Tag Archives for marriott.
Marriott has added in-app tipping, routing payments through a third-party processor—an escalation beyond the QR-code tip prompts that have spread through hotels since the pandemic. This isn’t really about guest convenience; it’s about shifting more of employee compensation onto customers so hotels can staff up while keeping wage costs (and owner expenses) down.
Marriott’s newest brand, City Express, gives old hotels a second life — two shades of gray, a yellow stripe, and a new sign. Here’s how the company is re-branding entire properties with little more than paint, signage, and breakfast.
Chase is offering a 70% transfer bonus to Marriott Bonvoy — but even with that boost, moving Chase points to Marriott is still a poor deal. In most cases you can get close to double the value by redeeming through Chase instead, especially when a hotel is available through The Edit. Here’s the math and the much better way to book.
Marriott abruptly ended its partnership with Sonder, forcing guests with confirmed reservations to leave their rooms the same day. Some customers have received 40,000 Marriott points as a goodwill gesture — a small consolation after being evicted from stays Marriott had confirmed.
Marriott has finally confirmed its long-unwritten rule: members who fall short of requalifying for elite status won’t lose it all. Instead, they’ll be dropped just one level — formalizing a “soft landing” policy the chain has quietly practiced for decades.
Marriott abruptly ended its 20-year Sonder partnership, pulling properties from Bonvoy overnight. Guests who booked through Marriott are learning the points and benefits they were promised no longer apply.
Marriott knows this hotel has been bankrupt and closed for weeks — yet it’s still letting guests arrive to find locked doors. It’s the same property I reported on last week, and nothing has changed.
A Marriott guest prepaid $1,000 for a stay—only to arrive and find the hotel closed. Customer service admitted they don’t know where the money went or when it will be refunded. It’s a harsh reminder that “pay now” rates aren’t guaranteed when hotels go bankrupt.
She thought Marriott’s check-in emails meant her room was waiting. Instead, she arrived to find locked doors, construction crews, and no one answering the phone. Ultimate Reservation Guarantee denied.
A Marriott Courtyard in Iowa had to be evacuated after a guest suffered a “bad reaction to cocaine,” stripped naked, and ran through the halls spraying fire extinguishers. Police say the man smeared blood across walls, doors, and windows before being restrained and charged with multiple felonies.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
