About 10 years ago, 9 co-workers and I were asked for Gov't ID at the Sea-Tac Airport Marriott. We were working as contractors for the FEMA (feds) and the travel agent who booked the hotel did not check on the rate requirements. All we had was a letter from FEMA saying we were authorized to receive the government rate, and we were told that wouldn't suffice. I was not Platinum at the time, but one of my co-workers was. He tried to use his status to get us the rate, but it did not work. We were booked there for the week (Sun - Fri 10 X 5 = 50 revenue nights) and the MOD said the best rate he could offer was the corporate rate, which was almost double the gov't rate. Needless to say, we had to stay elsewhere. We were surprized that the MOD was willing to let that kind of room revenue plus the potential F&B revenue walk out. The next day the GM called my co-worker who was Platinum and tried to get us back, but we were at the Embassy Suites and didn't want to change hotels.

Now they are even more dilligent about the government rate and corporate rates. So if you are not entitled to use the rate, don't and you won't have any surprizes.

RIP...