packages. The packages include six to ten days at exotic spots in Europe, Latin America and the United States. The trips are available through Mountain Travel Sobek and can be booked through October 31, 2001, for travel by the end of the year. Excursions include exploring the waterfalls and wildlife of Costa Rica's rain forest.

Fairfield Inn
www.fairfieldinn.com
Getting a "good deal" is pretty trendy this spring. The big lodging chains are making that easy for you with lower-priced properties that still give you points in their frequent guest program. Marriott's Fairfield Inn is a good example. With 430 properties throughout the U.S., it's become a leader in the lower-moderate price category, and you get Marriott Rewards® points when you stay. You also get a free continental breakfast, pool and spa, valet laundry, exercise room, a meeting room and business services.

Starwood Preferred Guest®
www.starwood.com
This summer, Starwood will offer its popular Free Weekends promotion, which allows members to earn free nights fast. Members who stay five nights at participating Starwood hotels around the world will earn two free Friday nights. Members can earn free weekends from May 15 to August 31, 2001 at participating Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, Luxury Collection, St. Regis and W hotels, and redeem their free nights from June 1 through September 28, 2001.

For the second consecutive year, frequent travelers have named Starwood Preferred Guest the number one hotel frequency program in the world.
Starwood Preferred Guest was voted "Program of the Year" in both America and Internationally during the 13th Annual Freddie Awards in April, one of the most prestigious honors in the travel industry. Launched just two years ago, Starwood Preferred Guest also took top honors for Best Customer Service in America and Internationally; Best Award Redemption in America and Internationally; Best Elite Level in America and Internationally; and International Best Web Site.