That's merely a posting error, which Marriott Rewards' service center can correct. Failure to offer an arrival gift is a hotel problem, for which they have to pay you on the spot.

Bruce

I will hit Plantinum in 2 weeks, but since I have my reservations at this Marriott hotel for all my 4 future stays, the sales manager agreed to give me Plantinum treatment in advance.

When I checked in, I was told they will give me some bonus points, instead of giving me a choice between points vs amenities.

I told them that I am earning miles because I am in the quad-miles promotion. I was told the points will be converted to miles.

That's different than what I heard. I thought if you earn miles, you can't choose the points for arrival gift. My miles haven't post yet, but how many miles I will get from the bonus points?

This gives me the very amusing image of two Marriott employees sitting around scratching their goatees and gazing at clouds. :)

Thanks for the info - if it is just a failure to offer, it makes me wonder how it would get resolved if the customer said they didn't and the agent said they did. Is there some sort of check the agent has to add to the reservation to indicate they were asked?

There is a procedure. When they ask you points or amenity, they will enter your reply. If there is no entry showing what you got, then you are eligible to claim the guarantee.

You can have problems if they entered points without asking. There's no real record that you were not asked. (How can there be a record of something that didn't happen?) Then it becomes your word against the clerk's. That's happened to me once or twice.

Bruce

If they say it's in your profile that you always request points, they're lying. There is nothing in Marriott profile re: Platinum arrival gift. So if you ever get that line, then tell them to ante up the $$.

Cheers.

Gotcha, thanks all for the clarifications!

I got the $50 from the Old Town Courtyard in San Diego; they failed to offer me an amenity or greet me as a Plat They were a little unhappy about it, but they didn't put up any resistance....

So I got the $50, but I still never got a Plat gift. I'm checking out tomorrow - I'll complain about it then....

When they pay out, are they still required to give you the Plat arrival gift? Legit question; not being snarky. I thought once you got the $$ you didn't get the gift.

Cheers.

I agree. The payout substitutes for the gift not offered. You don't get both -- and who cares, anyway? The money is worth so much more.

Bruce

2 different SOP's address this issue

1) Elite Benefits must be given

2) Failure to follow the above will result in a cash payment for the failure to the elite member

technically once the payment is made for the failure the hotel has fulfilled it's obligation BUT most will deliver the benefit even after the payment is made (would be the right thing to do)

I just looked at my account and I received 200 points as my arrival gift for a 2 night stay. Doesnt that seem low? 100 pts a day? Geeeeez

No that is standard .. you only arrive ONCE -- therefore you only get one gift ... I just stayed at a Marriott for over 100 straight days recently ... if they had given me arrival points each day i would have LOVED it .. but you only arrive ONCE and 200 is generally the standard gift ... i have sen it higher but only at the much higher end marriotts where I have been offered 500 points or the arrival gift

Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, Autograph Collection

500 bonus points or Food & Beverage Amenity

Courtyard (U.S. & Canada), Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites

200 bonus points or Food & Beverage Amenity

Courtyard (outside U.S. & Canada)

250 bonus points or Food & Beverage Amenity

Marriott Vacation Club

500 bonus points

EDITION

500 bonus points

The Ritz-Carlton

1,000 bonus points