<B> Letters</B>
<a name="1"><B>Deliberate Coupon Hassle</B>
Les Baker's comments on the problems of the Airline Settlement Coupons (<I>BTN,</I> Aug. 17) were useful, but I think he understated the true problem. Not only were the lawyers the beneficiaries, but, in fact, the settlement was deliberately designed to (a) benefit the lawyers while (b) minimizing the actual costs of the coupons.
The problems, complications and inconveniences in the coupon approach were not accidental oversights: They were deliberate. They permitted the "announced value" of the settlement to be large in order to obtain the sanction of the court, the press and the public, while reducing the actual "cash costs" of the settlement to a much lower fee.
<i>James S. Huggins
Richardson, Texas
</i>
<a name="2"><B>Not <I>That</I> Renaissance</B>
Recently there has been much publicity about Renaissance Cruises and its travel agent commission policies. At Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, we are concerned that travel agents may not realize that there is absolutely no connection between our company and Renaissance Cruises. In fact, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts is affiliated with Marriott International, one of the world's most respected lodging companies.
We'd like your readers to know that Renaissance Hotels and Resorts values its strong relationship with travel professionals, and provides a 10 percent agent commission on all non-Website bookings. Our relationship with travel professionals is so solid that agent commissions account for approximately 60 percent of all domestic transient business at Renaissance Hotels and Resorts.
Over the past several years, the number of agent bookings has risen steadily, a trend that we expect to continue as we roll out new programs and services to better educate and assist agents who are selling Renaissance Hotels and Resorts.
Just last month, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts was integrated into Marriott's travel agency commission program, allowing agents now to receive one check for booking any of Marriott's ten lodging brands. Agents receive these commissions weekly through Marriott's centralized commission payment program and receive commissions in local currencies for hotel bookings in their respective countries.
By the fourth quarter of this year, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts expects that it will participate in the Marriott Double Commission Guarantee program. The Marriott program provides agents with a double commission on individual commissionable transient reservations if the commission check is not issued within 15 days of the guest's departure.
Clearly, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts values its relationship with the travel agent community, and is working hard to develop programs that will continually reward agents for selling its product.
In future coverage of the Renaissance Cruises situation, we'd greatly appreciate it if your publication would please clarify in the headline and within the story that Renaissance Cruises is involved. Often we have seen abbreviated headlines in publications that simply say, "Renaissance," which is misleading.
To further dispel some of the confusion, we'd appreciate it if you would consider indicating in such an article that Renaissance Hotels and Resorts is not affiliated in any way with Renaissance Cruises.
<i>Robert W. Olesen
Brand Vice President
Renaissance Hotels and Resorts</i>
<B>Error On Baseball Team</B>
In a recent issue (<I>BTN,</I> Aug. 3), you provided a nice summary of the renovations and revitalization taking place in Phoenix. However, the article calls our new baseball team "The Arizona Razorbacks," then later refers to the team as "The Arizona Diamondbacks."
For the record, the team name is the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the article and the coverage of the travel industry your publication provides.
Keep up the good work.