hockeyinsider

I find it interesting that some Marriott properties also participate in a loyalty program besides Marriott Bonvoy.

For example, the following Autograph Collection properties also participate in something called Independent Collection:

Annapolis Waterfront Hotel (Annapolis, Maryland)
Blue Moon (Miami Beach, Florida)
The Envoy Hotel (Boston, Massachusetts)
The Winter Haven (Miami Beach, Florida)

Here are the benefits of Independent Collection:




I know the Prince-owned properties in Japan and Hawaii also participate in Prince's loyalty program.

Both of these competing loyalty programs offer benefits that undercut the benefits of Marriott Bonvoy; namely upgrades and a late checkout.

So, which program takes precedence? If there's one suite left who gets it? The Bonvoy customer or the customer from one of these other programs?

Dr. HFH

Presumably the customer who has more value to the specific property, or who works for an employer who has high value to the property. As it should be.

arlflyer

hockeyinsider

Except most reasonable people would presume a Marriott property would only use Marriott's loyalty program.

Also participating in the Independent Collection loyalty program is no different than a hotel also participating in say Hyatt's program.

It would be interesting to know whether Marriott's agreements with hotels allow this or whether this is a rogue group of properties.

C17PSGR

And even when the property is managed by a management company with dozens or hundreds of hotels, the local GM has tremendous latitude and will be responsible for their P&L.

hockeyinsider

@Marriott Bonvoy Lurker, Can you confirm which program takes precedence?

Beltway2A

What makes you assume there's some sort of "precedence"?

This is no different than two Bonvoy elite customers vying for the same upgrade.

ftrichard

What's the difference between this and, for example, a Kempinski also being part of Leading Hotels of the World?

Or, closer to home, a Design Hotel that's opted into Marriott also being a member of, er, Design Hotels?

These are just marketing programmes to push room sales at independently-owned and managed hotels including Marriott's programmes branded Autograph, Design, Tribute Portfolio, Luxury Collection etc.

As for which guest gets priority, well, I'm always super nice and smiley to the front desk when I arrive somewhere rather than rock up with an entitled DYKWIA scowl on my face. I think this, along with revenue and previous stay history, will have more influence on your treatment.

Dr. HFH

And, I would add, responsible to the owners much more than to Marriott. Ultimately, Marriott has to keep the owners happy.

SkiAdcock

Agree w/ both.

MSPeconomist

hockeyinsider

It's totally different. This is a competing brand of boutique hotels with its own fully fledged loyalty program. This would be akin to a Marriott property also participating in Hyatt, Hilton, IHG or whatever.

Marriott's terms and conditions say you get an upgrade to the best available room or suite at the time of check-in. It doesn't say you get an upgrade to the best available room allocated to Marriott.

The contracts that I've seen for management, franchising or licensing to a third-party operator always give Marriott exclusivity and prohibit competing against Marriott. This isn't a program with special promotional rates. If you go to the websites of some of these properties you would have no idea they are Autograph Collection properties. It's very, very unusual.

To my knowledge, Design doesn't have its own loyalty program that competes against Marriott. But regardless, Design is Design.

Beltway2A

No, it's really not. Again, between two Bonvoy members with the same status, who gets the upgrade? The answer is exactly the same.

There's no allocations of rooms between loyalty programs.

MSPeconomist

hockeyinsider

The person who has the first check-in.