Marriott Rewards (including Ritz-Carlton) - Ritz Carlton Cobalt Membership?

Received this in the mail last week, hadn't heard much about it, wasn't able to find anything on the internet either really. Anybody who have this have any luck on upgrades or notice a big difference?

Greetings from The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

With pleasure, I present to you The Ritz-Carlton Cobalt Card®. Wherever your travels take you, Cobalt membership is an opportunity to enjoy your experience to the fullest.

As a Cobalt member, you join a small, select group of guests who receive exclusive courtesies and privileges at all Ritz-Carlton hotels around the world, including:

- Upgrades to the best available accommodations. - Complimentary in-room Internet access throughout each stay. - Club Lounge privileges, regardless of whether you have reserved a room on The Ritz-Carlton Club Level®. - Access to the concierge, fitness center (managed by The Ritz-Carlton) and other services at any Ritz-Carlton hotel worldwide, regardless of whether you are a registered guest. - A private phone number and e-mail address for you or your travel professional to make reservations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. - 20% savings on select Ritz-Carlton merchandise. Explore available options at ritzcarlton.com/Cobalt.

T o receive benefits, please use your membership number when booking your next stay with us. You are welcome to book through the dedicated phone lines, 1-888-cobalt3 (ATT Direct T oll Free within the US) or 1-801-832-4552 (direct dial toll number, accessible from any international location), e-mail address, cobalt.cardmember@ritzcarlton.com, or have your travel professional contact us. No fees are associated with the program.

The Ritz-Carlton experience stands for so much more than luxury. With the Cobalt Card benefits we look forward to exceeding your expectations and creating memories that stay with you.

Welcome.

Hervé Humler

I'll ditch my PP and MR to RC Rewards in a heartbeat if I get RC club benefits.

I stay 30-40 RC nights a year (most while checked in to an extended stay Marriott at the same time) and get zilch in the way of benefits.

Anyone else know about this program?

The Club access is enormous; they tend to charge about $100-150 per person and many hotels say club rooms can be anywhere in the hotel.

Info I found online about the RC Cobalt Card: "The luxury hotel chain launched a new program called the Cobalt, catering to the world's most powerful and wealthiest clientele, including President Bush and Prince Charles. They needed a superbly crafted welcome kit and membership card that was tactile in feel, yet elegantly modern in look."

JCPTX

Can you share a little info on your Ritz profile? I see that you are Marriott Plat, do you do most of your stays at Ritz? How many stays a year? Avg spend? Heavy spa/restaurant/golf user? I'm sure many of us are curious.

I too would drop Marriott rewards for Ritz Cobalt rewards with lounge access.

I'll ditch my PP and MR to RC Rewards in a heartbeat if I get RC club benefits.

I stay 30-40 RC nights a year (most while checked in to an extended stay Marriott at the same time) and get zilch in the way of benefits.

Anyone else know about this program?

Me too. I would actually stay at RC 50+ more nights a year than I do for this benefit....

Did 14 nights at Ritz last year. 100+ at Marriott. Have been Plat Prem for awhile. I do have a personal high net worth, but not sure how they would know that. I got this a few months after being named as CEO of a public company, that's my only guess, not saying to brag, but only way I can think I would get invited. I stay at Four Seasons more than Ritz.

Oh the card is metal and it's a small square. Membership number and name engraved on the back.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83046672@N06/7605983686/

Congratulations on being accepted into what seems like a very exclusive tier.

I got this a few months after being named as CEO of a public company...if your screen name is any indication of who you are, I wish you well. You've got one heck of a hill to climb. But, if you can reach your destination, it will all be worth it in the end. Best wishes.

One last question and then I'll stop, do you have Palladium Card or a Centurion Card? And congrats it does seem to be one great card.

Congratulations, and thank you very much for sharing this with us!

I'm surprised that this has escaped everyone's attention:

- Upgrades to the best available accommodations.
I suppose that means that you'll be getting the Presidential Suite a lot going forward?

Congratulations, and thank you very much for sharing this with us!

I'm surprised that this has escaped everyone's attention: - Upgrades to the best available accommodations.It's escaped attention because, if Marriott is any guide, the language is largely meaningless. The Marriott platinum and gold upgrade language contained the exact same wording for years.

if your screen name is any indication of who you are, I wish you well. You've got one heck of a hill to climb. But, if you can reach your destination, it will all be worth it in the end. Best wishes.

Indeed. I'll also add that Mr JCPTX used to be my boss at a certain company (though many levels up) and he was pretty good to work for! So cool to see somebody so public posting in our little forum here.

On the Ritz note, seems pretty cool. Though I doubt you're not getting club rooms anyways.

This proves to me that I'll never become CEO material. The second I get this card, I'd probably check into an RC and never leave...

I do have a Amex Centurion card for the poster who asked.

Also some info I found out this morning. I booked a couple of nights next week at a Ritz in the U.S yesterday afternoon, standard king room without club access. This morning when I logged in to check my account, the room now says "Executive Suite" for the same price. So it appears to be working. I"ll post more info as I come across it.

I also called the local ritz this morning to confirm the club membership. Holders of this card are given a locker, comp laundry and full access to the spa/work out facility in the hotel. My office isn't close to downtown, but its nice to know it can be used.

if your screen name is any indication of who you are, I wish you well. You've got one heck of a hill to climb. But, if you can reach your destination, it will all be worth it in the end. Best wishes.

+1. It appears to be a Sisyphean task. I wish you all the best, JCPTX; I've read and heard nothing but positive comments about you.

Congratulations, and thank you very much for sharing this with us!

I'm surprised that this has escaped everyone's attention:- Upgrades to the best available accommodations.It's escaped attention because, if Marriott is any guide, the language is largely meaningless. The Marriott platinum and gold upgrade language contained the exact same wording for years.My experience is limited to only a few weeks total but, when Ritz Carlton has said anything to me verbally or in writing, they have, without exception, meant exactly what they said.

I do have a Amex Centurion card for the poster who asked.

Also some info I found out this morning. I booked a couple of nights next week at a Ritz in the U.S yesterday afternoon, standard king room without club access. This morning when I logged in to check my account, the room now says "Executive Suite" for the same price. So it appears to be working. I"ll post more info as I come across it.

I also called the local ritz this morning to confirm the club membership. Holders of this card are given a locker, comp laundry and full access to the spa/work out facility in the hotel. My office isn't close to downtown, but its nice to know it can be used.

As someone who owns stock in your company I prefer you to be a little more frugal on your travel expenses. :p

I've read and heard nothing but positive comments about you.

Expand your reading list.

As someone who owns stock in your company I prefer you to be a little more frugal on your travel expenses.
Also, RC stays guarantee that you'll be insulated from your company's customers.

why, are the OPs customers denied the ability to stay at the RC if they want to??

Also, RC stays guarantee that you'll be insulated from your company's customers.

if your screen name is any indication of who you are
At least you clarified your statement. The others should remember what they say about people who assume.

why, are the OPs customers denied the ability to stay at the RC if they want to??

If the OP is the person suggested, he will find very few customers of a mid-market retailer staying on the RC Club Level.

If the OP is the person suggested, he will find very few customers of a mid-market retailer staying on the RC Club Level.

I just bought from several mid-market retailers today and will be at the RC Sarasota before the week is out...:p

I just bought from several mid-market retailers today
Including the one suggested?

OP come back and let us know how it went. Would love to hear how well you were treated!

Including the one suggested?

I often buy sneakers from JCPenney or Kohls, and often stay in RC's, yes, on my own dime, and yes, as someone under 30. You've got beef, we get it... #next

Yet he seems to be a little young to be who we are speculating he is, as possibly noted here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18153476-post6.html). The plot thickens...

Mike

Y'all ain't got anything better to do than invade a man's privacy? :td:

OP come back and let us know how it went. Would love to hear how well you were treated!

Left this morning, it was a great stay. Some of the highlights.

-The morning of the day I was supposed to check-in I received an email from the EA of the GM welcoming me and asking if I needed anything before I arrived. I declined and said thank you. She confirmed in the email, that the GM had upgraded me to the "_____ Suite" and that if I needed anything during my stay to email her or the GM directly (email address's were provided in email)

-Arrival to the hotel, I'm assuming the bellman grabbed my name off my luggage tag because they seemed to look at each other and then one made a quick phone call from the front drive. I was immediately greeted on the front drive by a manager who handed me my keys in a packet, a letter and escorted me right to the elevator. He pressed the button in the elevator and the next time it opened I was at the club level. When I walked off the elevator I was greeted by what appeared to be the club manager with a ear piece in. He greeted me by name, quickly went over the club and escorted me to my room. He also asked if I had any special requests while I was staying and handed me a card with an extension (ex. x1234) that said "The Ladies and Gentlemen of the Ritz are at your service". He told me to call that number if I needed anything from towels to reservations.

-I booked a standard king room, but was put in a very large suite on the top floor. I don't think it was the presidential, but had to be the 2nd biggest. 1 master bathroom, and 2 half baths that were located on opposite sides of the living room part of the suite. There were 4 large bottles of Fiji water, a huge fruit basket and a ice bucket full of Diet Cokes. Also was a hand written card from the GM.

-Everything else was typical 1st class Ritz Carlton treatment. Whenever I called down to order room service, call front desk, I was always addressed by name, but it seemed to be more anxious than normal.

-Interesting Note, when I was in the club for breakfast one day, I asked the manger on duty, what exactly does "this card" do, showing it to her. She replied with "Wow, I've heard them talk about this, but I've never seen one and I've been here for 3 years, she asked if she could hold it, I said sure".

I was extremely impressed with the service that this Ritz gave and I'm very much looking forward to my trip back next week for a few days and also have switched my reservation from a JW Marriott on next Thursday/Friday to the Ritz in this city. So Far so good.

I didn't think posting this would cause so much interest in what people think my job is, to the people who keep PM'ing me, I really enjoy posting on the site but, don't be offended if I don't respond to all the PM's.

More than happy to answer questions about anything travel related, as I love reading about this kind of stuff.

Thanks

Thanks for the writeup from such a unique perspective!

Was just wondering if your card has a membership number or such that might give an idea of how many Cobalt Card members there are? If the lady on duty had never seen one in three years, I would guess the number to be under a hundred.

If you ever take requests, I would love to hear what would happen if you walked into an RC you've never been to before without a reservation to use the facilities. I wonder if they would know you by sight, would require a name, or would need to see The Card to make it happen.

If you ever make it out to one of the three (soon to be four) RC's in Japan, I'd love to hear how they react to you, as I've received nothing but phenomenal service from those locations with no card at all...

Thanks for the writeup from such a unique perspective!

Was just wondering if your card has a membership number or such that might give an idea of how many Cobalt Card members there are? If the lady on duty had never seen one in three years, I would guess the number to be under a hundred.

If you ever take requests, I would love to hear what would happen if you walked into an RC you've never been to before without a reservation to use the facilities. I wonder if they would know you by sight, would require a name, or would need to see The Card to make it happen.

If you ever make it out to one of the three (soon to be four) RC's in Japan, I'd love to hear how they react to you, as I've received nothing but phenomenal service from those locations with no card at all...

The number on the back is my Marriott rewards number and my name, that's it. Don't have Japan on the list as of now, but the schedule always changes. I'll test the club thing out sooner or later, and I'll try to remember to post how it goes. I was thinking of trying it out in NYC in a few weeks.

The number on the back is my Marriott rewards number and my name, that's it. Don't have Japan on the list as of now, but the schedule always changes. I'll test the club thing out sooner or later, and I'll try to remember to post how it goes. I was thinking of trying it out in NYC in a few weeks.

Just in case anyone wondered, Cobalt is by invitation of the RC CEO only. So not something that can be "earned" regardless of how many thousands of nights one stays at Marriott/RC properties.

That's ok, but I do feel that RC treats the top tiers not very well. Usually no upgrades of any significance, no lounge benefits, no Bfst, Internet at a fee (that's super insulting). The only way to get some extra benefits is via centurion or FHR hotels booking and they won't book the lowest rate.

Beyond that RC isn't even that good. I get better service at Courtyard Bangkok than RC battery park. The food is better too! And the only rowdy parties (including a naked man in the elevator) I have ever encountered was at a RC.

So go figure.

Usually no upgrades of any significance, no lounge benefits, no Bfst, Internet at a fee (that's super insulting). The only way to get some extra benefits is via centurion or FHR hotels booking and they won't book the lowest rate.

Unless you have the Cobalt Card...:)

That's ok, but I do feel that RC treats the top tiers not very well. Usually no upgrades of any significance, no lounge benefits, no Bfst, Internet at a fee (that's super insulting). The only way to get some extra benefits is via centurion or FHR hotels booking and they won't book the lowest rate.


I disagree, I am a MR Platinum and when staying at the Ritz I do get
- upgrades
- free internet
- very good service

The only thing Elites don't get is lounge access and free breakfast unless in a club level room.

Unbelievable .. Your company is in a free fall and you are staying at RC's spending your time on FlyerTalk telling us about "Cobalt" and your travel experience !! INMHO .. Really bad form.

I disagree, I am a MR Platinum and when staying at the Ritz I do get
- upgrades
- free internet
- very good service

The only thing Elites don't get is lounge access and free breakfast unless in a club level room.

I Am plat premier and was told Internet is not free. Are you sure? Upgrades, ditto! This is at RC battery park

per their own website:
•Wireless Internet access in all public spaces (surcharge)

I Am plat premier and was told Internet is not free. Are you sure? Upgrades, ditto! This is at RC battery park

per their own website:
•Wireless Internet access in all public spaces (surcharge)

Per the Marriott website:
"Free Internet Access: Available at participating Marriott brand hotels and The Ritz-Carlton hotels."

... I don't recall being charged for internat at previous RC stays but who is right the RC or MR website?

Per the Marriott website:
"Free Internet Access: Available at participating Marriott brand hotels and The Ritz-Carlton hotels."

... I don't recall being charged for internat at previous RC stays but who is right the RC or MR website?

"participating"!

Unbelievable .. Your company is in a free fall and you are staying at RC's spending your time on FlyerTalk telling us about "Cobalt" and your travel experience !! INMHO .. Really bad form.

Where do you want a CEO to stay? Fairfield Inn??

Unbelievable .. Your alleged company is in a free fall and you are staying at RC's spending your time on FlyerTalk telling us about "Cobalt" and your travel experience !! INMHO .. Really bad form.

FIFY.

If its on his nickel he can stay where ever he wants. If its on the shareholders nickel he should have more sense. FI ? Maybe, or maybe a CY or a Hilton Garden. What are CEO's to privlidged ?

If its on his nickel he can stay where ever he wants. If its on the shareholders nickel he should have more sense. FI ? Maybe, or maybe a CY or a Hilton Garden. What are CEO's to privlidged ?
Have you ever considered that a hotel offers more than a place to sleep?

If a CEO needs something done quickly in an unfamiliar town to pull off a multi-million dollar deal, I imagine that he'll get more prompt assistance from the staff of the Ritz-Carlton than the staff of a Motel 6.

There's being thrifty, and then there's being penny wise and pound short.

If its on his nickel he can stay where ever he wants. If its on the shareholders nickel he should have more sense. FI ? Maybe, or maybe a CY or a Hilton Garden. What are CEO's to privlidged ?

I am sure as shareholder you can vote with your wallet and sell the shares to someone who appreciates management a bit more.

But, this discussion is wayyyyyyy OT

What I want to know is how the Cobalt Membership compares with those Five Star Platinum members that have to be personally nominated by Bill Marriott (there are less than 200 of those based on what socrates had written on FT).

Since RC and MR use the same systems wonder what kind of treatment the op would receive in JWs and high end properties. I am sure as hell he would get treated better than lowly PP. : )

What I want to know is how the Cobalt Membership compares with those Five Star Platinum members that have to be personally nominated by Bill Marriott (there are less than 200 of those based on what socrates had written on FT).

don't believe I ever gave an estimate of the number of them.....but it would be a very low number as Bill personally hands them out

I didn't think you gave an actual number. It was more of a magnitude thing, and I might have mistaken someone else who made a comment with regards to how many are five star platinum members.

Where do you want a CEO to stay? Fairfield Inn??

The Wal Mart CEO probably does. ;)

To the other 99% of fellow users who just come here to read and report, not attack people. Thanks for the feedback. I just checked in again this afternoon, and the procedure was pretty much the same as last time. I did fill out a survey at the end of my stay last week, saying I couldn't locate Dr. Pepper in the hotel. This week when I checked in along with the fruit/water/food amenities were 4 Dr. Peppers on Ice, a nice touch. Also did get upgraded to the same suite as last week on the club floor, booked a standard non club room, for a very cheap rate.

Do you know if your Cobalt benefits are transferable, i.e., can they be used by a spouse or other family member?

Do you know if your Cobalt benefits are transferable, i.e., can they be used by a spouse or other family member?

Unsure, I can call and ask. However in the past, I've made reservations under my Plat Prem Account and then just called the hotel and put my wife's name on the reservation as well, saying I won't be arriving until the next day. Never had a problem and my wife received everything. I never even checked in with the hotel, just showed up a day late.

I'm assuming this would work here as well.

My boss just told me he received a new card in the mail-"some cobalt thing from courtyard" :rolleyes: was his comment. (He is CEO, I am C-level at a division in a very large company-and he could care less about hotels/planes, and asks me for help w/understanding how to get the most for the least ($)).

Funny thing is, I like RC/Ren/FS (as well as Hyatt/Luxury collection/etc), yet he insists most of the time on COURTYARDS!!!! :rolleyes::confused: The only times he stays at RC are when we travel together and I "guide" my admin on making sure his admin is booking the RC. He will stay at FS and Ren every once in a while, though.

Well, we had a few weeks of RC heavy stays, and today he tells me he gets it, and will it help him at COURTYARDS??? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Anyway-We will be together next week (in a COURTYARD for 4 nights), and I am going to try and get him to call in and request to have me get the status, as it will go to waste on him! :D

PS-his profile: 50K+ employee company, 12K division, no direct travel influence, 20RC nights this year ^, ~40 Courtyard nights this year :td:.

Unsure, I can call and ask. However in the past, I've made reservations under my Plat Prem Account and then just called the hotel and put my wife's name on the reservation as well, saying I won't be arriving until the next day. Never had a problem and my wife received everything. I never even checked in with the hotel, just showed up a day late.

I'm assuming this would work here as well.

OP . . . thanks for posting about the Cobalt card. Chances are most of us will probably never get one, but on a forum about Hotel experiences, this is still a great read. Much appreciated.

My boss just told me he received a new card in the mail-"some cobalt thing from courtyard" :rolleyes: was his comment. (He is CEO, I am C-level at a division in a very large company-and he could care less about hotels/planes, and asks me for help w/understanding how to get the most for the least ($)).

Funny thing is, I like RC/Ren/FS (as well as Hyatt/Luxury collection/etc), yet he insists most of the time on COURTYARDS!!!! :rolleyes::confused: The only times he stays at RC are when we travel together and I "guide" my admin on making sure his admin is booking the RC. He will stay at FS and Ren every once in a while, though.

Well, we had a few weeks of RC heavy stays, and today he tells me he gets it, and will it help him at COURTYARDS??? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Anyway-We will be together next week (in a COURTYARD for 4 nights), and I am going to try and get him to call in and request to have me get the status, as it will go to waste on him! :D

PS-his profile: 50K+ employee company, 12K division, no direct travel influence, 20RC nights this year ^, ~40 Courtyard nights this year :td:.

Shows all types can be leaders or heads of companies, right? Your CEO/boss could care less about the hotel, because Courtyard works for him. And I say, whatever it takes to keep the boss focused on the company's business and growth, well, that's a good investment. It's a neat story to hear that he's cool with "slumming it" in a Courtyard like most of us business travelers.

Shows me that he likes to get value from his travel dollar, even though he doesn't need it. And Courtyard fits that bill. Good story!

My CEO has 4 yachts. I doubt we'll cross paths at one of my Courtyard stays this year. That's okay, his checks still clear just fine. ^

For some years now I have been craving SPG Plat or Hyatt Diamond status, but I think Cobalt is now at the top of my list. Alas, I don't see myself becoming a CEO anytime soon (sigh).

Thanks to the OP for sharing this. I totally love my RC VISA card with the 3 club upgrades/year. The Cobalt is just a fantasy :)
May I ask how much the the annual fee is?

Thanks to the OP for sharing this. I totally love my RC VISA card with the 3 club upgrades/year. The Cobalt is just a fantasy :)
May I ask how much the the annual fee is?

It's not a credit card, so I doubt that there is one. It's just a separate level of the loyalty program. There's no annual fee for joining Ritz Carlton Rewards, Hyatt Gold Passport, Hilton HHonors, or any other loyalty program that I'm aware of.

I think you are correct, hailstorm. Pardon me.

It's not a credit card, so I doubt that there is one. It's just a separate level of the loyalty program. There's no annual fee for joining Ritz Carlton Rewards, Hyatt Gold Passport, Hilton HHonors, or any other loyalty program that I'm aware of.

IC Ambassador has a $150/yr annual fee that can optionally be paid in points. However the basic Priority Club membership (and elite levels) are free.

If the OP is the person suggested, he will find very few customers of a mid-market retailer staying on the RC Club Level.

If the OP is the person suggested, he now has a lot more free time to try out his Cobalt Card.

If the OP is the person suggested, he now has a lot more free time to try out his Cobalt Card.

I was waiting for that to be posted. Too bad for him I like the guy.

I don't know why the JCP's Board thought that just because he came from the Apple Store, he would be a good fit for JCP when they hired him in the first place :td:

I was waiting for that to be posted. Too bad for him I like the guy.

His old position at Apple is still open...

Didn't get much of a severance package:

Johnson, who’s been replaced at J.C. Penney by his predecessor, Mike Ullman, will receive just $148,924 in severance, a truly paltry figure compared to the exit packages that many ousted executives leave with. Investors should take solace in that.

Note that posting of personal information is normally prohibited by Flyertalk's rules, but in this case (above), the information is publicly available and hardly a secret.

Bruce
Moderator

Note that posting of personal information is normally prohibited by Flyertalk's rules, but in this case (above), the information is publicly available and hardly a secret.

Bruce
Moderator

True. But I seriously hope that he comes back and post from time to time. It's awesome to get the experience through his eyes.

I appreciate the time he takes to share.

True. But I seriously hope that he comes back and post from time to time. It's awesome to get the experience through his eyes.

I appreciate the time he takes to share.

FWIW, I couldn't care less who he is or what his day job is. I was just happy that someone from the clouds above descended down here to tell us what life up there is life.

I hope he spends the next year travelling the world, staying in Presidential Suites for the price of a base room, and being treated like a king, with a hundred Dr. Peppers at his beckon call.

The New York Post reported that the CEO was among a group of JCP senior executives who refused to take up residence in Plano and stayed at the Dallas Ritz-Carlton during the week, returning on company jets for long weekends to their homes in New York and San Francisco. Both practices ended with the rehiring of the former CEO.

"[T]he high-dollar execs hired by [the] former JCPenney CEO [...] have quickly lost the perks he lavished on them, including fancy hotel rooms, cars and personal use of a pair of corporate jets"

Just coming back to report on the latest with Cobalt.

BTW, no I'm not RJ to end that crazy speculation.

Checked into the Ritz recently in a city where I had booked the standard rate and the standard room. I was upgraded to the Presidential Suite for both nights and sent alot of amenities. Drinks, Food, Travel Book on the city, Fruit Basket etc...

Going to Asia in a few months and spending 5 nights at one Ritz and then 6 at another, I'll let you all know if your interested what happens over there.

I spoke to the club manager while I was the there trying to find out a little but more about the program and he reiterated that it was an invitation only thing, no way to really "qualify" at least on paper.

I've had quite a few PM's about the whole program but if anybody has any questions I'm happy to answer them in the thread, as to not keep repeating the same info on PM's.