RETIRED: New Zone Boundaries, Star Levels, Name Changes?

[Boyou]

Hi guys, I've been checking to book a hotel room with a fallsview in Niagara Falls, Ontario and noticed that the Embassy Suites Hotel Niagara Falls / Fallsview star rating went from 4* to 3* about yesterday or even before yesterday.

I apologize if this isn't an appropriate post.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Your post is certainly appropriate and in the correct place :)... but can you also add which dates you were searching for when you saw this?

Thanks.

[Boyou]

I'm sorry for not posting the dates in my previous post as I didn't know it was very important. I just thought that it was a permanent downgrade by Priceline and didn't think it could only change according to the chosen dates of my travel plans.

I was hoping to book a room for a one night stay between the 12th of July or the 13th of July 2007

Please let me know if the above information is sufficient or if you guys need more details.

[thereuare]

Boyou,

The star rating won't change based upon the search dates. However, this hotel has not yet been reported to the board as a "name your own price" hotel, so this property may not even participate in priceline's bidding product. See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ regarding using the "retail product" to determine opaque availability.

[dahammer]

in the Priceline Philadelphia (Cherry Hill - Mt. Laurel) zone:

3* Hilton Cherry Hill is now a Crowne Plaza

3* Radisson Mt Laurel is now the Mt. Laurel Marriott

[Sgasrock]

Best Western Roundhouse, back to 2.5*

Dear David,

We are contacting you about your recent stay at Best Western Roundhouse Suites.

We periodically review our representation of our hotel partners' star rating. After doing so for this hotel, we have decided to adjust the star rating to 2.5 stars. While we are confident in the quality of all our hotel partners, the new rating more accurately reflects the service level, accommodations and facilities of this property.

As such, we would like to offer you $25 HotDollars for each night of your stay. Your HotDollars can be used to book any flight, car rental, hotel reservation or package on the Hotwire Web site. Each one is equivalent to one U.S. dollar in value and is available for one year from the date of issuance. If you have any questions about the HotDollars added to your Hotwire account, please email Hotwire at (name)@hotwire.com or by calling 1-866-HOTWIRE (468-9473). Please do not reply to this email address as your email will not be received.

Just so you all know, I complained and they listened.

[thereuare]

Thanks for the update.

It would be appreciated if you shared your wins/results with the board. :)

[ohboy]

It looks like the strip has been divided into Las Vegas Strip Vicinity North and Las Vegas Strip Vicinity South. Am I correct in thinking that the Westin is in the area now designated South?

[thereuare]

Yes, the Westin appears to be in the South zone.

[LotzOStuff]

Seeing this for 9/27-9/28:

3.5* Austin (North)

Amenities: Fitness, Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, Laundry, High-Speed

This is a match for the Crowne Plaza here on our list, except that the Crowne Plaza is listed here in the (Downtown and Town Lake) area.

I have been to the hotel before, and just checked their website vs. Hotwire maps. They are clearly in the Austin North area (actually almost dead center) at the intersection of I-35 and 290...

Just wanted to point it out, maybe it needs to be corrected, or maybe I'm wrong... :)

[LotzOStuff]

Sorry, thanks for moving. Didn't look hard enough for a place to post this I guess...

[BEAV]

A Hotwire vacation package search for SFO for Aug 22-24 for the Palomar Hotel lists amenities of:

Restaurant

Business Center (new addition)

Fitness

Hi-Speed Internet.

This change makes amenities the same for both Palomar & Grand Hyatt.

[arizonagirl]

Excuse me if this has already been noted, but per the Hotwire Vacation Package, the Red Lion on 5th Avenue (Seattle Downtown) has been upgrade to 3.5*. Amenities: Restaurant(s), Fitness Center, Golf Nearby.

I guess Hotwire just can't decide whether this is a 3* or a 3.5* property...

[thereuare]

Thanks... do you happen to recall the dates you searched the packages for?

[BEAV]

San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf zone Hotwire changes:

Hotwire vacation package search 8/23-8/25:

3.5* Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf (downgrade from 4 stars)

Fitness

Restaurant

Pool

Business Center

Hi-Speed Internet

Hotwire vacation package search 9/4-9/6:

4* Argonaut

Boutique

Fitness

Restaurant

Business Center

Hi-Speed Internet

This is a positive development in that Sheraton & Argonaut were often difficult to distinguish one from the other. Argonaut now carrying the boutique icon once again, and Sheraton now a different star level.

[thereuare]

We've updated based upon the above... thanks.

[arizonagirl]

Thanks... do you happen to recall the dates you searched the packages for?

9/13-9/16

[yellowdog]

Priceline. Los Angleles (Santa Monica & Marina Del Rey zone) no longer offer bidding at 4*

Henrik.

[cober6711]

Just thought I'd let everyone know that the Hilton Toronto Airport has been demoted to 3.5 stars. I guess Hotwire had enough of my complaints about the first room I was given at that hotel.

[tilepusher]

The biggest news for those using Priceline to bid for hotels in Portland is the addition of the Convention Center - Lloyd Center zone, separating the old Downtown Portland zone into two zones. This will certainly make Priceline much more attractive to those looking for a hotel in the downtown Portland area: there is no longer the risk of getting one of the 3* hotels near the Convention Center.

Vancouver, WA is now part of the Portland bidding area as well; this will provide extra bids for 3* Vancouver.

[thereuare]

Thanks for letting us know.

[superagentnyc]

Priceline has very recently added a 4* hotel in Arlington, VA, so there are now only 2 rebidding zones without a 4* hotel in the DC area, Springfield and Crystal City.

[cliqstr]

did priceline just get THEhotel as a 5*?

it comes up listed as 5* in "Las Vegas Strip Vicinity"

does this mean that if we bid from now on for a 5*, we're not necessarily guaranteed Venetian?

[blindman]

Thanks for the heads up.

Looks like there are now TWO zones with 5*

Las Vegas Strip Vicinity North- Usually the Venetian

Las Vegas Strip Vicinity South- New 5* rating.

[BEAV]

Looks like a new star rating as well as different amenities for the Algonquin Hotel in NYC Midtown Central per a vacation package search Nov29-Dec 1.

3.5* Algonquin (formerly 4 stars)

Fitness

Restaurant

Hi-Speed Internet