Dec 4, 2018, 10:44 am
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)
Jun 19, 2018, 6:58 am
#226
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Wow, I’ve never been walked and never not gotten the bed type I booked. I honestly didn’t think it happened any more to elites based on my experience, but I guess I was wrong!
i actually didn’t book the RC Boston once because they couldn’t guarantee the king bed type for an Executive Suite. I was surprised a RC couldn’t/wouldn’t do it so far in advance for a Plat but they had a convention group if I recall correctly.
I guess you can't expect much when you're "only" a MR Plat at 75 nights or would that be eight one hour meetings at a total spend of under $800? If the hotel has already committed all of their executive suites with king beds, would you expect an Ambassador to go out and buy a bed for you?
Personally, I can't imagine someone expecting a hotel to confirm a booking for a room type that isn't available except under the conditions of elite guaranteed availabitly rules, which typically apply only to base level rooms. Are there times when a hotel does this as an above and beyond gesture? Yes, of course, but it's not an entitlement.
BTW, I know the guy who was GM of the two RCs in Boston. I wonder what he would have said.....
Personally, I can't imagine someone expecting a hotel to confirm a booking for a room type that isn't available except under the conditions of elite guaranteed availabitly rules, which typically apply only to base level rooms. Are there times when a hotel does this as an above and beyond gesture? Yes, of course, but it's not an entitlement.
BTW, I know the guy who was GM of the two RCs in Boston. I wonder what he would have said.....
Jun 21, 2018, 11:21 am
#227
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
As a data point, I had a stay this week at a Marriott with the new style open lobby with laptop check-in in the middle of the lobby. Before arriving, I had been upgraded to a three room 1000 sq foot suite on the top floor. They welcomed me as a Plat Premier. Since the screen was right there, I asked the FD agent if he understood the codes. He said just the X4. I pointed to the M0 and asked if he knew what that was, he said he didn't.
So, great recognition from a solid FD agent and a great upgrade, but I think it was the Plat Premier status. But even at a good hotel with well-trained staff, they don't know what an M0 is.
So, great recognition from a solid FD agent and a great upgrade, but I think it was the Plat Premier status. But even at a good hotel with well-trained staff, they don't know what an M0 is.
Jun 21, 2018, 11:55 am
#228
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
As a data point, I had a stay this week at a Marriott with the new style open lobby with laptop check-in in the middle of the lobby. Before arriving, I had been upgraded to a three room 1000 sq foot suite on the top floor. They welcomed me as a Plat Premier. Since the screen was right there, I asked the FD agent if he understood the codes. He said just the X4. I pointed to the M0 and asked if he knew what that was, he said he didn't.
So, great recognition from a solid FD agent and a great upgrade, but I think it was the Plat Premier status. But even at a good hotel with well-trained staff, they don't know what an M0 is.
So, great recognition from a solid FD agent and a great upgrade, but I think it was the Plat Premier status. But even at a good hotel with well-trained staff, they don't know what an M0 is.
What was the specific property? Do you stay there often? It always helps when we are precise in these discussions and properly identify the hotel and our background there, if any.
Your data point reiterates your belief that elite status recognition is largely about front desk recognition of your status from seeing a code--and little more. Your expectation of elite recognition is substantially different from mine and many of us on the SPG side.
I expect and have consistently experienced increased recognition and "VIP" SPG Ambassador treatment throughout my stays at all levels of SPG brands, including this past fall and spring at Four Points (Chelsea and Midtown in NYC), Sheraton (Hartford South, University City Philadelphia, Boston, Times Square NYC), Westin (Richmond, Copley Square Boston, Sydney), Le Meridien (Arlington, Philadelphia, Cambridge), W (Washington, Boston, Chicago), Luxury Collection (Gwen Chicago, Imperial Vienna, Prince de Galles Paris, SLS Beverly Hills, Nines Portland) and St Regis (Osaka, San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, Punta Mita, Houston, Rome). Most of those stays were my first stays at the hotel.
Here's my most recent data point: I most recently was at the St Regis Osaka in Japan a month ago. While being in the elevator on our first night, the Executive Chef recognized me and my husband and knew we had a dinner booking at his Italian restaurant on our final night. He insisted that he'd like to do something special for us. Not exactly the same as seeing a code on a front desk computer screen. But then again, they didn't check us in at the front desk; they greeted us at the front door and escorted us straight to our upgraded Skyline Room where we were checked in. That's VIP treatment. That's how the StR Osaka showed it handles a VIP Ambassador level guest.
Here's my next data point: we got upgraded over a month ago at the St Regis San Francisco (where I stay several times every year for both work and leisure) from a paid entry level room to a Metropolitan Suite for our upcoming stay in a few weeks. Not only will my recognition at the front desk be fine, but my service level throughout my entire stay will be exceptional.
Here's another data point to consider: the Suiran Kyoto property offered me a complimentary upgrade to its best non-suite room category almost 6 months in advance of our award stay in May 2018. Suiran also went so far as to buy 2 extra air con portable fans for our stay because my Ambassador impressed upon them the importance of my having a cold room. Suiran also went so far as to give us exclusive use of its private dining room (normally a $350 charge per use) so they could cool it to 19 C for my comfort, unlike the regular restaurant space. My Ambassador and my Ambassador status went a long way beyond the front desk.
Yet another data point to consider: the SLS Beverly Hills has a pet policy allowing up to 2 dogs weighing no more than 40 lbs. We have a 110 lb Rhodesian Ridgeback. My Ambassador helped get us permission to bring our dog on our first stay. While there, the F&B manager ran into my husband and dog without me, recognized them, introduced himself, and chatted with them for a bit. That doesn't happen without being a VIP or having Ambassador status.
You care a lot about being recognized by the front desk agent. I care about recognition well beyond that. My experience as a SPG Ambassador guest at SPG hotels has been consistent that I get tremendous recognition and extremely high levels of service throughout my stays at almost all SPG hotels...not just at the front desk and not just because I got an upgrade.
Jun 21, 2018, 1:07 pm
#229
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
For the record, I too was upgraded to the Suite Macassar (with one king bed) at the PdG and with SPG, I'm *just* a lowly Plat50 and LTP. I also had a relatively cheap rate plan (but not prepaid) and it seems to be a busy time period in Paris. All this without an Ambassador.
Jun 21, 2018, 1:30 pm
#230
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
For the record, I too was upgraded to the Suite Macassar (with one king bed) at the PdG and with SPG, I'm *just* a lowly Plat50 and LTP. I also had a relatively cheap rate plan (but not prepaid) and it seems to be a busy time period in Paris. All this without an Ambassador.
Your wonderful upgrade experience is all about demonstrating how wonderful being Platinum can be with SPG hotels. Especially compared with the current Marriott/RC Rewards programs and portfolio, which have almost nothing like the very luxurious Prince de Galles property and which rarely would upgrade to such a wonderful suite even when they do! That has little to do with being Plat100 Ambassador level--which, as my post below tries to demonstrate, goes far beyond just getting a suite upgrade and FD recognition.
Jun 21, 2018, 8:03 pm
#231
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
For the record, I too was upgraded to the Suite Macassar (with one king bed) at the PdG and with SPG, I'm *just* a lowly Plat50 and LTP. I also had a relatively cheap rate plan (but not prepaid) and it seems to be a busy time period in Paris. All this without an Ambassador.
Jun 21, 2018, 9:54 pm
#232
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Jun 22, 2018, 12:27 pm
#233
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 16
Ambassador $20k spend clarification
The Marriott site lists the 100 nights + $20k spend for Ambassador, and this is listed through the threads on this topic as well. But I haven't seen any clarification of my Marriott credit card spend will count toward the $20k or only my spend at Marriott properties. And if it's only spend at Marriott properties, would it include when I book meetings rooms or just my nightly rate?
Jun 22, 2018, 12:49 pm
#234
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
The Marriott site lists the 100 nights + $20k spend for Ambassador, and this is listed through the threads on this topic as well. But I haven't seen any clarification of my Marriott credit card spend will count toward the $20k or only my spend at Marriott properties. And if it's only spend at Marriott properties, would it include when I book meetings rooms or just my nightly rate?
Jun 22, 2018, 2:18 pm
#235
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 502
i think its a little ambitious to think they would count whatever is actually spent on your card (ie...$5 coffee would count for $5 towards ambassador), but i would hope that the points you earn, earn something in a $ (cents) value per point earned towards ambassador would work. the way i look at it, chase and amex buy the points from marriott so there is revenue there plus the fact you are keeping and using the card which benefits marriott should also count for something. Granted, it may take half a million or a million in spending per year to get to that $20k level (with just points alone) but it should still be there as an option. Not to mention, i dont think they could really worry about abuse of this because there will still be the need for 100+ nights to reach that level so people can not really "manufacture" the status in CC spend alone.
Jun 22, 2018, 3:19 pm
#236
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Seems to me highly unlikely to base it on $20,000 credit card spend. 100 nights for the top level seems comparable to DL. I believe they require $250,000 in annual credit card spend to meet the dollar credit.
Jun 22, 2018, 3:36 pm
#237
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 its a little ambitious to think they would count whatever is actually spent on your card (ie...$5 coffee would count for $5 towards ambassador), but i would hope that the points you earn, earn something in a $ (cents) value per point earned towards ambassador would work. the way i look at it, chase and amex buy the points from marriott so there is revenue there plus the fact you are keeping and using the card which benefits marriott should also count for something. Granted, it may take half a million or a million in spending per year to get to that $20k level (with just points alone) but it should still be there as an option. Not to mention, i dont think they could really worry about abuse of this because there will still be the need for 100+ nights to reach that level so people can not really "manufacture" the status in CC spend alone.
It it may be convenient for your purposes to wish all manner of ways to earn the $20K spend for Ambassador level. But it’s not useful for Marriott’s purposes. Their analysis likely concluded many months ago that those spending $20K at Marriott properties (and who stay 100 nights) was the right combination to qualify for Ambassador status. SPG has fewer properties and Marriott has more elites. Combining the two while still offering Ambassador status for just 100 nights stayed almost certainly allowed far too many Ambassador elites based on their analytics and projections. Adding the $20K minimum spend requirement ensured that only those who stayed the most and spent the most would qualify and give them the approximate number they believed to be appropriate.
I also have always believed that I got better SPG Plat100 Ambassador service than others because I spent more than most Plat100s. That led to a lot of complaints from low spend SPG Plat100s that they didn’t get as many perks or better treatment. Adding the $20K requirement better ensures that Marriott will best reward those who spend and stay the most. Staying a lot of nights is one measure of loyalty, but so is spending a lot of money. The 100 nights and $20K spend requirements manage to reward those who do both.
Jun 22, 2018, 4:01 pm
#238
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
There is approximately a 0.0000000% chance that CC spend will count towards the $20K annual spend needed for AMB
Jun 22, 2018, 4:05 pm
#239
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Jun 22, 2018, 4:30 pm
#240
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
If not using SNAs, for all intents and purposes there is no difference in Plat vs. Plat 50. Plat is Plat. SPG treats Plats well. There is no caste system.