Triangle Trip

Recently I lost my wallet one night (during a drunken stupor but that’s another story). The next day I had to book car service, a hotel, and take a flight out. But even without my wallet I was able to do all of these because I had a lost wallet contingency plan. Here are a couple steps I always take:

1) Keep your cash and credit cards separate. I always keep my cash in a money clip and my credit cards in a wallet. The reason being is if I lose one I’ll still have the other.

2) Always have a backup credit card and a backup bank account debit card. I always keep a backup credit card with no annual fee at home. I also have a backup bank account that I keep $100 in with a debit card I leave at home. This way I always have access to cash and credit in case I lost my wallet.

3) Always have your passport handy at home or in your bag even while traveling domestically. Your passport is probably going to the best candidate for a backup government issued ID. Also, if you lose your license while traveling you might face difficulties going through airport security without a backup ID handy.

And in case you lose your cell phone, always remember your username and password to your cell phone carrier’s website. That way you can lookup phone numbers you frequently dial on your online cell phone statement when you don’t have anyone’s phone number.

Lastly, for those of you who are looking to save money on accessories during this recession, I’ve found that this can replace the functionality of a money clip at a very low cost: the binder clip.

As someone who has spent too many nights at hotels and at one hotel for extended periods, I would like to share the following best practices with you:

1.  If you’re going to be at the same hotel for an extended period of time, always make multiple bookings for weeks in the future. For example, you will be at the Marriott for the next two months, make your bookings from Monday to Thursday/Friday for eight weeks straight. 99% of the major hotels do not have early deparature charges, cancellation fees or require deposits for making extended room reservations. Just make sure you call to cancel ahead of time.

2.  In the event that you forgot the cancel, most hotels are very forgiving and apply credit to your next night/stay. If you missed the cancellation window and don’t want the hotel to charge your card, simply call the front desk and tell them your flight was delayed. It works every time.

3.  Always use your client’s rate. Generally the client you are working for or a company near by the hotel has a preferred rate with the hotel chain. Call the chain to find out if there are discounts available for you. For example, you are doing work for Cisco in San Jose and you want to stay at the Hilton on Santa Clara Blvd. Call the Hilton and tell them you would the Cisco rate. Most hotels would honor your rate even though you are not an employee. I am also sure my audience can come up with creative ways at check-in to secure the rate if an employee ID is required 😉

Enjoy your stays at the hotels. Hope everyone’s capitalizing on the SPG & Hyatt bonus promotions.

“Earn 500 bonus Starpoints every night and an additional 5,000 every 10th night.”

Starwood Hotels (W Hotels, Westin, Sheraton) have been addressing the economic downturn with a strategy that I can only call a self-inflicted double whammy.  Because of falling demand, prices for a single night at Starwood properties have been falling.  While this is a normal business practice, what’s disconcerting is that at the same time, they are rolling out excessive point-earning incentives.

In exchange for short term solvency, they are guaranteeing a future “market correction.”  Will it be in the form of a bankrupt points program?  Will a Sheraton reward rise from 2,000 points to 10,000?   Will Westin rebrand as Le Meridien? For someone with a very generous balance of points, I’m downright worried.

If anything, SPG should be increasing their rates for this fairly inelastic market.  Yes, there are alternatives like video conferencing, but they’ll never replace the effectiveness of a face to face meeting.  On top of that, I’m guessing that SPG’s bread & butter business traveller is as greedy as I am.  The hotel stay is going to be reimbursed, so they’re not going to compromise their starpoints balance to save $20 a night by moving over to the Hilton.

I don’t care how bad the economy is, any self-respecting consultant won’t be found at a La Quinta.  What’s next?  Online coupons?

-Terminal D