When will Ambassador benefits kick in for people from the Marriott side?
Jun 17, 2018 | 8:25 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,433
SPG Platinum with 25 stays or 50 nights was matched to MR Platinum requiring 75 nights.
MR Platinum Premier (unpublished criteria but data points suggest consistent 125 nights and top 2% spend) also matched to SPG Platinum 25. If MR PP had been matched to SPG Platinum 100 then less hard feelings would be in play.
But someone chose only see metal color and not look to underlying criteria. As SPG has an urban, US coastal and global focus versus Marriott showing broader appeal including flyover country properties and cost conscious travelers the political parallels were predictable and very evident when you correlate rabid SPG elites to OmniLib postings. (OmniPR rant off topic but way too obvious to ignore)
Jun 17, 2018 | 11:04 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K2MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,315
No, Marriott brought this on when they mis-matched status after the acquisition was announced.
SPG Platinum with 25 stays or 50 nights was matched to MR Platinum requiring 75 nights.
MR Platinum Premier (unpublished criteria but data points suggest consistent 125 nights and top 2% spend) also matched to SPG Platinum 25. If MR PP had been matched to SPG Platinum 100 then less hard feelings would be in play.
But someone chose only see metal color and not look to underlying criteria. As SPG has an urban, US coastal and global focus versus Marriott showing broader appeal including flyover country properties and cost conscious travelers the political parallels were predictable and very evident when you correlate rabid SPG elites to OmniLib postings. (OmniPR rant off topic but way too obvious to ignore)
Jun 17, 2018 | 11:22 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
We can go round and round on this...IMO (and in the opinion of many others) Marriott Plats who became SPG Plats and then stayed at Starwood properties got the benefit of better on-property elite recognition (suite upgrades), ability to get breakfast at any property (resorts, StR/LC, etc.) than they would have by staying at Marriotts. No, you/they didn't get SNAs, Y24, etc but you also didn't earn those by staying at Starwood the previous year.
Marriott elites are just recognizing how bad their elite benefits were in contrast to those of us loyal to SPG. Now they’re bitter.
There’s been a a lot of complaining on the part of those Marriott elites about not yet getting SPG Plat and Plat100 benefits as soon as possible. There’s no complaining on the part of SPG elites about not yet getting a single Marriott elite benefit—because there were none that a basic SPG Plat didn’t already get. Those complaining Marriott elites should have been staying at SPG hotels, apparently.
Now those same complaining Marriott elites are whining about not getting the equivalent of SPG Plat100 status any sooner—even as they will be able to get it as soon as August 2018 despite most expecting it for no earlier than Jan 2019.
I call that entitlement. And hypocrisy.
Marriott elites have known for over a year that this is exactly how it was going to be—or they were fools. Marriott elites knew in 2017 that they could stay with SPG and get SPG benefits—but the complaints are from those who didn’t bother to adjust. Now they’re complaining about making a bad choice...again. Please.
Marriott elites have the chance to get Ambassador status as of August. They should be thrilled.
Jun 17, 2018 | 5:46 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,433
I tried several SPG properties and found them disappointing, so yes I continued to choose Marriott when I could have picked a nearby SPG property.
SPG Gold received breakfast and lounge access at Marriott when they were not entitled to similar benefits at a SPG property. SPG elites have recently been whining about Lifetime Platinum Premier eligibility in the new program despite SPG never offering an equivalent top tier lifetime status in their program. If they wanted a program with three tiers of lifetime status, including top tier, they could have pursued Marriott status. 😏
Marriott elites did not take to the streets and create petitions about how unfair it was for Marriott elites being required to meet a spend threshold in the new program while legacy SPG elites could earn it on nights alone for another two years.
In the past SPG elites bemoaned on FT about having to share the possibility of an upgrade chance and their hotels with the deplorables from Marriott. So yes I hope they follow through on their threats and go to Hyatt or elsewhere. It will make Marriott stays more enjoyable when I dont have to listen to their screams of outrage from the lobby. (or heavens forbid the next room!)
But just like those that threatened to leave the country after US elections they remain among us. My patience and grace in dealing with SPG elites during this transition is wearing thin. (Its bad when Im feeling empathy with UA position on over entitled elites)
SPG Gold received breakfast and lounge access at Marriott when they were not entitled to similar benefits at a SPG property. SPG elites have recently been whining about Lifetime Platinum Premier eligibility in the new program despite SPG never offering an equivalent top tier lifetime status in their program. If they wanted a program with three tiers of lifetime status, including top tier, they could have pursued Marriott status. 😏
Marriott elites did not take to the streets and create petitions about how unfair it was for Marriott elites being required to meet a spend threshold in the new program while legacy SPG elites could earn it on nights alone for another two years.
In the past SPG elites bemoaned on FT about having to share the possibility of an upgrade chance and their hotels with the deplorables from Marriott. So yes I hope they follow through on their threats and go to Hyatt or elsewhere. It will make Marriott stays more enjoyable when I dont have to listen to their screams of outrage from the lobby. (or heavens forbid the next room!)
But just like those that threatened to leave the country after US elections they remain among us. My patience and grace in dealing with SPG elites during this transition is wearing thin. (Its bad when Im feeling empathy with UA position on over entitled elites)
Jun 17, 2018 | 6:24 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K2MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,315
Starwood did actually...it was called "Lifetime Platinum", and believe it or not, it actually offered better benefits than MR LT Platinum!
Fact check - one year, 2018 earning for the 2019 program year (as previously noted, due to introducing the new program 1/3 of the way through the year)
Please share that direct quote from the SPG forum, would love to see it.
Marriott elites did not take to the streets and create petitions about how “unfair” it was for Marriott elites being required to meet a spend threshold in the new program while legacy SPG elites could earn it on nights alone for another two years.
In the past SPG elites bemoaned on FT about having to share the possibility of an upgrade chance and “their” hotels with “the deplorables” from Marriott.
Jun 17, 2018 | 7:16 pm
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
To return to the OP's question and topic at hand, qualified Marriott members should expect Ambassador status and access/benefits to start whenever the new loyalty program becomes active sometime in August.
The martyrdom and hypocrisy of some Marriott elites in this thread is startling. it is hypocritical to complain about the start date for Ambassador benefits while simultaneously questioning the value of the Ambassador benefits. It is martyrdom to complain that Marriott elites have to wait longer to get something that Marriott never before offered. And anyone who wants to pretend that the current Marriott "Ambassador" experiment is anything remotely close to the SPG Ambassador experience is kidding themselves.
I think it's obvious to anyone paying attention and who isn't entitled that Marriott elites who stay 100+ nights are thrilled for the chance to possibly qualify for Ambassador status--which is precisely why so many want to know when they can get it (the nature of this thread) and how to spend the $20K with the 100+ nights to qualify for it.
The martyrdom and hypocrisy of some Marriott elites in this thread is startling. it is hypocritical to complain about the start date for Ambassador benefits while simultaneously questioning the value of the Ambassador benefits. It is martyrdom to complain that Marriott elites have to wait longer to get something that Marriott never before offered. And anyone who wants to pretend that the current Marriott "Ambassador" experiment is anything remotely close to the SPG Ambassador experience is kidding themselves.
I think it's obvious to anyone paying attention and who isn't entitled that Marriott elites who stay 100+ nights are thrilled for the chance to possibly qualify for Ambassador status--which is precisely why so many want to know when they can get it (the nature of this thread) and how to spend the $20K with the 100+ nights to qualify for it.
Jun 18, 2018 | 8:53 am
#22
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,996
I'm in a similar situation: already 100+ nights and no one can tell me my spend to date or even how spend will be counted so that I can estimate it myself.
I've been trying to get some answers, including about when I'll be assigned an Ambassador, and if anyone knows anything, they aren't revealing it. After spending hours on the phone and waiting a long time, I finally got an extremely noncommittal email from a MR elite supervisor saying that things will be announced later.
I also got stiffed on the Ambassador experiment and I responded by voting with my feet and shifting 100+ nights to Hyatt, where I've been treated very well and have had a Private Line Agent > My Hyatt Concierge for almost a decade.
I've been trying to get some answers, including about when I'll be assigned an Ambassador, and if anyone knows anything, they aren't revealing it. After spending hours on the phone and waiting a long time, I finally got an extremely noncommittal email from a MR elite supervisor saying that things will be announced later.
I also got stiffed on the Ambassador experiment and I responded by voting with my feet and shifting 100+ nights to Hyatt, where I've been treated very well and have had a Private Line Agent > My Hyatt Concierge for almost a decade.
You strike me as a proactive and knowledgeable person...I am too...I do have a quality Ambassador, but she is often a go-between for me and the hotel.
She has setup some great welcome amenities, used to "pass along" suite upgrade requests, and takes care of your24s (perhaps the written confirmation email on this is the best part). I'm sure the status designator has helped upgrades at some hotels, and it also usually causes you to end up on the VIP list at check in.
All that being said - and again, I haven't had to change mine and find her very competent - there are some things that they haven't been able to do:
*I read on FT about an aloft in Asia not doing suite upgrades (per the published benefit) but had read of them doing exceptions for P100s. I asked her to find out the current policy on this. She confirmed, in writing, they would do a suite upgrade if available. Arrive with my guest and property denied any upgrade. 8 hours after check in I hear from my AMB without much solution (I offered something which she setup, eventually)
*Needed to cancel an award within the cancel policy (only time ever) and it was due to a medical situation caused by another Starwood we were currently staying at. AMB could not get it done; I eventually had to follow up with Customer Care and it took awhile, but even a Preferred Guest can speak with Customer Care [meanwhile, MR has told me recently when I wanted to cancel 9 minutes before the 24 hour window expired, that they had a specific Platinum cancel override and that they have control to make any hotel allow a cancel for any Platinum; jarring, the differing approaches]
*Had potential bed bugs in Italy and she sent me an email with what the pest company found, hours after the GM had already communicated the same to me also via email
---> Frequently I now talk directly with property management; then I can be precise in my queries, I know who I spoke to (and they likely have more accountability with guest conversations), and properties have always been accommodating in requests. The AMB can be quite repetitive while I prefer efficiency.
I am also worried which CRM system they will use for the new AMB program; I know the current SPG AMBs have a different system than the Platinum Concierge, and given the cluster that the merging of BRG has been, I am not optimistic...
Jun 18, 2018 | 10:54 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
The Marriott program had a number of benefits that were better than SPG for Plats or above. For example, guarantees at Marriott for rooms or being walked were significantly better. Points rates were better as well. Marriott FD people can also see when someone is a Plat Premier or Ambassador whereas no one on the SPG board is aware of any way a FD agent at an SPG can tell the difference between a Plat and a P100. The SPG program also had benefits that were better than Marriott for Plats or above. For example, breakfast at resorts and LC/StR.
But ... having spent 50 nights at LC/Westin/W properties since I was matched over to SPG Plat, its obvious there is no better recognition on the SPG side -- and it can't be that I'm just a Plat since no one on the SPG side knows that a FD agent can tell the difference. I realize there are SPG loyalists who love their program and I understand why, but I don't believe they have enough stays at Marriott properties to tell. For example, I've had 20 nights so far this year in SPG properties (W/Westin/LC) and have had two nights in suite upgrades -- or 10 percent. None since January. In comparison, I've had 11 stays in the past month alone at Marriott properties and have had six suite upgrades -- and none of them were something that would be described as "standard suites." Perhaps not coincidentally, all six of those have greeted me as a Plat Premier whereas most of the other five greeted me as a Plat. Of those five that didn't upgrade me to a suite, two were obviously near full occupancy, one never upgrades me even when they have it available. And at all 11, I've had breakfast plus at least $10 to spend at the bar.
And in the past month, I've called my Ambassador once and she took care of adding a name to a reservation quickly. Otherwise, I've not seen any evidence that my Ambassador has been in touch with the properties or that the properties have noticed the M0 designator.
But ... having spent 50 nights at LC/Westin/W properties since I was matched over to SPG Plat, its obvious there is no better recognition on the SPG side -- and it can't be that I'm just a Plat since no one on the SPG side knows that a FD agent can tell the difference. I realize there are SPG loyalists who love their program and I understand why, but I don't believe they have enough stays at Marriott properties to tell. For example, I've had 20 nights so far this year in SPG properties (W/Westin/LC) and have had two nights in suite upgrades -- or 10 percent. None since January. In comparison, I've had 11 stays in the past month alone at Marriott properties and have had six suite upgrades -- and none of them were something that would be described as "standard suites." Perhaps not coincidentally, all six of those have greeted me as a Plat Premier whereas most of the other five greeted me as a Plat. Of those five that didn't upgrade me to a suite, two were obviously near full occupancy, one never upgrades me even when they have it available. And at all 11, I've had breakfast plus at least $10 to spend at the bar.
And in the past month, I've called my Ambassador once and she took care of adding a name to a reservation quickly. Otherwise, I've not seen any evidence that my Ambassador has been in touch with the properties or that the properties have noticed the M0 designator.
Jun 18, 2018 | 11:28 am
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
The Marriott program had a number of benefits that were better than SPG for Plats or above. For example, guarantees at Marriott for rooms or being walked were significantly better. Points rates were better as well. Marriott FD people can also see when someone is a Plat Premier or Ambassador whereas no one on the SPG board is aware of any way a FD agent at an SPG can tell the difference between a Plat and a P100. The SPG program also had benefits that were better than Marriott for Plats or above. For example, breakfast at resorts and LC/StR.
But ... having spent 50 nights at LC/Westin/W properties since I was matched over to SPG Plat, its obvious there is no better recognition on the SPG side -- and it can't be that I'm just a Plat since no one on the SPG side knows that a FD agent can tell the difference. I realize there are SPG loyalists who love their program and I understand why, but I don't believe they have enough stays at Marriott properties to tell. For example, I've had 20 nights so far this year in SPG properties (W/Westin/LC) and have had two nights in suite upgrades -- or 10 percent. None since January. In comparison, I've had 11 stays in the past month alone at Marriott properties and have had six suite upgrades -- and none of them were something that would be described as "standard suites." Perhaps not coincidentally, all six of those have greeted me as a Plat Premier whereas most of the other five greeted me as a Plat. Of those five that didn't upgrade me to a suite, two were obviously near full occupancy, one never upgrades me even when they have it available. And at all 11, I've had breakfast plus at least $10 to spend at the bar.
And in the past month, I've called my Ambassador once and she took care of adding a name to a reservation quickly. Otherwise, I've not seen any evidence that my Ambassador has been in touch with the properties or that the properties have noticed the M0 designator.
But ... having spent 50 nights at LC/Westin/W properties since I was matched over to SPG Plat, its obvious there is no better recognition on the SPG side -- and it can't be that I'm just a Plat since no one on the SPG side knows that a FD agent can tell the difference. I realize there are SPG loyalists who love their program and I understand why, but I don't believe they have enough stays at Marriott properties to tell. For example, I've had 20 nights so far this year in SPG properties (W/Westin/LC) and have had two nights in suite upgrades -- or 10 percent. None since January. In comparison, I've had 11 stays in the past month alone at Marriott properties and have had six suite upgrades -- and none of them were something that would be described as "standard suites." Perhaps not coincidentally, all six of those have greeted me as a Plat Premier whereas most of the other five greeted me as a Plat. Of those five that didn't upgrade me to a suite, two were obviously near full occupancy, one never upgrades me even when they have it available. And at all 11, I've had breakfast plus at least $10 to spend at the bar.
And in the past month, I've called my Ambassador once and she took care of adding a name to a reservation quickly. Otherwise, I've not seen any evidence that my Ambassador has been in touch with the properties or that the properties have noticed the M0 designator.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...periences.html
Second, I'll quote your post from here and respond to it there, where it belongs.
Jun 18, 2018 | 11:44 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
First, your post seems to have nothing to do with the topic at hand in this thread. Your post seems better suited to the thread discussing the Ambassador status:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...periences.html
Second, I'll quote your post from here and respond to it there, where it belongs.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...periences.html
Second, I'll quote your post from here and respond to it there, where it belongs.
Oct 1, 2018 | 8:43 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: Marriott Rewards Ambassador Service
Posts: 4
When to expect the welcome email from Ambassador?
I reached PP + Ambassador Service a couple weeks ago after the 818 merge, but still hear nothing from Ambassador until now.
Just wondering when I should expect the first contact from my Ambassador? Days or weeks or I should call someone instead?
Just wondering when I should expect the first contact from my Ambassador? Days or weeks or I should call someone instead?
Oct 1, 2018 | 11:31 pm
#27
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: SPG
Posts: 713
Hello Heatherm Huang,
Please send us a private message with your Loyalty account details to look into this matter for you.
Chua Chie Ling Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
[email protected]
Please send us a private message with your Loyalty account details to look into this matter for you.
Chua Chie Ling Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
[email protected]