Adding a name to a reservation
 

I made a reservation online using points at the Westin Excelsior in Rome, but the reservation is for my son. As I've done numerous times in the past, I called up to add his name to the reservation so he can check in. The agent said they couldn't do that - any addtitional names need to be added at the time the reservation is made. I don't see a way to do that online. She said the only way to get his name on the reservation was to cancel the reservation and rebook it. Fortunately, the same room was still available (for just 1,000 points more), so I did that - otherwise I was going to HUCA. Anyone else had this issue or was it just the agent I got?

I thought they changed that last month in the t&c: https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/terms/default.mi

3.2.c. Gifted Award Redemption Stays (Third Party Transfers)
iii: "If a Member makes an Award Redemption Stay reservation first, they must contact Member Support to then add the recipient’s name. They cannot contact the Participating Property to add the recipient name."

Thanks for the info. That’s exactly what I did, but they insisted I had to cancel and rebook. If it happens again I CD an quote the T&Cs.

You can't make an award reservation for someone else online, you have to call up. They need to issue the certs in their name, they won't get your benefits, but they won't have issues during check-in.