Free Night for Community Service or Bait-and-Switch?

(MoneyWatch) 

My last Travel Roundup featured this item, about Sage Hospitality's free night at one of its hotels for those committing at least eight hours to community service as part of its "Give a Day, Get a Night" campaign. One of the first things you see as you look at their Web site publicizing their campaign is that it says, "Get a complimentary night stay or 50 percent discount at all 52 Sage hotels." And later it says, and pay special attention to the parentheticals:

Complete 8 hours of volunteer service to a registered 501(c)3 non profit organization to qualify to receive 50% off the published room rate -- or maybe a complimentary night (limited availability).

OK, like every promotion that sounds great, it always involves way too much papework and bother. (Personally, I don't return things I buy online because it's too much of a hassle, so I'm obviously their typical customer who won't do any of this and deprive them of a single night of revenue.) And I suppose that's the psychology of it, say they will do this wonderful thing and tack on caveats and paperwork to make sure most normal, sane people won't bother. Of course, a few obsessive-compulsive consumers might, so that's when companies stick in weasel words like "limited availability" and "50 percent off the published room rate" (God forbid they might get 50 percent off the promotional rate! That's food out of Sage Hospitality's children's mouths!)

I know companies are desperate for positive publicity, but could they for once have a good positive promotion that doesn't involve everyone's financial records and a bait-and-switch? With hotel occupancy at record lows, you would think they might have a room available for pretty much anyone.

So, could we all just start a promotion where if your last name starts with A-F, you get a third night free? Then rotate it to G-L, and then M-Q? Then people would just have to show their drivers' license and enjoy an extra night and hotels can give them a free night (although probably the cheapest of the three nights, but I think most normal, sane people will realize that.) Maybe then we can all relax.

Photo of The Blackstone in Chicago courtesy of Sage Hospitality