Well part of the issue obviously falls on Marriott, as their policy - and the inconsistent enforcement of it - are sore points with some Platinum members.

In a way, the question has been "asked and answered" sufficiently. Yes, Marriott's website still says "finest available room" without making any distinctions on what "finest available" is, thereby implying suites. And of course, if it's on the internet, it must be true!

Seriously, it shouldn't be that hard for Marriott web services to make the change, but then we have no clue as to how many people have to "touch" the request before it happens. Hopefully Chris' position will have sufficient weight to get it changed soon.

And even Marriott Rewards staffers are somewhat unclear - though I will note the quote in the thread to Chris stated "suite upgrades are at the discretion of the property".

Yet the 2004 Program Guide does clearly state that suites are not part of the official "finest available" accomodation. Properties are at their discretion to give it if they so desire (or have no choice), but it is not an "official" benefit, regardless of what the web says or what customer service people say.

I mean Marriott is hardly unique in this. The mantra for us United Airlines flyers is "if at first you don't succeed, call call again" because a surprising number of employees have no clue what the actual printed rules are. We make a point of informing ourselves of the actual computer profile codes so we can have realcitrant/uninformed agents get "clued-in", and even then, embarrasment or some other factor can cause them to stick to their guns, even in the face of the printed rule. That's why companies have Customer Service Departments - to make-up for failures at the front-end.

So while I can understand disappointment at not getting suite upgrades as a matter of course from December 31, 2003 and earlier, I really don't see the benefit or, bluntly, the point, of harping about it now. Marriott Rewards has clarified the rules for 2004 in the printed Terms and Conditions sent with their packets.

If a Marriott Rewards agent says you should get a suite, they are wrong.

If Marriott.com says you should get a suite, they are wrong.

If the property says you should get a suite, they are wrong. Just don't tell them!

And if these changes are intolerable to you, then you have the right as a consumer to choose another program that is more appealing to you.

So let me jump right in here and use my share of bandwidth....

What's all the excitement about having/not having a moderator? A moderator is for the owner of the site to, if he desires, keep certain material off his website. It's not for the posters. If the posters don't like a particular comment / thread / poster / topic - DON'T READ IT!

I feel the same way about Chris being here as an "official Marriott presence". What's the big deal and why was it a big deal for some posters to have an "official Marriott presence"? If you have a specific question about the Marriott Rewards program that you want an official answer to, you've always been able to send an email from the Marriott Rewards website and, in my experience, receive an "official" answer within 24 hours. I'll continue to use that method to verify Chirs's posts in instances where the answer is important to me. It's not that I'm saying that Chris's word isn't "good", but I'd much rather have a documented email correspondence with Marriott than a print out of an internet message board to support my argument with a Marriott front desk clerk. This statement should in no way be taken as disdain for Chris or his presence here. It's fine. I just don't see why it is such a "big deal" to some people to the point of being concerned that if he's asked too many "tough questions", he'll leave. If he leaves, so what? How will that affect this forum or your life (I'm not trying to be an ..., I just really don't see what the big deal is).

Finally, is there a difference between "bit**ing about the lack of suite upgrades" and "requesting that the program documentation match the program practices"?

Thank you, my colossal waste of bandwidth on this colossally band-width wasting thread is now concluded.

--EDITED--

I just don't have the heart.

Well the good news is that I'm not campaigning to be moderator, so no worries there.

My post above reflected my opinion & some others who are tired of the personal attacks. I repeat - NJUPINTHEAIR & ohmark - if you want to continue your personal attacks, take it to PM. If you want to discuss the issues without resorting to personal attacks, then certainly post publicly.

But so far there's been a lot of personal attacks, unfortunately resulting in you both losing credibility on the issues cuz folk start saying oh good grief, there they go again & don't pay attention to what may be both your valid responses on an issue (and I knew when I posted my post above I'd probably get dinged by one or both of you, but quite frankly, don't care).

NJUPINTHEAIR, you took my post to mean on a single topic. I didn't specify a single topic/thread in my post & didn't intend it for a single topic. Again, I repeat - it is NEVER acceptable in a public forum to make personal attacks. I've seen that happen in this forum unfortunately, but I've seen it happen in others too & it's as equally unacceptable in those as it is in this
one. Bottom line - focus on the issues, not the people.

PS - I've never expected a suite as an upgrade (although would have been delighted if I'd gotten one) but that's just me. However, having said that (and speaking for myself only & NOT wanting to hijack this thread), the fact that the threads continue is because Marriott hasn't matched their site to their written materials. Whichever way the decision goes, them having conflicing info does encourage additional threads & 'debate'. But again, limiting threads is fruitless. Heck, all the hotel & airline forums have multiple threads on the same topics & not everyone happy. That's fine (if at times boring), but again, discussion of the issues is appropriate, personal attacks not.

But back to the actual topic - if everyone avoids personal attacks, then no moderator is necessary. If that's not possible, then yes, Randy should add one. Cheers.

I believe it is time for a Marriott FT Forum Moderator.

Sorry let me be more clear with the intent of my post....I have flip-flopped many times on the issue of having a Moderator in the MR forums....Sharon's post makes me rethink my position as perhaps all of the members here can continue to be moderators....we have been very successful with this in the past (I'll refer you to the discount code forum where many including you have correctly in my mind played moderator)

A number of posts here make me sad. First, I have never attacked anybody. Despite being repeatedly and viciously baited throughout this thread, I have not attacked anybody else. If you don't believe me, please review this thread or any other thread in the Marriott board. It is astonishing to me that I read above that I should stop attacking certain others. I haven't. It's not like there's been a back and forth between me and other posters. There hasn't. I deliberately have refrained from such despite the attacks against me because the entire purpose to my starting this thread was to return civility to the Marriott board. The viciousness of responses in other threads (and not to me, but to others) astonished me. Whether anybody agrees with any other poster as to upgrades or anything else, how can most posters disagree that we should be civil to each other? Yet my original posting which mentioned nobody, and simply suggested the possibility of a moderator (with out advocating one), has engendered vicious attacks against me, and then accusations by others that I should stop the back and forth. It makes me particularly sad that some of you can't tell the difference between an assault and a fight. Folks, can't we be civil to each other? Can't FTer's discuss the ideas without attacking the posters?

And Socrates, you must be confusing me with other posters. I have never said that I don't like MR or it isn't the best program for me. I like Marrriott and am a long-time participant in MR. I have occasionally posted as to the upgrade, usually in response to other posters, never attacking Marriott as a program or an entity.

Ohmark,

I please accept my apology for assuming you were saying MR didn't best fit your needs. I do understand that because of the differences in the various programs out there that some will fit a persons needs better than others given their own circumstances and I had assumed this was your position and for this I am sorry.

Soc

PS This thread is too full of land mines for me personally....I have stepped on a few already and will humbly refrain from posting here....if I have offended anyone I apologize as it was not my intent.....I appreciate everyone's loyalty to both Marriott & myself

As long as I'm concerned, I don't think this board needs to be moderated. I don't want it to become a second airline board

Real COOL!!!

I hope all you "COMPOSER's" are satisfied!!!

Ego's, that's all it is, and you're running off everyone that can help you!!!

Let's start a thread---WHO has the most important profession, and can impress everyone on FT with with their importance!!! ^

So far we've got a doctor, a lawyer, and an indian chief, spending their entire week-end posting novels on here.

Frankly, I'm not impressed with a lot of ya-all!!! Especially the dudes screwing with SOCRATES! He has always been more than professional, and wouldn't hurt a fly. I just don't get it, and as I mentioned yesterday, I'm "outta here" for awhile!

I may return when Marriott assigns a "MODERATOR" @ each hotel front desk to personally insure that all Platinum's are "upgraded" to suites!!! @:-)

Honestly, many of you "need to get your **** together" and perhaps "WOOD" has Charmin in their suites!

"GO-ON, GIT"!!!

I have refrained from personal attacks, and will continue to do so now. I do note that the usage of an FTer's personal information from their profile on this board, in an attempt to publicly embarass the FTer, should be condemned by all, no matter how you feel on any issue.

"So far we've got a doctor, a lawyer, and an INDIAN CHIEF, spending their entire week-end posting novels on here".





OHMARK---'HOW"!!!---"HONEST INJUN"!!!---I've never looked @ any "personal profiles", because quite frankly sir, I'm not impressed by any of ya-all's top secret, important information. The only person that revealed his profession was "njupintheair", in one of his posts, this past week-end. The other "job titles" were obviously easy to figure out because of the usage all of "them big fancy, sometimes FORKED TONGUE words", being tossed around, by numerous "BRAVES"!!! "HOW"ever, your continual "PERSONAL ATTACKS" on FT towards Marriott, because of you're inability to receive your "stinkin' upgrades", every stay, is getting old, real fast.

But just in case I may have accidently "publicly embarrassed you", by revealing your occupation, please let me take this opportunity to say----
Sorry, "CHIEF"!!!

Well speaking only for myself, I'm loyal to Marriott & haven't made personal attacks to their program.

I do think others have made good points or raised issues in this forum that Marriott might want to address (and I am NOT referring to the upgrade issue!).

I appreciate the input socrates has provided, & that Marriott has appointed Chris to be our 'lurker'.

I think debate on all issues is fine; attacks are not. Like socrates, there are enough landmines here that I'm stepping away as I've stated my views.

As mentioned before, if we can agree to discuss issues only I don't think we need a moderator. If not, then we do. Randy will make that decision, not us. Cheers.

NJUPINTHEAIR, Thank you! Thank You! for finally saying it so well. I am only a lowly gold but I am so sick of reading about these suite upgrades or lack thereof I could just scream. THese people need to get a life so they can have something else to concern themselves with. I say please will all of you platinum whiners move to Starwood.