I cannot use Concur when booking Marriott properties
Jan 30, 2015 | 1:45 pm
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
One might not like it, but the chains and the franchisees are just trying to maximize their profits, and there is nothing wrong in that in this competitive environment.
IHG in the USA has mostly had 1 day prior cancel policies this past year and with US travel way up for both business and leisure travelers, the franchisees obviously felt that they were losing business with the prior cancel policy and hotel being quite tight -- so they enacted this change.
The economies of pretty much elsewhere in the world are not as strong as the US currently, and that is likely reflected in the more lax cancellation policy as Sharon has noted above.
IHG in the USA has mostly had 1 day prior cancel policies this past year and with US travel way up for both business and leisure travelers, the franchisees obviously felt that they were losing business with the prior cancel policy and hotel being quite tight -- so they enacted this change.
The economies of pretty much elsewhere in the world are not as strong as the US currently, and that is likely reflected in the more lax cancellation policy as Sharon has noted above.
Jan 30, 2015 | 6:22 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,977
So, it's February next week and time to start working on the new Marriott promotion for 2015. Unfortunately for me, I am required to use Concur to book hotels. When I tried to do that today, I was forbidden from choosing Marriott because it now violates our company policy, i.e. it's not eligible for cancellation on the day of arrival like it was in 2014.
Is anyone else having this trouble? I wonder if Marriott was aware of this potential, now real, problem.
Does anyone have contact info for someone at Marriott that I can use to discuss this issue. If this policy stays in effect, then I will have to find a new primary hotel chain to use.
Not happy about this, sorry if this is old news. I knew of the new policy, but I didn't realize that it would happen this way (forbidden by Concur) until I tried to book a stay last night.
Opinions?
Randidliyo
Is anyone else having this trouble? I wonder if Marriott was aware of this potential, now real, problem.
Does anyone have contact info for someone at Marriott that I can use to discuss this issue. If this policy stays in effect, then I will have to find a new primary hotel chain to use.
Not happy about this, sorry if this is old news. I knew of the new policy, but I didn't realize that it would happen this way (forbidden by Concur) until I tried to book a stay last night.
Opinions?
Randidliyo
Feb 1, 2015 | 5:03 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Programs: DL Diamond Million Miler, AA Ex-Plat, IHG RA, Marriott PLAT, HERTZ Pres Circle
Posts: 1,220
I wouldn't say forbidden by Concur. Concur just uses the policy set forth by your company, it doesn't forbid anything unless your companies policy forbids it. My company uses Concur also and Concur does not forbid me from booking Marriott. Concur is just a portal that follows policies set by your company and passes the info on to the travel agent your company has contracted with, mine is Balboa.
Feb 1, 2015 | 11:53 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,977
Sorry, your wording made think Concur was forbidding you to book. Just a semantics misunderstanding. Would have understood if you had said, My company travel policy is preventing me from booking Marriott. Concur really has nothing to do with it.
Feb 1, 2015 | 2:20 pm
#20
Moderator: Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,642
I agree with Baze. The title wording is awkward at best and confusing at worst.
Feb 1, 2015 | 2:27 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 866
Anyone whose company uses Concur knew what he meant and feels his pain. I have the same problem. My companies travel policy would have me flying Spirit airlines with 4 connections and sleeping in a Motel-5 (1 step below a motel-6).
Feb 1, 2015 | 2:34 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,977
Guess you missed where I posted that my company uses Concur and I misunderstood what they meant. Concur has nothing to do with setting policy to allow or prevent something from being booked. It just follows the travel policy the company implements. So I don't "feel his pain" about Concur preventing them from booking. If I need something that the travel policy does not allow and Concur makes sure to follow that travel policy, I call Balboa direct and take Concur out of the picture. Humans can do thing computers can not. Any front computer interface, not just Concur, would block it. Computers are actually quite stupid, they just do what they are told and their company told it not to allow Marriott. So the gripe is with the company and as I said, Concur has nothing to do with it.
Feb 1, 2015 | 4:02 pm
#23
Moderator: Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,642
Feb 1, 2015 | 4:29 pm
#24
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 9,108
I have to use Concur, what a horrible application / interface if its the same one for others, so I feel your pain regardless!
Feb 1, 2015 | 8:39 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LA
Posts: 1,281
So, it's February next week and time to start working on the new Marriott promotion for 2015. Unfortunately for me, I am required to use Concur to book hotels. When I tried to do that today, I was forbidden from choosing Marriott because it now violates our company policy, i.e. it's not eligible for cancellation on the day of arrival like it was in 2014.
Is anyone else having this trouble? I wonder if Marriott was aware of this potential, now real, problem.
Does anyone have contact info for someone at Marriott that I can use to discuss this issue. If this policy stays in effect, then I will have to find a new primary hotel chain to use.
Not happy about this, sorry if this is old news. I knew of the new policy, but I didn't realize that it would happen this way (forbidden by Concur) until I tried to book a stay last night.
Opinions?
Randidliyo
Is anyone else having this trouble? I wonder if Marriott was aware of this potential, now real, problem.
Does anyone have contact info for someone at Marriott that I can use to discuss this issue. If this policy stays in effect, then I will have to find a new primary hotel chain to use.
Not happy about this, sorry if this is old news. I knew of the new policy, but I didn't realize that it would happen this way (forbidden by Concur) until I tried to book a stay last night.
Opinions?
Randidliyo
I can still book Marriott through Concur on our company as it meets the guidelines. For us, only Marriott properties appear, unless there are no Marriott properties within 20 miles of enter destination. In that case, it defaults to our level two options (Hilton & Hyatt properties) and then level three (others).
Feb 2, 2015 | 7:49 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,502
Radisson at JFK. Thanks for the info on Europe and Asia. I didnt realize that. Monday night, I was going to book rooms for Tuesday in case we were stuck again. (Cathay would only cover one night. I was happy at that.) But, the new policy wouldnt allow me to cancel.
Feb 3, 2015 | 9:24 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,777
Sort of. We just sswitched to Concur and it's a nightmare. It actually gets our policy wrong and won't let me book (this is for flights) so I end up having to pay travel agent to make reservations manually.
Feb 6, 2015 | 7:53 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,393
I have noticed a change since the New Year with our company Concur as well as it relates to Marriott. Now all Marriotts seem to show up as a potential violation of our policy. Here's a prime example - Marriott CVG airport, i was just there this week. It's a corporate preferred property, the rate is $2 over/under the Doubletree CVG, but the Marriott comes up as a potential violation.
I actually think there is something within Concur that went quirky with Marriott with the start of the New Year.
I'm still able to book Marriotts, however I have to explain my justification in the system and sometimes it's a little difficult where there is a Hilton down the street that's the same price and doesn't throw up a violation flag.
I actually think there is something within Concur that went quirky with Marriott with the start of the New Year.
I'm still able to book Marriotts, however I have to explain my justification in the system and sometimes it's a little difficult where there is a Hilton down the street that's the same price and doesn't throw up a violation flag.
Feb 9, 2015 | 4:35 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,393
Happened to me again today; this time the Marriott DTW airport. It comes up as a corporate preferred property, the rate is in line with the others (within $5 either way a night), yet it comes up a yellow flag potential violation.
If anyone says anything to me about this at some point, I'm going to have to be done with Marriott until they can get this addressed.
If anyone says anything to me about this at some point, I'm going to have to be done with Marriott until they can get this addressed.
Feb 9, 2015 | 5:03 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Happened to me again today; this time the Marriott DTW airport. It comes up as a corporate preferred property, the rate is in line with the others (within $5 either way a night), yet it comes up a yellow flag potential violation.
If anyone says anything to me about this at some point, I'm going to have to be done with Marriott until they can get this addressed.
If anyone says anything to me about this at some point, I'm going to have to be done with Marriott until they can get this addressed.