Originally Posted by lost_in_translation (Post 32573636)

I also seem to get a random different Ambassador each time as a European member.

On the plus side, since I resumed traveling in July the Ambassador service has become much higher touch, presumably because they have much less to do right now! Have had a proactive reach out email and hand written notes at each of my last three stays (St. Regis Mardavall, Domes Miramare, Mystique where I just checked in) welcoming me back from the Ambassador service as one of my first stays back with Marriott.

Originally Posted by globaltrotter (Post 32573843)

Do you think Marriott will quietly waive the $20k spend for Ambassador this year if you reach over 100 nights?

Originally Posted by UKTraveller4Fun (Post 32573809)

My stay experienced have been the opposite, absolutly no ambassador interaction with the hotels. Very much now had to take the decision to contact a hotel myself and get details after some misleading information from Ambassadors.

Compared to the standard of service and hotel welcoming when I had a dedicated Ambassador currently the service is very poor. They do respond quickly to emails, which is a sign of them being quiet, although considering many of the responses unsure how many are actually trained Ambassadors and how many just standard customer service.

While still having some stays they are certainly loosing a decent percentage of my business at the moment.

Originally Posted by lost_in_translation (Post 32573960)

Disappointing to hear!

Originally Posted by Wozza2404 (Post 32575603)

Marriott, like Hilton, have the issue that they can’t differentiate between US status and ROW status.

There are a plentitude of ‘road warriors’ out in the US who easily bang through 100+ nights in Courtyard type, low cost hotels. Similarly there are Asian properties with low price points that people use for very long stay purposes. That’s why the spend requirement exists.

Fortunately, threads like these exist to highlight the fact that it’s really not worth bothering with unless you’re hitting it organically regardless.

Originally Posted by UKTraveller4Fun (Post 32573809)

My stay experienced have been the opposite, absolutly no ambassador interaction with the hotels. Very much now had to take the decision to contact a hotel myself and get details after some misleading information from Ambassadors.

Compared to the standard of service and hotel welcoming when I had a dedicated Ambassador currently the service is very poor. They do respond quickly to emails, which is a sign of them being quiet, although considering many of the responses unsure how many are actually trained Ambassadors and how many just standard customer service.

While still having some stays they are certainly loosing a decent percentage of my business at the moment.

Originally Posted by CarbonTraveler (Post 32534803)

I'm in my second year of being an Ambassador and after asking for assistance only twice and receiving very little help on the first request and absolutely no help on the second request I'd say the Ambassador service is practically useless. If anyone is aiming to make a stretch to for Ambassador, I would advise against it. Maybe I'm in the minority here or I don't spend enough to make me as special as other Ambassadors but I never receive anything from my Ambassador for any of my stays. Short or long. Luxury or economy.

For my last request I emailed my assigned ambassador and the general ambassador email asking for some help in locating a Marriott branded quarantine hotel in Taipei. At the time the Aloft Beitou was booked full. Gave dates of arrival and all necessary info. I received two emails. One from my assigned ambassador saying that she was out of the office and one from another ambassador that just said she would make contact with Marriott employees in Taipei to see if they can give some assistance. That was weeks ago. Crickets since.

TBH, reading some of the great service reports here makes me wonder what my team and I are doing wrong considering that everyone on my team that travels is an Ambassador Elite member and we all get the same lack of attention.

Regarding upgrades. I have just come to expect that I am not getting a room upgrade. Pandemic travel or not. Most times the FDA says that you for being an Ambassador Elite, I have given you a room upgrade I walk into a room and it looks identical to the room I booked. I'd rather just not be given an upgrade to be disappointed.

Sorry this post sounds grim but I feel like the Ambassador status is mostly worthless unless you are someone that enjoys chasing status for sake of having it.

Originally Posted by goodeats21 (Post 32699980)

So, Ambassador level service continues to decline markedly.

5 night paid stay at Full Service Marriott in New Jersey. Lounge not open, no breakfast amenity even though on-site restaurant is open. Voucher for 1 free coffee, but not open until 6:30 AM.
At check in, was assigned normal room. When I asked about any upgrade available, they went through a 5 minute process to unblock a larger room. When asked if upgrades were not pre-assigned for ambassador guests, they replied with a straight face "we have many elite guests, so larger rooms are not always available".
Note: Never more than 30 cars in the parking lot throughout the week. And they apparently block larger rooms in the system anyway.
No reason to return to this hotel on my next of many upcoming trips to the area.

Also this week called the Ambassador team to make a new reservation using a 7 night cert. Agent that answered was incompetent. Took over 20 minutes, she had no clue how to use their systems, and stated she had never seen a 7 night certificate before. While on the line with her, I checked the reservation and it had a big, bold red note that points would come out of my account to cover the certificate. She "guaranteed" that it would not happen.
It happened. Checking today, 150,000 points were taken from my account, as well as a 7 night certificate. So another call today to try and get it straightened out.

I get COVID presents challenges. It does to me and my business as well.
But it's like Marriott isn't even trying anymore.

Originally Posted by UKTraveller4Fun (Post 32700285)

I have given up with Ambassador Service and just contacting hotels directly. I then judge by the response from the hotel if they are a property I wish to stay at or not and there is a huge difference in attitude I am finding between different Marriott properties! I agree that there is a feeling with Corporare that they have given up and just don't believe there is business out there to win atm, thankfully some hotels have not adopted the same attitude but don't use the Ambassador service to try and find out as you may find the issues you then face are the Ambassador Service getting it wrong or forgetting to reply or more recently replying with no relevenance to what I asked!!!

Originally Posted by damnyourefine (Post 32700574)

This has been my MO since the program merger. There were simply too many service failures from the Ambassador Service that it was easier to just contact hotels directly.