FozzyBear1980

Hi Everyone,

I was hoping I might be able to get some answers here.

I work for the Canadian Federal Government, and am entitled to Government rates when I travel. In fact, I've traveled enough, that I've had Marriott Gold status for a few years now. According to Marriott's terms and conditions of government rates at hotels, Canadian government employees are able to take advantage of government rates where it says "U.S. Federal Government Rates." (See here: https://www.marriott.com/File%20Bloc...eals/chart.htm) I travel frequently to the USA, so it's nice that the hotels in the US accept my Canadian government ID. Since the Marriott Rewards program is being combined with SPG next month, I've been looking into booking SPG hotels. The Government Rate (USA) is often available at SPG hotels, but it clearly says it's for U.S. Government employees only. I even called a few hotels I was looking to book the Government rate to ask them if they would accept Canadian government ID, and I was told no. Basically, do you think once the formal merger happens, SPG will be forced to take on the Marriott eligibility rules when it comes to Government rates? Will the eligibility rules be changing? I have a few trips planned for travel after August, and I'm wondering if I book an SPG hotel at the US government rate, they will accept my Canadian government ID? Any insight you have would be helpful.

Thanks!

dayone

Acceptance of and the eligibility requirements for Government rates are determined by the individual property.

Horace

No.

There may eventually be more consistent guidelines for government rates, but I would not expect Marriott to force such a change on Starwood legacy properties in August.

Also, the loyalty program changes in August do not consitute the "formal merger" of Marriott and Starwood. It's been a single company since September 2016. Today's program names (Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and SPG) will remain in use until early 2019, so the Starwood identity will live on at least until then. The big change in August is that members will be able to use the same loyalty account across 29 brands.

C17PSGR

As a practical matter, the ability or interest of someone at the Front Desk distinguishing between a Canadian and US government ID seems pretty unlikely.

dayone

That may depend on the city. Probably true for Fargo, much less true for DC.

mahasamatman

I'm sure that people in Fargo are much more familiar with Canadians and Canadian ID than people in DC.

dayone

And much less concerned about them.

danola

FozzyBear1980

I hope so! I find it interesting that Marriott at least recognizes that Canadian Government ID can be used when it states "U.S. Government Rate" at their properties. It's weird that SPG doesn't have a similar eligibility chart on their website that suggests what rates and what ID's are acceptable in each circumstance.

FozzyBear1980

You know what the funny thing is - in most of my travels, I never even get asked for my government ID when I check into hotels. The only time I get asked for it is at the small properties in places like Buffalo, NY, where the government rate might save me like $7/night. I go to NYC all the time where it literally saves me hundreds of dollars per night, and I've never been asked.

frudd38

Which property in Buffalo asked for it? The rate in Buffalo seems to save a significant amount (over 60%) in the summer. It seems Marriott government rates are only "Federal" while SPG did not distinguish in most cases and was a general "Government".