Last edit by: HHQX888
Ambassador Service general email address: [email protected]
Ambassador Service general phone line (USA): (866) 924-9885
Europe: +353-21-4861 222
USA: +1-866-924-9885
Asia : +86-20-38157156
Ambassador Service general phone line (USA): (866) 924-9885
Europe: +353-21-4861 222
USA: +1-866-924-9885
Asia : +86-20-38157156
Marriott Bonvoy ‘Ambassador Elite’ Level : experiences (2020 and earlier)
#2551
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I think some doth protest too much. Just sayin...
#2552
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3,097
Speaking as a lowly titanium here (near 100 nights but not near $20k spend), my guess, based on the wild variance in people's experiences, is that the ambassadors are overloaded and are prioritizing their time based on the members' spend (or some other metric, spend/night etc).
That would certainly explain why someone who "accidentally" got Ambassador gets zero response.
That would certainly explain why someone who "accidentally" got Ambassador gets zero response.
#2553
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: New York
Programs: MB-LTT , HH-Diam., HGP-Expl.
Posts: 778
Although I've been disappointed and occasionally appalled at the way the loyalty program has been managed since the merger, at the hotel level, which is what matters most to me, I have very few complaints. With one possible exception, as a Lifetime Titanium member I have been upgraded to at least a standard suite on every Marriott stay since the merger. The only potential failure was the St. Regis Osaka, where there were several lower level suites open during a brief paid stay, which I am willing to overlook based on the reviews of others on FT whose opinions I respect.
Both the SPG and MR side had IT problems, but I had few issues besides the disclosure of my family's personal data caused by the breach. My biggest complaints were due to use of social media to communicate certain impending changes instead of direct communication with customers and the unwillingness to tell members what the conversion rate from old to new travel packages was until it was too late to make changes.
Off topic:
Honestly, I have received at least the advertised benefits at Fairmont, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG in almost every case. Although many criticize Hilton for lack of elite benefits, I believe I received a suite upgrade on close to 100% of my stays. My best upgrade last year was at the Intercontinental in Osaka when using the certificate that came with my $49 per year credit card. At the Explorist level, there are few benefits for me at Hyatt but I did receive one very nice upgrade at a Park Hyatt last year.
Most of my hotel complaints have been the result of inconsiderate guest behavior of other guests and the failure of the hotel to deal with it appropriately. Examples across different chains would include: loud arguments and parities long past midnight that the hotel wouldn't deal with, allowing excessive cell phone use and large business meetings in the lounge, letting people bring their own speakers to the pool or beach, and a dog that barked for hours in a nearby room. Obviously, those issues can and do happen at any hotel chain.
Although I don't need a lot of personal attention, I do appreciate having lounge access due to the additional staff interaction. In general, I find lounge employees more willing to suggest restaurants that locals frequent, instead of the typical tourist ones, than concierges. When things are less busy, I enjoy the chance to learn and practice my minimal foreign language skills with lounge staff.
Both the SPG and MR side had IT problems, but I had few issues besides the disclosure of my family's personal data caused by the breach. My biggest complaints were due to use of social media to communicate certain impending changes instead of direct communication with customers and the unwillingness to tell members what the conversion rate from old to new travel packages was until it was too late to make changes.
Off topic:
Honestly, I have received at least the advertised benefits at Fairmont, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG in almost every case. Although many criticize Hilton for lack of elite benefits, I believe I received a suite upgrade on close to 100% of my stays. My best upgrade last year was at the Intercontinental in Osaka when using the certificate that came with my $49 per year credit card. At the Explorist level, there are few benefits for me at Hyatt but I did receive one very nice upgrade at a Park Hyatt last year.
Most of my hotel complaints have been the result of inconsiderate guest behavior of other guests and the failure of the hotel to deal with it appropriately. Examples across different chains would include: loud arguments and parities long past midnight that the hotel wouldn't deal with, allowing excessive cell phone use and large business meetings in the lounge, letting people bring their own speakers to the pool or beach, and a dog that barked for hours in a nearby room. Obviously, those issues can and do happen at any hotel chain.
Although I don't need a lot of personal attention, I do appreciate having lounge access due to the additional staff interaction. In general, I find lounge employees more willing to suggest restaurants that locals frequent, instead of the typical tourist ones, than concierges. When things are less busy, I enjoy the chance to learn and practice my minimal foreign language skills with lounge staff.
Last edited by rny321; May 26, 2019 at 1:25 pm
#2554
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,248
Speaking as a lowly titanium here (near 100 nights but not near $20k spend), my guess, based on the wild variance in people's experiences, is that the ambassadors are overloaded and are prioritizing their time based on the members' spend (or some other metric, spend/night etc).
That would certainly explain why someone who "accidentally" got Ambassador gets zero response.
That would certainly explain why someone who "accidentally" got Ambassador gets zero response.
My ambassador has responded promptly to me. That said, I have reached out 3 total times for tiny things that my Ambassador has handled immediately. It could also be that my ambassador got a set of people like me, who put the DND/MAGC door hangar immediately after check in and need/want nothing else; which means they have more time for the other members who reach out more or have more requests.
#2555
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I think it says a lot about the Marriott Bonvoy elite recognition when so many people now are discussing how Titanium status is so good to them that the cost/benefit isn’t worth it for them go for Ambassador status.
#2556
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,248
Funny, I didn't really hear Starwood had an "atrocious" footprint pre-merger...I did 900 nights in 9 years with them, and I can count on one hand the amount of times a property wasn't available to me. But yes, if you are a traveling salesperson and need to be in small towns - Marriott is the program for you!
If Marriott actually wanted to improve Ambassador, Globalist is a good benchmark - no resort fees on any stay, no parking fees on award stays, Guest of Honor benefit, advance confirmable upgrades, full/real breakfast no matter what, add'l benefits/incentives once you hit the top tier...IMO it's shocking how good it is, the more I learn about it. Heck, if Marriott matched ANY single one of them, people in this forum would be hailing Marriott for how elite-friendly they are.
#2557
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
#2558
#2559
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Pre-upgraded to One Bedroom Suite at Ritz-Carlton Georgetown
Just checked and was pleased to see I’ve already been pre-upgraded to a One Bedroom Executive Suite for my return stay at the RC Georgetown for the coming weekend.
I’d say my Ambassador status makes quite a difference. Wouldn’t you?
So much for needing SNAs when Ritz-Carlton treats an Ambassador guest right, anyway.
So my suite upgrade tally for only Ritz-Carlton in the USA in 2019:
RC Coconut Grove: pre-upgraded to Partial Water View One Bedroom Suite
RC Washington: pre-upgraded to best category Premium room...almost sold out property
RC Boston: arrived and upgraded to Executive One Bedroom Suite...sold out property
RC Georgetown: booked Executive Suite, no upgrade..sold out property
RC Chicago: booked Executive Suite, upgraded to Gold Coast One Bedroom Suite...almost sold out property
RC Bacara Santa Barbara: pre-upgraded to Garden View One Bedroom Suite, later upgraded to Oceanview One Bedroom Suite...sold out property
RC Half Moon Bay: pre-upgraded to Ocean House Firepit One Bedroom Suite, almost sold out property
RC Georgetown (upcoming): pre-upgraded to Executive One Bedroom Suite, property seems close to sold out
RC Boston (upcoming): booked in entry level room...so time will tell
I do believe my Ambassador status and/or my Ambassador has made a bit of an impact.
I’d say my Ambassador status makes quite a difference. Wouldn’t you?
So much for needing SNAs when Ritz-Carlton treats an Ambassador guest right, anyway.
So my suite upgrade tally for only Ritz-Carlton in the USA in 2019:
RC Coconut Grove: pre-upgraded to Partial Water View One Bedroom Suite
RC Washington: pre-upgraded to best category Premium room...almost sold out property
RC Boston: arrived and upgraded to Executive One Bedroom Suite...sold out property
RC Georgetown: booked Executive Suite, no upgrade..sold out property
RC Chicago: booked Executive Suite, upgraded to Gold Coast One Bedroom Suite...almost sold out property
RC Bacara Santa Barbara: pre-upgraded to Garden View One Bedroom Suite, later upgraded to Oceanview One Bedroom Suite...sold out property
RC Half Moon Bay: pre-upgraded to Ocean House Firepit One Bedroom Suite, almost sold out property
RC Georgetown (upcoming): pre-upgraded to Executive One Bedroom Suite, property seems close to sold out
RC Boston (upcoming): booked in entry level room...so time will tell
I do believe my Ambassador status and/or my Ambassador has made a bit of an impact.
#2560
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,720
One has to admit that nobody else other than high profile bloggers are seeing the same results as you, though. It may very well be true to say that your Ambassador is making the difference, but I have to suspect it comes at least in part from you directing significant amounts of business revenue to the firm.
I’ve only ever had one suite upgrade at an RC property in about 10-15 stays now and I know for a fact that it wasn’t down to my Ambassador status.
I do suspect that I get slightly better upgrades at legacy SPG properties than previously, and my earn/ burn rates are significantly better than before. The downside though is a vast amount of extra admin from the system continually causing problems as well as the inability of customer service to address any service failings above the level of my Ambassador. Objectively I could conclude that in many ways I’m doing better than before, but I dislike doing business with companies which don’t meet their ends of the contract as reliably as I meet mine by paying so I suspect this might be my last year with Marriott (admittedly I’m hedging my bets - I suspect I will requalify as Ambassador again without particularly trying).
I’ve only ever had one suite upgrade at an RC property in about 10-15 stays now and I know for a fact that it wasn’t down to my Ambassador status.
I do suspect that I get slightly better upgrades at legacy SPG properties than previously, and my earn/ burn rates are significantly better than before. The downside though is a vast amount of extra admin from the system continually causing problems as well as the inability of customer service to address any service failings above the level of my Ambassador. Objectively I could conclude that in many ways I’m doing better than before, but I dislike doing business with companies which don’t meet their ends of the contract as reliably as I meet mine by paying so I suspect this might be my last year with Marriott (admittedly I’m hedging my bets - I suspect I will requalify as Ambassador again without particularly trying).
#2561
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
One has to admit that nobody else other than high profile bloggers are seeing the same results as you, though. It may very well be true to say that your Ambassador is making the difference, but I have to suspect it comes at least in part from you directing significant amounts of business revenue to the firm.
”The firm” still sounds so nefarious to me!
Considering my group booking revenue doesn’t count at all toward Ambassador status, I actually find it difficult to believe that has much impact. But I can’t say that for sure.
I can say that I didn’t involve my Ambassador directly in this booking at all—as it again will just be me for a leisure weekend seeing friends and family before my work travel begins that Sunday. (I switch then to the Le Meridien Arlington.) So this treatment may be due more to the positive interactions I had with the senior management during my last stay. The fact that I’m both a returning guest and an Ambassador guest also may be a positive factor in my favor. I’m sure the fact that I had booked a suite the first time doesn’t hurt, either.
Considering my group booking revenue doesn’t count at all toward Ambassador status, I actually find it difficult to believe that has much impact. But I can’t say that for sure.
I can say that I didn’t involve my Ambassador directly in this booking at all—as it again will just be me for a leisure weekend seeing friends and family before my work travel begins that Sunday. (I switch then to the Le Meridien Arlington.) So this treatment may be due more to the positive interactions I had with the senior management during my last stay. The fact that I’m both a returning guest and an Ambassador guest also may be a positive factor in my favor. I’m sure the fact that I had booked a suite the first time doesn’t hurt, either.
#2562
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
The downside though is a vast amount of extra admin from the system continually causing problems as well as the inability of customer service to address any service failings above the level of my Ambassador. Objectively I could conclude that in many ways I’m doing better than before, but I dislike doing business with companies which don’t meet their ends of the contract as reliably as I meet mine by paying so I suspect this might be my last year with Marriott (admittedly I’m hedging my bets - I suspect I will requalify as Ambassador again without particularly trying).
#2563
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
To non BA flyers, BA CIV scores is rumored to be between 0 and 105. It started as 0 to 100 but another VVIP level (105) was added later.
#2564
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
We only travel for leisure and yet I find most of the Marriott hotels we stay at reward us with similar treatment as bhrubin experiences.