Originally Posted by
JBord
Ugh...have to go off topic for a minute here, even though I agree the OP is completely incorrect.
Every once in a while a post is made insinuating that people who travel on their own dime are somehow more deserving of the benefits. Besides only being marginally related to this thread, it's incorrect for many reasons:
1. I'd wager there are very few people who ONLY spend their company's money. They all take vacations and personal trips too.
2. Corporate money is more important to Marriott than your personal money, because it's a much much larger pool. They should reward corporate travelers the same, if not more.
3. "Leisure travelers" do not HAVE to spend the money, as you stated. They choose to. Corporate travelers have to, often being taken away from home and family when they wish they weren't. I agree with your point about small employers not getting corporate rates. However, many corporate travelers are locked into staying at certain hotels because of these rates and contracts. A small employer has many more options, and more control over price and experience.
All that said, you're 100% correct that this is a problem the OP needs to take up with his employer. Just not sure I agree with your reasoning to get there
.
I agree with most of what you say - I was mainly saying in this case, the OP shouldn't complain too much if it has been the company paying for the hotels, as he/she has basically got elite benefits through potentially no personal spending. It shouldn't become some god given right - the tone of the OP's post with terms like 'outrageous' spring to mind. So the OP should appreciate this as in many jobs, you can't claim miles, points, elite benefits etc when using corporate cash (e.g. civil service / government posts).
Yes, the business traveller is obviously an important segment for Marriott but they shouldn't underestimate 100% leisure travellers like myself who need to make careful decisions about where to spend their hard-earned cash, just as businesses need to weight up the channel they use to book hotels for employees vis-a-vis the benefits their employees get and how this can reduce corporate costs too (free breakfast, pressing etc as someone mentioned).
We have a choice regarding whether and where we stay and businesses could actually choose different hotels in different locations (not being tied to one loyalty programme) it is was beneficial. Leisure travellers also have a choice too and should be treated equally.