Results in getting the DESTINATION FEE waived at Marriott branded properties
Jul 1, 2019, 7:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 373
Results in getting the DESTINATION FEE waived at Marriott branded properties
I think this should be a thread, to hear from Marriott elite members and their successes or not in getting the hotel to waive the Destination/Resort fee. I think these are total money grab scam fees so I do my best to try and get the hotel to waive them for me. I thought of doing this thread like the one that was started here about 4pm late checkout successes or not.
So I'll start. I am Ambassador and Lifetime Titanium and I have been able to get the Marriott Marquis Times Square to waive the fee for me. Also the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and the Renaissance Las Vegas. All waived.
Only one that gave me lots of problems was the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. They kept pushing it to higher and higher managers and it became so tiresome I just gave up.
So I'll start. I am Ambassador and Lifetime Titanium and I have been able to get the Marriott Marquis Times Square to waive the fee for me. Also the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and the Renaissance Las Vegas. All waived.
Only one that gave me lots of problems was the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. They kept pushing it to higher and higher managers and it became so tiresome I just gave up.
Jul 1, 2019, 7:18 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,748
What about the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina? I am staying there just prior to Thanksgiving for a conference.
The conference has the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina on their list, but the hotel claimed to be fully booked on one of the conference nights.
The conference has the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina on their list, but the hotel claimed to be fully booked on one of the conference nights.
Jul 1, 2019, 7:27 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 373
What do you mean what about it? I'm confused as to what you are writing.
Jul 1, 2019, 8:30 am
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton LT Diamond, AA LT Platinum
Posts: 426
I think this should be a thread, to hear from Marriott elite members and their successes or not in getting the hotel to waive the Destination/Resort fee. I think these are total money grab scam fees so I do my best to try and get the hotel to waive them for me. I thought of doing this thread like the one that was started here about 4pm late checkout successes or not.
So I'll start. I am Ambassador and Lifetime Titanium and I have been able to get the Marriott Marquis Times Square to waive the fee for me. Also the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and the Renaissance Las Vegas. All waived.
Only one that gave me lots of problems was the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. They kept pushing it to higher and higher managers and it became so tiresome I just gave up.
So I'll start. I am Ambassador and Lifetime Titanium and I have been able to get the Marriott Marquis Times Square to waive the fee for me. Also the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and the Renaissance Las Vegas. All waived.
Only one that gave me lots of problems was the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. They kept pushing it to higher and higher managers and it became so tiresome I just gave up.
Jul 1, 2019, 8:49 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,453
Has anyone had success challenging destination fees for bookings made over the phone? I redeemed a travel package and the agent didn't say bupkis about a fee, but when I click into my reso there is a notice about one. There was also no resort fee specifically listed on my confirm, though there is a note way, way, way, way, way down the page (like 7 pages down the email if I print it out) that says
"Using your points will cover your room charge and tax. Additional service charges or resort fees may apply where applicable."
Still seems to me that this should have been disclosed when I booked, not after the fact in the finest print of the confirmation.
"Using your points will cover your room charge and tax. Additional service charges or resort fees may apply where applicable."
Still seems to me that this should have been disclosed when I booked, not after the fact in the finest print of the confirmation.
Jul 1, 2019, 10:39 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Hyatt Explorist; Vistana 5* Elite; Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 6,177
The Marriott Marquis Times Square and the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina are not the same property. The waiver is done by the property and is not consistent based on brand.
Jul 1, 2019, 11:20 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Carlsbad,CA USA
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanuim/Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Gold, United Silver
Posts: 1,533
I had the fee waived once at the Sheraton Harbor Island San Diego when I was staying for 1 night on points prior to an early morning plane flight and checked in late. Another time for a 2 night paid stay no.
Jul 1, 2019, 12:11 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Diego, CA/Boston, MA
Programs: United Lifetime Plat 2 million, Starwood Platinum, Alaska MVP Gold 75k
Posts: 143
I always ask if the resort fee/destination fee includes internet. Nine times out of ten, they say yes and I point out that as an elite, I’m entitled to an alternative amenity and then show them the Marriott T&Cs., section 1.3.v.
Almost always successful and in particular the Westin Grand Central has been absolutely great with no escalation to a manager. The worst property I’ve encountered was the Sheraton in Kona, Hawaii. The resort fee includes nothing, is an obvious money grab, and they charge internet/parking on top of the fee. They give you a 99 cent bag at check in and claim it is worth $15. I spent an hour escalating this to a manager and could not get the fee waived. He did give me an extra 1000 points a day, and offered a useless bag every day when I was really only entitled to one at check in. Very obnoxious property.
Almost always successful and in particular the Westin Grand Central has been absolutely great with no escalation to a manager. The worst property I’ve encountered was the Sheraton in Kona, Hawaii. The resort fee includes nothing, is an obvious money grab, and they charge internet/parking on top of the fee. They give you a 99 cent bag at check in and claim it is worth $15. I spent an hour escalating this to a manager and could not get the fee waived. He did give me an extra 1000 points a day, and offered a useless bag every day when I was really only entitled to one at check in. Very obnoxious property.
Jul 1, 2019, 2:24 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,120
Jul 1, 2019, 2:50 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PHL
Posts: 656
“v.Participating Properties that have mandatory resort charges, which include internet access, will provide a replacement benefit, to be determined at each Participating Property's discretion.”
Jul 1, 2019, 6:32 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,712
I’ve tried that twice now and was just told “no, we don’t do that”. Nobody in Marriott could care less, so I just left it. I raised two non-compliance issues towards the end of last year which despite 4 months of chasing with my Ambassador I never got a response on, so I’ve now stopped chasing.
Jul 1, 2019, 7:17 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,742
So you apparently knew about the fee before you arrived at the property. Would you have been able to cancel if you wanted?
