Here is my situation, I was going to a very large trade show in Duesseldorf, Germnay in October. This is a very large show with about 250,000 visitors and exhbitors over a 8 day show length.

The organizers of the show recommended to all attendees and exhbitors to book the hotel rooms through there assigned travel agent because they were negotiated rates. Since this show usually sells out all hotel rooms in Duesseldorf including surrounding cities, the travel agent required everyone to pre-pay for the rooms. My company booked 3 rooms at a Marriott Courtyard at not very bargain basement prices. (approx 300 euro a night).

Now I should get a ton of Marriott Rewards points, but I find out at checkout (of course, they wouldn't tell me this when I check in) that I would not be getting any points because travel agent/group travel/prepaid that it does not qualify you for Marriott Points.

Obviously, I was upset. We spend about $12,000 USD at this Courtyard at we were not even going to get credit towards nights towards elite status; much less points. I mean they got my money, a lot of it and this was not a discounted rate or a bargain basement rate; I paid the maximum amount the German gov't allows my room can be charged per night.

I have been trying to hash this out with the travel agent (who they say Marriott should credit the points) and Marriott but no go.

Does anyone have any insight/experience, an address where I can voice my displeasure that Marriott received over $10K of my money (I do understand the travel agent gets a cut) and I get NO rewards points, hell I would even just take the night towards elite.

Needless to say Marriott is NOT going to get my business anytime soon. But I would to hear some other people's opinions on this issue.

I totally understand if I paid 50 euro a night or got some really reduced rate OR it stated when we booked that we would not be able to earn points. The thing is the trade show blocks out almost all the hotels during this show and you have no choice but to book through their travel agent, so it's not like I could have booked this directly through the hotel because they would not accept a reservation unless it went through the agent.

HELP!

- HobokenFlyer