CLEguy

Per VFTW here, Marriott will begin offering guaranteed 4p checkout for Gold and Platinum members starting 5/16. Excludes resorts, convention, and timeshare properties.

Also adding an offering that appears on its face to be similar to SPG Moments, and apparently testing out an Ambassador service.

MR link here

GUWonder

This will also be great for Hilton HHonors' Diamonds at least. [I do mean H I L T O N.]

Thank you Marriott.

edcho

As a Hyatt person, I was shocked that this wasn't a benefit on Marriott before. ^^^ a welcome change.

sdsearch

It says on the MR page that the 4 pm checkout will have to be requested no later than check-in to be guaranteed. Is that the way it currently works at the other programs that have it?

MD/DC Flyer

When I was Hyatt Diamond I was always been asked at check-in, although I'm sure it would have been granted no matter when I asked for it.

From the hotel operations logistic perspective it makes a lot of sense to ask at check-in. And in reality, most people likely know they want/need it at check-in.

Time will tell how it is actually going to be implemented.

dw

And time will tell how "guaranteed" this benefit is in practice. A much higher portion of Hyatt and Starwood's properties are full service, whereas the largest part of Marriott's portfolio (by number of properties) consists of select service, and the latter often have limited housekeeping staff/hours.

GUWonder

Hyatt did have something about requesting this at check-in, but I've never had that check-in thing be the reason I've had any failure wth benefit practice.

I've had less pushback about 4pm Checkout benefit use at Hyatt Place and Four Point hotels than I've had over this kind of benefit at the full service Hyatt and Starwood hotels.

anotheran2

Finally. I hope it's not as rare as upgrade to suites.

rylan

This will have to be seen if it is actually followed. I'm sure smaller properties like CYs or FFIs etc that don't have housekeeping there late aren't going to let you check out at 4pm.

OU812

The devil is in the details! While the Guaranteed Late Check-Out benefit is something that has been missing from the MR program for a long time, the language of the benefit itself may still leave many elites bartering for a late check-out, only now it will occur at check-in instead of the morning of departure.

From the MR page link above:
Per SPG terms, the guaranteed 4pm late check-out benefit is as follows, "Gold and Platinum members may check out as late as 4 p.m. This benefit is guaranteed at all hotels, except at resort, conference center, and convention hotels, where it is based upon availability."

Marriott's new benefit once again excludes Resorts and Convention Hotels. (What is a convention hotel anyway? Does it have to have the word, "Convention," in the name or just be close to a convention center?) The old benefit, Priority Late Checkout, only excluded Marriott Vacation Clubs, "based on availability, call the front desk the morning of checkout and let them know your planned departure time. Available at all Marriott brand hotels except Marriott Vacation Club."

Unfortunately the MR Elite Terms and Conditions have not been updated to reflect the new benefits. IMHO for MR Golds and Plats, it sounds like the guaranteed late check-out time is still left up to the hotel and will not be available at any property that considers themselves a resort or convention hotel! I guess we will know for sure when it is actually implemented after May 16!

Regards,

RIP

pinniped

At Starwood, it has varied...even at otherwise mundane Sheratons and Westins that couldn't with a straight face claim they were a "resort" or convention hotel. Some proactively just tell you at check-in: you have 4PM checkout, thanks for being Gold/Plat. Others do nothing, and you have to grovel a bit for it, speak to the manager, etc.

Late checkout at hotels and getting decent rental car customer service are the only 2 places in all of my travels where I sometimes feel like I literally have to ask DYKWIA?!?

ohmark

FYI: There has been a late checkout benefit for plats/golds all along. The difference now is that, apparently, it is "guaranteed" and could be as late as 4:00 p.m. There have been numerous complaints in threads here about the unavailability of the non-guaranteed benefit.

ohmark

I think the language is ambiguous as to whether the "as late as 4:00 pm" option is up to the property or requesting member. Maybe intentionally so.

ohmark

Upgrades to suites are not guaranteed.

dw

That's actually quite interesting. If the language instead read:

"Gold and Platinum Elite members may request late checkout, which CAN be as late as 4 pm"

I would feel more confident that the 4 pm time is guaranteed. The "could" wording makes it seem like late checkout is guaranteed, but the actual time is up to the property's discretion.

So perhaps people will be enjoying guaranteed late-check out times of 12:30 pm at CYs and FFIs.