I have email from MC internet.customer.care (James White) advising me that
"Hotels.com is not a qualifying website." for the Best Rate Guarantee.
I have since called two MC customer care 800 numbers.....at the
second the agent, very politely, offered to cancel my MC
rewards number if I found that Marriott policies were unethical
or deceptive.

I can't believe I was stupid enough to rely on that "guarantee" in the
past. Could have saved some $$$.