How Does Room Guarantee Work?
Aug 24, 2005 | 3:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: RDU
Programs: Marriott PLT, Starwood, American Gold, Delta
Posts: 448
How Does Room Guarantee Work?
I have booked Tampa Airport hotel on date that it is sold out. I'm Plt but have never had to use the room availability guarantee before. In making reservation, first attempt came back giving me alternative locations. I started again, and system came back with message about hotel being sold out but because of plat level, a room would be available. I booked it.
I guess I've always thought that sold out didn't really mean sold out. In doing reseach, there seems to be football game that weekend. So, should I worry about really having a room? Do they move someone else to give me a room? Just how does this "guarantee" work?
I guess I've always thought that sold out didn't really mean sold out. In doing reseach, there seems to be football game that weekend. So, should I worry about really having a room? Do they move someone else to give me a room? Just how does this "guarantee" work?
Aug 24, 2005 | 3:40 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
Originally Posted by wintersummer
I have booked Tampa Airport hotel on date that it is sold out. I'm Plt but have never had to use the room availability guarantee before. In making reservation, first attempt came back giving me alternative locations. I started again, and system came back with message about hotel being sold out but because of plat level, a room would be available. I booked it.
I guess I've always thought that sold out didn't really mean sold out. In doing reseach, there seems to be football game that weekend. So, should I worry about really having a room? Do they move someone else to give me a room? Just how does this "guarantee" work?
I guess I've always thought that sold out didn't really mean sold out. In doing reseach, there seems to be football game that weekend. So, should I worry about really having a room? Do they move someone else to give me a room? Just how does this "guarantee" work?
You tried to book a room and they got one for you because you're a plat. OK.
Yes, if you have a confirmation, you have a room. If necessary, they will "walk" someone else (of lesser or no status) to make room for you.
I'm a little surprised (and amazed!) that they can exercise the Platinum Guarantee automatically from the website. I had thought you had to call to invoke the perk. What it is is, if you give them 48 hours notice, they will guarantee you a room. They won't guarantee the rate, though.
Aug 24, 2005 | 3:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NC, USA
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AA Exec Plat, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,017
Originally Posted by BigLar
They won't guarantee the rate, though.
Aug 24, 2005 | 4:27 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: UA-1K(BIS), Marriott-Platinum Premier, Hertz-PC, Fairmont-PC
Posts: 154
Originally Posted by wintersummer
I have booked Tampa Airport hotel on date that it is sold out. I'm Plt but have never had to use the room availability guarantee before. In making reservation, first attempt came back giving me alternative locations. I started again, and system came back with message about hotel being sold out but because of plat level, a room would be available. I booked it.
I guess I've always thought that sold out didn't really mean sold out. In doing reseach, there seems to be football game that weekend. So, should I worry about really having a room? Do they move someone else to give me a room? Just how does this "guarantee" work?
I guess I've always thought that sold out didn't really mean sold out. In doing reseach, there seems to be football game that weekend. So, should I worry about really having a room? Do they move someone else to give me a room? Just how does this "guarantee" work?
In the past I booked 3 different rooms in Miami during the MTV awards (2004)via the internet and had no problems getting them. I did check before without entering my MR# and got the message that no rooms were available.
Has anyone not been able to get a room? I image that they would move someone else as it would cost $$$ for Plat members.
Aug 24, 2005 | 6:16 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Some place in this wonderful world (usually at 39,000 ft in seat 1C)
Programs: CO Gold Elite / NW Gold Elite
Posts: 13,747
Originally Posted by BigLar
So let me see...
You tried to book a room and they got one for you because you're a plat. OK.
Yes, if you have a confirmation, you have a room. If necessary, they will "walk" someone else (of lesser or no status) to make room for you.
I'm a little surprised (and amazed!) that they can exercise the Platinum Guarantee automatically from the website. I had thought you had to call to invoke the perk. What it is is, if you give them 48 hours notice, they will guarantee you a room. They won't guarantee the rate, though.
You tried to book a room and they got one for you because you're a plat. OK.
Yes, if you have a confirmation, you have a room. If necessary, they will "walk" someone else (of lesser or no status) to make room for you.
I'm a little surprised (and amazed!) that they can exercise the Platinum Guarantee automatically from the website. I had thought you had to call to invoke the perk. What it is is, if you give them 48 hours notice, they will guarantee you a room. They won't guarantee the rate, though.
The rate will not be above the corporate rate
Aug 24, 2005 | 6:17 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Some place in this wonderful world (usually at 39,000 ft in seat 1C)
Programs: CO Gold Elite / NW Gold Elite
Posts: 13,747
Originally Posted by Dennis.Dunbar@mckesson
In the past I booked 3 different rooms in Miami during the MTV awards (2004)via the internet and had no problems getting them. I did check before without entering my MR# and got the message that no rooms were available.
Has anyone not been able to get a room? I image that they would move someone else as it would cost $$$ for Plat members.
Has anyone not been able to get a room? I image that they would move someone else as it would cost $$$ for Plat members.
Aug 24, 2005 | 6:50 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Marriott Life-Plat, Hyatt ex-Diamond, Hilton ex-Diamond, UA ex-1K, Avis ex-Chairman
Posts: 235
Originally Posted by socrates
The rate will not be above the corporate rate
Aug 24, 2005 | 7:45 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Some place in this wonderful world (usually at 39,000 ft in seat 1C)
Programs: CO Gold Elite / NW Gold Elite
Posts: 13,747
Originally Posted by limo
What corp rate? I tried to do it once and the rate offered was, frankly, out of reason.
Aug 29, 2005 | 10:43 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Silicon Valley
Programs: Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 1,249
I've used the guarantee several times. Sometimes I get the corporate rate, other times I get the rack rate. Go figure?
Aug 30, 2005 | 8:38 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: United 1K, MR Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 804
The Room Guarantee is not really a "Guarantee"
If the Marriott Hotels in the selected city declare a "Special Event" the room guarantee benefit does not apply. See this thread for my problems in San Francisco Sept. 18 - 23:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466670
Starwood seems to honor this benefit for that week eventhough their hotels in downtown San Francisco are fully booked also. Go figure.
I would gladly pay the rack rate if I could just get a room at any Marriott property downtown that week.
RIP...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466670
Starwood seems to honor this benefit for that week eventhough their hotels in downtown San Francisco are fully booked also. Go figure.
I would gladly pay the rack rate if I could just get a room at any Marriott property downtown that week.
RIP...
Last edited by OU812; Aug 30, 2005 at 8:40 am