First of all welcome to FT!
Originally Posted by bonaireguy
I guess I need to travel with some of you. I've found in about half of the Marriott stays I've had this year that unless I ask if my Platinum number is on my reservation (knowing that it is since I booked the reservation myself), there's no acknowledgement at all made about my Plat Elite status at check in. And for places where there are significant benefits, such as lounge access, I have more often than not had to actually ask for the access.
At FS properties if they don't offer you your Platinum amenity then you should ask for the $100 guarantee. Read Platinum Benefits at Marriott.com for detailed info.
Originally Posted by bonaireguy
The way I understand it is something like this: Benefit X is good at A and C, but not B, D, E, and F, unless it's the first half of the week during non-holidays, and then you can also find it at D. Benefit Y is good at brands D and F, unless hotel policy is different. Benefit Z only applies during low season at brands C and E, but low season is determined by the individual properties. Benefit W is free at B and D, but costs a premium at A, C, E, and F.
A bit exagerated IMO.
Originally Posted by bonaireguy
And the issue I was trying to raise in my initial post, albeit not very well, was that Marriott, as a company controlling a plethora of extremely diverse properties, does a very poor job of providing a loyalty program which is in some way (other than a percentage point bonus) consistent across all those properties, and I think that's a real shame.
Yes, but then again those are the rules. Your complaints, while shared by many posters in this forum, would be better served if they were addressed to Marriott.
Originally Posted by bonaireguy
The chart I want is one which maps the MR benefits to each type of Marriott property in tabular form - benefits on the vertical, brands across the horizontal, and ideally has no footnotes to provide exceptions to the rules. That way I'd know what to expect and not get my hopes up or dashed when I stay at a Marriot-family property.
That is a fantastic idea! When you finish creating this chart please share it with the rest of us as I am sure there are many of us out here on FT who don't take the time to read and understand the
Platinum Elite Benefits posted on Marriott.com.
Originally Posted by bonaireguy
Creating a list of properties which actually give Elite members special above-and-beyond the bare minimum treatment to retain their loyalty would be a bonus.
This information is provided in the various threads throughout this forum. Using the search tool works wonders, for example to find information on a specific hotel do a search on the hotel's name or its destination. Search function may be access by clicking on the
Search link in the dark blue banner at the top of the page, or via the
Search this Forum link at the far right end of the forum's title banner. Some information similar to what you are requesting may be found at the links described below.
Check out the
Definitive thread on High Speed Internet Access Fees (HSIA). For future reference searching on HSIA will bring up this thread and more.
Check out the sticky
Concierge Lounges Open On Weekends. For future reference this is one of the first few threads listed at the top of the forum's main page.
I started the HSIA thread and Jonathansullivan started the other and we continue to manage them. You are welcome to start and manage another thread listing properties which give Elite members above-and-beyond treatment if you like. This is an online community where everyone is welcome to contribute.
Once again we welcome you to FT and especially your offer to contribute your time and knowledge.