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Westin Renting Wiis For Free
Posted by Mark Wilson at 3:40 AM on April 2, 2008
Not so long ago, we ran a story about the Westin chain of hotels planning to supply Nintendo Wiis to hotel guests. Given the exorbitant price at which other chains rent the console, most of us figured that the Westin might price gouge as well. Not so, says their PR team. They've assured us that the Wii program will be "completely free of charge to all hotel guests."
When we asked if it would be part of a customer loyalty incentive program, they once again assured us that, "No—it will be free of charge to all guests of the hotel." OK, OK. We get it. Free. Here's the full Westin announcement:
Contrary to what's been reported on several blogs, Westin Hotels & Resorts' new Wii program will be completely free of charge to all hotel guests. This perk is the result of a groundbreaking partnership between Westin and Nintendo, details of which will be announced in the coming weeks.Hmm, but there are still lots of questions as to how the logistics will pan out. We'll keep an ear out to find just how this program will work. Because we like the potential trend of free games available to hotel guests quite a bit. Now just to get a discount on those special pay-per-view channels...This complimentary amenity will be yet another addition to the successful WestinWORKOUT program, which currently provides state-of-the-art equipment and workouts—including running maps, guided runs and mental exercises—free of charge to all hotel guests.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
okenny :)
Posted 4:44 AM 2/4/08
Chalk up another one to negative publicity :\
okenny :)
KurtSubvert
Posted 4:30 AM 2/4/08
@BenKenobi88: oh man, beat me to it, april fool's indeed
KurtSubvert
Marion517
Posted 4:22 AM 2/4/08
I was just at a Westin a few weeks ago, and had a wonderful stay. They rent out a lot of things at the front desk, you need to have a credit card on file so they can charge bunches if you don't return something.
Plus, the Westin I was at had bigscreen HDTV in the rooms, so hooking up a console to that would be awesome.
Marion517
KaneRobot
Posted 4:21 AM 2/4/08
@mind in rewind: If you haven't seen a Wii on a store shelf by now, you're not looking for one.
KaneRobot
mind in rewind
Posted 4:19 AM 2/4/08
Where the hell are all these Wiis coming from? I've still never seen one on a store shelf.
mind in rewind
elementary
Posted 4:07 AM 2/4/08
So.. do you get it in your room, or only for use in the public exercise area?
elementary
BenKenobi88
Posted 4:02 AM 2/4/08
April Fools!
BenKenobi88
LittlestLamshi
Posted 3:57 AM 2/4/08
oh, when i first saw the $120 price tag i thought it meant the wii and room and board... i was right...
LittlestLamshi
nxp3
Posted 3:55 AM 2/4/08
How many wii's do you think they have per hotel...probably one.
nxp3
Mr.SithNinja
Posted 3:55 AM 2/4/08
As long as they don't change their name to Wiisten... I like it.
Mr.SithNinja
diablofreak
Posted 3:54 AM 2/4/08
@JustJake:
cash deposit will be $1000 or they'll just charge your credit card if you stole it.
diablofreak
nxp3
Posted 3:54 AM 2/4/08
Man I can't beleive you guys report that wrong...Westin is giving away free rentals of wii...not price gouging. Now the game for the wii is still 99.99 per hour.
nxp3
diablofreak
Posted 3:53 AM 2/4/08
yeah if you can find one!
"we're sorry sir we're all out of wiis today since the program is free and the item is very popular, I hope you understand. Would you like a free manager's cookie instead for the inconvenience?"
diablofreak
JustJake
Posted 3:48 AM 2/4/08
I wonder how many people are going to try and steal them?
JustJake
jayntampa
Posted 5:29 AM 2/4/08
Ugh, I don't know how many times I posted yesterday that the story was wrong ... anyway, they won't be "renting" games for the system -- that was what was cool about the announcement. The Wii's for the Westin chain will come pre-loaded with games ... ready to go!
jayntampa
moonbunnychan
Posted 5:01 AM 2/4/08
So the real reason for the American Wii shortage is Westin hotels.
If this isnt an April Fool's joke that is.
moonbunnychan
Kanik
Posted 5:01 AM 2/4/08
Yes, free to rent a Wii.
But to use the Nintendo 64/SNES installed into the TV will still cost $20/hour.
Kanik
Americo
Posted 5:49 AM 2/4/08
I'd buy that for a dollar.
Americo
Channing
Posted 8:19 AM 2/4/08
So people will now play the Wii, thinking it's free 'cause Kotaku said so.
APRIL FOOLS!
That'll be 1500 dollars sir.
Channing
Phbbt107
Posted 11:19 AM 2/4/08
@Channing:
It certainly seems like a legitimate post. I mean, joking about Wii rental prices at Westin seems a bit pointless to me.
Phbbt107
Final-Fan
Posted 12:01 PM 2/4/08
If it's part of "WestinWORKOUT", does that mean it'll come with Wii Fit?
Final-Fan
mind in rewind
Posted 9:33 PM 3/4/08
@KaneRobot: I look every time I'm in a store that would stock one. And, that's quite often. Maybe it's because I'm in a big city?
mind in rewind
freespeech
Posted 12:17 AM 8/4/08
so that's where all the wii's are going, BOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
freespeech