So if you’ve been reading this blog the past week you are probably well aware that I am really excited for the recently announced Club Carlson Big Night Giveaway promotion. After the registration began on May 15th there was some confusion on whether or not existing reservations would count towards the promotion or if only new reservations qualified. Prior to the promotion start date, Club Carlson announced on Facebook that prior reservations would in fact count, but unfortunately went back on their word and once registration was available stated that only new reservations would qualify. While I understand that mistakes happen, I was pretty disappointed about the way it was handled and I expressed my opinion a few days ago on their lack of customer service.
Although this did not impact me directly (I did not make any reservations prior to May 15th), I did not agree with this and went to bat for everyone else. After a few days of going back and forth with them (via email, twitter, and facebook), I have GREAT news to share with you – I received a personal email from Club Carlson’s social media folks yesterday morning stating:
“After my response to you, our marketing team regrouped and decided that all existing reservations will be honored for these promotions.
To all of our members and prospective members, we apologize for some confusing information about the terms of the Big Night Giveaway. The promotion was intended to be for new reservations only, however we inadvertently communicated it would be valid on existing reservations.
Guest satisfaction is a major priority for our brand. As a result, it has been decided that all existing reservations as well as new reservations for stays completed by July 15th will be eligible for the promotion.
Thank you for your feedback and continued loyalty.”
I am really happy that Club Carlson decided to do the right thing here and stick to their initial communication. There were many folks that made non-refundable reservations due to the initial Facebook message and others that have already completed stays without realizing that these new terms were put in place. I am glad that those reservations will now count! For those that made reservations prior to registering, no need to cancel and re-book, you are all good!
I’ve been a huge supporter of this promotion, so am thrilled at the positive outcome in customer service! Way to go Club Carlson!
Just to re-cap the promotion once again:
- Radisson: “Big Night Giveaway” – Earn 50,000 bonus points after a stay at a Radisson or Radisson Blu hotel between May 15-July 15 – limited to the first 100,000 people who register
- Country Inn & Suites: “Stay 1 Get 1 So Go Promotion” – Earn 44,000 bonus points after a stay at a Country Inn & Suites by Carlson hotel between May 15-July 15 – limited to the first 35,000 people who register
- Park Inn Promotion: “Stay 1 Plus 1 Promotion” – Earn 44,000 bonus points after a stay at a Park Inn by Radisson hotel between May 22-July 22 (registration does not begin until May 22) – limited to the first 20,000 people who register
Remember, if you sign up for TopCashBack.com you’ll get 10% back on your stay. I’ll post more tomorrow on how this site works, but it is really easy to sign up and get the 10% rebate! If you have no interest in signing up for yet another website, you can make your reservation here for any of the three hotel chains.
My current status with the promotion: I’ve already made a Radisson reservation for $89 + tax (AAA rate in Crystal City near DCA airport). I am now looking for some decent rates for a Country Inn & Suites. Hopefully another 25% off will happen again (they do have them pretty often) or I can find a BRG rate (Best Rate Guarantee) – I’ll post more on how that works tomorrow.
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If you are looking for a Country Inn and Suites near the Dulles airport, check out June 22-June 23. The price on the website is $75. Hotels.com has it for $69. Do a BRG and you will get a price of $52 + taxes. Worked for me.
@Gavin – that’s a great rate, thanks for sharing
I thought discounted rates’s like AAA don’t qualify for these promotions?
@Manny – all rates that earn points are eligible for the promotion. This includes AAA rates.
Kudos to Carlson for stepping up to the plate and making that good!
@Susan – I agree!
@Manny – all rates that earn points count toward the promotions, including Cash & Points rates, as you earn points on the cash portion!
Does c+p stay qualify for the big bonus?
I have spent hours trying to get a decent hotel rate for radisson and country inn in MD, PA, NJ, VA but unsuccessfully. Any suggestions appreciated. Cheapest I see is $89 plus tax and same on other sites so no brg possible.
@Pam – I am with you. Right now the north east is pretty challenging. I’ve seen the country inn & suites at BWI airport for relatively cheap and the one near dulles. Both around $70/night. There are ones near Atlantic City that are pretty inexpensive too.
@dealswelike – thank you. Still nothing other than the dulles one – I live there so hoping to find something a little further out 🙂
I found one in hagerstown, md which is $0.40 more. Would the BRG work in that case, anyone?
I found the answer to my question – in case this helps anyone:
“If a rate is found on another website that is more than the equivalent of $1.00 USD, €1 EUR or £1 GBP lower than the best available rate on Radisson.com, Customer Service must be able to confirm that the rate is for the same date(s), the same room type, the same number of guests, the same hotel and the same cancellation and advance purchase policies and other terms and conditions governing the rates must apply prior to awarding the Best Online Rate Guarantee. “
@Pam – Thanks so much for sharing.
This is great news! Thanks for sharing your communication. I was in this boat! I had to book at reservation on 5/16 and need time for the BRG so I took a chance. Wasn’t sure what was going to happen. I’ll repost your report on my site. Thanks again!
@Miles Momma – Glad it worked out for you!
I found a 25% offer at a Country Inn and Suites near me for a same day reservation. It was the only hotel near me that had a discount that day, so I’d just regularly check to see if there are any discounts for same day reservations.
Looks like they might do discounts, depending on how many rooms they have available. Hotel seemed to be pretty slow that day/night.
@Brent – That’s awesome! That happened to me last year as well at the Radisson on Lex in NYC.
getting in on a great promotion is fine, but then complaining about customer service for you yourself trying to tack on extra penny pinching behavior (booking a cheap rate in advance of registering, hoping to register) may be a bit too much. of course everyone likes a bargain and the penny pinchers will disagree to my post because they feel entitled, but, really it is true.
@Bryan – While I understand where you are coming from, this was not everyone’s motive. Some booked rooms due to the fact the hotel was close to selling out so regardless of price had to book to ensure availability. Others booked a pre-paid rate because Club Carlson communicated that reservations made prior to registration would count. People were not complaining as they felt like their less expensive reservation should count, but instead because it was communicated that it would and unfortunately at the time were not correct with their communication. I do not think anyone feels entitled, and if Club Carlson did not previously communicate this then there would have been no issue and no one would have complained about the terms.
[…] new reservations qualified for the promotion, however, after a few days that was changed and now ALL reservations count regardless of when they were […]
Hello. I’m trying to find something in Sarasota on 6/11. The Country Inn is $116+(129 ai).