bhrubin

Antarius

could be. other variables include elites who are traveling for special occasions may mention it and business patterns and trip patterns do not overlap; during the week vs weekends etc.

I get upgraded a decent amount, but the only times I ask or request is the few times I'm with family or friends. Otherwise, 99% of the time, it is just me and I dont really care.

My Feelings when getting a crazy suite
1. Oh wow this is huge!
2. Feel slightly special
3. Realize you do not need any of the space
4. Do not use any of the space

andrewstahl

BaldEmu

porciuscato

Same here. I have enjoyed a particularly high upgrade rate this year.

bhrubin

Most of my stays are alone. You know I get upgraded almost all the time to suites--and to much better room categories in all other cases.

Of course, I am a returning guest now to most of the hotels at which I stay alone for business, and that combination--Ambassador status and returning guest--probably puts me at the top of the pack at any of those.

Most of my other stays are for special occasions and/r with my husband, sometimes but not always as repeat guest. Many of those are as repeat guests (SLS Beverly Hills, StR San Francisco, Prince de Galles Paris) but many will be as first time guests (Nobis Copenhagen, Grand Bretagne, Mystique Santorini, Edition West Hollywood).

immaculate

I've only had Ambassador status (this year is my 3rd year) and SPG Platinum so can't comment on the differences of Titanium vs Ambassador. That being said, I really like my Ambassador - she's very responsive, remembers little details about me and my stay preferences, and has set up a few nice surprises for me in the past (flower petals on bed spelling out happy birthday for my partner, for example).

THAT said, I have had pretty poor "upgrade" success stateside. This may be due to the particular property I regularly stay at. Of my 60+ nights at this property this year, I have been upgraded to a suite exactly 2 nights. Not a huge deal - I don't usually need the space when I'm by myself, but I've had enough other service misses to make me feel a sense of relief that I've already re-qualified as Ambassador for 2020 and can move over to Hyatt for the rest of the year.

btonkid12345

Agreed. I think there are other factors at play that go into your high success rate with specialty suites - I mean don't you bring in like 10% of the annual meeting revenue of the StR San Francisco? Just kidding. :P

But my point is - when you stay - you spend a lot on ancillaries - and that combined with your high Ambassador spend probably enhances the already nice upgrades an Ambassador Elite with $20,001 of spend would expect.

escapefromphl

Flying for Fun

Sorry to hear your successes don't mimick mine. I am sure many Ambassador Elites have not had the same successes within that Tier either and won't regret giving up Ambassador for Titanium or another program.

I still follow the Ambassador related threads in hopes it might mature to something that I might actually find value in. I am not yet convinced! It isn't that I can't make the spend requirement, it is that I choose no to. Outliers (yes that is the plural of outlier, a data set can have more than one) can't convince me that when a monetary component is added to a "loyalty" program that spend isn't a factor in their successes. I think I would be naive in thinking that $20,001 Ambassador Elite will get the same recognition as one who spends $50K+.

If someone wants to spend $11K on some reservations at luxury properties for me and prove me wrong, I am all ears! I will be arounds 90 nights by the end of the month.

James

Marriott15

I would like to see a bigger gap between Titanium and Ambassador. I agree the Your24 benefit and the ambassador is a huge benefit. But to me someone that stays close to 150 nights and spends close to $30,000 should get added benefits then someone that just stays 75 nights a year. Two ideas I would love for them to implement. Ambassador should get 100% Bonus points, a 40k certificate, get both arrival points and breakfast/F&B Certificate.

bhrubin

FWIW I've never brought any groups to a StR or any other luxury hotel. Way too pricey! Only myself.

I do spend plenty on F&B.

As evidenced by the many verified Ambassadors in our FB group, it's quite clear that many others also get my kind of treatment.

bhrubin

Bolding mine. I'm sorry to say, but this is what we call entitlement.

Flying for Fun

I would agree with that if there wasn't a spend to be be loyal requirement. Marriott doesn't value a 150 night per year member who drives across middle America trying to make a living for his family, while spending almost half a year away from them, and only spends $15K or less because it is coming out of his pocket. What about them? How about the member who spends in excess of $20K and doesn't achieve enough nights for Silver or Gold? Marriott doesn't value them either. It sounds as if you expect more for the additional spend. Unfortunately, that isn't how revenue based loyalty works. Once a revenue component is added into the mix, inequity is sure to follow suit. When two AA members tie on status and vying for an upgrade, the one with the higher spend gets the bigger seat.

Marriott only values members that have 100 nights AND spends $20K. Period! Easy for some, not feasible for others. Not all Ambassador Elites get there on their own dime.

Your24 & an ambassador may be a huge benefit to you but many data points suggest that Your24 is usually denied and here crickets when waiting for their ambassador to reply. Yet others will say that their Ambassador is excellent in fulfilling special requests working with the properties in one breath and suggest that the properties knowing your Ambassador Elite Status is the driving force in another depending on what is appropriate for the argument.

I have suggested gifts for Elites attaining 100 nights and subsequent 25 night intervals with increasing value. If Marriott doesn't want to value a 100 night Elite without the spend, at least offer a gift for the 100/125/150 night level as a consolation. It might incentivise a few to remain loyal past 75 Nights and reach the spend requirement even if it takes to 125 or more nights.

James

Keyser

at the end of the day it all depends on your stay patterns & the ambassador service will vary greatly depending on that....

i was among the first group of members who received ambassadors way back in 2010 when it was an invitation only program....the ambassador service was amazing at that point of time....my ambassador was constantly in touch with the hotel, before & during my stay....the property was made aware of the fact that i was a special guest & it didn't matter if the property was a four points or a st. regis, i was treated extremely well....

my work stay patterns have not changed over the last 9 years....i always stay at the property closest to the venue i need to be at for work....so once again, it doesn't matter if the property is an element or courtyard or st. regis....i don't care about suite upgrades when traveling for work so it makes no difference what my ambassador does before or during these stays....my award stay patterns have changed greatly over the years....before my kids were born, my wife & i stayed at the best hotels around the world....usually cat 6 & 7 properties....when we started traveling with our kids, we prioritized things like space & kitchenettes over luxury properties....i now enjoy staying at properties like residence inns & towneplace suites....if i need a suite during a vacation stay then i either use a suite night or book the suite directly....most properties i stay in now for vacations don't really require much input from an ambassador....

i have noticed a severe change over the years at how properties treated an ambassador guest....when it was an invitation only program, every property treated us extremely well....when the program became public & the earning requirements were introduced, i noticed that the treatment started to decline at lower end properties while it remained consistent at higher end properties....over the years the treatment became non-existent at lower end properties & became hit & miss at higher end properties....this year i have started to receive some level of recognition at lower end properties & treatment at higher end properties has once again become good....

the reason for above is pretty obvious....initially there were only a handful of guests who were given ambassadors....so the ambassadors were able to do a lot more for each guest....they were constantly in touch with the hotels where we were staying & made sure everything went right with our stay....when the number of guests increased, the ambassadors had less time to spend for each guest & therefore were not in touch with the hotels as much as they used to be earlier....higher end properties were better at responding to ambassador requests while lower end properties were not....i'm sure the initial plan of the ambassador program was to make sure guests had near perfect stays, no matter whether they stayed at an aloft or a luxury collection property but as the number of guests increased the amount of time each ambassador spent for them decreased....

i've realised that i use my ambassador fairly infrequently now, except for your24 requests (which i use for most of my stays) & for things like making sure my stay & points post correctly....if i don't qualify for ambassador status next year then the only thing i will miss is your24....i don't think i will find any other difference between titanium & ambassador....