Originally Posted by
kaizen7
What I mean is on global level, the number of Ambassador member is higher than it was supposedly as there are some Ambassador members that got the tier using old SPG qualifications.
Multiple room night counts (up until 18 /8 /18) and no 20k requirements.
At property level however .. there might be some increase in ambassador checking in but I believe the level will be small and will not overwhelm the property.
I must beg to differ.
The number of Ambassador guests this year is likely not far off from what Marriott expected—perhaps a mere 5-10% higher at most. Marriott KNEW it was grandfathering in the legacy SPG Ambassador qualification of 100 nights at legacy SPG properties; that wasn’t an accident. They were anticipating those. Maybe some more achieved it than they expected, but then Marriott ALSO invited plenty of old Marriott Rewards concierge Plat Premier guests, too. Marriott wouldn’t have bothered inviting those if it had so screwed the pooch on its other expected numbers.
So Marriott does NOT have more Ambassador guests than it expected. Marriott may not handled handled the IT and email server and address changes well, and Marriott may have been overwhelmed with customer service phone calls as a result. But that doesn’t mean what you want to conclude. Your logic is flawed.
And this is the issue. Your favourite hotel, St Regis SF might be able to execute the ambassador benefit properly and with high level of consistency.
Yet some other hotel within the same level failed to do so.
We even have thread about a hotel that blatantly mention they wont upgrade elites to suites, failed to provide proper breakfast benefit for elites, etc
It is amazing how I choose good hotels, and they always seem to not only upgrade me almost always (and usually to a suite) but also treat me very well while I’m there. While others choose bad hotels or less services oriented hotels with few suites and no record of good service...and then are surprised when they don’t get a suite upgrade or good service.
You only want to focus on my StR San Francisco stays. You seem to ignore that before even Bonvoy launched in February I’d already been upgraded to specialty suites at the RC Kyoto and at the RC Coconut Grove. Since then, I’ve been upgraded to suites at the Le Meridien Arlington (100%), Le Meridien Cambridge. (100%), the Sheraton Philly Univ City (100%), Le Meridien Philly, Four Points Midtown NYC (100%). Four Points Midtown Chelsea (100%), Sheraton Hartford South (100%), Courtyard New Haven (100%). Renaissance Providence (100%), Sheraton Boston (100%), SLS Beverly Hills (100%), RC Chicago, RC Boston, St Regis Bahia Beach, etc. Many of those were specialty suites not usually part of the suite upgrade pool.
I pick good hotels with a record of treating elites well...and that’s what happens. When I’ve stayed unfortunately at hotels with a record of not treating elites so well since Bonvoy launched—Sheraton Times Square and Courtyard Chelsea NYC—I didn’t get an upgrade at all. Go figure.
You say hotels at the same level don’t treat Ambassador guests as well...and I dispute that. I suspect every StR but maybe not Aspen!) does about as well...but sometime has less occupancy/availability of suites for upgrade. It’s so convenient to ignore availability. Heck, even I wasn’t upgraded to a suite last year at the StR Osaka...because it was sold out and was hosting 3 weddings! Yet the StR Osaka was able to upgrade me to the best room category at least.
The change in Marriott system that shows the elite level more prominently is a good progress from Marriott.
Yep. And it’s just 3 months old.
Marriott needs to monitor whether the property deliver the elite benefit properly or not.
Yep. Just like SPG did and failed system-wide and just as Hyatt did and failed system-wide. There always will be individual properties that play havoc with the rules and game the system. It’s no different now with Marriott than it was with SPG nor than it is even now with Hyatt! Heck, Hyatt is legendary for properties that play games with inventory and benefits (Hyatt Regency SF, etc) and those that don’t give Suite upgrades at all even to Globalists or with their guaranteed suite upgrades at time of booking (Park Hyatt Sydney, Park Hyatt Tokyo, Andaz Maui, etc...see a pattern here?)
Marriott is better than the competition, even with its warts.
My single night count is around 70-80 nights, even though spending will be way above 20k due to half of it will be multi room bookings.
So without double night promotions which luckily I got during my busy period, I will definitely drop to Titanium and no longer compete for suite upgrade with you.
But for next year I will retain my ambassador due to that promotion.
Great. What’s the problem?
Your experience is what Marriott advertise and most likely planned for the program.
Unfortunately not everyone receive the same experience.
If Marriott could improve the program and make your experience as the norm, I believe the "noise around the edge" for ambassador program will disappear.
Some people never satisfied and will still continue to making those noise, but they will become the minority.
My experience is one at almost entirely premium level and luxury properties. For other Ambassador guests who stay at those, mostly similar experiences have been reported. For those who stay at poorer premium brand and select service brand properties, Ambassador can’t upgrade you to a suite when there are only 2 of them or turn a Courtyard into a luxury service property.