Marriott Instituting Peak Award Chart in 2018 for Ski Resorts
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,074
I was told all Ski Resorts during Ski Season. Again, this is not hotel specific. I will keep everyone updated. Anyone else have a stay during this time on points? Any old SPG people out there remember if SKI season was High Season at SPG for reward stays?
Last edited by jr1202sr; Sep 27, 2018 at 7:10 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
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Posts: 4,835
WOW, just WOW. I am curious how this will turn out.
I think you should name the property since the call came from corporate, possibly there is no blame to lay on the property anyway. Just useful to know.
I am getting worried about various actions taken by Marriott. None of them have affected me so far, therefore I have not been personally pi$$ed off yet, but I do not like what I am seeing nonetheless.
I think you should name the property since the call came from corporate, possibly there is no blame to lay on the property anyway. Just useful to know.
I am getting worried about various actions taken by Marriott. None of them have affected me so far, therefore I have not been personally pi$$ed off yet, but I do not like what I am seeing nonetheless.
#33
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: New York
Programs: MB-LTT , HH-Diam., HGP-Expl.
Posts: 778
I appreciate that you let us know about the call.
Last edited by rny321; Sep 27, 2018 at 12:15 pm
#34
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SPG hotels in Categories 5 and above have long had a seasonal element, which was mostly at the discretion of the hotel itself. IIRC Cat, 5 was 12K-16K per night, 6 was 20-25k, etc.
#35
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: MR-Amb, Hyatt-Globalist, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,744
I can't imagine this being accurate, but who knows. And historically some SPG properties would have most of the prime ski season as peak time, but others would only have holidays like President's Day weekend at peak levels. I don't recall any having peak rates the entire ski season though, usually at least early December and early April were non-peak.
#36
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 147
The idea that the OP is stating his cancellation window went form 3 days to 60 days tells me there is an underlying mistake with his booking. If I read correct the booking is a former SPG category 7 in Colorado. I believe the only one is the St Regis Aspen. Although I think a couple of the former SPG Vail properties moved to a new category 7. Nonetheless, the standard winter cancellation policy at the St Regis is 60 days. Westin Snowmass is 30 days. This is consistent with all ski resort properties I’ve experienced. They don’t want people blocking a bunch of rooms and cancelling at the last minute when mountain conditions aren’t perfect.
#37
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: Hyatt Glob; UA 1K; BonVoyage LTT (RIP SPG); HH Dia; JX Insighter
Posts: 1,642
The idea that the OP is stating his cancellation window went form 3 days to 60 days tells me there is an underlying mistake with his booking. If I read correct the booking is a former SPG category 7 in Colorado. I believe the only one is the St Regis Aspen. Although I think a couple of the former SPG Vail properties moved to a new category 7. Nonetheless, the standard winter cancellation policy at the St Regis is 60 days. Westin Snowmass is 30 days. This is consistent with all ski resort properties I’ve experienced. They don’t want people blocking a bunch of rooms and cancelling at the last minute when mountain conditions aren’t perfect.
#38
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So it seems to me there's a bunch of stuff going on here.
1. Ski resorts being Peak during most or all of ski season. That doesn't surprise me at all.
2. Marriott going back on the promise that peak pricing won't apply until 2019. Disappointing, but I'm not exactly shocked.
3. Even if peak pricing begins in December and not January, the fact that it is applied to bookings made before that start date is new, and has potential to affect all hotels, not just ski resorts. Previous statements had been that as long as you booked before peak pricing, the standard chart would apply.
4. Marriott changing the terms of an existing confirmed reservation, both the pojnts rate and the cancellation policy. Maddening.
1. Ski resorts being Peak during most or all of ski season. That doesn't surprise me at all.
2. Marriott going back on the promise that peak pricing won't apply until 2019. Disappointing, but I'm not exactly shocked.
3. Even if peak pricing begins in December and not January, the fact that it is applied to bookings made before that start date is new, and has potential to affect all hotels, not just ski resorts. Previous statements had been that as long as you booked before peak pricing, the standard chart would apply.
4. Marriott changing the terms of an existing confirmed reservation, both the pojnts rate and the cancellation policy. Maddening.
#40
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 96
Lurker: Email sent with verification of my reservation at 360 points for 7 Nights. That is 6 @ 60K each AND 1 night Free with 4 for 5 promotion. I also sent a copy of the award chart. My call stated the new cost would be 70K per night. I have the agents name and ext in the corp office.
To everyone else: This is not a cruel joke. I was called by Ms. XXXX. at the Salt Lake City Marriott Office and She was a Corporate Liaison for Marriott Rewards. I asked specially for her name and title. Caller ID showed a 801 #. She gave me her ext so she clearly works in the corp department if I needed to follow up. This wasn't me calling a call center and getting bad info.
What was amazing is she had NO problem going on record stating this is what Marriott was doing moving forward and it was not what had been previously advertised. I pressed her 3x and said I was going to quote her on this as this was crazy to change the terms after a reservation was made. There was no I am sorry for any confusion about the dates or we meant to exclude resorts....simply we are changing your terms take it or leave it. Hopefully the lurker can speak to someone and they can "rethink" this plan. This isn't some random person in a call center misinformed. I was called on my Cell phone in the middle of the day.
BTW my cancellation period was changed from 3 days out to 60 days out.
To everyone else: This is not a cruel joke. I was called by Ms. XXXX. at the Salt Lake City Marriott Office and She was a Corporate Liaison for Marriott Rewards. I asked specially for her name and title. Caller ID showed a 801 #. She gave me her ext so she clearly works in the corp department if I needed to follow up. This wasn't me calling a call center and getting bad info.
What was amazing is she had NO problem going on record stating this is what Marriott was doing moving forward and it was not what had been previously advertised. I pressed her 3x and said I was going to quote her on this as this was crazy to change the terms after a reservation was made. There was no I am sorry for any confusion about the dates or we meant to exclude resorts....simply we are changing your terms take it or leave it. Hopefully the lurker can speak to someone and they can "rethink" this plan. This isn't some random person in a call center misinformed. I was called on my Cell phone in the middle of the day.
BTW my cancellation period was changed from 3 days out to 60 days out.
#41
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: DFW, DAL
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Posts: 1,007
You have me worried, not just for this reservation but the behavior of marriott.
#42
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 6
Changes after 8/18
While all of this is disturbing, it is the result of integrating the rules of two completely different systems. It affects the hotel owners and their loyal customers and Marriott is trying to make up policies to appease everyone. In the end they will need to accommodate the customers and honor their reservations.
#43
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN A-List, Marriott Tit
Posts: 257
I had a similar situation, which was just resolved this way after calling CS twice and emailing:
"Thank you for kindly reaching out to Marriott Customer Care
Thank you for your patience
As you are aware, the amount of points needed for your reservation increased after the combining of the loyalty program. In order to honor your original amount of 180,000 points, I needed to add 60,000 points to your account to cover the difference. In your account activity, you will see 60,000 points added to your account, and then 240,000 removed.
Again I apologize that it has taken so long to get this done for you."
"Thank you for kindly reaching out to Marriott Customer Care
Thank you for your patience
As you are aware, the amount of points needed for your reservation increased after the combining of the loyalty program. In order to honor your original amount of 180,000 points, I needed to add 60,000 points to your account to cover the difference. In your account activity, you will see 60,000 points added to your account, and then 240,000 removed.
Again I apologize that it has taken so long to get this done for you."
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,481
All Marriott properties will have peak/off-peak pricing in 2019 as stated on Marriott.com. What is alarming is that this applies retroactively to confirmed reservations with points deducted already. I surely hope this policy will be changed.
#45
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,232
I had a similar situation, which was just resolved this way after calling CS twice and emailing:
"Thank you for kindly reaching out to Marriott Customer Care
Thank you for your patience
As you are aware, the amount of points needed for your reservation increased after the combining of the loyalty program. In order to honor your original amount of 180,000 points, I needed to add 60,000 points to your account to cover the difference. In your account activity, you will see 60,000 points added to your account, and then 240,000 removed.
Again I apologize that it has taken so long to get this done for you."
"Thank you for kindly reaching out to Marriott Customer Care
Thank you for your patience
As you are aware, the amount of points needed for your reservation increased after the combining of the loyalty program. In order to honor your original amount of 180,000 points, I needed to add 60,000 points to your account to cover the difference. In your account activity, you will see 60,000 points added to your account, and then 240,000 removed.
Again I apologize that it has taken so long to get this done for you."