BTW - can I also add a different perspective - as in with all things FT, YVMV.

I rarely - can count on a couple of fingers each year - use a rental car or drive to a Marriott property, so to me free parking isn't in the top 5 of things I'd like to see Marriott implement.

I would even hazard a guess that a lot of FTers and elites that might not be on FT would put free breakfast on weekends or exec lounges open on weekend before free parking, at least based on the amount of kvetching re: that topic on this forum (including by me).

Yes parking can be very expensive - especially in the bigger cities. Of course in the bigger cities hotel rooms are expensive. Don't like it, but that's market reality. And while employers might not like huge amounts on expense reports, that's the cost of doing business in some locations. Of course it hurts the person traveling for leisure more, no question.

I'd say the amount of parking garages that Marriott or its franchises actually own are pretty small, therefore it's the parking garage operator that has the upper hand. Do you really think in places like downtown NYC, SFO, ORD, that the garages will sit empty if Marriott guests don't park there? Of course not. They're doing fine.

What I have seen in some locations is where Marriott guests get a 'discount' (ie, instead of $49/day it's $28 or $34/day) on the regular parking rates.

Cheers.