Does "dining" include beverages?

[Austman]

I took advantage of a Holiday Inn in-house guest offer: 20% off dining at the hotel's restaurants, bars and room service. But when the bill came it was actually a 20% off FOOD only.

So I wondered. Is "dining" a food only experience?

I would have thought "20% off the food bill when dining" would have been a better way to word the offer!

 

[Austman]

I note that Priority Privilege calls their discount:

"Your membership gives you the benefit of special Dining Discounts on the total food bill when dining at participating restaurants."

They make it clear that food is the only part of the dining bill that will qualify for their discount. Fair enough. But then does "dining" mean food without drinks?

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

In 'most' cases any deal at a property (even non-IHG hotels) exclude booze. Of course, there are exceptions always but my experience is 99/100 booze is excluded from a 'consumption' promotion.

Other varients will be you only get certain types of drinks/booze; or only domestic or before a certain time etc. etc.

The devil is always in the details but any promotion involving consuming food or drink you want to be hitting the fine print.

Ex. from Priority Privilege website T's and C's

7. Dining Discount is only for the food portion of your bill (including standard tea and coffee), and excludes all other beverages.

Here is an example of the Starwood Dining benefits: SPG Member Discount Terms & Conditions

NOte the 4th bullet:

• Discount is applicable on food only. Discount is not applicable to breakfast or beverages. Breakfast may be defined differently by venue. Please contact the venue directly for any questions on how breakfast is defined.

 

[Austman]

Well here is the promotion. They also have a 50% off ALL house pour drinks at the bar for all of FEB, for ladies. I first went to the bar and was told I'd not get that deal of course, so I asked if I'd get 20% off using the voucher? Answer: Yes. This is at the bar, mind you.

From looking at other promotions at this hotel it seems you might get discounts for non-alcoholic drinks. And sometimes you'll get it on all drinks.

They could have/should have printed that restriction on the voucher, IMO.

 

[Austman]

It was all nicely resolved at check-out time with the 20% discount adjusted to apply to the whole bill.

We did think this was how it applied and even confirmed it (we thought) before we ordered.

 

[Rick93]

Parramatta HI will occasionally offer 50% discount to the WHOLE bill, if the PP Member is dining with three others.

Got this on last Mother's Day for lunch ...

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

They did it at Christmas last year 2013 as well; I didn't see it advertised but the dining wait staff were recommending it to me when I said I intended to use my PP card (nice folks there).