Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem

[Denverite]

At least he appreciates your knowledge.

Dan is right though that loyalty should be rewarded.  I'm probably one of those rare people on DDF actually earning a ton of HHonors points through stays and hotel expenditures on the cc.  We've switched tens of thousands of dollars of annual meeting business to Hilton primarily because we want to redeem points at the WA.  If the rooms will consistently be blocked, I'll just switch our meeting business to SPG properties where the points are so much more versatile.

[PlatinumGuy]

It might be possible they are trying to influence the type of people staying there even if revenue is similar

[coralsnake]

I think the answer is most likely that they're not hitting the ADR threshold numbers nearly as often as some people in this thread seem to believe.

It's also fairly unlikely that anyone from management will openly state such.

[AJK]

I think the answer is most likely that they're not hitting the ADR threshold numbers nearly as often as some people in this thread seem to believe.

It's also fairly unlikely that anyone from management will openly state such.

Has nothing what "people in this thread seem to believe." It's from the horse's mouth.

[coralsnake]

Has nothing what "people in this thread seem to believe." It's from the horse's mouth.

"CLOSED on high season", "depends on hotel occupancy" & "according to the hotels availability" is hardly claiming what you seem to insinuate.

[AJK]

Uhm, it implies (if not directly states) exactly that.

Besides, you're creating a straw man, which compels the conclusion you didn't understand the argument to begin with.

The argument is not whether they are or aren't at ADR or what their occupancy levels are or aren't. The argument is that award bookings-in any scenario- have the distinct possibility (likelihood) to add directly to the bottom line and that manipulating inventory to restrict awards actually inure to the hotel's detriment.

[Denverite]

Although still not ideal, it looks like they are blocking standard rooms on Thu & Friday but are open on Sat & Sunday nights, so its not useful for Shabbos but can still get some value out of the certificates there.  And you can also take advantage of the 5th nigh free if you book Sat-Thur or Axon for Sun-Thursday.
 
I'd love to see their pp food revenue comparison from paid and points clients.  If points clients aren't booking both Shabbos meals for their families (we booked a babysitter so only paid two adults for Shabbos dinner and skipped Shabbos lunch after having a big seudah at breakfast, and advised other DDFers friends to also), whereas if paid clients generally book all the Shabbos and Yom Tov meals then I can see why they'd rather just block the points rooms, not have the marginal costs of cleaning help, breakfast, etc.

They'll book fewer total rooms but if paid rooms provide so much more revenue for the actual room AND upside in F&B revenue then they would be more profitable with less costs.  If their opportunity cost of missing out on large amounts weekend food revenue from paid rooms is so much greater than filling their space with points stays (ie. they're getting paid almost nothing from Hilton AND missing out on the $400 a paid room might normally also bring in food revenue because points clients don't spend as much), then you've got their answer as to why it is good business to block the rooms.

[cholent]

Without quoting the megillah above, I'm not sure why that would affect the calculations in any situation other than when they're 100% full. If the room is empty they're not making any money off it in any case. I'm more inclined to think that either they're actually losing money or just breaking even. I can tell you at my business we'd rather not be busy with something just to break even (and very minimal profit is almost the same actually)

[Denverite]

Without quoting the megillah above, I'm not sure why that would affect the calculations in any situation other than when they're 100% full. If the room is empty they're not making any money off it in any case. I'm more inclined to think that either they're actually losing money or just breaking even. I can tell you at my business we'd rather not be busy with something just to break even (and very minimal profit is almost the same actually)

It could be they are just breaking even but that doesn't answer the question of why block the rooms only on Shabbos and Chagim.  It's the opportunity cost of what they lose when accepting business.  I book 70-80 mtgs a year. Some hotels love our meeting revenue and others won't rent me banquet space more than 90 days out because I'm not booking sleeping rooms.  They'd rather turn away my mtg revenue until last minute and not miss the opportunity to sell mtg and sleeping space together at a higher margin.  If points clients aren't spending significantly on F&B over Shabbos and paid clients are, they'd rather turn away the points bookings for the opportunity to get higher revenues for both the rooms AND F&B.

[Mocha]

Anyone have the GM email? or manager of reservations?

Had most of a stay booked before this stupid change, and now those few remaining nights I needed were pulled.

[sammy n]

Anyone have the GM email? or manager of reservations?

Had most of a stay booked before this stupid change, and now those few remaining nights I needed were pulled.

Dan has it

[Mocha]

Dan has it

Doesn't seem like that dude would be at all helpful or sympathetic.

[Denverite]

Anyone have the GM email? or manager of reservations?

Had most of a stay booked before this stupid change, and now those few remaining nights I needed were pulled.

Reservations is reservations.jerusalem@waldorfastoria.com. GM is Guy Klaiman (name is on TA) and all addresses appear to be first.last@waldorfastoria.com. Love to hear his response since I'm in the exact same situation.

[Theodorel]

Love to hear his response since I'm in the exact same situation.
[/quote]
Rt

[EJB]

i doubt anyone who wanted to use points and couldn't would spend 500 a night. There are other better options at that price

-1. You're confusing ddf people with most people, including waj's clientele.

[Ergel]

Although still not ideal, it looks like they are blocking standard rooms on Thu & Friday but are open on Sat & Sunday nights, so its not useful for Shabbos but can still get some value out of the certificates there.  And you can also take advantage of the 5th nigh free if you book Sat-Thur or Axon for Sun-Thursday.
 
I'd love to see their pp food revenue comparison from paid and points clients.  If points clients aren't booking both Shabbos meals for their families (we booked a babysitter so only paid two adults for Shabbos dinner and skipped Shabbos lunch after having a big seudah at breakfast, and advised other DDFers friends to also), whereas if paid clients generally book all the Shabbos and Yom Tov meals then I can see why they'd rather just block the points rooms, not have the marginal costs of cleaning help, breakfast, etc.

They'll book fewer total rooms but if paid rooms provide so much more revenue for the actual room AND upside in F&B revenue then they would be more profitable with less costs.  If their opportunity cost of missing out on large amounts weekend food revenue from paid rooms is so much greater than filling their space with points stays (ie. they're getting paid almost nothing from Hilton AND missing out on the $400 a paid room might normally also bring in food revenue because points clients don't spend as much), then you've got their answer as to why it is good business to block the rooms.

+1, I imagine F&B revenues are much lower for points customers

[EJB]

It also could be that certificates have a different reimbursement rate formula than points and it is less attractive to WAJ. They might be targeting certificates more than points bookings. Just speculating here.

[cholent]

It also could be that certificates have a different reimbursement rate formula than points and it is less attractive to WAJ. They might be targeting certificates more than points bookings. Just speculating here.

Then why would Thursday night be affected? Should be all weekends, or Fri/Sat

[mb1]

It also could be that certificates have a different reimbursement rate formula than points and it is less attractive to WAJ. They might be targeting certificates more than points bookings. Just speculating here.

When you book with certs the confirmation converts it to points.
So seems like the same agreement.
Also speculating.

[EJB]

When you book with certs the confirmation converts it to points.
So seems like the same agreement.
Also speculating.

They still can distinguish between them so that doesn't mean anything, but you may be right.