Having spent a good portion of my life on airplanes, is there anything about flying that can make me nervous?  Not counting a plane malfunction, the primary thing I get nervous about is flying “the unknown”. Recently I had to book a trip to Chicago and I requested the client book me a ticket on United – my preferred carrier.  It is here where I know the agents at my home airport by name, here where I can get the best seats and board first.  My global services status is AWESOME!  My Red Carpet Club membership provides an oasis at the airport.  But unfortunately my client’s preferred carrier...

So I am headed for Chicago-land for a 5 day business trip today.  This morning my husband and I were discussing my trip and he asked which hotel I was staying in.  “Well sweetie, that’s a tough question to answer because I am in a different hotel every night.” “But why, when you are working at the same place every day?” he asked.  The only truthful reply that I had was that I am obviously crazy! So now I had to explain my reason for putting myself through the inconvenience of packing up, checking out, checking in, and unpacking EVERY SINGLE DAY this week…..”Well Sweetie, Marriott is...

My husband and I decided to take some much-needed time off for some R&R.  My travel schedule had been so busy, then the crazy holidays, the timing for the 2nd week in January was perfect for us.  I had hoped that by booking a couple weeks after the holidays and mid-week that the hotel would not be busy.  I used my Marriott points (90,000 of them) to book a 3 night stay because I had heard some amazing things about this hotel.  It is within a 3 hour drive from my home and had all the amenities I was looking for:  ocean view, quaint Portsmouth nearby, indoor pool, spa facilities, rooms with...

If you are a frequent traveler, you are well aware of the loyalty programs offered by hotel chains and airlines.  These programs give the traveler a goal to work toward so that they may earn certain perks at the hotel or airline, such as bonus points, free upgrades, etc.  If these programs are able to keep customers loyal in the travel industry, why not apply them to any industry?  A few days ago my husband and I went through the Starbucks drive thru for a coffee.  When I pulled up to the window to pay, I was told it would be a few minutes while my decaf finishes brewing.  After the guy took my...

By Robin Saylor / AbileneBiz contributor   Do you have a Director of Wow in your organization? How about a Wizard of Whatever? While attending a convention recently in Oklahoma City, I had the good fortune of staying at a hotel that boasted those two employees along with a number of other creatively titled staff members. My travel companions and I arrived at the Renaissance Convention Center Hotel & Spa to find a lobby packed to the seams with conventioneers waiting to check in. As we approached the front desk, I glanced at the clerk’s official nametag. I looked again, this time more closely....

A discussion has come up on another forum debating the issue of promotions to earn status.  Marriott offered a promotion to allow members to earn double night credit toward elite status for this year, AND roll-over any nights above their current status for credit in 2010 for status in 2011.  Starwood offered a similar promotion allowing members to choose to earn double nights for this year OR to apply the double nights to get a head start on status for next year.  These promotions have the possibility to create a divide amongst the “true VIPs” – those who actually stay and pay...