August 25, 2014

Can Hotels Read Minds?!?

Last week I wrote a post entitled "Hospitality Happens At The Margins." The post was based in part on a Bloomberg interview with a Starwood VP, who was emphasizing the importance of basically "customizing" stays, because apparently 2% of their guests generate 30% of their profits. I explained that a large portion of my perception of travel brands isn't shaped by the 90% of the time that stuff goes as planned, but rather the few times that an employee goes out of their way to make me smile.


I gave the example of the hotel I frequent more than any other -- the Grand Hyatt Tampa -- and how they surprised me last week with a welcome amenity consisting of Diet Coke with lime and nuts. I've always chosen points as the amenity at this property so certainly wasn't expecting that. Not only was it a great gesture as such, but the attention to detail is what really put a smile on my face -- the limes, the fact that it was Diet Coke rather than Diet Pepsi (which is the Hyatt brand standard), and the nuts. Those are three of my favorite things!


The post Can Hotels Read Minds?!? appeared first on One Mile at a Time.






from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/08/25/can-hotels-read-minds/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=can-hotels-read-minds

Frugal Travel Guy Writers Take the Ice Bucket Challenge

After being nominated last Friday, Frugal Travel Guy founder Rick Ingersoll took the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS. He nominated all the Frugal Travel Guy writers to take on the challenge too: Howie, Ariana, Christine, Holly and Miguel. So far, Howie and Miguel have taken it on and we’ve got the video to prove it. […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/08/frugal-travel-guy-writers-take-the-ice-bucket-challenge.html

Does a Passenger Have a Right to Recline Their Seat in Coach?

Scott Mayerowitz reports that a United flight was diverted today when a fight broke out onboard. One passenger was using the ‘knee defender’ to stop the passenger in front from reclining their seat. The flight from Newark to Denver diverted to Chicago, where the TSA deemed it “a customer service issue.” The flight continued to […]


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from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/08/25/passenger-right-recline-seat-coach/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=passenger-right-recline-seat-coach

Off the beaten path in Peru

Slide your feet into high rubber boots to trek through the mud, explore the jungle (by flashlight at night if you’d prefer), paddle around hidden lakes, and fish for piranha.



from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/trips/7-ways-get-beaten-path-peru/

Are you a “me first” traveler?





from Elliott http://elliott.org/elliotts-email/first-traveler/

Are You A Traveler Or A Vacationer?

Preparing for our current Asia trip got me thinking about what we were actually doing and what we wanted our goal for this trip to be. What indeed was the goal? Initially the goal for me and Sara was to take a trip together and experience some neat travel products including First Class on Lufthansa […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/08/traveling-vs-vacation.html

How Iberia Made Us Believe They Devalued — When They Simply Got More Transparent

Iberia published new, much more expensive award charts for travel on partner airlines this month. That was pretty scary, not because Iberia points were worth less (nobody cares), but because of what it could mean for British Airways points. The two programs are structured similarly. The airlines are jointly owned. And points transfer between the […]


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from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/08/25/iberia-made-us-believe-devalued/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=iberia-made-us-believe-devalued

Lake of Dreams, Burning Man

Burning Man is for people to come together and experience moments that are meant to remain in Black Rock City, forever.



from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/burning-man-stripped/

Do You Have to Take a Terrible Job Just Because You Went to College?

I often enjoy the Ethicist column by Chuck Klosterman. A recent column posed an interesting question: “Do I have an ethical duty to find a better job even if I’m unhappy with the work?” The letter writer explained that his or her parents had funded a college education, but it had only led to what…



from The Art of Non-Conformity http://chrisguillebeau.com/do-you-have-to-take-a-terrible-job-just-because-you-went-to-college/

In Transit Blog: A New York Food Tour With a Batali Touch

Walks of New York will offer the Mario Batali Signature Food Tour of Greenwich Village.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3dd82d11/sc/10/l/0Lintransit0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C0A80C250Ca0Enew0Eyork0Efood0Etour0Ewith0Ea0Ebatali0Etouch0C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

How to decide where you've been

Have I NOT been in Vatican City, despite standing in St. Peter’s Basilica or the Sistine Chapel and soaking up their wonder?



from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/rules-deciding-youve-havent/

In Transit Blog: Walkabout: Earthquake Rattles Napa and Its Wineries; Iceland Lowers Warning of Volcanic Eruption

A weekly capsule of travel news curated by our writers and editors.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/3dd7bae3/sc/31/l/0Lintransit0Bblogs0Bnytimes0N0C20A140C0A80C250Cwalkabout0Eearthquake0Erattles0Enapa0Eand0Eits0Ewineries0Eiceland0Elowers0Ewarning0Eof0Evolcanic0Eeruption0C0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Free Lufthansa Miles, Uses for 85 United Miles, Barefoot Pilots and the Future of Credit Card Apps

News and notes from around the interweb: How banks are trying to make it easier to apply for credit cards via mobile A Hertz perk you might not know about. I used to get this all the time from Avis back when I had their top status. Beta testing United’s Wi-fi Based Inflight Entertainment System […]


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from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/08/25/free-lufthansa-miles-uses-85-united-miles-future-credit-card-apps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=free-lufthansa-miles-uses-85-united-miles-future-credit-card-apps

Life without money

Heidemarie Schwermer trades clothing and goods for the things she needs.



from Matador NetworkMatador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/live-without-money-15-years/

Who Is Eligible For Delta American Express Sign-Up Bonus?

As I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, American Express is offering some generous sign-up bonuses on their co-branded American Express cards through September 8, 2014: Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express 50,000 SkyMiles after making $1,000 in purchases within three months $50 statement credit after making Delta purchase within three months…


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from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/08/25/eligible-delta-american-express-sign-bonus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=eligible-delta-american-express-sign-bonus