Has anyone noticed inconsistency lately with whether there is a receipt under the door in the morning? It seems like Marriott was always very good about this (which I think I should expect given that they still haven't figured out how to provide an email receipt prior to check out).

In the last few weeks, I've had 3 times where there was no receipt. Today at the REN Cincinnati I asked whether Marriott was no longer providing them under the door, and I was told that they physically can't do it, apparently there is no space under the door to slide the paper through.

I'm not sure if this was the case at the other properties. While it seems like a somewhat reasonable explanation, it absolutely defeats the whole point of mobile checkout. I'm not leaving the hotel without a receipt I'm not waiting for the email from Marriott 3 days later. And if there's an error, it's easier to address before I leave the hotel.

What have others experienced? I really hope they adopt Starwood's approach and send an email around 4 AM.

I did not receive a folio printout under my door recently at the JW Marriott LA Live, so I asked about it at the front desk on my way out.

I was told that they now provide the equivalent service on the room television -- and that this is a green initiative. Because I had not checked the folio through the television, I asked for a printout, which I received promptly.

I think that discontinuing printouts under the door is a good concept. But it would work better if Marriott could email a preliminary folio pre-dawn on checkout morning and another one later that day -- instead of only sending a final receipt several days after checkout.

Clearly yet another Marriott attempt to save effort, labor and costs under the guise of "going green"... Since it was unannounced, each property likely to make up a different excuse once questioned.

I worked at an IHG property in Jacksonville, Florida as a GSR and like the location you mentioned, there was simply not enough room under the door to slide the receipt into the room.


Considering these places take our email addresses down as standard practice now I think its pretty reasonable to think receipts should be sent electronically immediately after check out by now as a standard.

That would be much better than how it is now.

The problem, as has been noted in this thread, is that Marriott tends to email the receipt 2 to 5 days after checkout.

With National Car Rental, the receipt hits my email within a few seconds of when I return a car.

I like to see my hotel folio before I leave the hotel. There have been a number of times when there has been an error on the printout under the door. When this happens, it's easy to swing by the front desk to have it fixed.

As getting a printout under the door is phased out, something needs to take its place. I suppose interactive TV is an option, but email and the Marriott app seem like a better options.

If additional charges (such as breakfast right before checkout) hit the account, it should trigger an updated email.

I always insist not only on seeing the bill before I leave but also getting a copy of it in some form. The TV screen doesn't do this. although I guess you could photograph it.

Some hotels use a hangtag with a pouch to hold the folio.

Also, after checking out of the MGM Grand in Vegas, folio in pdf format arrived within 2 - 3 hours.

I wouldn't like that. In fact, I'm concerned/annoyed when the bill isn't placed entirely under the door, so that a random person walking down the hall can't retrieve it and look at it or keep it.

I am experiencing more properties that aren't providing a folio under the door the morning of checkout. In some cases it was a systems issue or just a very early departure. In other cases, I am not sure what the cause was. Had it happen today at a CY when I was in a hurry at departure time. So will have to wait for the e-Folio and hope it is correct (should be, 1 night stay with no incidentals).

I am also in the camp that prefers a printed folio before I leave; however, I used the electronic softcopy folio for my expense reports. If I could get a preliminary folio emailed to me the morning of checkout that would be ideal.

--Jon

IMO the emailed portfolio is an acceptable substitute only if the hotel provides free wifi (including in the room) for all guests.

I once had a customer demand a receipt for a rewards night stay. Of course the folio for that stay printed blank. He demanded I write "0 balance per front desk services" and print & sign my name.


The hilarity of it all is even after you receive a 0 balance receipt, the GSR can simply reinstate the reservation and extend it another 20 nights if he or she wants too and you wouldn't know until you saw the charge on your card.


Morals of the story, printed receipts aren't everything, check your credit card statements, stay at reputable hotels.


- Former IHG Guest Services Supervisor in Jax, Fl.

Paying an employee to walk around distributing a paper review copy is an expense I don't want to subsidize anymore and, as others point out, if this is a domestic US stay, you've almost certainly authorized the charges to your CC. Thus, you can have a fight if there are charges with which you disagree later, but the days of a "final" invoice being settled at checkout are long gone.

I am fine so long as there is an easy way to scan what's on the invoice and the property ought to want that too. It's far easier to correct errors on the spot than tracking down things days and weeks later.

What I don't understand is why a statement can't be provided electronically relatively instantaneously. I don't want to lug paper around, but I do want the confidence that I've got something as proof of payment.

All of this is, of course, out the window in some overseas locations where the entire ceremony of signing the final invoice is a major production.

Agree. While there aren't often errors it's easier to find them on the folio that's slipped under the door & then get it corrected at checkout. If there's no mistake I just keep the folio/call the desk to let them know I'm checking out. I usually pick up the folio from under the door & scan it while I'm brushing my teeth - multi-tasking

Same here. I want/need a hard copy so I can a) check for errors & get it corrected before check-out; b) submit expense report. Often I'll submit an expense report immediately after a trip (and before the emailed folio arrives).

Cheers.

For security on international flights, a few times I've been asked to produce a receipt for my hotel room or other proof of where I stayed. As a result, I always keep the receipt with me rather than tossing it in a checked bag.

After many years of int'l travel I can honestly say I've never once been asked to provide a hotel receipt to get through security/board an int'l flight. However, I never put trip receipts (of any kind - taxi, meals, car rentals, hotel) in my checked baggage.

Cheers.