Link Multiple Marriott Reservations for Same Stay
 

When one has to book multiple rooms together on the Marriott website, one can simply select the number of rooms and make the booking. Marriott generates a unique confirmation number for each room booked and they appear under one single row under, "My Trips" for the hotel. One can click, "Details" for the stay and can see both reservations linked together.

1) However, I had to book two separate reservations for the same stay as one room was booked on a cash-rate and one room was booked using points. I am trying to figure out how to, "link" these reservations online so that it appears similar to when I had booked two rooms together. Is this possible? If no, can the Marriott team, "link" these reservations?

2) Similarly, I had to book two separate reservations foe the same stay as each room had a different occupancy number and Marriott does not allow you to book two rooms together if each room has a different occupancy number. I would like to link these reservations as well.

Either you can call the hotel to let them know about the link or, that is what I do in this instance, put a message about the link into the request field of your booking („choose room features“).Only works on the website though.

Any reason to "link" these reservations?

Other than cosmetic, I don't see any advantage by "link" these reservations.
I even think that Marriott "amazing" IT system might end up cocking them up for you.

Like your point and cash rate, the system might treat those reservations as all point reservations and make your earned point lesser (or even zeroed them completely)

The second case, does the occupancy difference cause extra charge for the room? like 2 and 3 persons (extra bed charge for the 3 occupants room) or it just 1 and 2 person which you can just register 2 persons on both rooms?
If the difference require extra charge, then it will be easier for you to ask the folio of the 2nd room transferred to your room upon checkout, so you have all the expenses show up for points calculation.
(Stay and night count doesn't matter as it only for the 1st room)

I thought linking them would make it easier for the Marriott system to recognize it as one stay - multiple rooms so I can accrue points more accurately and get one folio for the entire stay. across all rooms (hence making it easier to claim points in case they don't post accurately post stay).

Just contact the hotel. A great hotel will proactively email you and offer to link the reservations together. Your situation seems trickier though. Marriott CS can help you but they would just be contacting the hotel on your behalf.

If you want the rooms to be located close together, on the same floor, etc. you need to contact the hotel, ideally around the time they're preassigning rooms.

Generally, when one has multiple reservations for the same stay booked separately, what is the best way to ensure one gets points for all the charges accrued on all the rooms? Do we ask the hotel to generate just one folio or just keep all the folios separate?

There is no best way. No matter one folio or two most of the time everything is ok. Sometimes you need to follow up. I‘ve not experienced any serious advantage for one way or the other. If you are too lazy to follow up just make sure to credit any additional charge to the same room.

Some companies (like Hilton) require that all charges from all rooms be placed onto the same folio in order to earn points. Marriott doesn't have that sort of restriction. Here's what it says in the Marriott Terms and Conditions:

"A Member may only earn Points for up to three (3) guest rooms during any Stay if he/she stays in one of the reserved guest rooms and pays a Qualifying Rate or redeems a Points redemption Award or a promotional Award for all of the guest rooms."
Source (section 2.1.d.i): https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/terms/default.mi

As there's really no requirement, that makes red star's answer the right one: "There is no best way."

If I were in your shoes, I'd check-in in person and make sure you explicitly tell the Front Desk representative that you want all the points. This scenario isn't an unusual one, so don't be surprised if get a simple affirmative response ("no problem").

Since fixing a problem after you've left the hotel is a huge hassle, it's probably worth taking a few minutes to stop at the Front Desk on your departure day to double-check that everything was properly done.

best way is to make sure your account # is on the rooms and you pay for them yourselves. Just ask the hotel to have the actual person added to the room as a room mate. Also no need to link per se.. just let the desk agent know and they can block you in the same room. If the desk is able to link it, that's cool and all but not a necessity.

Are you paying for all the rooms?
If yes, then it will simplify the matter very much.

Just ask the hotel to transfer the charges from other rooms (up to 2 rooms) into your room's folio.
Hotel will still generate 3 folios, 1 with combined charges, and 2 with zero balance.
Never have any point issues with this way



However, if the occupants of other rooms paid separately then the "best" way is to ask hotel to add your membership numbers to each folios and hope for the best.

Yes, I am paying for all the three rooms. Wow I didn't know this was possible. Just for my knowledge, are Marriott hotels generally familiar with this practice?

I believe so as I never have issue requesting this. And most of the time the hotel even offer to combine these charges to my personal room.

Case in point: we had two bookings for two rooms - one a day shorter than the other (therefore the separate bookings) At checkin I asked to combine the two and charge everything at the longer booking's portfolio. My, oh my, was it a complete fubar at and after checkout.