EMBARRASSED To admit I am Marriott Platinum, Not Hilton or Wyndham
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: Skymiles GOLD, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Rewards Plt.,
Posts: 11
EMBARRASSED To admit I am Marriott Platinum, Not Hilton or Wyndham
The title says quite a bit. Brief scenario: Country Club running charity event for Rally for the Cure (breast cancer). Previously Wyndham and Hilton were strong supporters. I volunteer to contact 5 Marriott properties to request one or two night stay donations from each. I AM SHOT DOWN by Marriott Marquis, Hotel 57 in New york, Hotel Beaux Arts in Miami and Long Island Marriott in Uniondale.
I understand businesses are inundated with requests for donations and it is necessary to screen what is acceptable and what is not. The outright LIES I received from each property were amazing.
The kicker??? ALL 5 Wyndham and ALL 5 Hilton Hotels that were contacted donated at least 2 nights each, some stays with breakfast and or dinner!
I suppose breast cancer research is not considered a worthwhile cause for MARRIOTT!
I understand businesses are inundated with requests for donations and it is necessary to screen what is acceptable and what is not. The outright LIES I received from each property were amazing.
The kicker??? ALL 5 Wyndham and ALL 5 Hilton Hotels that were contacted donated at least 2 nights each, some stays with breakfast and or dinner!
I suppose breast cancer research is not considered a worthwhile cause for MARRIOTT!
#2
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13
You made two mistakes. The first was asking Marriott for ANYTHING! Especially New York Marriotts. My experience with The Renaissance Hotel 57 is they are neither customer friendly or community friendly. Can't respond about the others. Stayed there once this past winter, will never go back.
The second is trying to compare Marriott to other properties. Marriott just doesn't care. Just my two cents.
The second is trying to compare Marriott to other properties. Marriott just doesn't care. Just my two cents.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Montreal,QC
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 119
It must depend on the property and the degree of inundation. I am involved with a small charity that has received a free weekend and breakfast every year for the last 5 from a property I used to stay at a lot. Even though I haven't given them any business lately, the GM always responds positively to the annual donation request. We are grateful. But no company can support every request they receive. Maybe the ones you contacted are limited because they already give to other causes...
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: HSV
Programs: Hy Glob,Choice Dia, MR TIT,IHG SPR,HH Dia, Wyn Dia, UA Sil, WN Alis, Hert 5*, National EE
Posts: 1,188
This is a joke of a post.
You are embarrassed to be a Marriott platinum because some of the most premier properties in the country would not donate $1000+ packages for your country club charity!!!
Why don't you donate ALL your miles and points for the charity, instead of expecting Marriott to do it.
You are embarrassed to be a Marriott platinum because some of the most premier properties in the country would not donate $1000+ packages for your country club charity!!!
Why don't you donate ALL your miles and points for the charity, instead of expecting Marriott to do it.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: Skymiles GOLD, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Rewards Plt.,
Posts: 11
True, no organization can contribute to every charity that knock on their front door. This I understand. What I have trouble comprehending is the blatant lies by some of the personnel Marriott properties now employs. Example:
Marriott Beaux Arts Miami. I spoke with a [Marriott staffer] in early June who seemed willing to help out and suggested I mail a letter on the appropriate letterhead. I called back a few weeks later to get the correct address as I received the letter back from the USPS marked "no such address".
When I reminded [Marriott staffer] about our conversation, she started telling me how they received my letter (which I was holding) and how they just couldn't donate.
Marriott Beaux Arts Miami. I spoke with a [Marriott staffer] in early June who seemed willing to help out and suggested I mail a letter on the appropriate letterhead. I called back a few weeks later to get the correct address as I received the letter back from the USPS marked "no such address".
When I reminded [Marriott staffer] about our conversation, she started telling me how they received my letter (which I was holding) and how they just couldn't donate.
Last edited by bdschobel; Jul 24, 2011 at 11:21 am Reason: removed name of Marriott staffer
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: Skymiles GOLD, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Rewards Plt.,
Posts: 11
This is a joke of a post.
You are embarrassed to be a Marriott platinum because some of the most premier properties in the country would not donate $1000+ packages for your country club charity!!!
Why don't you donate ALL your miles and points for the charity, instead of expecting Marriott to do it.
You are embarrassed to be a Marriott platinum because some of the most premier properties in the country would not donate $1000+ packages for your country club charity!!!
Why don't you donate ALL your miles and points for the charity, instead of expecting Marriott to do it.
I donated 100,000 points to be used!
#7
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: USA
Programs: AA MARRIOTT Lifetime Plat Premier ; Marriott Vacation Club
Posts: 1,650
Look, you feel passionately about your charity and I've no problem with that. But you overstep when you assume that every business or every individual for that matter should automatically ante up for a "good cause". This does not make Marriott or the Marriotts in NYC "bad citizens" because they say no. And you operate in a very tiny world if you assume that you're the only charity out there.
Individuals and businesses have lots of choices to make, especially in this difficult economy when people/organizations are always approaching them. This time it was a no. Time to move on work on your event without recriminations or unrealistic expectations that everyone will embrace your charity the first time around. Good luck with your fund raising, but you can't get upset at every no that you get . . . or you'll lose a lot of sleep and experience a lot of angst.
And yes, your "embarrassment" at being a platinum is indeed indulgent and theatrical.
Barry
Individuals and businesses have lots of choices to make, especially in this difficult economy when people/organizations are always approaching them. This time it was a no. Time to move on work on your event without recriminations or unrealistic expectations that everyone will embrace your charity the first time around. Good luck with your fund raising, but you can't get upset at every no that you get . . . or you'll lose a lot of sleep and experience a lot of angst.
And yes, your "embarrassment" at being a platinum is indeed indulgent and theatrical.
Barry
#8
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13
Look, you feel passionately about your charity and I've no problem with that. But you overstep when you assume that every business or every individual for that matter should automatically ante up for a "good cause". This does not make Marriott or the Marriotts in NYC "bad citizens" because they say no. And you operate in a very tiny world if you assume that you're the only charity out there.
Individuals and businesses have lots of choices to make, especially in this difficult economy when people/organizations are always approaching them. This time it was a no. Time to move on work on your event without recriminations or unrealistic expectations that everyone will embrace your charity the first time around. Good luck with your fund raising, but you can't get upset at every no that you get . . . or you'll lose a lot of sleep and experience a lot of angst.
And yes, your "embarrassment" at being a platinum is indeed indulgent and theatrical.
Barry
Individuals and businesses have lots of choices to make, especially in this difficult economy when people/organizations are always approaching them. This time it was a no. Time to move on work on your event without recriminations or unrealistic expectations that everyone will embrace your charity the first time around. Good luck with your fund raising, but you can't get upset at every no that you get . . . or you'll lose a lot of sleep and experience a lot of angst.
And yes, your "embarrassment" at being a platinum is indeed indulgent and theatrical.
Barry
#9
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13
213. This is going to be a controversial issue. 1/3 of readers will agree, 1/3 will disagree with you and the other 1/3 won't care. Although Marriott is always adding new members, it is my belief they are chasing away many long time platinum and gold. Marriott is no longer a hospitality leader, just another dog in the race.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: Skymiles GOLD, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Rewards Plt.,
Posts: 11
Thanks one. I guess this is another that they choose to chase.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: USA
Programs: AA MARRIOTT Lifetime Plat Premier ; Marriott Vacation Club
Posts: 1,650
It's all about choice and free will in a world full of limitless needs/desires and resources which are finite.
My wife and I target most of our own annual charatible giving to three charaties. We politely turn down lots of requests by many other reputible organizations as we have made our "choice" about whom we will support and prioritize and how much total financial resource we have to support charity.
Life is above all things about choices and individuals and businesses act as individuals in this capacity.
Barry
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: Skymiles GOLD, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Rewards Plt.,
Posts: 11
Barry, you are correct, we all do have choices and no one can contribute to every cause that asks. As I said, I am embarrassed that Marriott not only declined while the others were willing to give, but the untruths that were generated by some of the GM secretary's were amazing.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Some place in this wonderful world (usually at 39,000 ft in seat 1C)
Programs: CO Gold Elite / NW Gold Elite
Posts: 13,747
As noted there isn't an easy way to say no - you wouldn't believe the number of requests each property recieves on a yearly basis, unfortunately there are so many request each property can accomodate in addition to the companies strong alliance with CMN and the J Willard and Alice S Marriott Foundation (the company is a big support of human betterment causes such as the Marriott Bridges program etc) but I might suggest you contact the Foundation to see if they could make a donation
#14
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
OP, most Marriotts are individually owned; Marriott simply manages most properties and takes a franchise fee. (Probably simplistic and I'll get someone to explain it much better than I have, but you get the general idea).
I don't know the status of Hilton and Wyndham; are they pretty much all one big company that owns all of their properties?
One of the reasons why I think I got better Starwood upgrades (and most report better upgrades with Starwood) is that they are mostly owned by the parent company; very few are individually owned.
If I've got this all wrong, I'm hoping Socrates or someone else much wiser than me will correct me on this.
I don't know the status of Hilton and Wyndham; are they pretty much all one big company that owns all of their properties?
One of the reasons why I think I got better Starwood upgrades (and most report better upgrades with Starwood) is that they are mostly owned by the parent company; very few are individually owned.
If I've got this all wrong, I'm hoping Socrates or someone else much wiser than me will correct me on this.
#15
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Lincoln, NE
Programs: Marriott , United, Delta, Priority Club
Posts: 151
My wife and I donate 10-12% of our gross income to charity every year (and it doesn't approach $200k so its a stretch for us). We turn down several charities who call. That doesn't make us bad people. We have to prioritize. I'm sure they do the same. Don't fret about people that say no. Thank the ones that do.