|
Originally Posted by USirritated
(Post 8401932)
Years and years ago, I had a rez at the Georgetown University Marriott Conference Center, and when I got there, the hotel was overbooked, and since I was just a lowly Black member (Marriott Marquis Black then, 15-49 nights per year I think, now would be a Marriott Rewards Silver, 10-49 nights per year) I got bounced to another hotel and was offered a check for $200. The manager was very apologetic. Since I wanted to be Gold in the worst way (heck, what did I know!), I asked him if he would arrange for me to be upgraded to Gold instead of giving me the $200, and he said, "Well, if I am going to upgrade you, why not do it all the way, and upgrade you to Platinum?" I was amazed! That is what he did, believe it or not! They moved me over to the Key Bridge Marriott, which had a huge wedding that weekend, and was pre-renovation, and I remember that the hotel was very tired, staid, and the whole place smelled like pool chlorine!
So, the moral of the story is, the next time that Marriott does something that they need to compensate me for, I am going to ask a manager to upgrade me to PP instead of a rate reduction or adding points to my account. Lately, when they screw up, they usually offer to put extra points in my account. Most recently, for a paid stay in July '07, they gave me 15,000 points (without me even asking) for a few screwups at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, AZ, and for an awards stay in December '06, they put 45,000, out of 95,000 points originally spent, back into my account, for an awards stay at Marriott Frenchman's Beach in St. Thomas Virgin Islands.
Originally Posted by socrates
(Post 8416736)
LOL - I'm not sure how to respond other than to say believe what you want from the sources you want :D
Originally Posted by socrates
(Post 8416753)
FYI - you can not be upgraded to PP, the only way to become a PP is through the selection process at MR
Originally Posted by AKRawr
(Post 8464603)
PP are the top 2% of the platinum grouping. There are under 3,000 PP's at this time.
Want to make platinum without trying. Make a GM buy you the level as a Guest Services Issue. It's under 100 bucks. But, they will only do it for something serious, as it would dilute the program. Clearly, back in December 2006, when the GM of Frenchman's Beach in St. Thomas, USVI elected to put 45,000 points in my account, it was a serious matter. If I would have known about PP then, I would have asked him to upgrade me to PP in exchange for all or part of those points that he gave me. Now I know that the cost is "under 100 bucks" per AKRawr (a Marriott employee per the TITLE of his posting) and it is possible. I wonder where the number of points gets serious enough that it would be appropriate to ask for PP instead? 10,000? 15,000? 25,000? 40,000? Any thoughts on this? |
back in the day when i worked for Marriott it was $75 to buy someone plat status. My guess is that is probably still correct, but sadly there is NO way for anyone to upgrade you to PP :td:. But in all honesty, I'm kind of happy about that because half of the people who are pissed off travelocity users could be PP.
|
Originally Posted by USirritated
(Post 8470319)
So, I am back to saying, the next time that Marriott does something that they need to compensate me for, I am going to ask a manager to upgrade me to PP instead of a rate reduction or adding points to my account. I will modify that with "the next time that a Marriott HOTEL does something..."
Clearly, back in December 2006, when the GM of Frenchman's Beach in St. Thomas, USVI elected to put 45,000 points in my account, it was a serious matter. If I would have known about PP then, I would have asked him to upgrade me to PP in exchange for all or part of those points that he gave me. Now I know that the cost is "under 100 bucks" per AKRawr (a Marriott employee per the TITLE of his posting) and it is possible. I wonder where the number of points gets serious enough that it would be appropriate to ask for PP instead? 10,000? 15,000? 25,000? 40,000? Any thoughts on this? |
PP? What about five star
Now everyone is plotting to get PP and how to do so. What about 5-Star Platinum? It exist, and has the very best perks available. No blackout dates, ever. No problem too great to be solved, and is the ONLY card issued by Marriott that extends to the Ritz branded properties.
To be fair, it is issued directly at the Chairman's direction, jokingly called the "Friends of Bill card" When it is pulled up in the central reservation system or at property it has this indicator *****BILL ALL CHARGES TO 1 Marriott Dr., Washington, DC 20058 Atten: Office of the Chairman***** There are fewer than 100 such cards (not including spouse cards) Bob and Dolores Hope were both given them by the current JW's father. She still has hers. |
Originally Posted by Whymeagain
(Post 8548187)
Now everyone is plotting to get PP and how to do so. What about 5-Star Platinum? It exist, and has the very best perks available. No blackout dates, ever. No problem too great to be solved, and is the ONLY card issued by Marriott that extends to the Ritz branded properties.
To be fair, it is issued directly at the Chairman's direction, jokingly called the "Friends of Bill card" When it is pulled up in the central reservation system or at property it has this indicator *****BILL ALL CHARGES TO 1 Marriott Dr., Washington, DC 20058 Atten: Office of the Chairman***** There are fewer than 100 such cards (not including spouse cards) Bob and Dolores Hope were both given them by the current JW's father. She still has hers. Interesting note: I did have a member of the board stay with me some years ago - we set the account up to bill back to Corporate...upon checkin he insisted in settling his account himself as it wasnt an MI business trip (just another example of terrific ethics in management at our US companies) |
Originally Posted by Whymeagain
(Post 8548187)
Now everyone is plotting to get PP and how to do so. What about 5-Star Platinum? It exist, and has the very best perks available. No blackout dates, ever. No problem too great to be solved, and is the ONLY card issued by Marriott that extends to the Ritz branded properties.
To be fair, it is issued directly at the Chairman's direction, jokingly called the "Friends of Bill card" When it is pulled up in the central reservation system or at property it has this indicator *****BILL ALL CHARGES TO 1 Marriott Dr., Washington, DC 20058 Atten: Office of the Chairman***** There are fewer than 100 such cards (not including spouse cards) Bob and Dolores Hope were both given them by the current JW's father. She still has hers. |
What about 5-Star Platinum? "I've already got one". |
Originally Posted by socrates
(Post 8549206)
The Bill All Charges are only for members of the board of directors...all others must settle their bill
Interesting note: I did have a member of the board stay with me some years ago - we set the account up to bill back to Corporate...upon checkin he insisted in settling his account himself as it wasnt an MI business trip (just another example of terrific ethics in management at our US companies) |
Originally Posted by BigYellowDog
(Post 8549400)
In my best British accent:
"I've already got one". |
Originally Posted by USirritated
(Post 8550822)
Do you really already have a "5-star Platinum" Card? If yes, how and why did you get it? What benefits does it bestow on you?
Seriously though. If you remember individual stays and you so proudly scout for ways to extort points from them for the slightest service mishap, I doubt anyone is going to reward you for that. IMHO, PP takes a real revenue, nights, and loyalty commitment, so I'd focus on getting in to the triple digits hardcore before you bank on extoting status from Marriott. |
Originally Posted by USirritated
(Post 8550822)
Do you really already have a "5-star Platinum" Card? If yes, how and why did you get it? What benefits does it bestow on you?
I was trying my Monty Python impersonation from the Quest for the Holy Grail. The French men in the English Castle said "We've already got one.", when the knights asked for help in seeking the grail. |
Originally Posted by USirritated
(Post 8550809)
Your "terrific ethics in management at our US companies" comment sounded like it was meant to be facetious? But that would not make a lot of sense when the board member insisted on paying for the bill himself for all of the right reasons, would it?
|
QUOTE=DillMan;8550921]Maybe next time a hotel does something that warrants a 45,000 point compensation payment, you should ask them to give you a 5-star instead. Afterall, 45,000 points x (a very liberal) $0.02/point = $900!!! Unlimited free hotel stays for a year in exchange for saving $900 in points!! What a deal.
Seriously though. If you remember individual stays and you so proudly scout for ways to extort points from them for the slightest service mishap, I doubt anyone is going to reward you for that. IMHO, PP takes a real revenue, nights, and loyalty commitment, so I'd focus on getting in to the triple digits hardcore before you bank on extoting status from Marriott.[/QUOTE] Since you do not know the situation, I would say that your comments are pretty rude. Extortion? First, the stay was a rewards stay to begin with, 95,000 points for 4 nights. Second, I made a complaint about a couple of issues, and the GM of the hotel decided to respond personally and volunteered to REDEPOSIT 45,000 points back into my account out of the 95,000 that the 4 day stay cost. Third, there were three separate issues that made up the complaint, the room was infested with ants, on two separate days housekeeping did not come to make up the room during the day (they did come when I called after coming back at the end of the day to change for dinner as part of special request turn down service), and the guaranteed king bed was not available, we got a queen instead. Of course I don't remember all individual stays! However, I do remember recent and particularly memorable stays, such as a non-business trip island resort stay on points the week before Christmas 2006, to the same Caribbean island where my parents honeymooned 50 years earlier, and to which I had never been before! Also, I remember the only time that I ever got to a Marriott hotel that was overbooked in which I was denied a room, and from that incident, I became a Platinum member. Why wouldn't I? Why shouldn't I? Clearly the manager's involved at the two properties thought the circumstances quite proper, otherwise they would not have offered or agreed, would they have? In neither case was there any sort of argument or disagreement. Interesting that you have such a strong grasp of the facts of the incidents described in my postings that you are able to use the word "extort," which in its' worst definition is criminal activity, and in its' most benign definition is a major character flaw, and no matter how you use the word, it is at least attempted character assassination! If you have not figured it out by now, just about everyone here is interested in having the highest and best status that they can have with Marriott or whatever frequent traveler/guest programs that they are affiliated with. Their goals are to obtain the cushiest benefits possible for the least or no expense. One of the purposes of FlyerTalk is to discuss various short cuts to highest and best status, and cushiest benefits. If you think that is a bad thing, then maybe you should shut your eyes, cover your ears, and bury your head in the sand! Oh, and just out of curiosity, have you ever obtained anything free in your life that someone else did not obtain for free? Was that extortion, good negotiation, knowing the secret, or just plain luck? |
Originally Posted by BigYellowDog
(Post 8549400)
In my best British accent:
"I've already got one".
Originally Posted by USirritated
(Post 8550822)
Do you really already have a "5-star Platinum" Card? If yes, how and why did you get it? What benefits does it bestow on you?
Originally Posted by BigYellowDog
(Post 8551039)
Unfortunately, I don't have that much clout.
I was trying my Monty Python impersonation from the Quest for the Holy Grail. The French men in the English Castle said "We've already got one.", when the knights asked for help in seeking the grail. |
Originally Posted by USirritated
(Post 8551139)
Originally Posted by DillMan
(Post 8550921)
Maybe next time a hotel does something that warrants a 45,000 point compensation payment, you should ask them to give you a 5-star instead. Afterall, 45,000 points x (a very liberal) $0.02/point = $900!!! Unlimited free hotel stays for a year in exchange for saving $900 in points!! What a deal.
Seriously though. If you remember individual stays and you so proudly scout for ways to extort points from them for the slightest service mishap, I doubt anyone is going to reward you for that. IMHO, PP takes a real revenue, nights, and loyalty commitment, so I'd focus on getting in to the triple digits hardcore before you bank on extoting status from Marriott. Of course I don't remember all individual stays! However, I do remember recent and particularly memorable stays, such as a non-business trip island resort stay on points the week before Christmas 2006, to the same Caribbean island where my parents honeymooned 50 years earlier, and to which I had never been before! Also, I remember the only time that I ever got to a Marriott hotel that was overbooked in which I was denied a room, and from that incident, I became a Platinum member. Why wouldn't I? Why shouldn't I? Clearly the manager's involved at the two properties thought the circumstances quite proper, otherwise they would not have offered or agreed, would they have? In neither case was there any sort of argument or disagreement. Interesting that you have such a strong grasp of the facts of the incidents described in my postings that you are able to use the word "extort," which in its' worst definition is criminal activity, and in its' most benign definition is a major character flaw, and no matter how you use the word, it is at least attempted character assassination! If you have not figured it out by now, just about everyone here is interested in having the highest and best status that they can have with Marriott or whatever frequent traveler/guest programs that they are affiliated with. Their goals are to obtain the cushiest benefits possible for the least or no expense. One of the purposes of FlyerTalk is to discuss various short cuts to highest and best status, and cushiest benefits. If you think that is a bad thing, then maybe you should shut your eyes, cover your ears, and bury your head in the sand! Oh, and just out of curiosity, have you ever obtained anything free in your life that someone else did not obtain for free? Was that extortion, good negotiation, knowing the secret, or just plain luck? |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:15 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.