I believe that answer is short-sighted and does not make good business sense. I'll give you a non-hotel example: After close to two decades flying Delta as my #1 airline and with 2.5 million lifetime miles, as well as multi-year Platinum status, I decided to switch to United early in 2001. I simply wasn't going to walk in as a no-status flyer. If United had refused to grant me any status, I probably would have stayed with Delta. But United gave me instant Premier Executive (1P) status and became my #1 airline ever since. Half a million miles later, we're both very happy they did.

Why shouldn't Marriott do something similar to attract customers who clearly are going to be profitable for them? How can they possibly lose?

Bruce