Sep 9, 2020, 7:01 am
Last edit by: seawolf
Per Marriott Lurker II in post #608:
Due to the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19, our Elite Benefit compensation related to our Ultimate Reservation Guarantee, Room Type Guarantee, Welcome Gifts, and Lounge access has been placed on hold.
We appreciate your understanding during these challenging times.
Changes to Marriott Bonvoy Stays and Services Due to Covid (Discussion Thread)
Aug 27, 2020, 5:57 pm
#526
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,103
Sheraton Grand Seattle. Nada. No lounge, no breakfast, no alternative options offered. There is a full service Starbucks in the lobby that is open and fully functional. Not sure why a daily credit to be used there couldn't be offered. Oh right, I know why. Because Marriott doesn't give a hoot about honoring elite benefits. Would have done Hyatt but Olive 8 doesn't open up again until October.
Last edited by justforfun; Aug 27, 2020 at 7:28 pm
Aug 27, 2020, 7:15 pm
#527
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
At standard properties yes, but no suite upgrades at most luxury brands and FHR already covers free breakfast, etc. Historically I would do RC over other brands for the elite nights but given I have no real need for those this year it seems to pretty much be a wash.
Aug 27, 2020, 7:31 pm
#528
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Well yes I pretty much always choose FHR if possible. Especially booking with CTS where you get $300 in credits at RC's.
Aug 27, 2020, 8:03 pm
#529
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,510
Same here. Put up the "Do Not Disturb" sign long before they gave points for foregoing housekeeping. I try to live a green lifestyle and I find it very annoying when there is a sign telling you to hang up your towels if you would like to reuse them, and they replace them anyhow!
Aug 28, 2020, 7:45 am
#530
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold, IHG Silver, Choice Platinum, Wyndham Gold
Posts: 3,844
Same here. Put up the "Do Not Disturb" sign long before they gave points for foregoing housekeeping. I try to live a green lifestyle and I find it very annoying when there is a sign telling you to hang up your towels if you would like to reuse them, and they replace them anyhow!
Aug 28, 2020, 7:43 pm
#531
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,985
Aug 28, 2020, 9:11 pm
#532
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 514
Same here. Put up the "Do Not Disturb" sign long before they gave points for foregoing housekeeping. I try to live a green lifestyle and I find it very annoying when there is a sign telling you to hang up your towels if you would like to reuse them, and they replace them anyhow!
Aug 29, 2020, 12:06 am
#533
formerly wchinchen
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Honolulu
Programs: AA CK, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,258
Sheraton Grand Seattle. Nada. No lounge, no breakfast, no alternative options offered. There is a full service Starbucks in the lobby that is open and fully functional. Not sure why a daily credit to be used there couldn't be offered. Oh right, I know why. Because Marriott doesn't give a hoot about honoring elite benefits. Would have done Hyatt but Olive 8 doesn't open up again until October.
Aug 29, 2020, 12:43 am
#534
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,716
I just checked into the Ahwahnee in Yosemite. The rates are always high here - on par with a St Regis city hotel. However I am impressed with the level of service which is still good despite onerous COVID restrictions mandated by NPS and state. Cooked to order (or preordered) Food to go for all mealtimes is prepared in the hotel restaurant. Staff very responsive to requests and brings things to room. Alas the Wi-Fi is out due to flooding but that’s a plus in a national park. Pool is open. Bar is open.
marriott could Safely and easily do all of these things at its finer properties but chooses instead to shaft the customer to save a few $$. As I like to say, penny wise, pound foolish.
marriott could Safely and easily do all of these things at its finer properties but chooses instead to shaft the customer to save a few $$. As I like to say, penny wise, pound foolish.
Aug 29, 2020, 8:40 am
#535
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
5 day stay at The Republic, San Diego. Nice property and location, but amenities are Motel 6 level. No in-room coffee or water bottles, bar, restaurant, and lounge are closed (750 points daily for Plat and above - 60 cents towards your 7-11 coffee).
McMarriott’s Bonvoy needs a post-COVID rethink; the purported advantages of status are quickly proving illusionary.
McMarriott’s Bonvoy needs a post-COVID rethink; the purported advantages of status are quickly proving illusionary.
Aug 29, 2020, 9:23 am
#536
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: YQR
Programs: AC-100k, MR LTT
Posts: 258
Western Canadian stay experience from July and August:
Four Points Saskatoon: while the hotel isn't particularly old, it is poorly-run and maintained. Dirty common areas and a lot of evidence of poor room-cleaning standards, such as finding refuse from prior guests in the bed. Breakfast offered to elites, but limited to one menu item.
Kananaskis Lodge, Autograph Collection: a terrific stay, with strong protocols and elite treatment, including generous room upgrades, even though the hotel appeared close to capacity. Full breakfast provided for 4 (!), with any choice on the extensive menu. The cafe and the casual restaurant are open with somewhat reduced hours, while the fine dining area was closed. Room service was available, and excellent. Access to common facilities, like the waterpark and the gym had controlled/booked entry times and enforced maximum capacity. Service was exemplary. The access to forest and isolated mountain trails starting right at the property, combined with the excellent service experience under the circumstances, makes this a great getaway during the COVID era.
Sheraton Cavalier Calgary: the hotel, and Calgary more generally, had been struggling pre-COVID, and it was at very low capacity when we booked. The club lounge is closed, but a full breakfast is offered in the cafe, with a decent amount of choice. Pool and waterpark are open with limited, timed admission. Service, as always, was excellent.
Delta Vancouver Suites: all food and beverage services are closed, but one nice thing they are doing is offering beer and wine (at good prices) at the front desk. Points are provided in lieu of the breakfast benefit, and I was offered a choice of upgraded room. Service was outstanding, including a well-coordinated effort with food delivery services. The gym is available with advance booking and limited to 1-3 guests at the same time. Clean, efficient, and friendly.
Delta Whistler Suites: rates were the lowest I'd ever seen here, and while the village was busy, it was nothing like Augusts past. The hotel is older and in need of some renovations, but it was clean and well-run, and they offered sealed amenity bags near the front counter, with bottles of water, tea/coffee, cleaning supplies, and PPE. Points offered in place of breakfast, as the attached restaurant now only opens for lunch.
Westin Grand Vancouver: all food and beverage services are closed. The hotel was clean and the gym was open and bookable in advance. The location is hard to beat, and service is consistently very good. Capacity was low during the week, but picked up noticeably on Friday/Saturday.
For all of the hotels, housekeeping was available on demand, though the advance time required varied from an hour to a day in advance. Extra towels, water, etc. were available on demand, too.
It's a unique and very challenging environment for hotels right now, and I'm impressed with how most of them are adapting and coping. I miss the lounges a lot, as they are a favourite place to work or to get quiet time while the rest of the family sleeps, but the comparative ease of upgrades and in some cases, the other benefits offered, I'm content, while looking forward to a return of normalcy.
Four Points Saskatoon: while the hotel isn't particularly old, it is poorly-run and maintained. Dirty common areas and a lot of evidence of poor room-cleaning standards, such as finding refuse from prior guests in the bed. Breakfast offered to elites, but limited to one menu item.
Kananaskis Lodge, Autograph Collection: a terrific stay, with strong protocols and elite treatment, including generous room upgrades, even though the hotel appeared close to capacity. Full breakfast provided for 4 (!), with any choice on the extensive menu. The cafe and the casual restaurant are open with somewhat reduced hours, while the fine dining area was closed. Room service was available, and excellent. Access to common facilities, like the waterpark and the gym had controlled/booked entry times and enforced maximum capacity. Service was exemplary. The access to forest and isolated mountain trails starting right at the property, combined with the excellent service experience under the circumstances, makes this a great getaway during the COVID era.
Sheraton Cavalier Calgary: the hotel, and Calgary more generally, had been struggling pre-COVID, and it was at very low capacity when we booked. The club lounge is closed, but a full breakfast is offered in the cafe, with a decent amount of choice. Pool and waterpark are open with limited, timed admission. Service, as always, was excellent.
Delta Vancouver Suites: all food and beverage services are closed, but one nice thing they are doing is offering beer and wine (at good prices) at the front desk. Points are provided in lieu of the breakfast benefit, and I was offered a choice of upgraded room. Service was outstanding, including a well-coordinated effort with food delivery services. The gym is available with advance booking and limited to 1-3 guests at the same time. Clean, efficient, and friendly.
Delta Whistler Suites: rates were the lowest I'd ever seen here, and while the village was busy, it was nothing like Augusts past. The hotel is older and in need of some renovations, but it was clean and well-run, and they offered sealed amenity bags near the front counter, with bottles of water, tea/coffee, cleaning supplies, and PPE. Points offered in place of breakfast, as the attached restaurant now only opens for lunch.
Westin Grand Vancouver: all food and beverage services are closed. The hotel was clean and the gym was open and bookable in advance. The location is hard to beat, and service is consistently very good. Capacity was low during the week, but picked up noticeably on Friday/Saturday.
For all of the hotels, housekeeping was available on demand, though the advance time required varied from an hour to a day in advance. Extra towels, water, etc. were available on demand, too.
It's a unique and very challenging environment for hotels right now, and I'm impressed with how most of them are adapting and coping. I miss the lounges a lot, as they are a favourite place to work or to get quiet time while the rest of the family sleeps, but the comparative ease of upgrades and in some cases, the other benefits offered, I'm content, while looking forward to a return of normalcy.
Aug 29, 2020, 12:50 pm
#537
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,888
I just checked into the Ahwahnee in Yosemite. The rates are always high here - on par with a St Regis city hotel. However I am impressed with the level of service which is still good despite onerous COVID restrictions mandated by NPS and state. Cooked to order (or preordered) Food to go for all mealtimes is prepared in the hotel restaurant. Staff very responsive to requests and brings things to room. Alas the Wi-Fi is out due to flooding but that’s a plus in a national park. Pool is open. Bar is open.
marriott could Safely and easily do all of these things at its finer properties but chooses instead to shaft the customer to save a few $$. As I like to say, penny wise, pound foolish.
marriott could Safely and easily do all of these things at its finer properties but chooses instead to shaft the customer to save a few $$. As I like to say, penny wise, pound foolish.
Aug 29, 2020, 3:10 pm
#538
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, AA Plat MM
Posts: 3,582
Western Canadian stay experience from July and August:
Four Points Saskatoon: while the hotel isn't particularly old, it is poorly-run and maintained. Dirty common areas and a lot of evidence of poor room-cleaning standards, such as finding refuse from prior guests in the bed. Breakfast offered to elites, but limited to one menu item.
Kananaskis Lodge, Autograph Collection: a terrific stay, with strong protocols and elite treatment, including generous room upgrades, even though the hotel appeared close to capacity. Full breakfast provided for 4 (!), with any choice on the extensive menu. The cafe and the casual restaurant are open with somewhat reduced hours, while the fine dining area was closed. Room service was available, and excellent. Access to common facilities, like the waterpark and the gym had controlled/booked entry times and enforced maximum capacity. Service was exemplary. The access to forest and isolated mountain trails starting right at the property, combined with the excellent service experience under the circumstances, makes this a great getaway during the COVID era.
Sheraton Cavalier Calgary: the hotel, and Calgary more generally, had been struggling pre-COVID, and it was at very low capacity when we booked. The club lounge is closed, but a full breakfast is offered in the cafe, with a decent amount of choice. Pool and waterpark are open with limited, timed admission. Service, as always, was excellent.
Delta Vancouver Suites: all food and beverage services are closed, but one nice thing they are doing is offering beer and wine (at good prices) at the front desk. Points are provided in lieu of the breakfast benefit, and I was offered a choice of upgraded room. Service was outstanding, including a well-coordinated effort with food delivery services. The gym is available with advance booking and limited to 1-3 guests at the same time. Clean, efficient, and friendly.
Delta Whistler Suites: rates were the lowest I'd ever seen here, and while the village was busy, it was nothing like Augusts past. The hotel is older and in need of some renovations, but it was clean and well-run, and they offered sealed amenity bags near the front counter, with bottles of water, tea/coffee, cleaning supplies, and PPE. Points offered in place of breakfast, as the attached restaurant now only opens for lunch.
Westin Grand Vancouver: all food and beverage services are closed. The hotel was clean and the gym was open and bookable in advance. The location is hard to beat, and service is consistently very good. Capacity was low during the week, but picked up noticeably on Friday/Saturday.
For all of the hotels, housekeeping was available on demand, though the advance time required varied from an hour to a day in advance. Extra towels, water, etc. were available on demand, too.
It's a unique and very challenging environment for hotels right now, and I'm impressed with how most of them are adapting and coping. I miss the lounges a lot, as they are a favourite place to work or to get quiet time while the rest of the family sleeps, but the comparative ease of upgrades and in some cases, the other benefits offered, I'm content, while looking forward to a return of normalcy.
Four Points Saskatoon: while the hotel isn't particularly old, it is poorly-run and maintained. Dirty common areas and a lot of evidence of poor room-cleaning standards, such as finding refuse from prior guests in the bed. Breakfast offered to elites, but limited to one menu item.
Kananaskis Lodge, Autograph Collection: a terrific stay, with strong protocols and elite treatment, including generous room upgrades, even though the hotel appeared close to capacity. Full breakfast provided for 4 (!), with any choice on the extensive menu. The cafe and the casual restaurant are open with somewhat reduced hours, while the fine dining area was closed. Room service was available, and excellent. Access to common facilities, like the waterpark and the gym had controlled/booked entry times and enforced maximum capacity. Service was exemplary. The access to forest and isolated mountain trails starting right at the property, combined with the excellent service experience under the circumstances, makes this a great getaway during the COVID era.
Sheraton Cavalier Calgary: the hotel, and Calgary more generally, had been struggling pre-COVID, and it was at very low capacity when we booked. The club lounge is closed, but a full breakfast is offered in the cafe, with a decent amount of choice. Pool and waterpark are open with limited, timed admission. Service, as always, was excellent.
Delta Vancouver Suites: all food and beverage services are closed, but one nice thing they are doing is offering beer and wine (at good prices) at the front desk. Points are provided in lieu of the breakfast benefit, and I was offered a choice of upgraded room. Service was outstanding, including a well-coordinated effort with food delivery services. The gym is available with advance booking and limited to 1-3 guests at the same time. Clean, efficient, and friendly.
Delta Whistler Suites: rates were the lowest I'd ever seen here, and while the village was busy, it was nothing like Augusts past. The hotel is older and in need of some renovations, but it was clean and well-run, and they offered sealed amenity bags near the front counter, with bottles of water, tea/coffee, cleaning supplies, and PPE. Points offered in place of breakfast, as the attached restaurant now only opens for lunch.
Westin Grand Vancouver: all food and beverage services are closed. The hotel was clean and the gym was open and bookable in advance. The location is hard to beat, and service is consistently very good. Capacity was low during the week, but picked up noticeably on Friday/Saturday.
For all of the hotels, housekeeping was available on demand, though the advance time required varied from an hour to a day in advance. Extra towels, water, etc. were available on demand, too.
It's a unique and very challenging environment for hotels right now, and I'm impressed with how most of them are adapting and coping. I miss the lounges a lot, as they are a favourite place to work or to get quiet time while the rest of the family sleeps, but the comparative ease of upgrades and in some cases, the other benefits offered, I'm content, while looking forward to a return of normalcy.
Aug 29, 2020, 4:23 pm
#539
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 902
Despite the numerous complaints on this thread I have to say I’ve had a very pleasant return to travelling with Marriott as an Ambassador Elite member.
Since last July I had 5 stays at two Ws and one each at LC, LM and SH for a grand total of 31 nights. All save one were paid stays, either BRGs or the Welcome Back promotional rate.
For each and all of these 31 nights I was upgraded to a full suite. Some of these were hotels where I am a returning guest and where I had never been able to score a suite upgrade on my previous stays. At one of the Ws my suite had a malfunctioning AC and, because repairs could only take place the following day, I asked to be moved to another room (still an upgrade from award booking) and got 50k points compensation for missing out on my upgrade.
Breakfast at the restaurant was always provided as a welcome amenity (when not included in the rate) and, despite some limitations in the spreads due to the Covid situation, all were good to excellent.
All those 5 properties were functioning satisfactorily, notwithstanding some closures (spas, dining venues, bars and/or clubs) and the unavoidable heightened safety measures.
Since last July I had 5 stays at two Ws and one each at LC, LM and SH for a grand total of 31 nights. All save one were paid stays, either BRGs or the Welcome Back promotional rate.
For each and all of these 31 nights I was upgraded to a full suite. Some of these were hotels where I am a returning guest and where I had never been able to score a suite upgrade on my previous stays. At one of the Ws my suite had a malfunctioning AC and, because repairs could only take place the following day, I asked to be moved to another room (still an upgrade from award booking) and got 50k points compensation for missing out on my upgrade.
Breakfast at the restaurant was always provided as a welcome amenity (when not included in the rate) and, despite some limitations in the spreads due to the Covid situation, all were good to excellent.
All those 5 properties were functioning satisfactorily, notwithstanding some closures (spas, dining venues, bars and/or clubs) and the unavoidable heightened safety measures.
Aug 29, 2020, 5:58 pm
#540
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,424
I have ten Marriott stays since mid-March. Only two properties (Phoenician and Camelback Inn) offered breakfast. The Courtyard Del Mar/Solana Beach offered $10 credit in the Market. Nine of the ten stays, I received a really crappy initial room assignment (Bayview Marriott Newport Beach, being the exception, though they did not give me a suite). For two of those nine stays, I was able to improve the initial room assignment, but it required extensive back and forth at the Camelback, including discussion with two managers.
"Last July" would be July 2019 . . . do you mean this July?
"Last July" would be July 2019 . . . do you mean this July?