BEDBUGS @ 5 star SPG Le Meridien

[LWG]

Was it the same hotel by any chance? Hotel Eden le meridien in Rome??

It was actually a different Le Meridian- I read the post wrong originally. But maybe it's a theme with their hotels!
Did you get compensation from SPG?

[BrooklynCPA]

@MB, Any updates?

[mb]

@MB, Any updates?

Now here's a serious update...

Over the past 2 weeks, I have disputed the charge on my amex for the hotel stay, filed complaints with both LHW and SPG - all of which have really only resulted in multiple correspondences with the hotel GM who hired a bedbug company to "qaurentine" the room etc (and of course "they found nothing").

Anyway, this morning, as I was replying to the latest email from them, I was about to comment that they've never received any negative complaints about bedbugs on Tripadvisor and that having one won't be something that's exactly good for business...

Just to double check before sending my email, I decided to check tripadvisor if there were any past bedbug claims. And there it was!! Rest assured!! ANOTHER traveler had bedbugs at the same hotel, 4 days after we checked out!!

My email changed after seeing that... Twice in one week by two different travelers...

Will advise what happens next

[mek]

whoa! hope that doesnt make you lose any leverage

[DrDanny]

I doubt it I can't imagine they'll give up hope on getting positive reviews just because one complaint
Maybe they'll even be nicer as now it will sound like they're infested with them

[mb]

I doubt it I can't imagine they'll give up hope on getting positive reviews just because one complaint
Maybe they'll even be nicer as now it will sound like they're infested with them

I'm with you. I still have not posted a review on TA... And this other occurence just made my case that much more legitimate!

[BrooklynCPA]

I'm with you. I still have not posted a review on TA... And this other occurence just made my case that much more legitimate!

+1

One isolated report is not nearly as devastating as 2 reports in a row. If I saw 2 reports and was considering between Eden, St. regis or Westin I would definitely stay far away from Eden!

[rots5]

+1

One isolated report is not nearly as devastating as 2 reports in a row. If I saw 2 reports and was considering between Eden, St. regis or Westin I would definitely stay far away from Eden!

+1  it now sounds as if its real, and  there really is an issue, and now you have even more leverage, that its not made up

[mb]

Conclusion

After numerous correspondences with the hotel manager, I decided to deal directly with corporate.  I was referred to someone in the Consumer Affairs division with whom I dealt with to settle the issue.

In the end, the hotel was forced to refund me all the cash and points used for my stay and Starwood awarded me an additional 20,000 Starpoints as a "goodwill gesture."  I tried pushing for more, but they were pretty firm in sticking with this offer.

I guess it's better than nothing!

[ShmuliT]

You still plan on writing a TA review?

[mb]

You still plan on writing a TA review?

I think not...

[Dan]

I think not...

Why not? Unless they insisted you not write in order to get that comp. I would.

[JEWDA]

Why not? Unless they insisted you not write in order to get that comp. I would.

you don't think they could shut his account?

[Dan]

you don't think they could shut his account?

For what?

[mb]

For what?

Shutting the account isn't my concern; losing those points is!  Also, I'd be afraid that they'd "flag" my account or something which would effect my future hotel stays...

[Dan]

Shutting the account isn't my concern; losing those points is!  Also, I'd be afraid that they'd "flag" my account or something which would effect my future hotel stays...

Meh. Unless they told you that you can't post or that was implicit in the agreement then flame away IMHO.

[Yeki89]

so open an account under ur wifes name, transfer the points, and leave your feedback.

[BrooklynCPA]

Doesn't seem like you were fairly compensated, Its a no brainer that you should get your cash and points back from your actual stay, so all you really got compensated for was 20K starpoints. The value of what you had to lay out with all the damage, not to mention aggravation, is worth a lot more than that. Also, the hotel didn't do the right thing on their own until they were forced by Starwood. They should have given you your money back right away and offered you another free stay to make up for what they put you though.

I think you should definitely write a full review and go through the timeline of correspondence and how you were finally compensated.

[daganster]

Doesn't seem like you were fairly compensated, Its a no brainer that you should get your cash and points back from your actual stay, so all you really got compensated for was 20K starpoints. The value of what you had to lay out with all the damage, not to mention aggravation, is worth a lot more than that. Also, the hotel didn't do the right thing on their own until they were forced by Starwood. They should have given you your money back right away and offered you another free stay to make up for what they put you though.

I think you should definitely write a full review and go through the timeline of correspondence and how you were finally compensated.

I agree! You weren't complaining about a small inconvenience, which may debatable whether compensation is justified or not, you complained about a serous matter which should have been dealt with very seriously. The fact that the hotel turned it in to a joke is unjustifiable. Quite frankly you couldn't pay me enough to sleep with bedbugs and 20k starpoints isn't that much, so with all that being said I think that tee hotel deserves the terrible publicity you should give them and as much as I like SPG and wouldn't give them kudos for handling this matter. 

[springles]

I agree! You weren't complaining about a small inconvenience, which may debatable whether compensation is justified or not, you complained about a serous matter which should have been dealt with very seriously. The fact that the hotel turned it in to a joke is unjustifiable. Quite frankly you couldn't pay me enough to sleep with bedbugs and 20k starpoints isn't that much, so with all that being said I think that tee hotel deserves the terrible publicity you should give them and as much as I like SPG and wouldn't give them kudos for handling this matter.

Its not so much about punishing the hotel but more about warning other customers.  I would write it in a way thats not outright flaming them but just cautioning people that they had this issue.  Maybe they addressed it and maybe not, but people should be aware.