What information does Marriott keep on us?
 

I checked into a marriott today and in the routine process of checking in, the desk agent asks me, "So how was your stay at the Marriott in Rome" Flabbergasted that a history of our stays comes up in a routine check-in process--i took it matter of factly and told her answered her question.

But it got me thinking. . .what do info do they attach to your profile? Obviously a history of our stays. Do they know if you are a complainer? What kind of breakfast you order? Whether or not you have had any arguments with agents before?

If you don't want them to keep track of you, don't use your rewards number...

Its a trade off- Points for your Privacy...

It makes me a little quesy that my history of stays should be a subject of public discussion at the check-in counter with a clerk, who is a complete stranger to me.

It's really no different than the airlines, who keep a record of your travel history. When checking in for a flight from Hawaii I was asked if I'd enjoyed my flight with the airline from London almost 2 months earlier. I was a little surprised that they knew, but the question was conversational while waiting for luggage tags to print, rather than an inquiry into my travel habits. I wouldn't worry too much about Marriott's database unless you're running from the law or something.

If you belong to Intercontinental's Six Continents Club, you can see your total lifetime nights, stays and dollars spent when you log in.

I have nothing to hide and am, in fact, glad Marriott tracks my business activity. I spend a ton of $$'s with them and I'd like to think that would come into play when I need a favor or have a special request.

I think some of the above comments miss the point. To me, the point is not whether there is a problem with Marriott tracking the activity generated by our Marriott Rewards accounts or whether anybody has "something to hide" or not. The point is whether when you are checking in at the hotel at the front desk with, presumably, others present, you want an unrequested public discussion of the status of your account and where you may or may not have stayed the past year or two. I, for one, don't; unless I specifically ask for it.

Last weekend while having a few drinks at the Hard Rock in DC, I met a guy who used to be the front end manager for the Marriott at Newark Airport. He told me they track all kinds of information in your portfolio including whether or not the traveler was a "PIA" (Pain in the *ss). He told me this is done to warn other hotels in the chain about potential problem guests. His hotel used this information in assigning rooms. Accordingly a Platinum "PIA" usually did not get an upgrade!

The original poster's point was, as I understand it, what type of information does Marriott keep on MR's members. He/she wasn't necessarily questioning the propriety of discussing the details publicly. But the thread kind of took that turn.
However, I do agree that ones travel history is probably best not broadcast to everyone in ear shot.

Be default, it only shows the last few stays if I remember correctly - on thier first/default screen. Same as with airlines - UA for example shows the last four flights the passenger took with UA. I don't see any problem with it. If you don't like it, then don't put your rewards number in. Simple as that.

I was also surprised to hear a Marriott agent in Los Angeles ask me about my latest stay in Montreal, Canada.

I asked him a few questions about the Marriott computer system. It turns out that your last three stays appear on the first screen of the checkin procedure.

I suspect agents can use this info to assess your loyalty. This might have an impact on upgrades.

Patrick

Jehovas Witnesses will mark you as "HBH" 'Home but Hiding' when they visit your home and you do not answer the door but they know you are there avoiding them!

So you see, this sort of thing happens EVERYWHERE, welcome to the new millenium.

I also see your point, I would not care to be checking in when it is busy and the clerk asks if I enjoyed the in-room entertainment provided by the concierge during my recent stay in Vegas...if you get my drift.

I understand your concerns.

Maybe you can also look at it from a different view - it can also be an advantage if there are several hotels in the same city. The same happened to me with Starwood in Vienna when I arrived in the Imperial after I just had left the Bristol which is located 2 blocks away. The lady at the check-in desk in Vienna welcomed me and told me that she can see that I stayed the night before at the Bristol. Afterwards she gave me the card key to a one-bedroom suite ... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif .

------------------
Pictures from hotel stays
Basic Hotel stays/nights/points calculator
Short overview: KLM FD, LH M&M

I go out of my way to stay at Marriott hotels, as (usually)a single female traveling along. The room service is wonderful, my profile of a room near the elevator, WSJ in room or reserved for me, etc. When a bracelet was missing from my room (the employee was aprehended- bracelet not found)during a quick room switch, management reimbursed me the cost upon investigation. In other words, They are very careful to come around the desk & hand me the envelope with the room card with no verbal mention of the room number. I like that. In other words, I have no problem with the profile kept on me - as it appears to be positive and helpful to all.
Carolyn

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ideasmilie.gif Now I know why I was treated exceptionally well by the staff of 3 of the 4 hotels I stayed at during a 4 night trip to Orlando. All were different brands under Marriott and I "bounced" around to earn something for individual stays, I forget-- some promo for certificates, silver status or bonus points. I was surprised by how great the staff at these 3 hotels were on these visits (compared to previous Orlando visits or the staff at the same brands around the country). The fourth was a FI near I-Drive and could probably not care less about whatever the others saw (they had alot of traffic of what I would describe as "once in a lifetime" tourists).

Now I understand. Since they knew when I checked-in that I was traveling alone and bouncing around Marriott brands in Orlando, I guess they thought I was either a travel arranger or critic on a research trip. The free hot breakfast buffet at the Courtyard was worth this minor privacy intrusion! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif


[This message has been edited by traveling_again (edited 11-01-2003).]