I recently wrote to Marriot seeing if they had a status match programme, as I have a stay at a Marriot up and coming (now) and am HHonors diamond and IHG Platinum. They kindly made me gold providing I stay 15 nights in 3 months.

So at 1 am this morning I checked into the Casa Magna Cancun. My 2 seaprate dresrvations hadn't been linked, and I had to pay up front for the night. ( I don;t use a credit card, they are the spawn of the devil) just a normal debit card. No problem. I didn't get an upgrade, nor any other benefits, and when I went down to breakfast, I had to pay cash as it couldn't be charged to my room.

Went to reception, and asked why, and it's becuase they closed off the 1 night reservation whenI checked in, rather than taking a deposit so I could charge things to my room.

Went back to reception to get my key re-enabled and to leave a deposit for the rest of the week. Except, I had to pay for the full 5 nights in advance, PLUS a deposit. Ok, too tired to argue, so I did.

Went to the pool, and at about 11.30 ordered a beer. Signed it to my room, but a very apologetic waiter came to say charging things to my room was not possible.

Back to reception, by now in full rant mode, and ready to check out and go to the Hilton up the road. No real apology just an admission that there had been a mistake, but things can now be charged to my room. Lets wait and see.

If this is how they treat their gold elite members, I can;t see me staying in the programme too long.