Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* NYC (Chelsea-MSG) Doubletree Chelsea

[PaulaF]

Hello,

Have been reading with interest about the 3.5* hotel in Madison Sq Garden/Chelsea for $99 per night. Anyway decided to go for it and using the HOTWIRE link on this site to go to hotwire I got the Doubletree Chelsea for 5 nights for $588.78, including taxes. Very good deal, although I have seen some concerns over whether the hotel will be ready as its a new hotel. My stay is from 8th May. Does anyone know anything about this?

Also, the address on the confirmation is 128 W 29th Street.

[mike50]

3* doubletrees new hotel- clarification

I have read the other threads about the issue regarding this hotel. HOTWIRE and Doubletree are taking bookings. The doubletrees website is taking bookings for 2nd May and beyond.

'This hotel will be joining the Hilton Family soon and is presently accepting reservations for arrival May 2, 2009 and beyond.'

There was one post to say that the hotel would not be ready until October 2009 but no conformation of where the information came from. I have booked 4 days in July 9-13th from hotwire.

Regards

Mike

[thereuare]

PaulaF,

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you got a great deal on this property. As the hotel's own website is taking reservations for stays starting less than 2 months from now, i wouldn't too worried about this stay. Even if there is a problem (and again, i really dont' expect it) the Hilton corporation had plenty of other rooms in the city they could 'displace' you to.

Thank you for sharing your results with the board and using our HOTWIRE link to begin your purchase.

Enjoy your stay.

mike50,

Thanks for your post.

Can you please post the details of your purchase (star rating, city, zone, hotel name, price, dates, and amenities shown before your purchase... all of which are still viewable by going to HOTWIRE and clicking the MY ACCOUNT link near the top right of their home page) so that others will be aware of your win for the dates you purchases, as well as have your win appear in the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins.

Thanks!

[DCBob]

Bad news. The Doubletree website now shows that the opening of the hotel has been delayed another two weeks:

This hotel will be joining the Hilton Family soon and is presently accepting reservations for arrival May 15, 2009 and beyond.

I assume this means Hotwire or Doubletree will have to either offer a substitute comparable hotel for your pre-May 15 reservation OR refund your payment.

[thereuare]

PaulaF,

If you have any contact with the Doubletree or HOTWIRE can you please keep us updated.

Another user spoke with the general manager of the property after the website changed to May 15th and said he's not sure why they changed it because as far as he was concerned they're still set for a soft opening in April and officially open on May 2nd. He also added that if there was any issue guests would be reaccomodated.

[PaulaF]

Just to let you know that I havent had any contact from either the Doubletree or HOTWIRE yet. If I dont hear from them by next week I will contact them and will update info.

[DCBob]

I called Hilton and they said the hotel will open (soft opening) on April 2. I asked why reservations were not being taken on the Internet for stays beginning before May 15 and she said the hotel probably wants to keep early reservations in house only, but that I need not worry about my stay that begins on May 9, because the hotel WILL be open.

[thereuare]

DCBob,

Thanks for the update.

If you purchased your hotel thru PRICELINE or HOTWIRE can you please add your win to the board as a NEW TOPIC.

Thanks.

[DCBob]

Actually, I purchased my hotel room on hilton.com on March 18 (when you could still book a room for arrival after May 2). Since my last post, the new date for accepting reservations has slipped to March 23, 2009, according to hilton.com. It is also obvious the hotel did NOT open on April 2, because calls to the hotel's direct phone number are answered by a voicemail system that does not allow you to leave a message because the mailbox is full! Not a good way to run a business, in my opinion.

[PaulaF]

After seeing that the hotel has put back the date that is taking reservations I emailed Hotwire to confirm that the Doubletree would be able to honour my reservation beginning on 8th May. I received this response almost immediately:

Dear Paula,

Thank you for contacting us regarding your hotel reservation, Hotwire Itinerary Number ******.

I understand that you have some concerns with this reservation since the hotel's site says they are not accepting reservations until May 30, 2009. I will be happy to provide you with the necessary information.

I have reviewed this reservation and I have sent your concerns to our hotel specialist for investigation. Please allow 7-10 business days for an email notification regarding the outcome. We appreciate your patience with this situation.

If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to reply to this email or contact us directly at 1-866-HOTWIRE (468-9473). Thank you for choosing Hotwire.

Sincerely,

Angelica H.

Hotwire Customer Care

As soon as I hear anything back from them I will update.

[AaronJB]

Hopefully HOTWIRE will move you to another hotel if need be, but on the other hand, there's plenty of Hiltons in NYC (including the Doubletree Suites Times Square); maybe you could work something out in your favor directly with Hilton?

Either way, please keep us updated. Thanks.

[PaulaF]

I hope we work something out for another Hilton hotel in a central area if need be, I would prefer that rather than to have the reservation completely cancelled and money refunded! I havent heard back from them yet, they did say 7-10 working days so will drop them a line today.

Will update as soon as I hear.

[lauraw78]

I received this email response yesterday after emailing hotwire about this matter.

'Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding your concerns about your hotel reservation, Hotwire Itinerary Number 0000000000

I understand you are concerned about the Doubletree - Chelsea being opened in time for your stay. I have great news for you.

I called Doubletree and spoke to a reservation specialist. The hotel is officially opening on April 30, 2009 and so should be new but not brand new when you arrive.

If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to reply to this email or contact us directly at 1-866-HOTWIRE (468-9473). Thank you for choosing Hotwire.

Sincerely,

Lynn S

Hotwire Customer Care Manager

www.hotwire.com

[PaulaF]

Hi Laura,

Thanks for posting this response from hotwire. Lookis like good news after all. Just out of interest, when is your stay meant to be?

Thanks

Paula

I received this email response yesterday after emailing hotwire about this matter.

'Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding your concerns about your hotel reservation, Hotwire Itinerary Number 0000000000

I understand you are concerned about the Doubletree - Chelsea being opened in time for your stay. I have great news for you.

I called Doubletree and spoke to a reservation specialist. The hotel is officially opening on April 30, 2009 and so should be new but not brand new when you arrive.

If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to reply to this email or contact us directly at 1-866-HOTWIRE (468-9473). Thank you for choosing Hotwire.

Sincerely,

Lynn S

Hotwire Customer Care Manager

www.hotwire.com

[MitchB]

We also have a reservation at the Doubletree Chelsea for May 16-22. Glad to hear that they will be open on April 30, but my question is what do they mean by "new but not brand new"???

[lauraw78]

Im staying 26th may-2nd june.

[AaronJB]

to Mitch:

It's the Hotwire reps' odd way of saying that it will be a new hotel but you will not be staying there on the very first day.

[PaulaF]

Just to update you all, this morning I received this response from Hotwire:

Dear Paula,

This email is regarding your upcoming stay in New York City, Hotwire Itinerary Number ****.

We have verified with the Doubletree NYC-Chelsea they will be accepting all reservations and are open. They have not gotten their website or automated phone system updated with the new information.

If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to reply to this email or contact us directly at 1-866-HOTWIRE (468-9473). Thank you for choosing Hotwire.

Sincerely,

Megan H

Hotwire Customer Care

www.hotwire.com

So looks like all will be OK. Just FYI my stay starts on 8th May.

[AaronJB]

The hotel website still is not taking reservations prior to May 30. Makes me wonder if they are using HOTWIRE to get customers for less expensive rates to "test" the hotel before a full opening on 5/30.

[robdev]

So much about "They have not gotten their website or automated phone system updated with the new information. " ....

Doubletree website today changed to "This hotel will be joining the Hilton Family soon and is presently accepting reservations for arrival July 15, 2009 and beyond."

Now what?

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site robdev.

I still wonder if they are using HOTWIRE customers to "test" the property before a full open, as HOTWIRE has told those who have reservations that the hotel will be open. Odd that the open has been delayed so many times, though....

As I believed I mentioned in another one of these Doubletree threads, this is a perfect example of why travelers should print out their reservation confirmation and take it with them if they get to the hotel and need to call HOTWIRE.

[DCBob]

I would be willing to bet good money that this hotel is NOT going to be open in May. I have seen this same thing happen on the Hilton, HGI, and Doubletree sites repeatedly and it ALWAYS means the opening of the hotel has in fact been delayed (not necessarily to the date shown on the website, but fairly close to that date). When the date gets closer, I plan to call the hotel directly and if no one answers will call the Hilton Diamond line for assistance.

[kessdarln]

I called Hotwire just now to ask about my July 10-15 reservations. The Hotwire Rep called the Doubletree hotel and the hotel reported that they are not taking any "In House/Web" reservations until July 15, but are still planning to open on May 22, 2009. :)

[PaulaF]

Hmmm, my stay is from May 8th....?!

[robdev]

also got a reply by hilton support tonight

"The website is being updated, I apologize for the confusion. We show that the hotel will officially open on 05/22/09."