Thank You Sheraton Four Points

Nice! It's funny and a nice perk.

Sometimes small details make a big impression. Nice touch.

Now that is a cool thought - going the extra mile, or at least beating the pants off most Hammons hotels!

Soooo much nicer than the 4.70 Euros we were recently charged in Vienna... grrrrr.

Simple, direct, a need and free - it's definitely a winning combination. :) Hat's off to Sheraton Four Points!

thanks for posting this - as someone who used to travel all the time I always thought that the crazy prices hotels charge on these items were silly - am I a guest or a hostage?
It's a great move by Sheraton and it is a little thing that would definitely be something that would I would remember.

I stayed in the one in Chicago and I also loved the free water. They give you a new bottle every day, when they clen the rooms.

Thanks for pointing this out. I interface with a few people in hotel management and these comments and some of the comments on the photo itself in Flickr made me realize how much the charges for every little thing annoys the guests. I definitely will pass this on to my contacts. It may not change anything, but worth sharing.

Chris,

It is always good to recognize the good thngs that companies do and encourage them.Thank you for posting this. Water is a fav peeve of mine in hotels. Four Points deserves kudos. Marriott seems to have different policies in different hotels. One Marriott had a bottle for free at the Seattle Marriott the Bell desk gave me several bottles for free. Whoever gives me water will certainly earn my business and in terms of cost .50 cents vs the $100 to $200 you pay for a room. I am not even going to bring up US airways and its $2 for water even on a 5 hour flight.

Chris,

This would win me over as well. In my work I get to travel to some of the nicest hotels in the world and I always comment on the price of bottled water.

I often leave comment cards about $8 bottles of water which are misleadingly placed where you might drink them and get charged for them.

If I am paying top dollar for the sleeping room, the least they could do is provide an affordable or free bottle of water.

I never thought I would see the day that a hotel does not try to rape you over a bottle of water.

Thanks,

Brian

I like it. They're smart. But how about taking it one step further with a branded, reusable bottle. I'm not a raving greenie, and enjoy the convenience of a plastic bottle of water when I'm travelling, but they'll really hit the mark if they are giving out a branded reusable bottle - they're about a buck a piece when you buy in bulk.

The travel industry has become an industry of nickle and diming us to death. I now HATE American Airlines and others for the baggage fees. REDICULOUS. I only fly Southwest when I can because the 2 bags are FREE. So many others I know are doing the same thing. One would think the airlines would see how pissed people are about $25 per bag and see they are turning to Southwest when they can. thus they lose money, not make more. DUH?

The water in hotels can be $5 per bottle. Some nice places that are over $400 a night might be better served to give one free bottle to make the customer happy. I will seek out FourPoints when I can simply for the fact that they are not screwing the consumer who is thirsty for more than expensive water!

Thanks for sharing this. I love companies that provide services and value to customers rather than seeing each consumer as if they have a pork chop hanging around their neck (while the company is a hungry wolf)

One more thing.... if every consumer would tell hotels that they HATE the high charges for water...they would change.

If we would all tell the airlines we HATE them for the baggage fees, they would change.

The problem is that we just take it and complain behind their back. We should tell them what we dislike about their nickle and diming the consumer.

I stayed at the Four Points in Tempe a few months ago, and also was delighted by the clever card about the free water. Sadly, though, I didn't notice it until the day I was checking out. I hadn't bothered to read the card on the bottle to that point because I figured it was just there to tell me how much it cost ...

Simple, simple things like free water and free WiFi can literally make the difference between a love/hate experience. Would I eat $10 worth of services to have someone feel good about their time with me?

You're damn right I would. Ironically, these counter-intuitive measures do more to increase positive cash flow and return business than "squeeze tactics" (like charging for friggin water) ever could.

A few of the Starwood hotels I've stayed at do this. It's a great perk and a good reason to return. It really is about the simple things when we're traveling.

I wonder if any hotel execs are following this thread.

Amazing that of all the things that might be important when staying at a hotel that a simple courtesy like water could be a point of differentiation.

It is not so much the offer of free water but the arrogance of over-charging for water and seeing customers as a line item to be maximized.

Squeeze me for every last dollar and I won't have any to invest for a future visit.

Brian

I travel a lot in Europe. I really like the RadissionSAS because they have free wireless, snazzy and good smelling soap/shampoo, and heated bathroom floors. Those little things almost make me more loyal to them...not the fact that I get extra "points" by staying there.

Interesting to note that I find in the low-to-mid chain hotels (including four points) they take care of you better with things like the water while if you head up the chain ladder (say to a spg luxury collection) that water won't be there.

I love getting into a room and there's a fresh bottle of water - you're right, it's a small thing but it's those small things that make you return next time you are in that city.