I've been checking rates for the Marriott in Ogden, UT for a couple of months now. I'm planning a trip for next year travelling with my senior mother & teenage daughter. So here's the scoop:

In June I could get a senior rate of $110 for a room with 2 queens for a Sept stay. Now, the maximum occupancy of the SAME room is 2 and I can't get a rate unless I change the guest number to 2. If I check all rates I can have a concierge level room, no senior rate (with 1 king ironically) which doesn't list a max occupancy number.

So what gives? Why would they have changed the max occupancy? Will I have a problem if I make my reservation for 2 guests & turn up with the third?

My suggestion is to call the hotel and try to talk with the GM or a manager. Let them know what you are trying to do and how many will be staying in the room. In general, Marriott doesn't seem to charge elites for extra persons in a room. So if you aren't at least a Silver, apply for one of the Marriott CCs. All of them will get you at least Silver elite status (plus some bonus points and a free night coupon which, who knows, you might be able to use on the trip you are currently planning. ^ )

Isn't maximum occupancy usually determined by the local fire department?

Yes, but in most cases a room with 2 queen beds should be able to hold more than 2 people. So my thoughts are that the rate is the limiting factor. Thus if the OP can talk with the hotel, they may be able to get some relief.

No. You won't get a free night coupon for applying for the Marriott Visa card. You'll get a 2 for 1 golf certificate, 15 or 20 nights toward elite status, and (depending on the current offer) 10-20k points. The points could be converted towards a reward-based stay. But none of this shows up for over a month, so the OP won't be able to use it before the trip.

After one year, you renew the card, THEN you get a free night coupon (I believe cat 1-4.)

This is incorrect.

The base Signature Visa and the Business Visa will come with a Cat. 1-4 cert at activation. Check out Marriott Rewards Signature Visa Card and
Marriott Rewards Visa Business Card.

You are confusing the above two cards with the Premier Marriott Visa card. This one will come with a Cat. 1-4 at activation and a Cat. 1-5 every year at card renewal. Check out Marriott Rewards Premier Signature Visa Card.

Plus given that the OP said the stay was planned to be next year, that should give more than enough time for all bonus points to be added and certs to be received. Now I will admit that depending on when "next year" turns out to be, the certs could have expired as they have a fairly quick expiration date of about 6 months on them. So if the OP wanted to use one or more of the free night certs, s/he may want to make sure to apply for the cards no longer than 4 or 5 months before the actual stay will occur.

I can't apply for a Visa card as I'm a resident of Australia (a completely different rant/story!). I may yet call the hotel but what I just couldn't fathom is why the max occ has changed. Oh & I'm a she.

Darn, should have seen that you aren't in the US.

As I said earlier, it could be a limitation of the rate you are being quoted. But the more I think about your issue, I'm thinking it might be that the occupancy limitation is the limit for a King room and not the two Queen room? I'm wondering if you call the hotel and talk with them, you might very well find out that they have a 4 or 5 person limit on the two Queen rooms and a 2 person limit on the King rooms.

Yes that is correct, in this case the max occ is set for 2 for "deluxe rooms" which is either a room with 1 king bed or a room with 2 queen beds; I'm certain the max occ is for the room with 1 king bed

May be unrelated, but sometimes when I am booking REALLY low rates or deals on line, it won't ket me chose certain preferences. It says something like, "This rate does not allow you to chose room type." I have always been successful booking the room online and then calling Marriott Plat line with the Conf Number and having all of my preferences guaranteed.

I cant speak for Utah but in AZ i know that the fire codes prevent the hotel from placing a rollaway into a standard (non-suite, regardless of view) room with two beds. I SERIOUSLY doubt that anyone at the hotel would have a problem with, let alone ask, 3 people in a room with 2 queen beds.

Yup, I get that all the time using my corporate rate code. I usually make the missing request in the comments.