Anybody get their booklet yet?

They're posted on the website.

Count me in the camp that expects them to appear with some sort of predictable regularity. To me, the EEO's are the #2 benefit of Gold status behind lounge access. (And with the lounges becoming more limited as every year passes, the EEO's might move up to #1.) Certainly Marriott has the right to remove any of the existing benefits of the elite levels and/or change the levels completely, but if they take away the EEO's it will pretty much kill my incentive to try and remain Gold.

Gold doesn't really yield upgrades beyond the lounge access. It yields 17.5 pt/$ vs. 17.0 for Silver (at least at full-service props for U.S. members using the MR Visa). It does guarantee bed/smoke, but with Marriott going totally nonsmoking, this becomes less of an issue.

To me, they need to keep the EEO's in there to keep Gold a meaningful milestone at the 35-night mark. Otherwise, you might as well only have two level - Silver for everybody and Platinum at 60 nights.

Thanks Ohmark-but I like to have a real booklet in my hand if possible-The certs I print out have always been questioned.

That's a surprise to me. I always use ones I've printed, and never been questioned. When you are questioned, what is said?

What is this?Where did you get it!How do I input it?
Of course I guess Marriott loves to keep its desk clerks in the dark about all things MR related-and even some pretty basic things as well.Yesterday I was settling my bill at the Marriott Champlian a 6 am and the night auditor had no Idea what to do with Marriott gift certs-asked me If I would come back in an hour,told him I had to get to the airport.Pretty shoddy for a 300+room five star(their rating not mine-I would give it a solid 3 1/2) property
Of course I have gotten so few certs this year that it almost is a moot point.

Ref. my post #180 in this thread.

Processing instructions were supposed to be added to the EEOs but do not appear on the online versions of them.

If someone's received the actual EEO package in the mail, (haven't received mine as of this writing); I'd be interested in knowing whether or not those instructions (that would have eliminated the problem) appear on them (particularfly important for the B1G1 free night coupons for the ones for redemption at participating 1) Marriott FS & JWs and 2) Rens.

It's been my experience that submissions of the above are the most likely to result in some sort of "acceptance" problem.

I received my EEO online a couple of days back, but have not yet received any booklet like in the past. I am not sure if MR would send out a printed version.

M11 rate with ridiculous T&C
 

I was checking into staying at one of the Marriott properties on Hilton Head Island over the holidays. The M11 rate code (Elite offer) got a good rate averaging $200 night for a 2 bedroom villa. But it required a 100% pre-payment and 30 day cancellation notice!

This is ridiculous to for them to treat their elite customers like a bunch of potential no-shows. Even Panama City Florida, which is one area infamous for charging deposits, doesn't go this far.

Considering that this is low season in HHI and that half the properties are undergoing renovation, why does Marriott want to make it difficult for their elites to book a room there?

This is SOP at the Vail Marriott. Full payment at time of booking with cancellation allowed up to 31 days before arrival. It makes it a little costly for a week's reservation in the $3900/night Penthouse suite:

Do all rates there require pre-payment or just this one? If it is just this one, then that maybe the price of getting that "good rate" you found. Also, is this a hotel property or an MVCI property? The MVCI properties tend to have different policies than the hotels as Marriott technically doesn't "own" the time there. The individaul timeshare owners own those. So Marriott probably has more risk associated with renting out those over a hotel room.

If it is a hotel, I have seen a number of properties that have certain/special rates that require pre-payment. They are usually cheaper than most other rates and this is how Marriott hedges their risk of offering that rate. If you don't want to pre-pay, then check other rates and quite often they don't require pre-payment and will normally have less restrictive cancellation policies as well. Also, it could be that while this time of the year may be a low season in general, the "holiday" time you are looking at may be a high or semi-high season within there.

To me, this boils down to how badly do you want that 2-bed suite at the hotel at that time? If you are sure your plans won't change and you want it, then pre-paying really shouldn't hurt that much as you were going to pay for it anyway.

I don't have a problem with pre-paid rates. But I think that elite offers shouldn't be so restrictive. I thought the idea of these elite offers was to give their frequent guests a little "thank you" rate for giving them our biz. Besides, doing a little checking showed that this rate was only $25/night lower than other rates.

I found a great rate for Christmas week (a very busy time) in Orlando at the Grande Vista using the EAT code of $217/night for a 2 bedroom villa with a $30/night F/Bev credit. And with no prepayment required or ridiculous cancellation requirement

JW Marriott Hotels: Treat yourself to a free 2nd night?
 

My first B1G1F offer and it has so far proved worthless for me (yes, if I can't use it, I do consider it to not be of value for me).

The exact title of this offer is:

I call up the gold line, and I am told categorically that JW Marriotts do not participate. I am very confused.

I look at the list of properties that do not participate, and the property I want to book is not there (JW Marriott in Palm Desert CA - today some rooms opened up). They told me there are no properties within 50 miles that qualify for this offer.

How do you know which properties do and do not participate if the list is not accurate?

The list is probably accurate, but not all participating properties have eligibility on all possible dates. You appear to have gotten one of those customer service folks we all have the misfortune of speaking to every so often (and I'm not talking just about Marriott.) You know, they give you the appearance of knowing what they are talking about, but really have no clue because either they haven't taken the time to make sure they understand what you are asking or they haven't taken the time to properly educate themselves so that they are in a position to correctly answer questions. You probably should call back, and hopefully get a customer service person who knows what they're talking about. A general rule of thumb around Flyertalk, if you speak to a customer service rep who give you an answer that seems wrong, it probably is. The correct procedure is then to thank the rep., hang-up the phone, call back, get a rep who knows what they are talking about, get the right answer. (usually works).

GrizShel, your CSR was mistaken. Domestic JW Marriotts do participate unless they are on the list of exempt properties. Did you call the reservation line to see if you can use an EEO at the property you mentioned in your post?