Originally Posted by The Road Goes On Forever

You're read on the industry is not fully accurate.

Back in early 2020 before the Great Resignation existed, the industry at the beginning of the pandemic went bare knuckles and instituted the Great Termination as a survivalist move. Staff across the board at every hotel of every type/class were laid off/fired/terminated/let go/told to work at another property or else - whatever you want to call it en masse, including tons at the parent company's corporate offices. Once demand started coming back big last spring, properties had jobs but no applicants due to expanded unemployment, the aforementioned Great Resignation mindset and also prior employees who got riffed bare knuckles took a hard look at things and a lot didn't come back. Low pay that still hasn't changed much if at all during the pandemic, more than likely still no benefits and irregular work schedules. Why would you come back? What efforts have places put into making these jobs more attractive? The answer is not much. Sure there are a few bright spots here and there but overall it's the same as it ever was.

Two examples: The franchisee I work for has mandated that daily housekeeping will not return at any of their 200+ properties across a full and limited service spectrum of Marriott/Hilton/Choice/IHG brands and their own independents unless the parent company mandates the return which is not currently on the horizon. Three years ago the property I work at on average would be sold out on a Monday and we would have two desk agents, a maintenance person, a horseperson and a van driver. Now, the property is still sold out on a Monday but it's a single desk agent with a maintenance person most of the time, period, stop. Will that change? Maybe, but in the near future I don't see it. What's the incentive to change things? The parent company doesn't care, occupancy and rate are more than there, guests overall accept it and the concerns of the existing staff are irrelevant to the management company and the owner.

Plenty of franchisees have made the choice to permanently not fill positions. Fifteen months ago I would have agreed with you about giving places the benefit of the doubt. Now, not so much. Don't confuse can't fill the job with not trying to fill the job.

Originally Posted by Radiation Station

Mostly I try to get them sort out other problems caused by Marriott, such as missing points and not honouring elite benefits. Unfortunately, they are only useful for the admin, as they are fairly toothless and unwilling when it comes to actually dealing with hotels. I am very low maintenance and don’t require a choir of angels to greet me when I check in. But I don’t feel they secure me any special treatment or upgrades, to be honest. I have noticed no practical difference from when I was Titanium.

Originally Posted by UASPG

When I had an Ambassador in the Lancaster, CA center (now closed), it really worked very for me.
The couple of Ambassadors I had from the Austin center were just OK.

For that membership level to be an incentive, the service must definitely improve. I'll probably spend $20K on Marriott stays, this year, but it is certainly not because I am trying to reach the Ambassador threshold.

Originally Posted by SPN Lifer

That would indeed resolve the grievous injustice done to so many guests who had been striving toward this level for over a decade.

New qualifications were abruptly snatched away on Monday, 31 December 2018 with barely six months notice, and some of Marriott's most devoted loyalists were brutally Bonv°yed!

Originally Posted by buckeye91

Just had the usual excellent personal experience with my Ambassador yesterday. Called them directly, they handled everything for me while on the phone, flagged upcoming stays to follow-up with requests, etc. and to contact the hotels on my behalf.

Originally Posted by Seat 1F

I wonder how many Ambassador Elite members still have a personal Ambassador? Also, why do some people still have one but many do not?

Originally Posted by Seat 1F

I wonder how many Ambassador Elite members still have a personal Ambassador? Also, why do some people still have one but many do not?

Originally Posted by Radiation Station

I suspect it’ll be revenue related - the people who spend the most will be prioritised. We all know the margin is all that matters to Marriott.

Originally Posted by Roger Lococco

Curious to hear what Flyertalk posters think about this.

In my view, this is a program that has in effect been diluted to the point where it’s more of a negative than a positive.

Originally Posted by Lee Ford

We are at the Marriott St. Louis Grand, This is my first trip since obtaining Ambassador Elite and it’s been horrid. I was so incredibly excited to have obtained this tier. Utilized the Ambassador service in order to try and ensure we had a crib in our room as we wouldn’t be arriving until after midnight and my little one would be ready for bed at that point. Requested with the hotel in initial booking and follow up call a week out. Ambassador services confirmed the crib would be available, messaged the hotel to confirm it had been delivered 3 hours prior to arrival and was told it would be dropped off then. Arrive no crib, wait 45 minutes and at 2 am after no front desk responses a housekeeper tells me they have none available as the hotel is full.

Originally Posted by 4getofn

Yep .. Ambassador since they started, Platinum Premier since it started and mine went away 3/4 years ago, spend twice the yearly amount (20k). No big deal because it didn’t help me when I had it !