well, first person that gets one from Geico... Please post what it reads. Thanks! ^

JP

Anyone get these yet? are the T&Cs the same as "normal" BB/PP?

Just ordered 5...

Premium Pounds rejected because I am a Rewards Member?!
 

I am currently at the JW in Oahu and I just received a voice mail from management that my 100 Premium Pounds certificate is being rejected due to the rate I am on. The rate I am on is a Marriott Rewards Exclusive Offer, available to the general public, on the Marriott web site. It requires that you only be a rewards member and show your card to get this rate. It is NOT elite specific. The message I received is that due to term number 9 on the certificate, which states that I cannot use it on any rate that "requires membership" I cannot use it on this stay. The way I am reading this situation is they just don't want to accept it...has anyone ever run into this before?

Yes, I have - for the exact reason you mentioned. You must be a MEMBER of MR to get the rate you are on, and the certificate is not good on any rate that requires membership of any kind. AND, I found out just like you - the guest clerk took it; then the call came from management.

In my case, one time it was cheaper to change to a "leisure" rate and they then accepted the certificate, in the other, we were better off to keep the rate and forget the certificate use.

Don't know how long you are there - but since you only need a 2 night stay to use the PP; you may be better off to do a combo of both.

This is a ridiculous reading of the rules. I will be calling corp in the morning, but is the rate the hotel gets paid for these certificates really that bad that they need to be this picky?

Picky meaning adhering to the Terms and Conditions on the certificate?

technically they are correct, MEO's are not publically available rates

Bonus Bucks Refused
 

I had a smiliar problem at the Marriott Conference Center hotel in Towson, MD last Autumn. After a lengthy, but very civil, conversation with the Manager, who said he checked with other properties as well as HQ, said the front desk clerk was correct in declining Bonus Bucks payment on a similar rate. Afterwards he gave me a $100 Bonus Bucks coupon. But the fact is that throughout 2007 I used Bonus Bucks in some half a dozen other Marriott properties for some 40 nights stays without any other problem. In fact it was the following day after staying in Towson that I stayed at a Marriott hotel and my Bonus Bucks were gladly accepted. My question today is: Will there be Bonus Bucks promotions in 2008?

It has been well stated on this board that you are running a risk if you use anything other than a publicly available rate when intending to use a BB/PP

Nothing new here and the hotel was within its rights to deny you the use of the cert.

I was billed for them several days ago, but haven't seen anything yet...I'm hoping they'll come soon. I have several reservations to make.

Marriott customer care is being no help here. They are not 'familiar' with Bonus Bucks or Premium Pounds (and this is supposedly a supervisor) and claim that they can ONLY be used on RACK rates, and NOT on ANY discounted rate at all.

Bonus Bucks/Premium Pounds/Extra Euros coupons can be used on publicly available rates - 1 coupon per 2-nights of a stay. They cannot be used on any rates which require ID or membership or on discounted/negotiated corporate or group rates. You are staying on a Marriott Rewards members' rate, therefore the hotel is perfectly within it's rights to not allow you use of the coupon.

I have gotten literally every excuse in the book from customer service as per why they will not accept this certificate. I have heard that it cannot be used on any discounted rate, it can't be used on any rate booked online, and that being a Marriott Rewards member is a 'special' program only open to select customers. I was told that Marriott Corp. does NOT stand by their certificate terms and conditions at all, and they will abide by what the hotel says, and NOT by the terms on the certificate itself. I was told this directly by Mr. James in customer care. Needless to say this is ludicrous.