Starting to look like Priority Club is making some substantial improvements to their elite program....
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Priority Club Enhancements to their Elite Program - Wake up Marriott!!!
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Disappointed in Courtyard Marriott Glen Allen, VA
We recently stayed at a Courtyard Marriott and were displeased to learn that breakfast was not included during our stay. I thought the perks of being "Platinum Elite" was to reap benefits such as upgrades, welcoming gift/snack (in fact I had to ask if we could get a complimentary drink), and breakfast. When I asked the employee she declined to offer a free breakfast. The next day was check out, and we decided to extend our stay. When I asked again about the complimentary breakfast it was as if I was asking the employee for the moon. She explained if I had signed up for another rate ($5 more) we could have received the breakfast. When I asked to change the rate, she said I was already locked in at the rate (even though our plans were to check out that day and we had just decided to extend our stay). After going back and forth, she decided to give us tickets for breakfast and said, "So how many nights will you be staying with us?" I couldn't believe after all that, she was willing to offer us breakfast for the rest of the week. Irritates me that had I spoken to the right authorized person I could have received breakfast the day before. Why do we have to make a fuss over breakfast once we've received this status?
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Athens Ledra PS
I forgot to mention a few other great things in my recent review of the Athens Ledra. I stayed the first three days on rewards points and on the last paid cash (but not through the new system -- I just made two reservations). Kalliopi got the same room for me for the four nights, took all the hassle out of it, and it was only because I wanted to use my gift card before leaving at 3am Monday that I actually did check out and check in again. And guess what? Unlike in Toronto, no hassles at all with the gift card. They gave me $77 for a $100 card, which was the exact universal currency exchange rate. And finally my room was not only fabulous, but it also had a kitchenette.
I now will have to go back to Ghent to see if they're still my other favorite Marriott 
ProfChiara
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Game over, man!
I'm giving Hilton an honest opportunity to reclaim a large percentage of my business. I was just comp'ed Gold with the usual 90 day, 21-stay challenge for Diamond which will be no real challenge at all. As Lifetime Platinum is secured and renewal of Platinum on its own is already covered (although PP is obviously at risk, but who'd notice?), I can focus on what Hilton offers me at the functionally equivalent level.
I was granted Gold mid-stay in Charlotte, my profile and the front desk were brought up to date overnight (and I was offered a move to an Executive floor room, which I declined), so next week at the HGI in Scottsdale will be the first real "test".
I'm not giving up on Marriott, just taking an opportunity to evaluate the relative merits side-to-side, or Diamond to Platinum, if you prefer. One thing that will be part of the new reality is that there will be no Courtyards for the remainder of this year at the very least, unless that is the only Marriott property with no Hiltons in reasonable distance. Some trips will include both, others will be exclusively one or the other; all brands (other than the now-accursed CY) will be used to gauge who gets the majority—or all—of my business beginning in 2014.
I can now understand the hold on travelers that loyalty programs have; moving even the smallest part of your business is a substantial decision on our part, and they're counting on that, knowing that we will endure the known substandard product out of comfort and familiarity rather than risk upset learning a new way, a new look, and new program rules. I'm done playing the fool for someone else's marketing department, no longer the presumptive 125+ room night cha-ching in the annual revenue goals. You now have to compete (again) for my dollar, my word-of-mouth recommendation, and my loyalty. The days of taking me for granted as a lifelong, diehard customer are most assuredly over. Fool me once, and all that.
Now if I can just find the Hilton Insiders forum... 
- John
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Where do Award Points go When Someone Dies?
As one who has accumulated quite a number of airline (especially Delta) travel points through the years, I just learned that Delta has just decided upon the death of the traveler, or points recipient, NOT to transfer accumulated travel points to one's spouse! THIS IS A BRAND NEW POLICY and affects frequent travelers like myself, at age 70, and would prompt me to either use these soon, or transfer them to a relative, donate them to charity, while I still can.
I don't know what Marriott's policy is, but I've tried to contact them without any answer yet. Does anyone know if Marriott will transfer accumulated Award Points to the surviving spouse, or relative, automatically, or upon some form of designation?
Fred
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Where was your last Marriott stay and were you upgraded to a Suite???
Please let Insider's know where your last Marriott stay was and whether or not you were upgrade to a Suite. This will give Insider's a read on whether or not they have a good chance of getting a suite upgrade...Thanks!!!
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Virtual concierge: room upgrade - no charge?
So, I'm coming up on my first stay as a Gold member & I know one of the benefits is an upgrade if available. I just received the reminder with the link to virtual concierge and under room upgrades it lists: Room Upgrades to Harbour View or Executive Level (Additional supplement charge applies)
But, then under the price column there is just a: -
So, I'm confused by the "Additional supplement charge applies" and the lack of a price.
I would like a free upgrade as a benefit, but not enough to pay for it. So, should I check this or not?
Thanks,
7
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Please add this benefit
Please count reward nights and coupon nights towards the nights stayed tally. This is a great benefit of starwood and could see it being very attractive with MR. I often have to let the coupons expire (I currently have 4 nights 1-4) because I want to earn the nightly stay credit, plus I often don't go places where there are nice 1-4 hotels...
thanks!
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All-Inclusive Packages using Points
Where did the all-inclusive packages using points go, and are they coming back?
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$1000 MARRIOTT GIFT CHEQUE
I am interested in purchasing the E195 ELITE-$1000 MARRIOTT GIFT CHEQUE, however I see an expiration date of December 31, 2011 to purchase for 135,000 points. Does anyone know if this offer still available?
Thanks in advance for your response!
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$1000 Worth of Marriott Gift Checks Not All They are Cracked Up to Be
So I cashed is 135,000 point to get Fifty $20 Marriott gift Checks. Let me tell you about my first experience using them...
First I found out that you can't use them if you have booked a AAA rate of a Marriott Rewards rate. You can only use them on "pubically available rates" . OK great. I booked my 2 nights at a Fairlfield Inn for $84/nt instead of $79/night. No big deal.
Apparently you don't earn Points on your purchase either....
For $84/night I should have earned the following:
$84 X 2 = $168 x 10 pts/dollar = 1680 X 1.5 platinum bonus = 2520 + 200 platinum arrival gift = 2720 points.
Instead I got the following:
$168 - $50 = $18 x 10 pts/dollar = $180 X 1.5 platinum bonus = 270 + 200 platinum arrival bonus = 470 points
So, due to the restrictions on their use, I paid $10 total more for the room and got 2200 less points.
By making the reward so restrictive, they have made it much less of a good deal.
I wanted to make people aware of this in case this figures into your decision to get this "reward"
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The end of Marriott Gift Cheques...and the Gold/Plat discount that goes with them?
Have heard from 2 different CS agents that the Marriott Gift Cheques are ending as of 12-31-2011, and will be replaced with a Marriott Gift Card. I don't particularly care for that idea, but could live with it. However, they also said that the points cost of 135,000 for Plat and Gold will also be ending, and will now be 190K for all members, regardless of status.
Three major issues with this: (if true)
1) another Platinum benefit lost
2) another instance where Marriott is making a change in the program without announcement
3) this represents a 40% increase in this "cost"!
I always order a set of these at the end of each year, and have previously been incorrectly advised that the program was "ending" on 12-31. I hope this is the case again, but sadly, based on MR's recent treatment of the program, have concerns.
Has anyone else heard this, or seen it confirmed anywhere?
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Elite Rewards (Where are they?)
Hi All -
I am really frustrated and now considering leaving Marriott for SPG or HH. I have PP status which seems useless and Lifetime Platinum Status (new rules) and 500,000 points in my account. I have no incentive to keep earning Marriott Points. If I jump ship to Hilton or Starwood I be a bottom fish for a while but do 70-90 nights a year so soon enough I'll get status with another brand. The removal of the E195 reward of $1,000 gift checks for 135,000 points was a huge reason I stayed in the program. It was an Elite Reward Benefit. Now I cannot find any elite reward benefits and no mention of a coming soon ... I DO NOT EXPECT $1000 for 135K of points again that was a great deal. But the out sourcing to Skymall for the $1,000 gift card is too much at 204K points. As a Platinum Premier I feel that we should get some perks above regular Platinum, Gold, Silver etc... I have yet to see it. Give us a 20-25% point break on Sky Mall Gift card redeems year round. Something to show value to the Top 3% consumers of your brand. So far only the The Seattle Airport Marriott has shown me that they recognize the Plat Prem Status. The Dearborn in Michigan was and I quote... "you are the same as platinum here and we have no additional benefits for you" Michelle on this site has mentioned that Marriott is cooking up some rewards but without some advertising emails or something to keep us interested and patient I feel many like me will be moving to other brands. inum
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Email statements
Got my monthly Marriott Rewards statement today in the inbox. It correctly identifies me as a Lifetime Platinum Elite, then in another part of the email tells me how I can become a Lifetime Elite Member!!! Doh!
Hmmm, perhaps a little more attention to detail might help solve these little inconsistencies, folks.
Amazon seems to know how, BTW, based on the targeted stuff I get from them after a purchase.
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50% Mileage Bonus from US Airways when transferring from Hotel Programs
Hello! Many of you wanted to be alerted when this came back this Spring. ITS BACK! (April 2013)
Great deal when converting a Travel Package. I am going to convert one for 120k miles and get 60k Bonus. Not a bad deal!
Have fun....
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E195 Checks
I am a PP member who stays 200+ nights every year in a Marriott. I choose to use Marriott because of the E195 ($1000 Marriott Checks for 135000 points). these are no longer offered. I use those checks to meet my family for vacations. I will now be shopping for a better deal at another company. It is STUPID to endanger loyalty, but you have. There are companies out there that will treasure my 200+ nights per year and treat me better.
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Rewards Members - we cannot stop the drumbeat to management now!
Here is what we, as loyal Marriott Members have lost in the last 2 -3 years
Devaluation of our points
Loss of elite $1,000 gift checks
No breakfast on weekends in USA/CDA
Lack of recogniton of Silver/Gold/Palt/PP/LP status at most full service and other Marriott's
Upgrades - not happening
BOGO's - BoGONE
Courtyards - no more free coffee in lobby, awful microwaved Breakfast at exhorbitant prices
Loss of AA as a partner for travel packages
Making changes based on customer input (really? where do you find these customers - they must be the same dead people who vote in Chicago elections, where the slogan is vote early and often - and no offense to Chicagoan's, I lived there and love the city, just not its corrupt political machine)
And the list goes on. Others, please add as you see fit.
My only point, to Michelle, community manager and others is this is not unnoticed, we are growing resentful. What do we have in return:
Rollover nights
4th night free on redemptions
clarity on lifetime status, which most properties dont care about, dont recognize and its become a big "so what"
free internet for gold/plat - its the slowest conx, so its really not worth much
Seems like, in my accountant view, the losses outnumber the gains. The scale is now tilted away from your most loyal, caring members, who spend big, and often.
It seems like no suggestion made on this board ever gets adopted, and while we may be impatient, we do watch and wait. Marriott management should start to worry, because that leaking sound being hear is your most loyal members straying, going to Hilton, Starwood, Hyatt and others.
I strongly suggest a true "voice of the customer" survey, ask us what we want, what we would pay for, what perks are important to us, BY BRAND. Show us the results. Make sure you get the people who post here, we are the voice of those who dont post, and those who just lurk.
We know you and the properties need to make a profit. We ask that you really think long and hard about what you have done, and where can you give back what you took away, things that were popular, that we all enjoyed, that made your program WHAT IT WAS and COULD BE, BUT ISN"T RIGHT NOW.
Other insiders, add your commets, your voice, your views. Dissent is only effective if its fresh continuous and widespread (ask the Occupy Wall Street Crowd). We have the power of the purse, and we can exercise it. We have a choice in hotels, and we will start to make it. Marritt, you cannot say you havent been warned.
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I'm seeing a trend here
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Watch your Rewards points
I checked in at the Marco Island Marriott using points. that evening, I signed on to my Marriott account and my point balance dropped. I looked at the transactions and my TP cat 7 hotel certificate had been canceled and 140,000 was taken from my account. When they canceled the TP hotel part, I got back 45,000 points. This cost me 95,000 points. I took over an hour working with a manager last night and one was supposed to call Rewards to find out what happened. They did not but I did. The hotel said that Marriott did it. Rewards told me that the hotel canceled the TP cert and took the other out. Rewards fixed it. After complaining to FDM at hotel, they gave me 15,000 for my trouble.
If I had not noticed this, I would have been out 95,000 pts.
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Anniversary Certificate - No Leniency
I just received my Visa Category 1-5 anniversary certificate, so I called the Plat line to see if I could use it on an upcoming stay at the Ren. LHR in November. The certificate expires in October, and the property is going to be moved to a category 6 next month, so I asked if I could get an extension on the certificate... flat out NO. NOT POSSIBLE. Asked if they could offer me another booking with the certificate, I explained I'd have no other qualifying stay this year... didn't seem to matter at all. Very disappointed... Has anyone had better luck that I recently? Any tips?
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