Marriott Rewards (including Ritz-Carlton) - Does Marriott Have an ID Requirement Now?

My last two trips I was asked for ID, and I haven't been asked for ID before that I can remember as a Plat.

It is property specific...this week I stayed at Dallas FS Airport and Courtyard Boston Tremont and was not asked for ID, and two weeks ago in NYC, I was asked so it is not a Marriott generic policy.

I was asked for ID a few months back when checking in at the Burbank Marriott. They already had my Platinum Marriott Rewards Card in hand so I figured that was ID enough and told them NO. They backed down.

Wow! Only my second post. Here goes: I think it is the general policy of Marriott because I've noticed towards the bottom of my emailed confirmations it always says "ID Required".

A lot of times, when I haven't been asked for ID it was because I had been at that property many times and the front desk already knew me.

That said, I have no problem with them asking for my photo ID. With all the identity theft going on, I"m glad that they do ask for it for at least a minimum level of security.

Wow! Only my second post. Here goes: I think it is the general policy of Marriott because I've noticed towards the bottom of my emailed confirmations it always says "ID Required".
Welcome to FT :) Are you using a corporate / discounted rate? The only time I've noticed the conf email saying "ID Required" is when I'm on a corporate rate that requires proof of eligibility...?

i was asked at the bridgewater (NJ) marriott last week but i showed my license, it wasn't a corp ID requirement

That said, I have no problem with them asking for my photo ID. With all the identity theft going on, I"m glad that they do ask for it for at least a minimum level of security.

Right...giving them access to your name, address, and license # (which may be your SSN really makes you *more* secure...

I've only seen ID required with my AAA rates and assumed that really means AAA card.

I think I have been asked for an id only 4-5 times so far in the last few years...

That said, I have no problem with them asking for my photo ID. With all the identity theft going on, I"m glad that they do ask for it for at least a minimum level of security.

The two times I've fallen victim to identity theft have been the direct result of front desk clerks at hotels copying down information from my ID. Both in NYC. One was the old Righa Royal (at the time, a top property).

I am very reluctant to present any form of ID at a hotel check-in desk that could be used for theft. If it comes down to room or no room after arguing with the manager, I will consider presenting a passport (which has no address info on it).

Welcome to FT :) Are you using a corporate / discounted rate? The only time I've noticed the conf email saying "ID Required" is when I'm on a corporate rate that requires proof of eligibility...?

Good point. Maybe it's only corporate ID they're asking for.

If someone at the front desk wants to committ fraud, they could do s it without ever seeing my license. The reservation have my address, zip code, sometimes my phone number and they see my credit card and could potentially see the security code on the back which is all they would need to make online purchases (for example).

In the last two weeks of staying at different Marriott hotels, I have been asked for a picture ID every time. This is after I presented a credit card for the stay. They just looked at the picture, compared the name with the credit card and then gave it back to me. No big deal to me..

This has been with a normal advertised rate, nothing special.

In the last two weeks of staying at different Marriott hotels, I have been asked for a picture ID every time. This is after I presented a credit card for the stay. They just looked at the picture, compared the name with the credit card and then gave it back to me. No big deal to me..

This has been with a normal advertised rate, nothing special.

Not everyone has a picture ID and there is no legal requirement to have one. I wonder how they handle that.

Good point. Maybe it's only corporate ID they're asking for.

If someone at the front desk wants to committ fraud, they could do s it without ever seeing my license. The reservation have my address, zip code, sometimes my phone number and they see my credit card and could potentially see the security code on the back which is all they would need to make online purchases (for example).

Before you get too smug, your above scenario would be quickly and easily traced to one credit card.

Providing an ID that is definitive - and especially if they seek to photocopy it - is a potential disaster in the making. With a DL number, obtaining the SSN is easy, with that, they can set up any kind of account they want. In my case, they not only charged $25,000 is goods and services to my AmEx (which AmEx credited back to me immediately and created a new account number), but they also set up telephone accounts with Verizon, as well as other merchants. I discovered the Verizon account the hard way - after a collection agency chased me for the bad debt that VZ sold to them. And even when it was over, yet ANOTHER collection agency came after me for the same debt again. It took a call to the state Attorney General to make that one go away. All due to identity theft, all the result of a front-desk clerk that took and photocopied my DL.

BTW, I had a separate problem at a Marriott property with a concierge or front desk person that stole an AmEx number. That was quickly fixed by AmEx and hotel management.

I don't have a problem with a clerk asking for photo id to ensure that I'm the person on the card; so I open my wallet and let them look at it and they have never asked me to take it out much less photo copy which is where I'd draw the line and put up one heckuva stink but again, thats never happened to me

Interesting thread. I don't think I have ever been asked to show an ID for a US based Marriott. Though I have quite often been asked for my passport at Asia hotels.

The only time I have showed my ID was when I checked into the Las Vegas Renaissance.

This "requirement" also contradicts Marriotts policy of granting you some level of anonymity when staying at their properties. At least this is what they told me when I left several times behind, they were found, recorded & cataloged but they made no effort to contact me.

I think that certain management and FD agents just enjoy the power of being in charge or playing policemen without truly understanding why.

When booking a room with a corporate rate via phone, I have often been told that an ID will be required upon check-in.

That said, I think I remember being asked for ID maybe 3 or 4 times in hundreds of stays over the last 20 years or so. In all cases, I simply showed my DL. I don't recall anyone ever asking to make copies of my DL.

That applies to domestic US stays only.

In Europe, Asia, Africa, and the the Middle East, I have frequently been required to surrender my passport for a time, while they made copies and did who know what else with.

I don't have a problem with a clerk asking for photo id to ensure that I'm the person on the card; so I open my wallet and let them look at it and they have never asked me to take it out much less photo copy which is where I'd draw the line and put up one heckuva stink but again, thats never happened to me


I've seen someone suggest that if someone asks you for your ID to do that, you should ask them for their ID back. After all, ID theft is a problem, and you should have a record of everyone who has a record of your ID. You can tell them that it's for their protection. :)

The only time I have showed my ID was when I checked into the Las Vegas Renaissance.

During my two recent stays at same property, they never asked for any ID. I am aware of the fact that when booking with AAA rate, proof of AAA membership is required.

This is Awesome! I can't believe I didn't think of it myself. I can't wait to use this. The wife is going to :rolleyes: at me even more.

I've seen someone suggest that if someone asks you for your ID to do that, you should ask them for their ID back. After all, ID theft is a problem, and you should have a record of everyone who has a record of your ID. You can tell them that it's for their protection. :)

I've seen someone suggest that if someone asks you for your ID to do that, you should ask them for their ID back. After all, ID theft is a problem, and you should have a record of everyone who has a record of your ID. You can tell them that it's for their protection. :)

I like that ^

The note on the bottom on the emails is in reference to corp or negotiated rate rooms. You don't really need a gov't issued picture id unless you specify so on the back of your credit card.
I use my corp rate almost everytime I stay in a Marriott and have never once been asked for ID. This has been going on for 4+ yrs and I assume most people have the same experience.

I've only been asked for ID when I'm staying on a discounted rate. Even then, I'm rarely asked for ID.

If they asked me to show ID on a non-discounted stay, I'd probably show them my Marriott Rewards ID. It's in my wallet for some unknown reason.

The note on the bottom on the emails is in reference to corp or negotiated rate rooms.

It doesn't mention government-issued photo ID either, just ID.

In China, they request ID check in each time check in.They scan you ID and upload to the government database. Basic, the government knows everything about you. By the way, if I use cop rate, will the require you show the cop ID.

The first time I was ever asked for my ID was the Baltimore Inner Harbor Marriott around 2004 - the woman at the front desk seemed to not believe I was actually a platinum member listed on the reservation. (Evidently having the credit card name matching the room reservation wasn't enough for her).

The note on the bottom on the emails is in reference to corp or negotiated rate rooms. You don't really need a gov't issued picture id unless you specify so on the back of your credit card.
I use my corp rate almost everytime I stay in a Marriott and have never once been asked for ID. This has been going on for 4+ yrs and I assume most people have the same experience.

At the start of last year, they started asking a bit more frequently, but that only lasted a month or two.

I stay at one Marriott and although it is on my profile that I work for company X, I always get the company Y rate as I am doing consulting for them and their contract allows their consultants to pick up that rate.

I've shown both IDs and no-one has ever commented along the lines of why clain for one rate when you have someone else's ID.

All due to identity theft, all the result of a front-desk clerk that took and photocopied my DL.


I checked into a Courtyard once using our corporate rate, and they asked for my corporate ID and drivers license, which I obliged, then she said she was going to photocopy them for the hotels records. I then objected and explained that corporate ID's are for security and should not be photocopied, then she said okay and handed me back both my ID's.

Not everyone has a picture ID and there is no legal requirement to have one. I wonder how they handle that.

Assuming that one is 18, I think that everyone has some form of picture ID these days be it a drivers license, a work or university ID, or a passport. Folks who don't drive even go to DMV to get an identity-only license in these post 9/11 days as state and local governments are getting more insistent upon proof of identity for a variety of reasons -- many of them practical and not sinister.

Worry over identity theft is a valid concern, but it too has limits as it's the context of why you're being asked for ID which matters. Looks to me as if the most common reason for Marriott or any hotel to verify an ID is to confirm rate eligibility for corporate travelers. Still, other legitimate reasons could exist if all a clerk does is match a face to a picture and a name to an address. Works in the guest's favor IMO.

Photo-copying is an area of potential concern, but once again, it's a matter of why they want to do so. It has never been unusual when traveling abroad that one individual in a party may be asked to present a passport. This past fall at one of the Marriott timeshare properties in Spain, they were verifying the ID of each and every guest and making a copy of each passport. Clearly something unusual was afoot and precautions were being taken. I'm glad to cooperate in this instance as we know where this one is leading.

As to the identity theft concerns. Yes be on your toes, but be practical. If you're carrying your SS# on you, then that's your problem as given the thievery out there, you're making it too easy for the bad guys. Clerks/airline agents at best can only see 4 digits for your credit card in reservation, and yes, they do see your address. Credit cards are your biggest area of vulnerability, especially in the US where we are not widely using PIN-based cards for POS transactions. My wife had her credit card info copied a year ago. The bank froze the card and we never did pin point where the theft occurred, though it happens in a time frame several days ( a Marriott property was part of this chain, but we are clueless as to who the culprit is ). Life went on and we got things straightened out.

So I'm inclined to cooperate when asked for ID in most instances. If they want to copy a document, I inquire as to why, and if I'm given a good answer, I allow it ( and copying is an infrequent occurance ). Otherwise I accept the fact that we live in an open society which also cloaks the bad guys and those more sinister folks who have an even darker agenda. Like Mr. Reagan, "I trust, but verify" when confronted with idenity requests.

Barry