Hi guys,

I am a Marriott Gold (which I think is one of the best mid tier status's along with Hilton that you can get and I love) trying to plan a once in a lifetime trip for his dad for his 50th.

He has always wanted to go to the Monaco F1 and 8 years ago when I was 16, I promised I would take him for his 50th. Whilst I work, I don't earn that much, but have become a points nutter! I thought I might as well start planning now.

Sadly, there are not many chain hotels in Monaco, however I came across the Hotel Nice & Riviera Marriott Hotel La Porte de Monaco and it seemed to match. 160,000 points for a 5 night stay, perfect!

I am a few points short in my SPG account before transferring, so was about to buy 30,000 SPG points at 50% off to make up the amount. Before though, I thought I would check with the hotel that you can use them over the F1 weekend. Of course I am planning for 2018!

I emailed the hotel the following:

Good afternoon,

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Ryan Forster. Currently I do not have any status with Marriott, however I will be gold when I link my SPG account.

I am planning extremly in advanced, but it is important I do so.

In 2018, my father will be 50. He has always dreamed of going to the Monaco Grand Prix and I promised him since I was 16 I would take him. As you are aware, hotels are very expensive during this time understandably due to demand.

The only way I could take him would be to use points for a 5 night break which would be 160,000 points. I have the majority points in my SPG account, but would need to purchase some more to make sure I have enough. I know that for the 2017 race, there are no standard rooms available for redemption. Is that because you block them or is it because they are sold out? The reason I ask is that if standard room redemptions are blocked during this time, I will not spend the $625 on the extra points and will have to find alternative means.

I would be ready to book exactly 330 days in advanced. Do you think there would be a good chance I get a room on redemption? Again, thank you for your help in possibly making my promise and my dads dream come true.


I was ignored

I chased them on Facebook and got a direct contact to email, and I got the following reply very quickly:

Dear Mr Forster,

Thank you very much for your email.
Please accept our apologize for not responding to your request on facebook.
I perfectly understand the importance of this special event for you.
We are unfortunately already sold out in standard and deluxe sea view rooms for 2017 and only have a few Riviera Rooms and Suites available. For 2018 Standard rooms are also already sold out and the only alternative would be a supplement (reward upgrade fee) of 759 � per night.

Looking forward to welcoming and your father at the Riviera Marriott.

Warm regards,

MR MARRIOTT MONACO

A bit miffed, I asked the below question:

Good afternoon,

Thanks for the quick reply.

May I ask how how the 2018 rooms are sold if you cannot book more than 330 days in advance?

No reply. Chased on Facebook and am being ignored. I called Marriott who said the hotel has somehow sold ALL standard rooms, but have everything else for sale. The lady was very nice and said she has just spoken to a manager who will speak to his manager and the hotel to find out what has gone on.

My question is this then. Has the hotel done something wrong? Are they trying to pre sell ALL standard rooms as a group booking to themselves (thus more 330 days in advance) and holding them or blocking them? Or can they do this despite 'NO BLACKOUT DATES'. I know there are limitations to the blackout dates, but if the rooms can't yet be sold, does anyone know what has gone on?

I think they are doing something to maximise revenue which I can't blame them that much for....


Rant Over :/

No. You may not like it but this is a huge event to them (I assume) like the Super Bowl which they are allowed to carve out.

A room on points in Monaco on Grand Prix weekend? You are a dreamer...

Blocks reserved by the F1 teams. I'm thinking they have multi-year contracts with their preferred hotels.

If you really want to use points for this trip, I'd be looking at staying somewhere else and travelling into Monaco - maybe Nice.

I wouldn't bother trying to talk to the hotel directly which will do anything in their power to fill up rooms with paying customers. I just checked the status in Monaco for the coming F1 season (May 28) and I got partial availability on the AC Hotel. Most hotels don't accept reservations more than 1 year out however.

So, forget trying to go through the hotel, when it's time to book either use the Gold line or just the website.

All reward programs have a way to either limit the number of standard reward room or have an "extraordinary demand exception" cause to not provide award rooms to get around the "no blackout dates".

That may be the OP's best option (Nice), assuming there's availability. Or see if he can get the AC if the rest of availability opens up.

Cheers.

Thanks everyone for the replies...

Below is what I have received from the hotel after Marriot got in touch with them. I know I am a dreamer, but worth a try.

Dear Mr Forster,

I'd like to thank you for your message and for your interest in the Riviera Marriott La Porte de Monaco. I have also received your inquiry through our Marriott Customer care service.
I am sorry to inform you that we do not have any standard room available for five nights during Grand Prix 2018. The reason why is that all standard rooms have been booked for 3 years for a racing team group.

We would like to thank you for your loyalty and understanding. I have found a nice alternative for you in case you would like to stay not too far from Monaco. We have a beautiful AC Hotel by Marriott in Nice, it is a fantastic 4 star property located a few step away from Promenade des Anglais. Located half hour (45 minutes maximum) from Monaco.

I'd like to invite you to visit our website on www.achotelnice.com.

You could use your rewards points and reserve a nice city view room without any additional fee.

Reservation is closed for the moment during Grand Prix at AC Hotel Nice for 2018 but we could confirm it to you by return manually and the reservation could be "live" in our system only by June 2017.

Feel free to contact me for any further help or support you may need.

Kind regards from the French Riviera.

About as transparent as a company can be. They deserve kudos for that.

On one hand, all hotels in all programs game the system for "special events". However, in this case, I'm inclined to believe the hotel when they say the rooms really are sold out. It sounds like a place the event participants would want to book with a multiyear contract.

Throughout my hotel-staying history, I've always felt that Starwood was the best at minimizing the "gaming" to truly the largest world events. I've booked regular awards for Oktoberfest, 3 of the world's marathon "majors", college football bowl games, and max-peak Spring Break hotels. (I've never tried booking for an auto race...not sure how those compare to, say, the NYC Marathon or Oktoberfest in Munich. I guess Formula 1 is probably similar?)

The flip-side is that Marriott is probably the worst. They once tried to tell me that an Illinois-San Jose State football game was a "special event." I'm sorry, even wearing the most orange-colored glasses imaginable, that thing is a dog with fleas. Extraordinary demand?!? Were all of the fans dressed up as empty seats trying to book the Fairfield Inn?

This is one area where I fear the Starwood practice of *mostly* honoring their loyalty program...unless you're trying to book the Super Bowl...will die with the merger.

Agreed, I am happy knowing that is the real reason and believe them. Shame it took management to get involved, but I am happy knowing I am not being fobbed off.

I agree too, at least I got an answer in the end. Starwood I do love. I have checked for this years race and next year, and of course there are standard rooms available at 16,000 points a night (when booking a 5 night stay). This is staying at the Le M�ridien Beach Plaza. 16,000 points a night vs 1200EUR a night, now that is value!

Sadly I do not think this will last for long and I should book now whilst I can!

Personally this seems like awesome customer service.

(1) They gave you the exact reason why rooms aren't available
(2) They found another property for you
(3) They are letting you make a reservation before the availability window opens for the hotel.

^^^

That's my take on it as well. I'd say kudos to the hotel. They didn't have to find another property. I'd say the OP should take the property up on the AC or book the LeM, but whichever he does he should so so asap. And if he does go w/ the LeM, hopefully he'll be gracious in his response to the Marriott & thank them for their help w/ the AC.

I believe that a racing team has booked the Marriott property for multiple years. It's not like this race changes locations each year like the Super Bowl.

Cheers.

Dude, snag the Le Meridien ASAP. That's a solid redemption for the F1 race. ^