Advice requested regarding check in experience
 

I checked into a Fairfield just moments ago. At check in I was asked to provide a govt ID due to the per diem rate. I offered to show my FFRDC ID and my govt contractor ID but the manager said that wasnt good enough. After pointing out Marriotts policy that FFRDC's are entitled to the govt rate she insisted it didnt matter because the hotel didnt need to honor it (nice to tell you after the reservation and an 11pm check in). She said she was going to let it stand this time, but it would not be honored again (I have stayed 4 weeks previously at this hotel and never had an issue).

My two questions are:

1) Is this correct that the individual hotels do not have to honor the per diem rate guidelines at their discretion?

2) During the check-in I was not asked for points or ammenities. I normally let it go and just ask for the points in the morning, but would like to enforce the Marriott policy due to my check in experience, how do I do this?

3) Is this something worth writing to Marriott about? Im not seeking points, I just want them to fix the issue so I dont experience it again.

Regards

Sorry I can't answer your questions, but I'm wondering what exactly is a FFRDC ID?
Perhaps others here will know more about this particular rate.

FFRDC is Federally Funded Research Development Corporation. Per Marriott rate guidelines it is entitled to govt rates.

In all likelihood, you just got an inexperienced night clerk. Happens sometimes. If that's the case, I'd probably just e-mail the GM for that property and explain the situation. Showing the contractor ID didn't help, since the clerk probably was trained that contractors are ineligible for gov't rates.

I am having problems too !! I am part of the IFFG-TPD and I can't seem to get the government rate honored either ? What's the deal :).

FYI-IFFG-TPD = I fund the federal government, tax payer division

Mo,

The clerk was deferring to someone who said they were the manager and went on to explain they are independantly owned and do not have to follow the marriott rules.

Hi OP!

As you can see from my profile, I am an Assistant Front Desk Manager at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel. In terms of the rate, YES, your government rate should be honored! Sometimes when you stay at our lower end brands, the desk agent's aren't the best...

In terms of your platinum amenity, if we do not offer you points/amenity at check in, you are entitled to $100 from Marriott. In order to get this fixed, you would have to do it at the property! Bring up the fact you were not offered either to the manager and ask them for the $100.

PS - - If you are going to stay in DC anytime soon at my hotel, Renaissance Washington DC Downtown hotel, shoot me an email and I will be sure to take care of you! My email is: [email protected]

Hope this helps!

1) Yes - Marriott's policy is government rates are for government employees only (there is no law mandating hotels sell rooms at a set price anywhere in the US)

2) just let the front desk know you didn't receive your platinum arrival gift

3) no, the hotel was only following Marriott's policy

you would need to be employed by FFRDC to qualify for the the government rate - I'm certain producing two ID's with one saying your a contractor only confused the situation, if you are an employee of FFRDC you should have been given the government rate - if you are a contractor of FFRDC then you are not eligible for the government rate

@macdan911 Thank you for the information. I am sure I will be heading to DC at some point and may take you up on your offer.


@socrates To be clear, this was after the reservation was made at the rate and I was clear on the FFRDC vs contractor issue.

First of all welcome to FT. Secondly, I am a little confused by your statement above. Anyone can make a reservation at the Government rate. Its producing the Govt ID, Govt issued Credit Card or Travel Orders at check in that confirms whether you are entitled to the Gov't rate. There is a very long thread on this issue in the MR forum. As others have mentioned, showing you Contractor ID at check-in just confused the issue. The front desk clerks are trained to deny the govt rate to government contractors. Not sure if you get travel orders/authorizations through the Agency that sponsors your FFRDC, but in the future you may want to bring a copy of those to avoid any issues.

Regards,


RIP...

Sorry, I'm confused by this, too. Do you work for the FFRDC, or are you sub-contracted to it?

sorry I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to say but let me be clear on what MI's policy is, only employees of the government (which employees of FFRDC are) are eligible for the government rate regardless of the fact that they might have travel orders from FFRDC or might be sponsored by them - there is no law requiring hotels provide rooms to the government, nor are there laws requiring hotels to sell them to the government at a rate established by the government - hotel's are just like any other business and able to pick which guests they wish and which they dont (as long as they dont violate discrimination laws)

Addtionally while the government might tell a contractor they are eligible to use the Per Diem rates there is no law mandating what rates hotels may charge and who may or may not be eligible for Per Diem rates, these decisions are left to the business operator not the government - Most of the large hotel companies have decided contractors may not receive the per diem rates (local hotels do have the ability to create an LSOP that will vary though)

So simply put - if you're a contractor and the hotel does not have a LSOP you are not eligible for the government per diem rate, if you are an employee of the government and the hotel does not have an LSOP you are eligible for the government per diem rate (not sure why a hotel would have an LSOP excluding an agency of the government but it's possible)

I am employed directly by the FFRDC. When making the reservation online, I always check the eligibility for the govt rate. In this case, when I selected the govt rate it stated FFRDC ID was acceptable proof. What they were trying to do is say it was not acceptable and FFRDC did not qualify. Again, this was after the fact.

I understand no one can force them to give rooms for certain rates and I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with is them accepting the reservation clearly outlining FFRDC eligibility, then at a 11pm check-in changing the rules.

They are honoring the rate for this stay, correct?

In the future, if you need to stay at that hotel again, I would send an email to the GM in advance of the stay, asking to confirm that FFRDC employees are eligible for the government rate. Print that and bring it with you, in case the front desk employee has an issue with the rate.