MSPeconomist

carzaddict

I've been staying at a Marriott every week this year, always choosing "go green"....never had an issue receiving my points.

morepointsplease

Voodoo Daddy

I am the person you originally replied to, and I did not say corporate was intentionally not posting the points. I said that it's possible that corporate established this program with the knowledge that properties would likely implement it poorly and therefore, a low proportion of the points would post. That in their calculations of the cost of the program, they counted on this poor implementation. If that happened, I think it's still fair to call it a scam. And it's no stretch to surmise that corporate would count on such poor implementation, based on inconsistencies in hotel staff implementing other corporate-wide policies and procedures.

goodeats21

Pretty sure that most locations are franchise, and they need to buy the points from corporate to award to the guest. Corporate would want them to issue the points, as that makes money for "Corporate".

While conspiracy can be fun to talk about, simplest explanation is normally the correct one. This is a voluntary program on the part of the operators, with most likely a manual process to post the points. Manual process = less consistent.

flyerCO

It would be illegal to pay by room, at least in US. Unless in an exempt job, one must be paid at least min wage per hour, which varies based on location. However, doesn't stop scummy companies from doing so.

RogerD408

Actually, according to Wikipedia:
... and of the ones I've chatted with, they are not employees of the property, but of a contractor so there may be constraints on the property being able to keep someone over if needed.

btonkid12345

I always leave the MAGC hang tag overnight then add behind it - or switch to - the DND hang tag during the day. That way there are no accidents - at least that they can imply was based on poor communication from me.

Yes. The hotels must pay for every point you get. I once had a comped stay where points were denied from program services; the Front Office Manager called me and let me know that they charge the hotels for every point you earn from that hotel, and thus because of the lack of room revenue they couldn't charge the hotel.

I assume seasonal bonuses and targeted promotions and such are part of a marketing scheme where corporate pays for at least part of it.

I'm not certain if the rate for goodwill points versus room rate points etc are different from the hotel perspective; I did have a Starwood GM tell me a few years ago they pay about 1.4 cents per goodwill SPG point, but I have to believe these rates are negotiable based on volume of points purchased ala number of properties from that owner in the program.

Earlier this year - the only time I've been eligible for this program at any Marriott chain - the weekend check out clerk at a FS Marriott posted the points immediately - before the stay posted the next day. They showed up as a property bonus and I received an email instantly confirming them. I'm not certain if this is "the way" this property does it, or just this clerk, or all of FS Marriotts.

LondonElite

Wow - I have never heard of this.

RogerD408

I think you were told a tall tale. Maybe that was what the FDM was told by someone that didn't know what they were saying. Getting points during a comp'd stay is possible, if they are willing to do it. If you walked away accepting the story, that was less work for them to do.

btonkid12345

Yes I know its possible. That's what the FOM called me - he eventually fixed it by doing something behind the scenes.

The point is that the agreements are setup where the hotels are charged for the points you earn even on the revenue portion of the room. If Program Services gets a zero folio or one without room rate, just based on that alone they cannot award points. The hotel can fix it, but it misses the point that Marriott/SPG make money off of selling the points to the hotels.

flyerCO

I wasn't 100% clear, sorry. Yes can pay per room, however in the end, in US housekeepers must be paid by the hour min. wage with OT for over 40. Hotel may choose to say we'll pay X per room, however they must keep track of hours and ensure 1)whatever hours worked, and by law this isn't just when cleaning the room, but all hours working, are tracked and
2)whatever is paid out, based on weekly basis, equals at least min wage for all hours worked, plus OT for those over 40.

Thus, they're really still paying by the hour in the US. This is why motels are, last time I checked 2nd/3rd highest out of compliance group under the law. The motel thinks it can simply pay by the room and that's it. It's not really the case. Compare to some countries where a flat rate per room is fine regardless of hours.

dayone

I've migrated from taking the green option to telling the housekeeper that I need limited or no service. My hope is that it lightens her day just a bit.

RogerD408

And if you read the portion of my post that you quoted, the employer (i.e. the contractor) is the one responsible for meeting the minimum wage law and the property (the client) may very well be paying by room. I've met some workers that rush from one property to another to make as much as they can in a day. My point here is different people have different motivations (reducing costs to maximizing income to maximizing points). Most times I will forego the points and dismiss or just ask for towels if I'm in the room at the time housekeeping comes by.

btonkid12345

What is up with so many people being in their rooms all day, when Housekeeping comes around?

Also, I wish that at my job, someone would pay me while accepting less than a tenth of the service level I am supposed to provide. It would definitely make the employee receiving the benefit lazier and more entitled.