Marriott Communciation -- Lack of Recent Stays
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA CK, Marriott LT Ti, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 541
Marriott Communciation -- Lack of Recent Stays
Marriott just sent out an email regarding my lack of recent stays. I don't know if anyone else has gotten it, but here is the verbiage:
Dear Valued Marriott Rewards® Member,
We notice you haven't been staying with us as frequently as you used to, and we're curious why.
As a Platinum member of the Marriott Rewards® program, we value your business and opinion, and wonder if there's anything we can do to better meet your needs.
By taking a few minutes to fill out our brief survey about your Marriott® experiences, you'll help us better serve you in the future.
SURVEY
Thank you,
The Marriott Rewards Team
I took the survey and let them know my concerns since it was a conscious choice on my part. You would think they would address you by name rather than "Values Marriott Rewards Member".
Dear Valued Marriott Rewards® Member,
We notice you haven't been staying with us as frequently as you used to, and we're curious why.
As a Platinum member of the Marriott Rewards® program, we value your business and opinion, and wonder if there's anything we can do to better meet your needs.
By taking a few minutes to fill out our brief survey about your Marriott® experiences, you'll help us better serve you in the future.
SURVEY
Thank you,
The Marriott Rewards Team
#2
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA Concierge Key, AA Lifetime Plat, SPG Ambassador, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum, United Plat
Posts: 233
A bit of a rant: I received one of these a few months back. I was staying at an annual rate of ~90 nights a year at relatively expensive rates (usually $250++ per night). I gave extensive feedback as to my significant reduction in stays (2 paid nights in past 12 months). Main feedback I gave: overall value proposition of MarriottRewards, primarily around the limited recognition of platinum members despite the highest tier in the hotel space (75 nights is a lot!). In my very high frequency stay life I was only upgraded to rooms beyond concierge level twice. Once it was a single night stay at the Marriott in Troy to the presidential suite and the other was after complaining about bed bugs at the Courtyard near Logan airport. And that was after the front desk initially denied that they had any rooms to accomodate me in and I demanded to switch hotels - only then did they offer me a suite and this was at 2am on a one night stay after which I doubt they could have sold the room. I've stayed at countless Starwoods and (to a lesser degree) Hiltons and gotten room upgrades.
Not only have I yet to hear back anything, on my most recent stay I was treated no differently than my many non-status colleagues who were checking in at the same time. This was as a newly minted 'gold' after being a high value platinum (soft-landing). You'd expect such a large company would have good CRM systems to instruct a specific hotel to try to recove a once-valuable guest. Instead I was only acknowledged as an elite member via my room card. No offer of a better room, no mention of concierge lounge, no "Welcome back to Marriott - its been a while." I'm not saying other chains are that much better but you'd think if you lost a high value customer you'd try to attempt a recovery of some sort.
Whats the point of the survey if nothing is done with them?
Not only have I yet to hear back anything, on my most recent stay I was treated no differently than my many non-status colleagues who were checking in at the same time. This was as a newly minted 'gold' after being a high value platinum (soft-landing). You'd expect such a large company would have good CRM systems to instruct a specific hotel to try to recove a once-valuable guest. Instead I was only acknowledged as an elite member via my room card. No offer of a better room, no mention of concierge lounge, no "Welcome back to Marriott - its been a while." I'm not saying other chains are that much better but you'd think if you lost a high value customer you'd try to attempt a recovery of some sort.
Whats the point of the survey if nothing is done with them?
Last edited by uncguy85; Apr 27, 2010 at 2:01 pm Reason: typo
#3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, and a mug on the wall at the local brewpub
Posts: 259
Whats the point of the survey if nothing is done with them?
It would be nice to see the statistically correlated results from many of these surveys, but of course we never will.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA CK, Marriott LT Ti, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 541
I just wanted to give an update. I filled out the survey earlier this week and I received this email today:
My translation: It was fun while it lasted, let me know if you're in town next summer and want to grab a drink.
Dear Mr. ttusqrl,
I would like to assure you that all your feedback is taken into consideration and reviewed by the appropriate departments. I assure you that Marriott Values your opinions so that we may find ways to make all our members Happy and Loyal members. At this time there are questions about the program taking place in regards to your concerns, and all suggestions will be taken into consideration.
As an Platinum Elite member of Marriott Rewards, you are one of our most valued guests. We realize that your travel needs change and trust you know that Marriott will always be here to provide you with a variety of hotel options. We hope Marriott remains your future hotel of choice.
XXXXXXXX XXXXX
Elite Loyalty Specialist
Marriott Rewards
ext XXXX
I would like to assure you that all your feedback is taken into consideration and reviewed by the appropriate departments. I assure you that Marriott Values your opinions so that we may find ways to make all our members Happy and Loyal members. At this time there are questions about the program taking place in regards to your concerns, and all suggestions will be taken into consideration.
As an Platinum Elite member of Marriott Rewards, you are one of our most valued guests. We realize that your travel needs change and trust you know that Marriott will always be here to provide you with a variety of hotel options. We hope Marriott remains your future hotel of choice.
XXXXXXXX XXXXX
Elite Loyalty Specialist
Marriott Rewards
ext XXXX
#5
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA Plt 3MM; UA 1K 2 MM; MR Lifetime Plat; HH Lifetime Diamond; HH Diamond; IGH Spire Ambas; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,149
I NEVER fill out any surveys that take more than half a minute--unless they compensate me handsomely for doing so.
Sorry--but my time is WAYYYYY to valuable.
On occassion, I will write personalized letters--and then I expect (and usually receive) an appropriate response.
Sorry--but my time is WAYYYYY to valuable.
On occassion, I will write personalized letters--and then I expect (and usually receive) an appropriate response.
#6
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Sacramento, Ca USA
Programs: United 1K MM - 1.7M actually, Marriott Platinum Premier, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,231
agreed!
I NEVER fill out any surveys that take more than half a minute--unless they compensate me handsomely for doing so.
Sorry--but my time is WAYYYYY to valuable.
On occassion, I will write personalized letters--and then I expect (and usually receive) an appropriate response.
Sorry--but my time is WAYYYYY to valuable.
On occassion, I will write personalized letters--and then I expect (and usually receive) an appropriate response.
It doesn't matter who the survey is from - Marriott, UPS, whoever - when the cover page says "10 - 15 minutes of your valuable time" - i hit the little x in the upper right hand corner.
OTOH, i have found that personal emails to the hotel usually get a response.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA CK, Marriott LT Ti, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 541
I NEVER fill out any surveys that take more than half a minute--unless they compensate me handsomely for doing so.
Sorry--but my time is WAYYYYY to valuable.
On occassion, I will write personalized letters--and then I expect (and usually receive) an appropriate response.
Sorry--but my time is WAYYYYY to valuable.
On occassion, I will write personalized letters--and then I expect (and usually receive) an appropriate response.
I honestly filled it out because I wanted to tell them what's wrong with the hope that they might actually take it to heart. The canned response leads me to believe I was wrong, which is a shame. I've had hundreds of nights at MIs and would love to keep on with them to get my lifetime status, but I just don't see it as beneficial to me.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Priority Club Gold, Hertz
Posts: 109
I received the same email. I went into great detail why, in 2008, I spent nearly all my business and personal nights at Marriott (336 nights to be exact!) and in 2009 I spread the wealth around to other chains. I think I spent somewhere around 150 at Marriott in 2009. Anyways, something about having to "ask" for upgrades at the front desk (which I stopped doing), no free internet (I know that is changing), variances in lounge offerings, etc, etc. I really spent some time spelling it out. Heck, I had just been invited to a Hyatt focus group and was paid $250 for my opinions - and I JUST became a diamond there less than a year ago.
For some crazy reason I have some loyalty to Marriott and I want to see the Marriott Rewards program evolve - so I figured I would offer up my suggestions/constructive criticism. At the end of the survey it noted that someone would be contacting me soon. Well, that was 2 weeks ago. And I haven't heard a peep! Even if someone called me at this point - I don't think I would be willing to discuss it much.
For some crazy reason I have some loyalty to Marriott and I want to see the Marriott Rewards program evolve - so I figured I would offer up my suggestions/constructive criticism. At the end of the survey it noted that someone would be contacting me soon. Well, that was 2 weeks ago. And I haven't heard a peep! Even if someone called me at this point - I don't think I would be willing to discuss it much.
Last edited by ChiTownClaire; May 5, 2010 at 12:53 am Reason: I never spell etc correctly!!