FYI...MARSHA is the CRS used by all MI branded hotels...F/S PMS and FOSSE both process gift cards very similarly

did not change "again"...the change was made some time ago

It was my understanding that F/S has more capabilities when querying MARSHA for different information, I have no personal experience with it. Of course we use MARSHA through FOSSE or there would be no communication with the outside world, FOSSE is a property-specific local intranet setup. Thanks for the heads up.

This change occurred around April of this year. As unknowndj has stated as well, I can only speak for those properties that utilize the FOSSE property management system, but they did indeed have to be processed as a visa card before this new change (please don't think you could use the gift/travel/marriott card as a visa card anywhere, there were some additional steps that you would have to take in order to get it to process through the credit card system that is built into the FOSSE PMS). The new processing method behaves as you would probably imagine it should. It will display current balances, increment current cards, and redeem all within the system and will not require any phone calls or additional actions to take place. The end result is a much faster, integrated system which is better and easier for both Marriott associates and guests.

I just realize that I still have 4 x $100 Marriott Travel Cards that I redeemed Citi's ThankYou Points from 2010. But the expiration date is in 03/20. I assume it is 03/2020. They all have mag strips on the back and the first group of digits is only 3 instead of 4.

I assume those old cards can be processed under the current new method?

Correct, aslong as they're in date they can still be redeemed under the new method.

Using Marriott Gift Card outside US
 

Any downside in using a U.S. purchased Marriott Gift Card in Europe to pay for hotel stays? I imagine it could be an advantage in avoiding possible credit card foreign transaction fees.
However, does anyone have any information on currency conversion charges issued by Marriott, or poor currency conversion rates used?
Thank you.

Conversion rate will be slightly better than you would guess but not great. Other than that, should be no problem.

If one has a choice, using the GC in the US seems like a much easier option.

I prefer to use a FX fee-free rewards cards when outside the US.

Foreign hotels will sometimes auto-convert the bill to USD and charge you a 3% fee (the exchange rate is against your favor by 3%). You can always insist on being charged the local currency--I ask them to charge it to my Marriott Premier credit card. Since the gift card is in USD$, you will take the 3% fee hit. This is something to keep in mind if you have a no-fee foreign exchange credit card.

I used gift cards at the JW in Phuket, Thailand. Conversion rate wasn't too bad and was a steal at 1000usd for 135k pts.

Actually, it's 135K points LESS your stay and bonus points on the $1000 you spent using the GC

I used the giftcard in singapore, vienna, brussel, hongkong and zurich before. All of these hotel use very nice rate, which is 0.5% higher than exchange rate.

The only exception is Renaissance Lucerne in swiss. They use the absurd rate, which is 6% higher than exchange rate. If you use gift card, do not stay there.

Thanks all for the feedback. Cheers!

It's weird because they are all using Givex - one system, one rate.