So I searched a bit for this situation, but I guess it might be a unique case.

An associate and I arrive at a CY at Orange, CT on a Sunday nite. Both of us are platinum and arrive late evening. We walk to the front desk and I pop my marriott premier card. He gives me my room key. I realize he hasn't given me my platinum gift and stay quiet. This way, I'll be able to get some pocket change. My associate moves forward and gives her credit card. She gets her room key AND a platinum gift, in this case a packaged bruschetta. Not the best gift in the world for your most loyal customers, but its something.

I end up going to my room pretty optimistic that I had a case for a cash reward. I reach the door of my room and the minute I open the door, I notice a cookie and bottle of water and feel a bit sad of course. I wanted a cash reward for the lack of service!

Anyways, I check out a few days later and being a consultant, I hardly get a chance to look at the itemized charges on my bill. Imagine the look on my face when I saw a charge of 2.50 for a bottle of water

So basically I didn't get a platinum gift upon arrival. And after I did get the aforementioned tasty cookie and thirt quenching purple bottle of water w/o a price tag on it thinking it <i>was</i> the platinum gift, so in essence I was shafted in being able to go to the front desk for my cash reward, and on top of that, I was charged! Has this happened to anyone?

P.S Oh, and what the heck is an honor tax?

P.P.S Don't stay at the CY in Orange, CT. Its such a dump.

If there was no sign or collar on the bottle of water, I do not think you should have to pay for it. It was a reasonable assumption that it was a perk. But if you really want your benefits, I think you should ask for them instead of laying in wait.

[/QUOTE] But if you really want your benefits, I think you should ask for them instead of laying in wait[/QUOTE]

Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The front office people at the limited service facilities in particular, IMO are paranoid about Plat's asking for room changes upon arrival, for fear that we are trying to set them up. The Plat gift, regardless of its merits, has many times already been placed in a pre-assigned room, and they fear that by asking for another room, we are trying to trip them up and earn (?) the compensation. Again, IMO life is too short for these games.

If the hotel honors the guaranty, which in my case is a N/S double, on as high a floor possible, I am a happy customer.

Also, in a recent stay at a CY, I inquired about the absence of the arrival gift.
When the desk clerk realized I wasn't trying to make a case for the compensation, she loaded me up with several water bottes and enough snacks to last for several days of driving.

Umm, typically your platinum gift at CY is waiting in your room, i've never been given one upon checkin. This isn't just CY, this is FI, SH, RI, TP, etc. The only one(s) that do it at check in is the Full Service, JW and Renaissance. Now its not too uncommon for them to mention "your platinum gift is in your room".

However you said your associate received hers right there at the desk, that is strange, unless they noted in the system that their room had not been given the Plat gift.

Very classy.

Yes I know. It was late that nite and I had driven 3 hours. I ended up getting burned. Lesson learned!

Oh so busy during those long projects. I expense my hotel charges and the only amount I ever seem to look at is the total.

The only problem I see was you were charged for a bottle of water. A phone call would have resolved that rather quickly.

Same topic, I have checked in a few times and while my gift was in the room, noticed that the bottles with the price tags on the dresser had already been opened. (the one time plastic cap lock was broken free). The last guest probably drank it and refilled it at the sink. I wouldnt buy a bottle of water at those prices anyway, but I have actually replaced those opened bottles with the unopened bottle I was given so someone didnt think that I was the one who did it and find myself charged. I'm not much of a water drinker anyway so it's no skin off my back but I probably should call the front desk when I see it.

I'm sad because you've posted this without any evidence of shame.

My wife usually drinks these waters and has noticed this several times. I think the hotels are aware of this happening so a quick call is all it ever takes to have them replaced with usually a free one or two for the inconvenience.

Wouldn't the housekeeper who, after all, enters the room after the prior guest departed and before any incoming guest arrives spot "for sale" water bottles (or anything else of consequence) that was tampered with/damaged/consumed/etc. and report it (causing the guilty party to be charged post-checkout)?