Penalty with Entertainment Card?
 

Has anyone felt that you were "penalized" by a hotel when using the Entertainment Card. For example,were you assigned a particularly small room, a room with a poor view although the hotel seemed empty, or a room beside the noisy elevator. Or was a special request, such as for an upper floor, ignored?

I've been assigned those kinds of rooms, but think of it more as "you get what you pay for", rather than that I was "penalized".

It's kind of like the wings served at "all-you-can-eat" night at a local restaurant are not the same ones served as when I order a dozen on Friday. I don't really expect the best when I'm not paying for it.

That's an interesting perspective, but not what the Entertainment Card promotes. Users are supposed to get good rooms at reduced rates -- not inferior rooms because they paid less.

The Entertainment Card for dining is used more to lure new local customers in, thus you only identify yourself as a Cardholder at the end of your meal. You get the same meal any other customer does, but at a reduced price, and the owner hopes you'll return. Good deal!

I consider coupons for lodging, however, as a mere supplement to your Entertainment possible savings. Rather than trying to draw new repeat customers, as your local restaurant is doing when it participates in the Entertainment program, the hotel is only interested in filling empty rooms. They're going to hold the better rooms for the higher revenues. That's why you must present the coupon when checking in, rather than when paying your bill, and why most properties don't allow advance reservations when using your Entertainment card. I doubt most hotels even expect many return customers as the result of using an Entertainment card ... they feel we were merely "bargain hunters", which I guess we are.

If a Cardholder feels the room is unsuitable, rather than simply being a good savings, then the best thing to do would be to immediately return to the desk and tell them. Maybe you'll be upgraded, or not unlikely is they'll just tear up the paperwork and you'll be searching for a new place to stay. You can't expect champagne when paying beer prices, can you?

I've been using the Entertainment card for at least 15 years, and it has definitely changed for the worse, as far as the amount of places and the times that they are valid. I've stayed hotels over the years and now I find better deals on the internet. When y ou ask for the Entertainment rate at the hotel, they give you half the "rack" rate wich is the most expensive. They typically have promotions that offer the same or even a better rate. Expedia and Orbitz are my fav.'s for hotels as far as rates go.
I don't think they should "penalize" you...as the Entertainment rate isn't THAT good!