Earlier in the year InterContinental Hotels Group added the Palazzo and the Venetian in Las Vegas as InterContinental "Alliance" hotels. This was pretty exciting news, because it was a great way to earn Priority Club points while staying on the Strip, not to mention getting elite benefits as an Ambassador or Royal Ambassador member. For…
Continue reading: Venetian and Palazzo institute minibar restrictions for Royal Ambassadors
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I'm happy my week long stay was before this policy went into effect. I don't drink alcohol but drink plenty of bottled water, vitamin water, diet coke and juices. That would have been very disappointing.
If IC implements this company-wide, they can kiss my $10,000 of annual business goodbye.
This hotel policy change comes just three weeks after Hotel Chatter posted an article and video about The Points Guy asking the question "Is it wrong to clean out the mini-bar?" as an InterContinental RA member.
Looks like we have The Venetian and Palazzo response to his question.
Hi Ric, yes once again greed kills a benefit. I was curious if these folks do the same at hotel club lounges, where the drinks are complimentary?
I mean you could sit there and drink the contents of the club lounge refrigerator as well.
The next question to ask, then, is whether this is a new policy at all ALLIANCE resorts, which the Montelucia is now. A big thumbs down from this RA on this policy.
Well looks like ThePointsGuy's gloating just ruined it for himself and the rest of us.
I agree The Points Guy,Brian, bragging about how he and his buddies cleaned out the minibar at this hotel probably had something to do with this change! Thanks Brian!
Seriously, who are you people? I don't think I've ever even opened a mini-bar in a hotel room, and you're complaining about "only" being able to get $100 worth of free drinks? I don't care if you only drink water or diet coke, give me a break.
This is what will be the beginning of end for enhanced frequent traveller benefits. As usual, some guy getting a benefit for free, feels the need to act juvenile about something AND post it to his blog.
He truly bit the hand that fed him this time. Points Guy. Way to go schmoozer.
Seriously - Who is being cheap and greedy here? This is the Venetian and Palazzo we're talking about!
These are CASINO hotels, people. They give away "free" drinks at the tables and slot machines, for goodness sakes!
How many "Royal Ambassadors" are there anyway? Not THAT many, and the benefit only applies if you are actually paying for your room and not staying there on points.
The actual "cost" of stocking that mini bar? At retail? C'mon - were talking about a half dozen diet cokes and a half dozen airplane bottles of liquor. Good grief, this is what, $20-$30 maybe if had to go a liquor store or Walgreens and go buy all the stuff myself?
Shame on those 'greedy' bastards at the Palazzo and Venetian! The Points Guy did them a favor! You know what the occupancy in Vegas is these days????? With a somewhat limited amount paying Royal Ambassadors staying at these properties on any given night, the Palazzo and Venetian just blew a terrific opportunity to differentiate themselves among all the other hotels in Vegas. Sure, the Venetian was cool when it opened, what, 15 years ago or so? Now what? There are DOZENS of other options that didn't exist then that exist now in Vegas.
And I'd bet (pun intended) that anyone who is a Royal Ambassador is someone who is going to spend some time at the tables anyway - - like either of these properties are going to really 'feel' the financial impact of a couple of nights of mini-bar raids in a handful of rooms per week . . . .
I'm an Ambassador at Priority Club, doubt I'll ever make the Royal Ambassador level as I favor SPG and Hyatt for elite benefits, but if I WERE an Royal Ambassador and was considering rooms in Vegas (which I do two-three times a year for trade shows), the "mini-bar clean-out" benefit would get me in the door at these properties for certain -- given these change in benefits - I'd rather stay over at the Westin Casuarina . . .
Are you serious... one person posts a blog entry and he somehow manages to alter a program? I'm sure any of the program hotels must have that situation on an ir-regular basis. No??
I never understood people that empty the mini bar in their backpack, if you feel like drinking everything in the minibar and have friends over great, but so I have seen a few TR where the traveller empty the minibar in a "to go" bag! Classy...
@Andrew Using the mini bar is a privilege of RA. Who are we? I'm assuming we're RAs... who use the mini bar.
@Dan you'd be surprised at how one person blogging on a well known blog can change things....
It's one thing for someone to wipe out the mini bar, it's a completely different thing for someone with friends to wipe out the mini bar and then brag about it on sites that get a large amount of traffic. Bad form.
" I believe the rule is that the minibar beverages are for “in-room consumption,” meaning you’re not technically violating the rules if you have friends come over, though it’s certainly not in the spirit of the benefit."
It's right in the T&C that the benefit is for in-room consumption by the member only. It is a plain and simple violation of the rule. That said, I'll probably never be a Royal Ambassador so I couldn't care less. But I don't understand why everyone keeps missing that part.
A sad diluting down of RA status. Compared with other brands where you have access to a club lounge for elite members and alcohol is free. I always saw the cost of the mini bar a great peak but probably a negligible cost to the hotel.
A sad day for RA members especially considering It's more difficult to achieve RA status this year (30 IC nights required).
I'm staying on 2 reward nights at the Palazzo in January. Does anyone know if I would still receive any RA benefits?
If staying on award points, you will most likely not get RA benefits as it is a policy not to provide benefits on free stays. This is more of an Achilles heel of the Priority Club program whereas other hotel programs recognize benefits.
That being said, if attending a convention at the Venentian and they are the host hotel; would I receive the now limited RA benefits at the IC Alliance Resort as stated - published rates are given benefits including but not limited third party websites? I tried to research the T&C so I could bring with me as I do not want to be stuck with a $149 room with no mini bar or upgrade when I stay across street at Mirage for $79.
And my 2 cents on PointsGuy blog, tsk tsk. I wonder which came first, the blog or the ego?