As I said before, the email is a WORTHLESS "help" provided by the Lurkers. The only way the hotel can learn how to process the gift card is when they are willing to call the Help Desk which based on my experience in US, is definitely NOT an easy task. Very time consuming for the hotel and very poor "step by step" work thru by the other end over the phone. That time I was using an $900 physical GC issued several years ago on a 10% bonus but never was able to use it overseas. Luckily the FD staff felt she should fight for me as she clearly saw the balance on the card was several times of the total hotel bill and it was utterly unfair (her words) to make the guest to use a CC to settle the bill when the gift card was valid and had far more than enough balance.

It is way too much work and way too much "follow up" to try to use the Marriott gift card. I no longer am tempted by the 20% discount. I still have about $300ish worth GCs, a combination of physical card and ecard. I hope I can use them in LHR when I will be there in Nov but not very hopeful.