Originally Posted by
omahajim
I'm having a similar experience to other recent posts here. Plat, 1 night award res for Garden King. Pre-arrival email has been aggressively pushing this "you must pay cash if you wish to guarantee your upgrade, due to the high number of elites at this property". There are 20 room types available for cash res still next week for the night of my stay, and both Garden King and 2 Queen still offered for points.
My last stay in March 2017 was fantastic - nice ocean facing upgrade, but I've basically written off any hope of reasonable treatment as a Plat. I did push back and ask for restaurant breakfast +1 or the $100 benefit guarantee, but they haven't answered that. I feel like they know you don't want to get worked up about the trouble of contacting the GM about insufficient honoring of elite benefits.
Meanwhile, the Sheraton in Kaanapali happy accepted my 5 Suite Night Awards on a garden king points reservation, and upgraded me to the Moana Hale above Black Rock. They appear to be as (relatively) empty as the Wailea Marriott, unusual at this time of year (for obvious reasons).
Next weekend will probably be my last-ever stay at the Wailea Marriott. Just one guy's opinion.
So goes the story of this once well run Marriott and given the new CEO's comments about ownership needs more respect is BS. With respect to the Sheraton it is a great alternative to the Marriott it's been refreshed. The Westin is a dump. I have been going here for business and pleasure since the mid 1970's and have seen the better days ! Our next trip will more than likely be the Sheraton even at Lifetime T 's I really don't expect the Marriott to do anything other than a cup of coffee.