Cool! New reservation preferences!
 

Looks like Marriott finally realized that choice is good and added a few more reservation options:

New Options:

Floor Type:
-High Floor/Low Floor/Near Elevator/NP (No Preference)

Pillow Preference:
-Foam Pillows/Extra Foam Pillows/Extra Feather Pillows/Standard Feather Pillows

Other:
-Extra Towels
-Prefer Refrigerator

Newspaper:
-USA Today/Wall Street Journal/Local Paper/NP


^ ^ ^ :D

Interesting. High floor/low floor/near elevator have been there for a while; I never understood why "AWAY from elevator" wasn't an option and evidently it still isn't. (It is on some other websites.)

The pillow thing is a very brave move on Marriott's part. Imagine the inventory and logistics of moving feather and down pillows here and there throughout the hotel every day. Some high-end properties do this; I wonder how well Marriott will be able to execute.

Just because you indicate it as a perference does not mean Marriott will honor it. For example, I am at the Foster City, CA Courtyard. When making my reservation I always list "High Floor" for room location. Did I get a high floor when checking in last night? No, I was put on the first floor. :confused: Okay, the hotel only has three floors, but they are not even close to sold out.

RIP...

Query for Marriott Concierge
 

Chris,

No question, this is a leading edge enhancement to the online reservation process (and I'd bet the competition will emulate).

A win-win since it saves time on both ends inasmuch as the "virtual concierge" message can be phased out (and anyway, sometimes I received them and sometimes I didn't).

So, thanks, psychephylax for the heads-up. I just signed in and updated my profile.

Chris, I do have a question.

Do you know if that updating would be be taken into account when properties process room assignments for future bookings that are reflected in reservations (booked via marriott.com) prior to this enhancement being made available?

Interestingly enough, they have had those on your profile for several months, but I have yet to see a hotel that has more than the regular three. I would love to hear from anyone booking a full service that actually has those extra options listed in the reservation process.

I'm not sure if it is new, but I just went to edit my personal information and there are now fields to enter your birthday. Has anyone gotten a B-day Presents from Marriott lately?

Because the preferences are set when the reservation is made, updates made on your profile will not affect reservations already made. If you would like to add these preferences to current reservations a call to reservations is all that is needed.

This is an exciting enhancement, which should make accommodations, already available, more accessible across all our brands.

Congrats again, Chris.

article in todays USA Today that mentions this and what other hotels are doing

Hotels getting more personal

I'm staying at a full service property weekly and trust me they don't read anything in the profile - nada, zip, zero. I always send over my travel preferences and have had this information updated when it came out and have NEVER been already accommodated - I always have to ask at the desk for them to accommodate my preferences and they say oh yeah, I see that in the notes :rolleyes:.

I don't know what more to do - my reservation submits the following notes: Corner Room, No View of Time Squar and what do you think they do??????? Every week a view of Times Square. Sometimes I just think it's the luck of the draw.

I updated my preferences today and found everything prescribed in my same day stay at the CY in Syracuse. I also received a B-day and anniver ^ sary card from the Meadowlands Ren within the last month. Great job and a nice personal touch. This backs up the USA Today article I read on my flight today.

Quote from the article:

If you have a favorite bottled water, you have issues ;)

I noticed that the web site says it forwards the preferences to hotels reserved through Marriott.com when signed in to your account. I rarely book on Marriott.com, since I have to book all my business travel through my corporate travel agent. Does anyone know if the info will be tied to my MR number, so it can still be looked up by the hotel?

Not that it matters anyway; I'm getting "technical difficulties" errors right now when trying to save my preferences :(