Next week, I will be staying at a Marriott Hotel at Bethesda, Maryland. I have paid for a room on a regular floor, at a conference (ie reduced) rate.

I am a member of the Marriott frequent guest program (basic level).

Question - is there any way of upgrading, without having to pay the full upgrade fee (ie over $100 per night)?

I once stayed at a Marriott in San Diego asa Gold and for $10 got to upgrade to the concierge level. At first they balked at giving me a key to the lounge, but I talked them into it. Maybe things were slow.

As a Gold member, you get a key to the lounge for FREE -- even if you don't get a room on the Concierge floor! Don't let them cheat you.

Bruce

I am sorry to say, that they don't honor things the same way when you have a REDUCED rate. That has been my experience the past year, and the reason for my trying Hyatt and Hilton.
At the New York Marquis for a reduced rate room booked by the Conference schedulers this past may, I could not get anything. The Desk clerk was most unsympathetic and firm. Not even Lounge privaleges. He was going by the same book as they are using at LAX to their regular guests. And I have 1.2 million Marriott points, but no considerations to encourage their use! Have stayed there many times.

I contacted the Concierge and explained things to him about the way Marriott is treating their loyal guests. When I went down to his post in the lobby, he recognized me from previous stays.
Good Luck!

The room upgrade and lounge access at Marriott has nothing to do with the rate you paid, and everything to do with your current elite status ( except for those times of absolutely grace when they just do it).

The word "current" is important. As may be the case with Roadrunner, it doesn't really matter how many years you "were" an elite member, or how many points you earned before last year. if you are not elite "now". You have the qualify every year.

There is also confusion about the "gold" category. A few years ago gold was the lowest of the elite levels and was NOT eligible for upgrade and lounge access... Black (50 stays per year) and platinum (75 stays) were. In the new system "gold" is now the middle level, attained at 50 stays. So it all depends on WHEN you stayed as a gold member. If it was before the new system, you weren't eligible and that's why the upgrade wasn't free. At $10 it was, however, a great value.

the $10 is actually a penalty if you are caught in the lounge without a key or a right to be there

f

This was in the old "gold" days, I should have been clear about that. I was not eligible for lounge access but when I made my reservation I asked about concierge level rooms and was told for $10 more I could have one. When I checked in I was shown to a room not on the concierge level. I immediately called the desk and complained about this out and they said none were available. I pointed out that they had charged me the extra, though, and all of a sudden they found me a room. They sent a bell man up to the room with a new key and I moved to the concierge level. I had to then insist he go back down and get me a lounge key. That's the story--no sneaking in--just standing up for my rights.

You experieced the very typical treatment of the service currently offered to their honored guest. I am really wondering what is going on with Marriott these days.

As a PLATINUM Elite I have always been upgraded to Concierge Level with no ?'s asked.

I'm Platinum, too, and have been for years. About half the time I'm upgraded. The other half, I get a nice room on a non-Concierge floor, but with Lounge privileges. I always complain about that and usually get a room on the Concierge floor.

A couple of months ago at the Metro Center Marriott in D.C., I was told that the Concierge floor (two of them!) was full, and this was at 4 p.m. I told them that I didn't believe it and ended up in a long debate with the front desk supervisor. At the end of the discussion, I got a room on the Concierge floor. They got a tiny victory by putting me in a smoking room!

Bruce