Government rate [General Discussion Thread]
Feb 9, 2007, 8:24 pm
#16
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Some other hotels are very specific in their rules. Most aren't and, unless specified otherwise, I think they're available for business and leisure. My favorite rule is from the Fayetteville, NC Courtyard (near Fort Bragg/Pope AFB) which states:
**NOT PER DIEM**DISCOUNT OFF REGULAR RATE**
**VALID GOVERNMENT ID AND TRAVEL ORDERS REQUIRED!!**
* FRONT DESK WILL REQUEST A COPY OF TRAVEL ORDERS *
That's pretty clear but who reads those rules except those on this board!
**NOT PER DIEM**DISCOUNT OFF REGULAR RATE**
**VALID GOVERNMENT ID AND TRAVEL ORDERS REQUIRED!!**
* FRONT DESK WILL REQUEST A COPY OF TRAVEL ORDERS *
That's pretty clear but who reads those rules except those on this board!
Feb 10, 2007, 9:53 am
#17
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I don't travel anywhere near as much as some of you but when I do it is always on the Gov't rate...nearly always leisure and I have never been asked for anything but identification to prove my employment. I always thought the lodger was cutting us a break regardless of leisure or business because of the type of employment (military, police, etc.).
Feb 10, 2007, 11:45 am
#18
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Feb 10, 2007, 2:42 pm
#19
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Feb 10, 2007, 3:41 pm
#20
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I'd watch here over the next few weeks https://marriott.com/specials/govtmil/default.mi
Feb 10, 2007, 8:31 pm
#21
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I'd watch here over the next few weeks https://marriott.com/specials/govtmil/default.mi
Feb 11, 2007, 6:17 am
#22
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I'll watch for it. If it happens, it would only be fair that Marriott return to what had always previously been its policy (before last year), that is that the government rate be at per diem so that federal employees on official business can actually use it. The government discount rate now used by some properties is not a government rate at all in that it is completely unrelated to the local per diem and is generally unusable by government employees on official business or by the military.
Feb 11, 2007, 6:52 am
#23
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Feb 11, 2007, 4:48 pm
#24
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Feb 13, 2007, 6:06 am
#25
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If Marriott stops giving the government discount to govt employees on leisure travel, they may miss our business.
I know some of my coworkers have already stopped using Marriott because of the smoking ban. If one smoker is in the group, sometimes the non-smokers have to go with them to another hotel.
Surely all their hotels aren't so full that they are willing to chase us all away. How many government employees do you suppose are in this country?
Sheila
I know some of my coworkers have already stopped using Marriott because of the smoking ban. If one smoker is in the group, sometimes the non-smokers have to go with them to another hotel.
Surely all their hotels aren't so full that they are willing to chase us all away. How many government employees do you suppose are in this country?
Sheila
Feb 13, 2007, 9:25 am
#26
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If Marriott stops giving the government discount to govt employees on leisure travel, they may miss our business.
I know some of my coworkers have already stopped using Marriott because of the smoking ban. If one smoker is in the group, sometimes the non-smokers have to go with them to another hotel.
Surely all their hotels aren't so full that they are willing to chase us all away. How many government employees do you suppose are in this country?
Sheila
I know some of my coworkers have already stopped using Marriott because of the smoking ban. If one smoker is in the group, sometimes the non-smokers have to go with them to another hotel.
Surely all their hotels aren't so full that they are willing to chase us all away. How many government employees do you suppose are in this country?
Sheila
At about 300 Million of us... that's about 21 million people.
I am not sure if that 7% number I have is in regards to total population... or working population, but if it is total, then that's a whole lot of you!
Feb 13, 2007, 9:44 am
#27
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One obvious problem with the alleged "new policy" is that it does not cover state and local employees. Even if Marriott decides to order individual hotel GMs to reverse their long-standing policy on offering discounted leisure travel to government employees, it is extremely unlikely that they also will be unwilling to offer discounts to state or local employees on official business.
Feb 13, 2007, 12:34 pm
#28
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Cincinnati Airport Marriott
This from a government rate today at the Cincinnati Airport Marriott:
"*****************C R E D I T . C A R D**************************
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ON OFFICIAL TRAVEL ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE
US GOV'T ISSUED CREDIT CARDS TO PAY FOR TRAVEL RELATED COSTS.
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE ON PERSONAL TRAVEL IS PROHIBITED FROM THE
GOVERNMENT DISCOUNTED RATE
THE CREDIT CARDS THAT ARE VALID GOV'T CARD START WITH
4486 OR 4716 OR 5568
**FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS INDICATE USE OF THE GOV'T CC IS
MANDATORY (FTR 301-51)
FRONT DESK AGENTS ARE TRAINED TO LOOK FOR THE SPECIFIC
GOVERNMENT CREDIT CARDS OR GOVERNMENT ISSUED CHECKS
I should also note that it is disappointing that the goverment rate at this property is over per diem.
"*****************C R E D I T . C A R D**************************
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ON OFFICIAL TRAVEL ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE
US GOV'T ISSUED CREDIT CARDS TO PAY FOR TRAVEL RELATED COSTS.
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE ON PERSONAL TRAVEL IS PROHIBITED FROM THE
GOVERNMENT DISCOUNTED RATE
THE CREDIT CARDS THAT ARE VALID GOV'T CARD START WITH
4486 OR 4716 OR 5568
**FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS INDICATE USE OF THE GOV'T CC IS
MANDATORY (FTR 301-51)
FRONT DESK AGENTS ARE TRAINED TO LOOK FOR THE SPECIFIC
GOVERNMENT CREDIT CARDS OR GOVERNMENT ISSUED CHECKS
I should also note that it is disappointing that the goverment rate at this property is over per diem.
Feb 13, 2007, 10:21 pm
#29
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I'll believe it when I see it. Socrates previously claimed that the alleged "new policy" WAS the old policy, but was proven wrong.
One obvious problem with the alleged "new policy" is that it does not cover state and local employees. Even if Marriott decides to order individual hotel GMs to reverse their long-standing policy on offering discounted leisure travel to government employees, it is extremely unlikely that they also will be unwilling to offer discounts to state or local employees on official business.
One obvious problem with the alleged "new policy" is that it does not cover state and local employees. Even if Marriott decides to order individual hotel GMs to reverse their long-standing policy on offering discounted leisure travel to government employees, it is extremely unlikely that they also will be unwilling to offer discounts to state or local employees on official business.
Feb 14, 2007, 6:22 am
#30
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socrates - you seem to have some inside knowledge on the impending change... Is this a Marriott initiative only or is their some cooperation with GSA (or someone other government-related body) to step up enforcement of use of the government credit cards? From the terms ohmark posted, it seems this may not be completely Marriott-driven? I know that compliance with the required usage of the government travel card has been a problem - at least in my little portion of the government travel world - for quite some time.