Call it hope, being doe-eyed or naďve, but after reading and ruminating so much over Ambassador status I’ve always envisaged it as this vaunted, dedicated level where you’re taken care of by people meant to look after the highest of rollers in the program. That said, I’m aware of people who complained about lackluster Ambassadors, but all in all I viewed this as the top and the best-of-the-best, and it always gave me something to aspire to.

I’m legacy SPG and made Ambassador for the first time in November 2018. I got the introductory e-mail from my Ambassador but in my these two months of interaction via e-mail and phone, I’ve found her to be standoffish, constantly on leave and not of much help the three times I requested help of her [one Your24 request and two general requests]. It’s not that my expectations are too high or that I expect 24/7 assistance, but responses are never timely and because I always make sure to cc the general Ambassador e-mail, I always hear from someone else before/if I ever I hear from her. Lately, I’ve taken to writing one particular member of the Ambassador service who helped me over the phone and gave me his e-mail to deal with a particular issue, and he’s been nothing but spectacularly prompt, professional, timely and thorough in every interaction. If there’s a chance I can change Ambassadors and request him specifically, I’d be a happy camper.

Maybe things will get better in February as some FTers have mentioned. Until then, I’ll just plod along and remain self-sufficient until things go sideways, in which case I’ll just reach out to my preferred contact.

khabah

@khabah I recommend contacting the Ambassador management via the Lurkers or via the phone and requesting a new Ambassador who is more responsive. If they can assign you the Ambassador you now like so much that you always already refer to, so much the better. That also would be a nice test: can you get the Ambassador with which you already have a very good relationship? If the Ambassador program is worth its salt, I would expect them to try very hard to make you happy by making that happen. (Especially if you qualified with the $20K spend!)

Let’s hope that everyone’s Ambassador service improves in the New Year.

I definitely feel as I have lucked out. I just received a call from my Ambassador with an update on 3 different (semi complicated) tasks she has been working on for me- 2 regarding International reservations, 1 domestic. So far her news is good and I should have final confirmation by next week. This has involved a lot of work on her part.

My original plan last year was to hit Ambassador as early as I could in 2018 so that I would have it that year, all of 2019 and for a month in 2020. For the prior 3 years I had averaged around 80 annual nights and based upon the generally negative reports had never felt motivated to make the push for Ambassador. Last year I knew I would go over 100 nights and decided it would be good to determine the value for myself. I wasn’t really planning on making the push in 2019 to extend for another year but my Ambassador has been so helpful I am now reconsidering and may go for 100 after all.

That has to be the goal of the program, right? To incentivize guests to stay more nights at Marriott?

I am still not sure if I will hit 100 this year. 2018 was our busiest travel year to date and we were planning on slowing down a bit this year. 60-75 nights will be easy, 100 will be a stretch. But I think it’s worth noting that Ambassador Service is valuable enough to me that I am considering making the effort to retain it.

I also stopped getting the out of office auto response after the merger. It used to be really useful to know when I had missed my Ambassador (though I know his hours now and so usually get it right provided he’s not on a day off).

My Ambassador is from the SPG side and located at a Starwood call center. This week I left three voicemail messages and sent three emails to the Marriott address using both email addresses she has used recently (in 2019), with first initial and full first name. This is in addition to probably at least a dozen additional times that I tried to call her, all at times when she should be working according to the hours stated at the bottom of her most recent email (and those hours apparently haven't changed since I received my Ambassador assignment about four months ago).

Initial impressions are mixed. My ambassador did reach out to me and asked a bunch of questions (favorite food, snack, drink, birthdays, family info, etc.). But, has not responded to emails. i have two email addresses for her, so, it may be an IT glitch,

It was interesting that last week, I checked into the Marriott and she was kind enough to send a birthday treat to my room!

Even more interesting is that the hotel charged me for it! Classy.

I agree on some level. I won’t look for anything additional in the form of compensation. Just would like the charge removed.

it was a botched excecution of something that should have been endearing. In the interim, I’ll see what my ambassador does to handle it.

im relatively low maintenance. I try not to get worked up, but, have no issues being open and brutally honest.