I too have had the same problem with Marriott when using these "elite exclusive offers." Every time I have had to seek a manager to correct billing errors. Once at the Westchester Renaissance I was charged 2 months later for the free night and that was AFTER major correction of bill on checkout. We have one of these stays coming up and when I voiced my concern to the booking agent, she said to make sure the desk clerk knows the code--EEO. My own feeling is that Marriott sends these things out and the individual hotels never clue the help about them.