Friday, July 02, 2004
Free Long Distance.
I just checked into the Sheraton in Norfolk, Virginia. I’ve gotten used to Marriot’s and Westin’s “one business rate” deals, where I can pay between 10 bucks and 16 bucks a day for unlimited use of their high-speed Internet and make unlimited domestic long distance phone calls.
Of course, it all started with Wyndham throwing down the gauntlet, and launching the superb Wyndham ByRequest program: a personalized, service oriented customer appreciation program that realized that business travelers would probably never use “points” to make weekend plans at other Wyndham properties, for leisure. So, instead of making you carry a card that’s loaded with points, they give you a personal note along with an amenity of your choice when you come in, unlimited long distance, and free high-speed Internet connectivity.
So, anyway: I’m surprised that mid-way properties and brands like Sheraton don’t follow suit. As a frequent business traveler, I can attest to the pain of having to enter all the numbers in my calling card just to get through to my office voice mail. Unlimited domestic long distance could be the best sticky program yet.