Marriot Reward Elite Status Not Honored at Ritz Carlton
#16
formerly fdemoulin
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: UK
Programs: SPG Lifetime Platinum, BA Silver, Virgin Flying Club Red
Posts: 916
I agree with your general premise that lounge access and elite recognition are MOST important on holidays. That's why I think Marriott's policy of no elite recognition at their "regular" resorts (not Ritz) is stupid. That policy has also been the single biggest driver of dozens of my business trips to Hilton over the years: solely to get the points/status needed to do Hilton resort stays once a year or so, even though I'd prefer to stay at Marriott in general.
My only point was about the Ritz lounges. Very different animal from a simple comped breakfast or a standard Marriott lounge. If they gave that away to every Marriott Gold in the hotel, they'd quickly have to devalue what's offered in the lounges, and we'd end up with...well...Ritz lounges that look like Marriott lounges.
I mean, I'd love it to be otherwise...but I don't really expect it. Plus there's still the credit card certificates if you really do like to take vacations at Ritz and want the lounge upgrade.
My only point was about the Ritz lounges. Very different animal from a simple comped breakfast or a standard Marriott lounge. If they gave that away to every Marriott Gold in the hotel, they'd quickly have to devalue what's offered in the lounges, and we'd end up with...well...Ritz lounges that look like Marriott lounges.
I mean, I'd love it to be otherwise...but I don't really expect it. Plus there's still the credit card certificates if you really do like to take vacations at Ritz and want the lounge upgrade.
#18
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
I agree with your general premise that lounge access and elite recognition are MOST important on holidays. That's why I think Marriott's policy of no elite recognition at their "regular" resorts (not Ritz) is stupid. That policy has also been the single biggest driver of dozens of my business trips to Hilton over the years: solely to get the points/status needed to do Hilton resort stays once a year or so, even though I'd prefer to stay at Marriott in general.
My only point was about the Ritz lounges. Very different animal from a simple comped breakfast or a standard Marriott lounge. If they gave that away to every Marriott Gold in the hotel, they'd quickly have to devalue what's offered in the lounges, and we'd end up with...well...Ritz lounges that look like Marriott lounges.
I mean, I'd love it to be otherwise...but I don't really expect it. Plus there's still the credit card certificates if you really do like to take vacations at Ritz and want the lounge upgrade.
My only point was about the Ritz lounges. Very different animal from a simple comped breakfast or a standard Marriott lounge. If they gave that away to every Marriott Gold in the hotel, they'd quickly have to devalue what's offered in the lounges, and we'd end up with...well...Ritz lounges that look like Marriott lounges.
I mean, I'd love it to be otherwise...but I don't really expect it. Plus there's still the credit card certificates if you really do like to take vacations at Ritz and want the lounge upgrade.
unpopular with gold's, but imo, the generous gold benefits and the sheer # of gold's (especially now with merger; as achieving gold with SPG is so easy) will be/needs to be addressed. Mar needs better upgrades and perks for Plat, and maybe a second level of Plat for enhanced benefits.
that said, if i ran things, i'd have increased award night benefits for Plat only like full benefits @ 'resorts' and RC. if that were the case, a lot of people would shift stays to make Plat. win-win.
#19
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,276
unpopular with gold's, but imo, the generous gold benefits and the sheer # of gold's (especially now with merger; as achieving gold with SPG is so easy) will be/needs to be addressed. Mar needs better upgrades and perks for Plat, and maybe a second level of Plat for enhanced benefits.
that said, if i ran things, i'd have increased award night benefits for Plat only like full benefits @ 'resorts' and RC. if that were the case, a lot of people would shift stays to make Plat. win-win.
that said, if i ran things, i'd have increased award night benefits for Plat only like full benefits @ 'resorts' and RC. if that were the case, a lot of people would shift stays to make Plat. win-win.
The qualification requirements for the combined program in 2018 have not yet been revealed. Presumably, anyone who qualifies under the old SPG or Rewards rules in 2017 will have that status in 2018. Then if Marriott's current Elite requirements -- Silver (10 nights), Gold (50 nights), Platinum (75 nights) -- remain, those SPG Gold members whose travel patterns don't change will find themselves at Silver in 2019.
Getting back to the subject of Ritz-Carlton, it would make sense to have the same benefits for all Luxury brands in the combined program. With 30 brands, let's hope Marriott builds its combined program around four (or maybe five) categories (Luxury, Premium, Select, Extended Stay, and possibly Vacation Villas), with consistent rules and benefits within each category, and without regard to Classic or Distinctive.
Last edited by Horace; Feb 21, 2017 at 11:19 pm Reason: typo
#20
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Programs: Marriott lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum
Posts: 5,472
#21
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 852
How about upgrades if booked within club level? If I book a basic CL room as a plat, an upgrade to a CL suite seems possible. Has anyone experienced this?
#22
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
I wouldn't hold my breath for a suite upgrade. While suites are technically included as part of the upgrade pool for Plats, I'd bet your much more likely to get something like a better CL view room or a CL room on a higher floor, etc. than you will an upgrade to a suite room.
#23
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Florida
Posts: 686
It's highly unlikely. I've only received upgrades from a basic club room to a suite because I've stayed at the property many times, and even then it's a crapshoot.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Wellington/Jakarta
Programs: Accor+ Platinum, Honors Diamond, SPG/MR Gold, IHG, KrisFlyer, Airpoints, Qantas FF, Enrich, SkyMiles
Posts: 480
Bumping this thread. I'm currently Marriott Gold planning a stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Jakarta this week. I will book a suite so lounge access is no concern, it comes with the suite.
My concern is, will they honor 4pm late checkout guarantee be applicable? I just gave them a call and the person answering told me that they *might* give a late checkout until 1-2pm, even after I told him of my Gold status. Later he told me it would be up to the manager on duty on the day of my stay. I'm just checking to see whether it will be within my rights to push for it during my stay if they still refuse then. Should I change my account to RC Rewards instead, would it improve my chances?
(PS: Not sure if this is relevant, but JW Marriott Jakarta and Ritz-Carlton Jakarta Mega Kuningan belong to the same owner. In fact, they're across the street from each other. Perhaps they're more understanding of each other's program?)
My concern is, will they honor 4pm late checkout guarantee be applicable? I just gave them a call and the person answering told me that they *might* give a late checkout until 1-2pm, even after I told him of my Gold status. Later he told me it would be up to the manager on duty on the day of my stay. I'm just checking to see whether it will be within my rights to push for it during my stay if they still refuse then. Should I change my account to RC Rewards instead, would it improve my chances?
(PS: Not sure if this is relevant, but JW Marriott Jakarta and Ritz-Carlton Jakarta Mega Kuningan belong to the same owner. In fact, they're across the street from each other. Perhaps they're more understanding of each other's program?)
#25
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
The T&Cs for late check-outs with RC is the same wording as with Marriott hotels. And it includes the same exclusion around resorts and convention hotels. So yes, in general Gold/Plats are guaranteed 4pm late checkout. So I guess the question is if the Jakarta RC is considered a "resort" hotel or not.
#26
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Wellington/Jakarta
Programs: Accor+ Platinum, Honors Diamond, SPG/MR Gold, IHG, KrisFlyer, Airpoints, Qantas FF, Enrich, SkyMiles
Posts: 480
The T&Cs for late check-outs with RC is the same wording as with Marriott hotels. And it includes the same exclusion around resorts and convention hotels. So yes, in general Gold/Plats are guaranteed 4pm late checkout. So I guess the question is if the Jakarta RC is considered a "resort" hotel or not.
#27
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,026
RC HK - Booked base room, received upgrade to grand deluxe seaview. no harbour view. 4pm late checkout proactively offered