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Hotel star ratings. Grumble, grumble.

July 04, 2013 12:50AM
Checked out of the worst Crowne Plaza (not a shop) I've ever stayed at today. Parts of my room were worse than what I encountered in extended stay hotels. Yuck. Two stars at the most if based solely on my room and the parts of the public areas I saw.

I know not all star ratings are equal, but this Crowne Plaza has three- to four-star ratings on IHG (verified by J.D. Powers), Tripadvisor, Yelp, etc. Ugh, ugh, ugh.
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More About Hotel Mystery Shopping
July 04, 2013 08:27AM
Was this one of the ones that you got with your points from shopping all the hotels you were talking about the other day? Terrible! Two stars, bleh! When I stay in a hotel, though, one that I'm paying for, especially, I want it to be elegant, beautiful and refined. =D

So sorry for your trip!
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July 04, 2013 08:40AM
Yep. I complained and got all my points back, though. grinning smiley I also chatted with a manager to find out if they're mystery shopped. They are, but the management company only has that one hotel in my area. I'm trying to decide whether to give a heads up to my favorite hotel shops MSC.

The problem is so many of these famous name brand hotels are individually, not corporate, owned. A Crowne Plaza is not a Crowne Plaza is maybe a Crowne Plaza.

The reason it went from 11 nights to 13 nights was I got the points returned to me and used them to book two more nights at my first Staybridge Suites. Night and day! This one is four stars so far.
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July 04, 2013 08:50AM
Yeah, exactly (about individually owned chains of brand name hotels).

"A Crowne Plaza is not a Crowne Plaza is maybe a Crowne Plaza."

LOL, yes!! I hear ya.

I've never seen a Staybridge. Is it like an ESA or nicer?

Four stars for the MFW. winking smiley
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July 04, 2013 08:58AM
Much nicer than ESA. More like Homewood Suites or Residence Inn. Well, at least this one, anyway. This is my first stay at a Staybridge so I don't know. Not as nice as Larkspur Landing hotels.

I used to love shopping LL hotels but the MSC lost the client. I would love to know whether they are still shopped.
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July 04, 2013 11:54AM
Last week was my first stay at a Doubletree all suites concept and it was great. Sad it was business and I couldn't hang out longer.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
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July 04, 2013 12:49PM
Staybriges are usually very nice. But, I always check TripAdvisor!

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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July 04, 2013 02:33PM
Many top hotels are now Franchises and should be shopped. Sorry for the pain you were caused to endure, now if only
you'd be paid, but getting rewards backs back helps.

Live consciously....
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July 04, 2013 02:41PM
Thanks. They are shopped, but I'm wondering if "my" MSC can get the account. Most of their hotels are in southern CA.
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July 04, 2013 04:06PM
Star ratings ar BS. In the case of IHG, it's their own proprietary made up system.

For the most part, hotel-assigned star ratings are based on the amenities offered at the property, and not the condition of cleanliness of it.

It gets more complicated with Yelp and Tripadvisor, since people's ratings are generally subjective. If someone spends $40 for a single diamond hotel room and it's clean, and suits their needs, they may give it 4 stars for it being a good value and positive experience.

The AAA diamond ratings are at least based on specific criteria. Even a single diamond property has to meet the objective cleanliness standards and the ratings increase with the property offerings. I tend to trust those much more.
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July 11, 2013 03:32AM
Did a hotel shop last Saturday July 6. The place look ok from the outside. Not my regular hotel chain and it was for a new MSC that I had signed up lately. Went in the room, the bed were not made properly and between the desk and the wall there was a pair of woman underwear. Took picture of it as proof. The rest was ok with a burn out light in the bathroom. The report was accepted.

expect the unexpected
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