Soccrates. Thanks for your reply, I respect your knowledge of the systems at work, and appreciate the clarity.

In regards to my examples, I sat down and did a search in Outlook 2007 (LOVE THE SEARCH FEATURE!) In 12 months, I have had 11 seperate situations that all fall within the above 4 mentioned categories.

The hotels that this has occured at include:

Marriott World Center - Orlando (3x)
Renaisance Seaworld - Orlando (2x)
JW Grande Lakes - Orlando
Marriott Airport - Orlando
Marriott Crabtree - Raleigh (2x)
Marrriott Savannah
Marriott Hilton Head Island

While I don't know everyone's affiliation, my guess is all of these are francises.

In one instance dealing with issue #1, I sat and argued with a Front Desk Manager (who didn't want to offer her superior). I told her to just look in MARSHA and she would see that rate (an M11 advertised in the newsletter). She then accused me of being a Marriott Employee who was trying to change my own rate. I finally was furious, and got the platnum desk on the line, and they set her in her place, didn't pursue it further because of being extremely busy (for weeks), but she was told to "update PMS" and she would see it, which is where my theory came from.

11 reservations out of 75 nights seems excessive. Perhaps I am just lucky :-)