Here is my situation, I was going to a very large trade show in Duesseldorf, Germnay in October. This is a very large show with about 250,000 visitors and exhbitors over a 8 day show length.

The organizers of the show recommended to all attendees and exhbitors to book the hotel rooms through there assigned travel agent because they were negotiated rates. Since this show usually sells out all hotel rooms in Duesseldorf including surrounding cities, the travel agent required everyone to pre-pay for the rooms. My company booked 3 rooms at a Marriott Courtyard at not very bargain basement prices. (approx 300 euro a night).

Now I should get a ton of Marriott Rewards points, but I find out at checkout (of course, they wouldn't tell me this when I check in) that I would not be getting any points because travel agent/group travel/prepaid that it does not qualify you for Marriott Points.

Obviously, I was upset. We spend about $12,000 USD at this Courtyard at we were not even going to get credit towards nights towards elite status; much less points. I mean they got my money, a lot of it and this was not a discounted rate or a bargain basement rate; I paid the maximum amount the German gov't allows my room can be charged per night.

I have been trying to hash this out with the travel agent (who they say Marriott should credit the points) and Marriott but no go.

Does anyone have any insight/experience, an address where I can voice my displeasure that Marriott received over $10K of my money (I do understand the travel agent gets a cut) and I get NO rewards points, hell I would even just take the night towards elite.

Needless to say Marriott is NOT going to get my business anytime soon. But I would to hear some other people's opinions on this issue.

I totally understand if I paid 50 euro a night or got some really reduced rate OR it stated when we booked that we would not be able to earn points. The thing is the trade show blocks out almost all the hotels during this show and you have no choice but to book through their travel agent, so it's not like I could have booked this directly through the hotel because they would not accept a reservation unless it went through the agent.

HELP!

- HobokenFlyer

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum63/HTML/001056.html

In other words, you're not entitled to points for your room rate.

Many stays don't post anymore, you send them receipts call there non 800 they can't find the International bonuses that they mailed us. Well Hello Hilton and Starwood. This is hard to believe from a 9 year Platinum member

I understand that, but that means usually you get a "break" on the rooms, a discount. There was NO discount involved with this, the room rate that was listed on the back of my door required by German Law was what I was charged. The only reason why you book with the agent was the it guaranteed you the room (prepaid) because Marriott would not reserve the room otherwise during that week of the convention.

That's my point, I understand WHY it is written in the rules, but in this situation, I had no other choice but to book it the way I booked it and if I got a reduced rate I would accept it also. No matter what the RULES say, it's is still B.S. I may never get the points in reality, but in this particular situation it is complete BS. Marriott is NOT getting my business for a LONG time and if I ever plan any sort of meeting, they are NEVER getting my business.

- HobokenFlyer

It is hard to believe. I have never had a problem getting credit for nights I have earned, according to the rules. I have occasionally faxed them a folio for a slow posting stay and it has always posted within 24 hrs of my fax. See ya, I am sure you won't have any problems at Starwood or Hilton

Hoboken: send them a letter with the bill. Attach whatever evidence you have that you paid for the room. See what happens. All you're out is 15 minutes and $.34.

If that doesn't work, next time you are forewarned. Make sure the "travel agent" lets you pay directly in some fashion.

milesrus: for years, Hilton stiffed us on points for weekend convention stays. Convention rates were clearly among the business rates entitled to full points under the rules, but central accounting never believed us, and relied on the postings from the individual hotels to deny us anything more than the 500 point "weekend getaway" minimum. They didn't care squat.

Hilton has gotten much better about this. I am now glad we didn't walk away, although there were times....

As for Starwood... I expect FlyerTalk has enough computer space to record all my dissatisfactions with Sheraton, but I don't intend to test it. Suffice to observe that (I think we can all agree that) we are glad that not everyone wants to be in our favorite programs, or availability/ upgrades/ prices would not be tolerable.

So all you folks who like Sheraton, please stay over there.

Sorry will not delete

[This message has been edited by milesrus (edited 01-04-2002).]

With Starwood email them an issue they respond in 1 hour or less. Hilton will post over the phone and it shows up in ten minutes on the web. Marriott today I sent a fax to Lynn Roach and the Executive office. They will review it.

I am sorry to hear of your problem, one Marriott seems slow in dealing with. If you wish, try contacting the VP of Marketing for Marriott, Peter Watzka, through his executive secretary, Susan O'Neill. Her tel. # is (407)-206-6222, and her email address is: "[email protected]". If she is not able to help you, she may be able to steer you in the right direction. Good luck.