Titanium reservation guarantee
Aug 19, 2019, 5:34 am
#1
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: SFO/JFK
Programs: Hilton: Gold, Starwood: Platinum, Hyatt: Platinum, AS: MVP Gold
Posts: 630
Titanium reservation guarantee
New experience for me: called to ask for a titanium guarantee.
Shows sold out online.
Call reservations: there is still a presidential suite available, so we can’t do an override. Can you book the presidential suite for me? No. You have to call the hotel. So you can’t book a room, but you won’t do the override? Yes.
Is this legit? Seems to violate the premise of the guarantee.
I remember in starwood days, they would book it and give you your corporate rate.
Shows sold out online.
Call reservations: there is still a presidential suite available, so we can’t do an override. Can you book the presidential suite for me? No. You have to call the hotel. So you can’t book a room, but you won’t do the override? Yes.
Is this legit? Seems to violate the premise of the guarantee.
I remember in starwood days, they would book it and give you your corporate rate.
Aug 19, 2019, 5:53 am
#2
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
The Reservation Guarantee is for standard rooms, not suite or specialty rooms. Also note that top level suites (like Presidential suites) quite often can only be reserved directly at the hotel and not the general Marriott reservations center.
With that said, if you are trying to use the guaranteed room reservation (48 hrs or more in advance), I would suggest using the online booking tool. It bypasses the hotel and the regular Marriott reservations center. Unless the hotel has received a waiver directly from Marriott for the night(s) you are trying to reserve, the online booking tool will automatically get you a standard room. Note this is part of the reason local hotel staff don't like the Reservation Guarantee as the hotel doesn't have any direct control over it and it can get them into oversold situations (even when the hotel management didn't want to do that.)
With that said, if you are trying to use the guaranteed room reservation (48 hrs or more in advance), I would suggest using the online booking tool. It bypasses the hotel and the regular Marriott reservations center. Unless the hotel has received a waiver directly from Marriott for the night(s) you are trying to reserve, the online booking tool will automatically get you a standard room. Note this is part of the reason local hotel staff don't like the Reservation Guarantee as the hotel doesn't have any direct control over it and it can get them into oversold situations (even when the hotel management didn't want to do that.)
Aug 19, 2019, 8:20 am
#3
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: SFO/JFK
Programs: Hilton: Gold, Starwood: Platinum, Hyatt: Platinum, AS: MVP Gold
Posts: 630
With that said, if you are trying to use the guaranteed room reservation (48 hrs or more in advance), I would suggest using the online booking tool. It bypasses the hotel and the regular Marriott reservations center. Unless the hotel has received a waiver directly from Marriott for the night(s) you are trying to reserve, the online booking tool will automatically get you a standard room. Note this is part of the reason local hotel staff don't like the Reservation Guarantee as the hotel doesn't have any direct control over it and it can get them into oversold situations (even when the hotel management didn't want to do that.)
Aug 19, 2019, 8:28 am
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
If you're logged in and you try to make a reservation, a standard room should appear at a very high rate, and you don't get elite benefits either, but it should be refundable with the standard cancellation period. The "guaranteed" reservation must be made at least 72 hours in advance of arrival IIRC. Also IIRC minimum stay conditions can be imposed, so this could be why you're not seeing a room.
Aug 19, 2019, 8:56 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
If you're logged in and you try to make a reservation, a standard room should appear at a very high rate, and you don't get elite benefits either, but it should be refundable with the standard cancellation period. The "guaranteed" reservation must be made at least 72 hours in advance of arrival IIRC. Also IIRC minimum stay conditions can be imposed, so this could be why you're not seeing a room.
Aug 19, 2019, 9:23 am
#6
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
If you're logged in and you try to make a reservation, a standard room should appear at a very high rate, and you don't get elite benefits either, but it should be refundable with the standard cancellation period. The "guaranteed" reservation must be made at least 72 hours in advance of arrival IIRC. Also IIRC minimum stay conditions can be imposed, so this could be why you're not seeing a room.
And I also have always received all elite benefits as well. I didn't see any mention of that stipulation in the T&Cs either. Maybe that was an old SPG rule (assuming it had a similar top level elite benefit)?
Aug 19, 2019, 9:27 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
48-Hour Guaranteed Availability. Limited to Titanium Elite Member's personal guestroom. Guaranteed room availability for reservations booked at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to arrival and available when a Participating Property is sold out if the room is booked by 3 p.m. local time, forty-eight (48) hours prior to arrival, at all Participating Properties except resort hotels, Marriott Vacation Club Marriott Grand Residence Club, Design HotelsTM, and Vistana properties. Forty-eight (48) Hour Guaranteed Availability may not be available on certain limited dates (e.g., special events). Enhanced Room Upgrade benefits do not apply. Benefit cannot be used in conjunction with Free Night Award usage or any type of promotional or discounted rates. Member must pay prevailing rate at time of booking and length of stay requirements must be met. For Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites, 48-Hour Guaranteed Availability applies to studio rooms only.
Jan 6, 2020, 3:59 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,003
I haven't had to use Titanium override for a while. Next week I'm traveling to Tel Aviv, and one of the hotels sold out. I couldn't book in on Concur, but I was able to book it via Marriott.com. The website didn't tell me it was Titanium override. How do I know if I won't be able to get a room upgrade?
Jan 6, 2020, 10:24 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
I haven't had to use Titanium override for a while. Next week I'm traveling to Tel Aviv, and one of the hotels sold out. I couldn't book in on Concur, but I was able to book it via Marriott.com. The website didn't tell me it was Titanium override. How do I know if I won't be able to get a room upgrade?
Jan 12, 2020, 5:32 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,402
I’m considering a trip to a location with a limited number of hotels available, during a special event. The titanium guarantee is giving me the rack rate, which, all things considered, I might be willing to accept.
My question is, do hotels generally reserve a couple of rooms for titanium bookings during special events, or am I basically ensuring that they’ll have to walk somebody if all travelers appear for their reservation? I’d hate to think that I might be forcing some family to drive 40+ miles to a hotel with availability.
My question is, do hotels generally reserve a couple of rooms for titanium bookings during special events, or am I basically ensuring that they’ll have to walk somebody if all travelers appear for their reservation? I’d hate to think that I might be forcing some family to drive 40+ miles to a hotel with availability.
Jan 12, 2020, 7:32 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Bounding Around The Good 'Ole USA In My Chevrolet
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 381
I’m considering a trip to a location with a limited number of hotels available, during a special event. The titanium guarantee is giving me the rack rate, which, all things considered, I might be willing to accept.
My question is, do hotels generally reserve a couple of rooms for titanium bookings during special events, or am I basically ensuring that they’ll have to walk somebody if all travelers appear for their reservation? I’d hate to think that I might be forcing some family to drive 40+ miles to a hotel with availability.
My question is, do hotels generally reserve a couple of rooms for titanium bookings during special events, or am I basically ensuring that they’ll have to walk somebody if all travelers appear for their reservation? I’d hate to think that I might be forcing some family to drive 40+ miles to a hotel with availability.
Jan 12, 2020, 8:40 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Singapore
Programs: TG Gold, MPC Silver, Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 563
I'm interested in using this for a stay in a few months during the Vietnam F1. Currently seeing no availability at any price at the JW, which is the hotel nearest to the course. Does that mean I need to reach out to my ambassador or that Marriott has approved it to be blocked for the duration of the race and I am out of luck?
Jan 12, 2020, 8:54 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
I'm interested in using this for a stay in a few months during the Vietnam F1. Currently seeing no availability at any price at the JW, which is the hotel nearest to the course. Does that mean I need to reach out to my ambassador or that Marriott has approved it to be blocked for the duration of the race and I am out of luck?
Jan 12, 2020, 10:58 pm
#14
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,316
that overlooks
I attended last year. I was able to use my corporate rate. It allowed me to save a few hundred/night and avoid the non-refundable restriction.
I reached out to the GM several weeks prior and was apologetically told no upgrade was possible because of the full house. When I checked in, there was note on my reservation, directing the agent to speak with a manager. The manager found a Club Premier room overlooking the circuit.
I attended last year. I was able to use my corporate rate. It allowed me to save a few hundred/night and avoid the non-refundable restriction.
I reached out to the GM several weeks prior and was apologetically told no upgrade was possible because of the full house. When I checked in, there was note on my reservation, directing the agent to speak with a manager. The manager found a Club Premier room overlooking the circuit.
Jan 13, 2020, 12:50 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Singapore
Programs: TG Gold, MPC Silver, Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 563
that overlooks
I attended last year. I was able to use my corporate rate. It allowed me to save a few hundred/night and avoid the non-refundable restriction.
I reached out to the GM several weeks prior and was apologetically told no upgrade was possible because of the full house. When I checked in, there was note on my reservation, directing the agent to speak with a manager. The manager found a Club Premier room overlooking the circuit.
I attended last year. I was able to use my corporate rate. It allowed me to save a few hundred/night and avoid the non-refundable restriction.
I reached out to the GM several weeks prior and was apologetically told no upgrade was possible because of the full house. When I checked in, there was note on my reservation, directing the agent to speak with a manager. The manager found a Club Premier room overlooking the circuit.
Actually I live in SG and am thinking of booking a room at the JW for the F1 this year, certainly cheaper than buying tickets for a couple!