Suggested Change To Marriott Rewards
 

To the Marriott personnel who read this forum as well as all my colleagues:

Since Ed French has taken over the Marriott Rewards program, I have had nothing but good things to say about Marriott Rewards.

In addition, Marriott also has bestirred from its' slumber and is upgrading its hotels as well as making needed improvements to its Courtyard brand to better compete with Hilton's Hilton Garden Inn and/or Homewood Suites.

However, there still is one glaring exception that Marriott should consider changing to better compete with its competition vis a vis the various hotel rewards programs:

To wit, Marriott should do away with awarding points for only the room rate at the Courtyard, Springhill Suites, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites brands, etc. since Hilton (and I believe every other major hotel rewards programs) permits one to earn points on all incidental charges incurred during the stay, e.g. phone charges, dining charges, etc.

This would not only make it far more lucrative to the Marriott Rewards member to incur additional costs while at these properties, but it would also almost certainly encourage some to partake in these additional services provided by the hotel since they would earn a benefit for taking their meals at these properties, using the inflated long distance telephone service charges offered by the hotel vs. their far less expensive long distance calling cards, etc.

In effect, this would be a win-win for all involved, for the Marriott Rewards member would earn more points for his/her stay, as well as making it simpler for them to know that they will earn the same amount of points across all the Marriott brands, and the particular hotel would also come out ahead, as various profit centers offered by them would likely be utilized more often if the Marriott Rewards member were to receive such a bonus.

I welcome all comments. :)

A very good suggestion NJupintheair.
However,,,I wonder if the restos in these properties are sublet to operators other than the hotels themselves?I know that is the case in the Springhill suites in Montreal-I am not sure if I have seen full service restaurants in these properties mentioned other than that.
But I do agree,if you are charging for phone calls,parking etc-then we should earn points on all $$$ spent.

It would be a simplification, that's for sure. I wonder how many people call and write about not getting "full" credit for a stay?

Bruce

Personally, I hardly ever incur significant incidentals at any of those brands, but the request makes perfect sense to me. In a way, I'm surprised that Courtyard operators themselves don't push for this change: they are the primary ones impacted (the ones with restaurants/lounges, anyway).

I was going to do just that, but I always check the T & C first so I know what I am talking/writing about and I was suprised to find these "exceptions" to what one would normally expect from the Renaissance and Marriott Full Service hotels.

In point of fact, some CY's etc., are at a higher reward scheme than some Marriotts -- and cost more for a nightly rate to boot -- so it makes sense that these should permit these charges.

Pinniped --

I incurred $53 for phone calls recently, and one must not forget high speed internet charges, as well.

Finally, some CYs have pretty good restaurants -- C/Y Chicago Mag Mile's "Viand" is one -- so it makes sense to offer the incentive on these items and not just the room rate.

Marriott, are you listening?? ;)

How about including "select suite upgrades" for Platinums upon check-in? I have NEVER got a suite upgrade with Marriott! Where as with Starwood I have gotten 4 suite upgrades this year alone! If the room is going empty for the night why not give it to your BEST and LOYAL members?

Does anyone else agree?

They do, and quite often IMO considering their T&C. I was at two Marriotts, Hilton Head and Richmond, back-to back, and was upgraded to suites at both. Also Honolulu Ilikai Renaissance last year. HOWEVER, per MR T&C upgrades to suites is not guaranteed. I believe the problem here is that when they were not explicitly excluded people went to the mat insisting on suite upgrades since they had a sense of entitlement; so Marriott now specifically excludes them as being guaranteed in their T&C. In so doing, they are still allowed to give suite upgrades and do. Just my opinion.

I think it varies from property to property as to whether suite upgrades are given at all. It is also determined to a certain extent with regard to the personal relationship one has with the hotel manager, and also the frequency of your stays at a particular property.. Also even those properties that do upgrade Plats to suites, they need to have a suite available for your entire stay, and who is to say the suites they do have available haven't been given out to other Platinum members. I am sorry to hear you have not received a suite upgrade. Hopefully that will change in the future,

I suppose they'd have to define "select suite" in their T's and C's so that it's differentiated from a suite that's unavailable for upgrade under any circumstances but that shouldn't be a show-stopper.

Assuming that can be done and everyone understands that the "Presidential Suite" (and like accomodations) is/are off-limits certainly it's a concept that could be at least tried before a decision is made to change policy or leave it as it is.

On the other hand, I'm not privy as to what circumstances/incidents caused them to qualify suites as not falling under the "upgrade to best available room when possible" in the first place.

Maybe they felt they were experiencing too many hassles or having to mediate too many controversies between guests and properties, particularly when an elite was refused a suite due to claimed non-availability but subsequently confirmed availability via the internet or an elite phone line - who knows.

But moreover, the point is well-taken; if no one's going to use an accomodation, why not upgrade top tier MR participants on an "if available at check-in" basis.

I'm Gold - never gotten a true suite. Then again, never gotten one as a Gold at HH or SPG.

I've gotten lots of minisuites and lots of nice rooms. Many great upgrades to the best possible nonsuite. But never the big honking suites like we got on our wedding night (as part of a catering contract, not a status upgrade).

I guess I have so completely assumed I won't get a suite that I don't stress about it. If Marriott gets bed/smoke right, provides either C-level or a room or an otherwise desirable hotel room (ocean view or whatever), I don't complain. I think asking Marriott to change their suite policy is probably a losing proposition, whereas asking for incidental charges to "count" at Courtyard is logical, reasonable, and "do-able" for Marriott.

I just find Marriott Hotels in general are very CHEAP when it comes to upgrades. They figure if they put you on an executive floor that is enough... Which I am grateful for the "upgrade" but I find it hard to believe that with 46 nights this year with Marriott I have NEVER scored a suite.

As a Platinum member I just figure an executive room is the norm. for an "upgrade". Maybe I am spoiled with Starwood. But with no new promo's with SPG and currently scoring Summer Promo points with Marriott... I got to go where the points are ;)

This is much more reasonable and I agree entirely. I have been upgraded to junior or executive suites on occasion. I never expect a suite upgrade, let alone to the best suite in the property!

As I noted above, I would be much more happy if Marriott were to review the modest proposal I put forth above, not a wholesale re-working of their entire rewards program!!

I do not know if you were a participant on this board, Imverge, the last time around the whole suite thing was discussed, but I for one am quite happy with Marriott's present position on that matter -- make it all the more "suite" if you do get an upgrade, but one should not be offended if they do not receive one.

I like to propose the attainable, not the unattainable or unwarranted. ;)

Remember, Marriott is a fairly conservative company with a similar corporate culture -- nothing wrong in that -- but I am quite content that they are breaking out of that mold when it comes to bonuses in the Marriott Rewards program and their jazzing up their Renaissance and Marriott properties. IMHO, they need not make a substantial change as Imverege suggests -- especially since following that suggestion only brought them grief and recriminations in the past.

Marriott should stick to what is deliverable, and so should we! :cool:

Marriott should stick to what is deliverable, and so should we!

Well, yeah.

My point was that it wasn't unreasonable for imverge to raise the issue; that perhaps it be revisted. But if it isn't deliverable (read: cannot be administered; is impractical; too work-intensive etc. etc. ), it's a no-go.

I think it's a no-harm/no foul.

A couple of us took the last statement in the opening post as an invitation to comment (w/o limitations as to the parameters) on the subject of improving the MR program

I've only received suites twice in recent memory - once somewhere in Maryland, when I arrived very close to midnight after a drive through wind-driven rains after a lousy flight, and it was either "give him the (best in house) suite or walk him," and bless them, they opted for the former. Another time, in Montreal, the Mrs. and I were moved to a two-bedroom, corner suite when it was impossible for engineering to mitigate the odor of some sort of wallpaper or other adhesive that was coming into our room at 3 AM. (They let us keep it over a four-night stay because it was uncommitted - their decision; I didn't ask).

I should have added that on the whole I'm very-well satisfied with Marriott and the MR program. I can recall only two serious issues with Marriott properties over the years (twenty) that caused me to escalate above the property level, and both were resolved in a fair and equitable fashion.

As far as upgrades go, I find that the vast majority of the time I'm bumped up to concierge/club levels and when I'm not I still get access to the lounge w/o asking.

I've stayed at a smattering of properties that tender breakfast certificates at times when the MR the rules don't mandate that they do so. (And some of those breakfasts were well-beyond "continental" or "healthy start."

So, FS Marriotts as well as Rens and JWs remain my lodgings of choice because (to borrow a HI line), "the best surprise is no surprise" and 99% of the time the Marriott personnel I encounter are the tops.

Yes, it was an invitation to comment on this or anything else.

I have no problem with Imverge having suggested what he did and I just commented that I think that it was beyond the attainable -- others could disagree -- and I am sure they do.

My comments that you have posted should not be taken as scolding him --
I probably should have been more clear about that because that certainly was not my intention.

I just think it is wiser to post things that Marriott might take seriously and adopt -- going back to something that they changed because they felt it was impractical or not something they wished to do, seems to me a non-starter, that's all.

My experience is that suite upgrades vary by hotel, as they should. No one should be bent if they don't get suite, even if the hotel is not full. It's a gift and a bonus.

I have been very fortunate. I am offered suite upgrades on occasion and sometimes turn them down if I'm only staying a night or two. I have received upgrades to the Presidential or equivalent suite more than few times. Those Presidential upgrades allowed me to (very economically) host two bachelor parties in wilder times. I also was able to secure the Presidential suite for my parents while they were attending a reunion of war buddies.

This year, the suite fortune has occurred in New York (no, not the Rhiga), London, Paris, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, Florida, Colorado and a few other places. The upgrade has also been "unavailable" at some fine locations as well.

I'm quite satisfied with the existing policy. I'm treated far better than I deserve.

I am not sure if I get this whole suite thing. I have been top-level elite with one of the major hotel chains for the last three plus years running. Short of booking a room at an all-suite hotel, I think I have been upgraded to a full suite maybe once. I have gotten some very nice rooms -- balconies, ocean view, club level, jacuzzi, etc. While I appreciated the extra room, I can usually make do with a corner room or a "junior suite." I do most of my travel by myself, and when traveling with someone else, I usually request a double, as it is usually with someone with whom I do not wish to sleep. I suppose if the goal were trying to impress someone with my travel prowess (and if I ever meet the girl who IS impressed with my travel prowess...), then I might be a little more into it.

On the other hand, I have found that rather than rely on the occasional, and apparently all too infrequent suite upgrade, I usually ask for an oversized corner room. At hotels that I frequent with some regularity, I have asked that my room preference be added to my profile, and since doing that, I have had the same room on 3/4 of my visits and the same room on a different floor for the other 1/4. This does me just fine. I am certain that this also has something to do with the quality staff at the hotel who can make this happen for me, as well.

Stevekoe