Is This Abuse of an Elite Status Benefit?

As long as you use it I think it is fine. You shouldn’t waste it and I don’t think it would be fair if you went down to the lobby and tried to resell it to the public. With that said if you had some friends over and were “thirsty” I don’t see the problem.

Unethical? No. If IC isn’t factoring in that possibility to their costs someone should lose his or her job.

But you DO remind me of an old lady who takes all the rolls, and the sugar packets, at the diner. And might grab the ketchup bottle if she had an extra ziploc in her purse.

“You want maybe a nectarine? I got one in here somewhere. And half a sandwich and the contents of the minibar.”

If it’s comped use what you need and if extras…. pack them! how different is it from taking lets says shoe shine kits> tooth brushes? shampoos? Slippers?

No way – that is the perk of being in the elite status of their program. Get hammered!!

No doubt I would empty it out EVERY night. Maybe every afternoon prior to going to the pool as well.

If I was a Royal Ambassador and I had friends coming over to celebrate being in Vegas I would absolutely use and possibly clear out the minibar. It’s a benefit offered to you with your status, use it!

This is definitely abuse. If you even have to ask, you’ve crossed over the line.

When I was an RA, I found that many locations (with exception of like HKG and a couple others) already REDUCED the number of items in the mini bar prior to arrival and I had to REQUEST some of the items that should have been IN there (clearly noted on the mini-bar price list which was not removed) so, I don’t see a real problem drinking it all. Now TAKING it all might be a different issue. I have clearly cleaned out the mini-bar when I had guests over to enjoy the suite, have drinks up in the room, etc., and purposely would HIDE some items so that they would be reloaded on a daily basis and therefore we’d have extra cans of tonic, extra bottle of gin, extra bottle of champagne, etc.,

A perk is a perk, I would take it all and not look back!

Perfectly fine. Just don’t fill your suitcase.

This line of questioning hits close to home. Our organization attends several conferences and conventions yearly and the last large event was in Las Vegas. When the hotel bill arrived in our account payable section, there were several mini bar charges that junior attendee’s in those rooms had to reimburse the company for. They paid for their charges and gained an understanding of what the travel policies are as it relates to room service and mini bars.
One young man, a recent college graduate and a new hire, had charges for an expensive bath robe on his account and decided it was his to keep “since it was in the room”. He refused to repay the company initially and was terminated shortly there after. I don’t understand why individuals would want to abuse free or comp’d amenities offered at better properties, since these better places are offering these touches to embellish your stay and time. I can remember when some passenger’s would hoard their mini bottles on flights for later consumption.
I agree with the earlier post that stated, “if you have to ask “.

I think they’re anticipating that some people are doing that, although that most probably don’t need to…

I think the question should be: “Is it ethical for IC, or any other hotel chain, to charge that ridiculous amount of money for a small pack of peanut?”

ROFLLLL!

if they didn’t want you to use it they wouldn’t give it to you. In theory you have provided them with so much revenue to attain your status that I would imagine the contents of the minibar is a drop in the bucket. Plus they get some other poor slob to pay $18 for a bottle of water so I would have no compunction about using the minibar for free if it was part of my benefits. I am sure they aren’t losing any money on the deal. As long as you are using the contents and not just hauling it all home with you. I think that might be a bit abusive.

Unethical? Maybe. However, if you feel like you have to ask, my suggestion is: don’t. Dirty little secrets, particularly those that transpire in hotel rooms, are best kept to oneself.

I hope they add rehab as a future benefit!

They restocked it once a day, which was sweeet

I can’t believe people are saying this is unethical…do you know how little the mini-bar costs the hotel? I work in the wine biz…the booze is plenty cheap for them. I’m sure they can afford the MINOR expense of a minibar each night when they’re charging $150+/night (much more on the weekends).

Get your drink on, TPG!

TPG-you are entitled to the benefits of the program, so enjoy !

If they were mini-bottles, I mean, why not? They’re such novelties.

Whats the difference between emptying the mini-bar vs someone who takes all the bathroom amenities? I’ve been to some fancy hotels were I’ve taken every soap and shampoo out. My collection got so big I started to wonder what the hell I was planning on doing with the stuff. But I know a lot of people do it.
For some reason it pisses me off when people take 30 Splendas from the coffee shop. Go figure.

Are the friends coming to visit you in the hotel room?

No unethical. It is part of the benefit of being Royal Ambassador. However, I’d be more concerned about the freshness of what you clean out. Since most people won’t pay the crazy prices, the mini-bar won’t get restocked all that often. Your first cleanout might contain some things past their shelf life. Once they restock, you’ll be fine.

A. It’s a perk you’re clearly entitled to.

B. At the Ambassador level, I presume you were staying in the kind of room or suite that invites entertaining.

I don’t think you were particularly pushing any ethical line by inviting people to your room and availing yourself of the minibar. It’s not like you took one of the pillow cases, stuffed everything from the minibar into it along with the towels and fixtures and sneaked out at 3am. This kind of entertaining is probably not that uncommon.

But, please do describe what exactly made this minibar so great!

It was awesome- had a small bottle of Moet champagne, Belvedere vodka, tons of minis and mixers AND it was restocked each night. Plus all snacks and bottles of water were free too

It only would have been abuse if you had called several times a day asking them to restock it

I was a Royal Ambassador for a year and I believed in only taking what I could use on my stay. I once had a large suite at the Intercontinental in Amsterdam and the “minibar” included a counter with full size bottles of booze and I still only used a small amount. My husband wanted to bring the miniatures back home so I was a little relieved with my RA year ended so we did not have to make these decisions. But it was fun.

Not unethical. After all, why would they offer it then? Hell, they could never keep up with me.

I’m confused…TPG should feel guilty about this why? And he should even consider “buying some drinks at the hotel bar to make it up to the hotel?” Why would anyone consider actually utilizing a perk that was offered to you, some sort of abuse?

Many hotels regularly charge for things like internet & local (or even collect/ toll free) phone calls when we all know damn well in this day and age, that’s just pure profit. Let’s face it, if 2 star motel chains can give it away, we all know the higher end properties should too. And what about resort fees? Do they refund your credit card if you don’t use the amenities? Hardly. We recently stayed in Copenhagen and to upgrade to the club level at The Marriott cost an extra $100US on top of the already astronomical nightly rate of nearly $400US. What did the $100 extra get us? “Free” internet, use of the club lounge which offered drinks and snacks (as well as a nice continental breakfast) AND free use of the in-room minibar. Inquiring further to see if we heard correctly, they confirmed that the FULL minibar was included & regardless of whether we had one item or ALL items, we were charged the flat $100. Do I think we “took advantage of the Marriott” when we relieved that little fridge of every last drop of Grey Goose minis and every last bite of those peanut M & M’s? Did we feel the least bit of guilt? Not a chance in hell. Just like I’m sure hotels don’t feel the least bit of guilt when they have the audacity to charge $195 for bottle service in their club, $16 for a martini in their bar or $6 for a bottled water in your room. And let’s be clear, if you’ve reached RA status (or any mega loyalty status of that nature) you have spent more than your fair share with their chain!

And for those of you who feel bad about taking the bath soaps and shampoos…save your guilt for the big stuff! We’re not talking robe and towel hoarding here. Those mini toiletry items are there for you to use (and yes- to take if need be). You are not “stealing” anything. I frequently take along my nightly toiletry alottment when I leave a hotel & when I have garnered a sizable amount from my frequent travel, it all gets divided up into Ziploc bags and dropped off at any number of homeless shelters we have here in the Bay Area.

So, I say: Reap those hard earned bennies without guilt, Brian! I lift my glass to you…a glass filled with the last remaining Copenhagen mini of Baileys! Cheers!

yes

Unethical? No. In poor taste. Most Likely.

Glad to see you posted this. I just mentioned the very same thing in my comments a couple hours ago. We have done this for years and it’s a great use of these extra trial size toiletries we bring home. We bag them up in Ziplocs so they are ready for use by anyone that is in need.

It’s “your”mini bar right? Since you’re not depriving anyone else of their $20 shot of hooch, it’s fine.

Looks like the terms and conditions state it is for the member’s use only. Though I would probably view it more as those staying in the room. If you empty it, make sure you weave while walking at night and call room service for a hangover remedy in the morning!

Did they charge you for the non-beverage items as per the T&Cs?

For those taking soap, etc.: I think it’s fine to take what you would use as a guest and would be thrown out when you left, but taking more is pushing it. To be able to do this, you just need to bring along the first soap(s)/shampoo(s) you used on the trip. Grabbing all the items each day on a multi-night stay isn’t right. Even if you take them to shelters, you’re stealing from the hotel to do so.

Charles, I think you are confusing words here. Stealing something is when you take something and you DON’T pay for it. Taking something which the hotel is providing for me each day of my stay, whether I choose to use it there or not, is NOT stealing. Period. With your logic, I’m “stealing” from a restaurant when I have them wrap up my leftovers to take home because I couldn’t finish everything in one sitting, at their restaurant.

To be honest, on those occasions when our family stays in a room together, the 3 of us DO use up all the toiletries left each day. So what is the difference between us using them up each day and us bringing them home to give away for someone less fortunate to use? I’m quite certain the hotel factors in the cost of these toiletries when they create the room rate they require me to pay each night. And do they give me a reduction in the room rate if I don’t need these items replenished or if I don’t use them? No. But using your line of reasoning, perhaps I should start demanding they do. Sounds like the hotel is actually “stealing” from me. Wonder if they are losing sleep over that?

That’s what I do…

I guess I’m even more confused now. All 3 of you do use up all the toiletries left each day, but somehow you are able to not use them and take them home. I really don’t understand how that works.

As for “steal” – http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steal – “to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice” Since the intent when you rent the room is that the toiletries are for your use while you are then, then taking them for other use is wrong and thus stealing. If you have leftovers from a restaurant, as long as it isn’t an all you can eat place, the intent was that you would have the full meal. Totally different. The comparable example would be taking the already opened toiletries home, which I don’t have a problem with.

I am relatively new to your blog, but I must second Greg’s comments. I think that your self aggrandizing is partly responsible for the newly instituted changes for Royal Ambassadors ( RA) at the Pallazo/ Venetian. It’s no coincidence that shortly after your bragging and posting a video expose about abusing this elite benefit that the benefit is rightfully snatched away from under your feet by Intercontinental, (and unfortunately from all the other RA’s that would have utilized the said amenity ‘ with a lot more subtlety’ ). It’s one thing to abuse a perk like most of us is guilty of occasionally, but to openly boast about the abuse in a forum like this is idiotic. This is the classic case of you ‘ biting the hand that feeds you…’ literally. While I generally find your blog of interest, I am frankly at times conflicted due to the apparent ostentatious tones to multiple of your entries …..

Ironically, they seem to have had other guests with the same ideas: See the new advisory on the intercontinental Website. It seems that they want to cap the mini bar consumption:

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/exclusive-offers/sweepstakes

Ambassador Benefits:
All Ambassador benefits apply at The Venetian and The Palazzo Resorts with the exception of the complimentary daily newspaper which is included in the resort fee and the benefits below:

Royal Ambassador Benefits:
Please be aware that all Royal Ambassador member benefits apply at these InterContinental Alliance Resorts with the exception of:
· Free Internet: Internet is included as part of the daily resort fee of your stay at The Venetian or The Palazzo.
· Mini Bar: As a Royal Ambassador member, you will receive a $100 credit toward mini-bar beverages per stay.

As a former Royal Ambassador member, I have noticed hotels playing games with our earned benefits as well. I have had some great stays but considering only staying about 10 times a year at IC during that time, found it better to buy the alcohol myself and bring it back to the hotel, especially considering that most hotels did not give mini bar amenity on award stays (thumbs down, if you earned points you should be able to use points with the same perks!)

But my question is turning the tables around, is it ethical for the hotel to play games and make their own limitations regarding mini bar at each property? Tampa IC limited one emptying of mini bar, Chicago allowed me snacks in addition to restocking only once more, LA could not restock bar at night as attendant went home and extended offer for drinks through room service although later had to fight to get taken off, Baltimore emptied out second fridge before entering suite obviously so I could not empty out both and worst offender of all……San Juan which left their fridge empty and I had to call for whatever drinks I wanted then but limited to only 2 at a time. In the land of great rums, I got a house rum that was below Bacardi. Boo.

I’ll end on if it is a benefit you earned, then I believe you are entitled to it. If however you restock the fridge 4 times and then go out on the Vegas strip and sell the booze, now that would be unethical. Personally, I don’t feel the Royal Ambassador program worth much more than basic Ambassador as hotels play by the one category room upgrade rather than giving out the millionaire suites they once did.

Ha, that’s true. But then again, this is a casino. I’m sure they are concerned for your safety and don’t want you to get drunk and then go downstairs and carelessly lose $10,000 gambling. Sarcasm off now.