500 MR Points for Checking Out at the Front Desk
 

Never seen this before...

When checking into the Marriott Ft Lauderdale North yesterday, the front desk clerk gave me a small blue piece of paper which stated if a guest handed this piece of paper to the front desk when stopping by to check out, the guest would get 500 MR points. I'm a just-walk-out-the-door kinda guy, but 500 points is 500 points, so, of course, I stopped by the front desk and handed the paper over when leaving.

Brilliant way to get people to actually let the hotel know when they are leaving.

Great idea. It would be even better if checking out by any means generated points -- and in a way that the earlier we check out the more points we get.

Perhaps this is a way to help them manage late check-outs better. I sometimes check out prior to the agreed-upon time, even when granted a late checkout, so as a courtesy I generally do my best to let them know when I leave earlier than expected, even if that means just using the app or doing it in-room.

Perhaps they read and took the suggestion of this brilliant FT'er posted just two weeks ago? :cool:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28240443-post18.html

Thank you. ;)

I always walk past the front desk and place my keys on the desk. This won't change my behaviour.

We had a stay at the FLL North Marriot three weeks ago and received the same notice. 500 points is well worth the extra 30 seconds it took to check out. On a side note, that is a great hotel. The pool/hot-tub area is fantastic and they really treated us well as an elite.

I'd love this, although it would be better if one didn't need to remember to turn in the blue paper announcing it. I almost always do check out at the front desk (unless there's a line and I'm in a hurry), so it wouldn't change my behavior much, but the extra points would be nice.

If I was a GM at a hotel, especially one that embraces the late checkout benefit, I'd incentivize notice of checkout in several manners to take the guess work out of whether the room can be cleaned. The cost of the 500 points is measly compared to housekeeping overtime.

I've never stopped by the desk or known anyone that does unless there was an issue with the bill. Especially with the ever present line.

Put out a box, leave the keys with small paper slip and offer 500 points or a candy bar as a reward and I bet compliance soars.

Shhhh, don't tell, but if they just explained to me that it would help if I let them know when I leave I'd probably do it even without getting the points or candy. The truth is I've never really thought it through that it would be helpful if they knew when the room is empty.

It's embarrassing how important that little piece of paper became to me. Not only could it not be lost, but it had to be somewhere I'd remember to stop by the front desk and not find it in a pocket two days later.

Do we know if this is just a regional thing? So far the reports are for two FLL properties.

Cheers.

I'm not seeing a second property, only the FLL Marriott North. Am I missing the second property?

My bad. Thought there were 2 properties mentioned. So it might be something that is property-specific & not regional or national.

Cheers.

Agreed; I'm not familiar with the area, but both reports so far appear to be for the same property, unless Fort Lauderdale North is north of the city and FLL North is a location north of the airport. The question still remains though as to whether this incentive is isolated to one particular area (or property).

Give out a slip at check-in requesting the checkout notice and have other copies available at the drop box. Pair it with the key return so strangers just can't stuff the box. Code it into the app and avoid the front desk. Give 1,000 points for a 8am checkout and slide it down as the day progresses. I got a million of these... :p

I spent 1 night here 10+ years ago and was very impressed, definitely one of the better run Marriott's out there.

Everyone calls it the North Ft Lauderdale property, but the official name is Ft Lauderdale North, so it's likely the same property. Plus, the only other Marriott family property north of Ft Lauderdale is a funky CY. I love that property, but it's something people love or hate. It's quite retro, with a motel like entrance next to a tower, a ground floor swimming pool in a parking lot on busy corner and rooms that are more seventies Holiday Inn than modern CY.

I have had a difficult history with this property, but it seems to have improved significantly. There has been a recent renovation and staff/maintenance issues seemed to have worked themselves out. The property was very close to where an elderly relative lived, so I would stay there out of convenience. The relative has since moved on, so it's no longer usually geographically convenient, but my few stays over the past couple years have been excellent.