Hotel Swimming Pools

[bbfromtn]

I recently had a swimming pool at a hotel rejected and Niantic rejected it upon appeal. The message I got when I appealed was something like “this nomination is not eligible as it is a swimming pool at a hotel”.
My question is are swimming pools not eligible or is the fact that it’s located at a hotel what makes it ineligible?
I would think swimming pools would be good Wayspots since they are places of social interaction and exercise. I’d appreciate any clarification on this. Thank you.

[NvlblNm]

Swimming pools are great nominations. The appeals team got this badly wrong.

[cyndiepooh]

Welcome to the forum @bbfromtn

I would love to see a screenshot of the contributions page showing the appeal statement and the pool submitted if you don’t mind sharing it.

The November 2020 AMA had wording that:

swimming pools at private residences or hotels (or other similar residentially-focused locations) are ineligible.

however, the current clarification does not mention an exception for hotel pools:

Swimming Pools

Community pools, or those associated with sports facilities, can make great nominations and should be considered eligible. While nominating you should keep in mind that it should be a place where people can go to exercise or be social with others, a place of entertainment, and fun. It is important to choose a pin placement on a side of the pool that respects and does not interfere with the use of the pool, and is a safe location. [image] [image]

I thought this clarification superseded the November 2020 AMA answer, but do the appeals reviewers? Or was the clarification intended to say that only these community or sports facility pools are eligible?

[NvlblNm]

@cyndiepooh

do the appeals reviewers?

Clearly they must, or they would not have accepted this:

[RoIi112]

I wouldn’t say that without seeing the nomination in full

[bbfromtn]

It was rejected for bad picture. I assume because of the lighting and the fact the pool is currently covered. But you can see the reason the Niantic reviewer said it’s ineligible is that it’s a swimming pool at a hotel.

[NvlblNm]

@bbfromtn

you can see the reason the Niantic reviewer said

Yep! It matches what you said it did, so it’s clear enough from that alone that the appeal reviewers got this badly wrong.

If there were issues with other aspects of the nomination, including the picture, title, description, or supporting info, then obviously the appeal rejection would have identified those problems and not mistakenly rejected it for being at a hotel.

[Gendgi]

I wonder if @NianticAaron can weigh in if this is more new criteria the appeals team is using or if this was a mistaken liberty a where an appeals reviewer tried ad-libbing.

[Dadcaesar]

I have had two community pool not accepted.

I appealed the second one and it was then accepted.

It seems that the AI ML has not been programmed to accept. Both mu “not accepted “ examples went through community review. I currently have others in queue or voting.

I am suggesting they organise the AI ML to accept these to save the frustrations.

They have indicated they want these as POIs so it would be good to get some decent customer service

[NvlblNm]

@Dadcaesar

the AI ML has not been programmed to accept

Several of my hotel pool noms have been accepted by AI. The example above was an oddity in requiring an appeal, among other things.

[Dadcaesar]

Hey, Hi & thanks for your reply.

That’s really good but makes me wonder why mine are going out to voting.

Would you mind sharing a nomination?

The box on the right is telling me its solved

Kind regards

[frealafgb]

My pools at a leisure centre were also not picked up by AI, not even a sign for a pool

So I think there are regional variations from what the ML takes and doesnt take.

[frealafgb]

Definitely agree

Would hope that this decision gets reversed

Hotel pools are a fantastic place for both guests and local people to exercise and socialise

[NvlblNm]

@Dadcaesar

Would you mind sharing a nomination?

They all are basically the same as the one I already shared. The hotel names are different and the pools are sometimes different shapes.

[nexushoratio]

Another thread (with some of the same participants):

Swimming Pools at hotels/resorts/event centers

I’m aware of Swimming Pools from Criteria Clarification Collection , but that only discussions communities (e.g., HOAs, Apartments, etc) and sports facilities. I tend not the think of hotels as falling into either of those. Even after rereading the topics coming up from searching [hotel pool], I’m still not sure about places intended for short-term visits. Any guidance on that very limited topic? Thanks!

[NvlblNm]

@nexushoratio

same participants

Some of the same screenshots too

[Aquablast64]

There is the Wayspot Appeal category. You can visit there and appeal your rejected appeal.

In my opinion, a hotel pool meets all of Niantic’s three main criteria. It is interesting in Niantic’s Criteria Collection that Hotel & Apartment Complex Pools are not mentioned at all. Personally, it is something that I wish they would bring more clarify to.

[MegaTrainerRed]

@Aquablast64

There is the Wayspot Appeal category. You can visit there and appeal your rejected appeal.

Hey! Wayspot Appeals category is not for that type of appeals, just for rejected invalid Wayspot reports or removed Wayspots from games. If the Team reads this topic they might decide to accept this wayspot. If not the best option could be nominate this pool again.

[NvlblNm]

@Aquablast64

Hotel & Apartment Complex Pools are not mentioned at all.

Sure they are! They say “Community pools” at the very beginning, which includes communities staying at a hotel or communities living in an apartment complex.

[frealafgb]

My local hotel that has a pool also opens it up for public swimming as well as hotel guests and Im sure that isnt unusual