Repeat stays vs status
 

I have a general question about Marriott. I am HH person mostly but sometimes they just arent the best value or property and I have found other hotels to be the answer. Latest is with a Marriott.
I have now been here twice both on priceline reservations and both treated VERY well. I will NEVER get status with Marriott because they work to my knowledge only off of nights instead of stays. I do not travel for work and 75 nights is too hard on my own money. However every time I return to this town going forward I will be staying at this Marriott instead of the Hilton in town. Wondering how repeat business is looked upon per property even without status. And by repeat i mean at most once a year for about 5 nights.

Well, the good news is that it sounds like you've found a good hotel that treats all of its guests well. That's the way it should be - and IMHO this is one of the strengths about the full-service Marriott brand. Consistency and generally good service for everyone.

The downside is that (although there's a slim chance that I'm wrong) one trip per year booked through a third-party agent isn't going to have any effect on the treatment you receive. In fact, I'm not 100% sure they'd recognize that you'd even been there before based solely on your name and perhaps address (not sure what data is stored in the system for a third-party booking).

Repeat business on the order of weekly or monthly visits, direct booked with a Marriott Rewards number, can definitely serve to augment the benefits you get from the program status. But it's done in subtle ways - for example, hotels will get to know your detailed upgrade preferences and things like that. Once in a while they might comp a bottle of wine or otherwise give you a small goodie. But IME that's only been done after a series of frequent stays, all booked via Marriott.com, as a Gold member.

Most big hotels have a lot of repeat guests, so I understand that even if I do 25 nights a year in one place, I'm pretty far down on the pecking order.

EDITED TO ADD: As long as you have a use for at least an occasional Marriott stay, you should pick up the new Marriott Premier Visa. The certificate you get each year for 1 night in a Cat 1-4 (or perhaps 5?) hotel is easily worth the $65 annual fee, plus you get enough bonus night-credits added to your account to maintain perpetual Silver status. (Silver is a somewhat weak level, but it's better than nothing. :))

Just to clarify (trying to find a nice way to say this)

You really aren't a repeat customer of Marriott, instead you're a repeat customer of Priceline.com (assuming you're bidding for your stays)...yes you're getting good service but they give that to everyone.....if you're lucky enough to continue getting the same hotel they will get to know you and will probably be willing to do small favors for you however they might be willing to grant larger favors to a repeat guest paying a non wholesaler rate regardless of status...now with all of this being said wholesaler rates do not earn points or general night credit in MR

I understand.
Thanks guys.

I was somehow recognized with a welcome back this time (second).
Not sure how that happened other than my name was on the room last time with a reservation split from a missed ORD-LAX leg by my friend.
She did sign me up for Marriott Rewards.
And I payed a very agreeable fee for an upgrade to exec floor and a 2 room suite (about 110 usd a night) So i was able to get some points on the money I spent outside of PL.
I guess with very few exceptions I just wasnt used to this treatment from a HH property.

Several Marriott's welcome us "Back." I think their system tells them you are a frequently stayer. Even resorts that we visit once a year at best, email ahead, thanking us for staying again. One hotel my husband stays at 8-10 days at a time, but just 4-5 times a year, saves him his "usual" room, which is one of his favorites. We have found Marriott to be gracious hosts. I do think you get what you pay for. I expect much more, and receive it, from full service hotels and JW's than from CY's, RI's...

We stayed for the third time(in about a year) before a flight at the Spring Hill Suites in Nashville. We were welcomed back as well. I think it is in their computer system. Nice touch anyway. Springhill Suites Nashville Airport is a very nice property with or without the welcome. Deb-Indiana :)