The Merrill Dubrow Blog

I guess the days of checking into a hotel, leaving the next morning for appointments and coming back to a clean room might be over? Or at least customers will have another option. Lots of hotels are trying to save money, energy and resources and looking at cutting housekeeping services as an option. Here is what a few hotels are doing:

Best Western asks guests to specify their choice of housekeeping: no service, replace towels/empty trash/quick vacuum, or full clean. Guests can check their choice and specify the cleaning hour on a card hung on the door knob. Since the program began late last year, about 40% of guests chose no or limited cleaning, says Ron Pohl of Best Western.

Some chains operated by Wyndham — Super 8, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Days Inn and Ramada — are adopting Wyndham Hotels’ practice of leaving linens unchanged whenever possible. Starting next year, all Days Inn hotels will reduce bed linen and towel changes from daily to every third day in occupied rooms.

Omni Hotels began asking customers last year if they want limited housekeeping, in which bed and bath linens are changed on request or on the third day.

Some hotels are giving financial incentives for less cleaning.

Where is this all heading?

• Don’t change the linen and save $10?
   
• If we don’t empty your trash you save $5?
   
• If you don’t take a shower and use the shampoo you save $9?

I realize hotel occupancy rates are lower than normal and they are fighting to be profitable but perhaps they need to look at ways to be greater customer service oriented which in turn will create brand loyal customers.

To me this just doesn’t feel right. What do you think?

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Last month I had eight scheduled flights on American Airlines. Unfortunately four or exactly half of those flights were cancelled. As you are reading this you might be thinking:

• He is very unlucky
   
• He flies too much
   
• The same thing happened to me
   
• What’s your point?

After my last flight was cancelled and I was on my next flight, I started to think about how funny and ridiculous this was at the same time. More important what could the airlines do to help out the customers and soften the blow of another cancelled flight. I must admit I found comedy in my last cancelled flight (which was because of a mechanical problem) because the flight attendants made numerous announcements and basically were pleading with customers to take a later flight for a $500 travel voucher. Yes I think it is really funny that customers got $500 to take another flight from a flight that never left! Sorry I just wanted to share that with you.

Here is my idea – I think airlines should give out cards or something that they can keep track of how many cancelled flights a person has. After a certain number–maybe five–the traveler gets a free flight?

I realize that some of the cancellations are because of weather (only one out of my four) but lots of them are because of mechanical troubles.

What do you think of my idea?

• Do you think the airlines would go for it?
   
• As a frequent traveler do you like it?
   
• Should it be a free flight after five cancellations or another number?
   
• Do you not take a certain airline because of too many cancellations?

I look forward to reading your comments.

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Okay, perhaps the story is a little comical (or at least to me). I was reading USA Today the other day and the article was entitled, "Air delays are worst at some big business-travel destinations". Okay, so here was the funny thing about that: I not only was at the airport – you guessed it. My flight was delayed.  No surprise – it happens to all of us. If you travel often, you have had tremendous delays and probably have some very funny and interesting stories. As I was looking at the best and worst on time arrivals I really began to chuckle. The reason was, I only flew into the top 10 on time areas once last year. Only one time! As opposed to flying into the bottom ten probably every three weeks. Today the real question is, what do you do when you have delays:

• Do you read a book?
   
• Run around the airport?
   
• Listen to music?
   
• Watch a movie?
   
• Ride the tram?
   
• Call your parents?
   
• Catch up with friends?
   
• Make new friends?

For me I try to catch up on my reading. I usually have lots of articles in my briefcase and find the delays a good way to catch up. I also try and keep in touch with industry contacts and have a list of people to call.

• What do you do?
   
• Do you have a routine for delays?

I look forward to reading your comments.

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So there I am at my house on a Saturday night and everyone has gone to sleep. It is 11:00pm and as I click on channel after channel I come to the conclusion that there isn’t anything good on TV. I walk over to the computer and begin to go on a few websites. I remember the past few business trips I have been on the flights haven’t been crowded and the hotels seem to have lots of empty rooms. Clearly the economy is affecting them dramatically. Since that is the case there must be great deals at hotels.

With that thought in mind, I reviewed all of my upcoming trips that involved hotels. There were six of them in five different cities. After checking the first one, I noticed that the company website–not Orbits or Priceline–had lower rates than I was getting. After cancelling one reservation and rebooking a new reservation, the savings were almost $100.00.  Mission accomplished on the first reservation. I won’t bore you with all the details, but I repeated the process five more times and guess what? Each time the same thing happened: I was able to get a lower rate. The total savings on those trips had to exceed $500.00.

To me that savings is huge…especially with all the people we have travel over the course of the year. The amazing thing was it doesn’t take that long to find out if you can get a lower rate and once you do it you get a confirmation email within seconds!

I was amazed and glad there was nothing on TV!

• Have you noticed this trend as well?
   
• Are you using sites like Priceline more often?
   
• What are some of your best practices that can save money with regard to travel?

I look forward to reading your comments.

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I am trying to figure out vacation spots for next year and stumbled across some wild places. Check these out!
 

New Beach in Japan:

 
Grand Canyon: THE NEW "Skywalk:"

 
Or rather a theme park?? Maybe in Las Vegas!

 
Or a tennis match in Dubai?

 
Is that too boring, then a mountain tour perhaps?

 
Nothing for you? Biking perhaps?

I apologize if you are a little queasy from looking at those spots. I can tell you I have been on the roller coaster in Las Vegas and without question it was the scariest thing I have ever done.

• So which is your favorite?
   
• Have you done any of these things?
   
• What is the most adventurous vacation you have ever taken?

I look forward to reading your comments.

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