We try to get you more free Amex points, visit amazing Northlandz, read a recent Onefinestay CEO Interview talk about where the industry is going, loyalty, convenience, takeover by Accor and not much else!
TBB Blog Mission: To Entertain. Educate. Inspire. In That Order!
I usually do not post on Saturdays. But you guys have been using my Amazon link a lot lately…we are talking double digits THREE days in a row. So I felt obligated to do a post. Amazing how that works. Anyways, at this rate I can buy a mailbox for the Hamptons mansion of The Points Guy this year! Hey, we all need goals woohoo!
Amex does this here and then, you could get 10k Amex Membership Rewards points for enrolling in the Pay Over Time mode if you were targeted. And there is a way to see if you were, follow the directions in this post. No luck for my household this time. Oh, and don’t you dare USE this option, the TBB intern will haunt you down fast just like he finds this crap on this Pokemon Go insane game!
This blew me away! Have you been to Northlandz? This artist built this MASSIVE model train installation by himself and he made it his life’s work. Apparently, not getting many visitors so I hope some readers check it out and help this guy out. Very touching film about his work. Check it out. Wow! Here is a summary of the film:
What happens when artwork becomes life’s work? When creator becomes a caretaker? SOME KIND OF QUEST, from Sylvain Labs, Greencard Pictures and director, Andrew Wilcox, is a film that invites you into the singular world of Northlandz, a 52,000-square-foot model train installation just 75 minutes outside of Manhattan, and into the ornery mind of the man—and steadfast wife—who brought it all to life.
An interview with onefinestay’s CEO. “The full service hotel is dead”. Probably one of the most interesting interviews of a travel exec I have read recently. Full disclosure: The guy sold out to giant Accor Hotels. And apparently he is left in charge to do as he pleases as the founder, blah blah blah…they all say that until one day they are gone and off to the next startup. Okay, here are some excerpts I found most interesting:
The genie is out of the bottle, and hotels are going to have to completely rethink what their product offering is.
I think you look at things like the combination of Marriott and Starwood, it’s a reaction to the unbelievable, intense, and rising competitive pressure from the distributors, because these guys are frantically trying to play Booking.com at its own game. I don’t see how they can succeed.
The loyalty program is basically just bribery. You’re participating in a loyalty scheme if you genuinely get value out of it, but it’s basically just bribery. I think the loyalty schemes in airlines operate in a very different way from loyalty schemes in hotels. I have a loyalty points program on British Airways because they help out on Heathrow. I’m going to end up flying them anyway most of the time, and therefore there’s real value in having points with that program for me. When I’m traveling for leisure, as least I already have that. I’m going to have to hop out at Heathrow anyway. But I’m very skeptical that you get the same value out of any hotel loyalty points program. Even if you’re a road warrior, I just think you’re basically just being bribed to attend to a brand. You have no real brand. There’s no actual product difference.
There is a LOT more, he went on and on…If you believe what he says about the Accor management, maybe there is hope for the loyal Fairmont Hotel customers…But I certainly would NOT bet on it!
And I leave you with this…When I receive a resume for my blog I have this reaction lol
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Happy Saturday!
Cheers,
PedroNY
If anyone is coming to Northlandz, that’s about 40 minutes from where I live, come by and have a beer with me. The place is a great spot to visit, worth it.
Northlandz and beer with Pedro, two thumbs up!
I added a link to Northlandz and a summary of the film. What a story!
Gold on a Saturday? Quite a coup, PedroNY!!
More scintillating commentary after the extra strong fresh roasted Costa Rican cafe from my neighbor burns through the fog of turkey sandwiches… (I know, you can’t wait, right?!)
#TBBon
Gold?
Early birds
Yeah, really? It’s Saturday….sleep in!
A rare double Buzzing one day during the week, and then a Saturday Special (not the Night type). The King is on fire, folks.
Tell that One Fine Stay exec he speaks the truth. And to shut up until my 150,000 HHonors points post.
And the loyal readers still check on Saturdays, looking….hoping.
On fire?
This is only the beginning.
Could be of the end lol.
Is there a famous song in the 70s w that line? The Three Degrees ‘when will i see you again’ “Is this the beginning, or is this the end” Chorus at the the 1:28 mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6fVDAjs9f0
George, here’s a nice-looking soccer field, maybe your team can do a road trip?
http://imgur.com/EdN0AAA
Wow, amazing sight! Will forward to “Gasping For Air” team president to see if he can get us all to go on his personal jet 🙂
Note that the Amex offer is only for CHARGE card holders, not credit cards.
When I check, I check them all 🙂
The OneFineStay CEO is confusing brands with hotels.
Ever since the hotel groups went asset light, they are just brand owners.
If I own a Marriott branded hotel, I am happy to sell via Expedia. Yes, I pay 20% commission but I’d rather have 80% than 0%. If Marriott sells that room via marriott.com and I only pay 10% to them, even better.
Marriott, on the other hand, is in deep trouble when the hotel is booked via Expedia. All they get is their brand fee. They lose out on the booking cut.
The hotel owner, on an Expedia room, gets 90% of the money he would get if Marriott sold the room.
Marriott, on an Expedia room, gets probably 20% of the money they would get if marriott.com sold the room.
Big difference.
Good points.
It was refreshing to hear such talk out an industry CEO. Can you imagine the Marriott or Accor CEO saying such stuff? 🙂 #yawn
Testing
Last post Saturday 1156pm.
There’s an award for that, right?
Agreed, great week of posts. Thanks Buzz.
Also, love Northland, wow !