I am in charge of booking 17 rooms for a single night stay this coming weekend. I have worked with the hotel to iron out all the details (not through group sales since I wasn't happy with my previous experience w/ them). All 17 rooms will be billed to my room's account, but, as per standard Marriott rules, I'll only receive points for up to 3 rooms. Since this stay would be worth a total of 25K points, but I'll only be getting 4500 points, I'm a bit bummed (and since the payment will be with a gift card, I won't get any visa points, either). I asked the room controller for the hotel if there was anything that could be done point-wise and he said that he couldn't help out. He suggested that after the stay I should talk with the rewards customer service folks. I'm happy to do that, but I'm not sure it is the right avenue to explore.

1) I know I'm not in any way entitled to extra points, but is this something I should at least try to pursue?
2) If so, should I go through the rewards phone system as suggested or work with the hotel directly -- if so, who? The GM?
3) What sort of bonus would be reasonable to ask for?

(I don't know that it makes any difference, but I also booked a block of 5 rooms for a total of 11 paid nights earlier this month. That's 27 paid nights in May, and I'll get points for 9 and stay credit for a measly 3 nights).

Thanks.

I've done the same as you when I book a large block of rooms. I also find the central Marriott Group Sales group to be a pain to work with. So I normally bypass them completely and call the hotel directly.

Unfortunately, as far a Marriott Corp is concerned, you will only get the points for up to 3 rooms. With that said, normally when I set up the rooms with the hotel, I talk with the GM. The last 2 times I have done this, the GM gave me some bonus points to help out. I think the last time, which was this past January at an RI in Arlington, TX, I was given something like 10K points as a bonus. It didn't replace all the points I would have received if I went through the Meeting group, but it was a nice gesture. So I would suggest you talk to the GM and see what s/he can do for you.

Another thing that I usually do is when I check in, I will give the front desk person the MR# of my wife and some other friends who are staying there. That way, they will also get points for 3 rooms. So far, I've never had any issues with my paying for the rooms, but them getting points as well.

And since you are planning to use a gift card to pay this should work well.

The hotel should be able to award you 10K points per weekend night that 10 rooms or more books. Ask them about Marriott Rewarding Events - http://www.marriott.com/meetings/rewards/travel.mi - I know my friend did his wedding block at a Courtyard & got 10K poinsf for each night that 10 or more rooms actualized.

I just did 15 rooms at the Tampa Westshore hotel through the in-house group sales people. They booked the rooms as an "event" so I got aroun 17k points for it. It was for two nights. You lost out not going through group sales.

That 10K per night bonus is applicable when going through the Marriott Meetings group and signing a "contract" with the hotel. And if I'm not mistaken, it also depends on the hotel brand that the OP is dealing with. Some of the hotel brands are not a part of the meeting/planning bonus program at all. I know that RIs don't participate as that was the hotel brand I booked 21 rooms at earlier this year.

"lost out" - Online I could book a room w/ breakfast for 149 dollars, group sales offered me the same room, no breakfast, for 179 dollars. When I pointed out that the group rate was higher than then single-room rate online, they said "we can't help that, I guess you should book online."

If that's the way group sales works, I'd rather miss out on the points than miss out on 30 dollars per room + breakfast.

That's not even logical...you should contact the hotel GM...