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Marriott Adds Capacity Controls To Limit Awards At Many Hotels

by Gary Leff on February 4, 2020

Feb 04 2020

Marriott doesn’t have blackout dates. Award redemption is permitted on all dates. However hotels are allowed to have significant capacity controls for a handful of dates each year. Marriott is increasing the number of hotels that are allowed to limit award redemption at their busiest times.

Marriott made a change to its terms and conditions and it’s no longer only Marriott brands that can declare high demand dates where award redemption is limited. These redemption controls are now available in 2020 to all hotels within Marriott, including ex-Starwood properties.

The Resort Fee At This Sheraton Includes Telling Your Kids You’re Getting Divorced

by Gary Leff on February 4, 2020

Feb 04 2020

At the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani in Waikiki the $33 per night resort fee includes a keiki (child) gift upon request.

It turns out the gift is a book“Dinosaurs Divorce, a Guide for Changing Families.” That’s right, the resort fee includes a ‘surprise’ gift intended to let children know their parents are breaking up. Hawaii used to be a romantic destination, but resort fees at the Princess Kaiulani turn it into something far darker.

Marriott’s Elimination Of Annual Elite Nights For Meetings Is Retroactive

by Gary Leff on January 30, 2020

Jan 30 2020

I suggested in December that they’d kill the benefit entirely and then days later a memo leaked that it would end December 31, 2019.

There are two lingering issues, however. Marriott never told members about the change, and they made the change retroactive.

North Carolina Marriott Shut Down, Guests Locked Out Of Rooms

by Gary Leff on January 25, 2020

Jan 25 2020

One person staying on property reported spending hours on the phone with Marriott “trying to get the..chain to help.” The chain directed people to go into the office and get staff to find them somewhere else to stay. These were the employees who had just lost their jobs, and who abandoned the property early. Great strategy.

Marriott also reportedly stated “they were under no legal obligation to help” although eventually helped guests transfer to another Residence Inn.

This Marriott Hotel Wants To Help You ‘Netflix And Chill’

by Gary Leff on January 20, 2020

Jan 20 2020

Moxy is Marriott’s brand ‘for millennials’ featuring tiny rooms that lack actual desks, meant to drive guests to escape claustrophobia into a property’s ‘social spaces’ where they’ll spend money on food and beverage. What they lack in square footage they attempt to make up for in vibe.

One way that the Moxy Denver Cherry Creek is going about this is promoting a ‘Netflix and Chill’ rate.

Is Marriott Eliminating The Meetings Trick For Elite Qualifying Nights?

by Gary Leff on December 17, 2019

Dec 17 2019

Marriott did not deny that the 10 elite nights for any event benefit is changing, although it’s not clear when or what the change will be (they simply promise to tell us if they make changes).

My read is this: if you want to take advantage of this opportunity in 2020 it might be a good idea to do it early in the year.

Marriott Prepares To Make $7000 Per Night All-Inclusive Available On Points, Updates Terms & Conditions

by Gary Leff on December 13, 2019

Dec 13 2019

Back in March we learned that $7000 per night all-inclusive North Island in the Seychelles would be joining Marriott’s Luxury Collection and I confirmed that it would become part of the Bonvoy program for earning and redemption.

Marriott updated their program terms to allow for redemptions that cost more than category 8 high season – because we were never going to book this place for just 100,000 points per night. We can only hope though that, having made the change, they aren’t tempted to expand the pool of properties “off award chart.”

Review: Santa Monica Proper Hotel (Design Hotels Marriott Redemption)

by Gary Leff on December 8, 2019

Dec 08 2019

My wife, daughter and I spent the night at the Santa Monica Proper hotel in late November. It was stylish, staff were friendly, and the location was fantastic for our needs.

For us it was an airport layover hotel without staying by the airport, a place that gave us a sense of place and allowed us to take advantage of a walkable neighborhood with our daughter.

Marriott Changes Rules for Suite Night Awards (Advance Confirmed Elite Upgrades)

by Gary Leff on November 1, 2019

Nov 01 2019

Many Marriott Platinums see their suite night awards expire unused. Nonetheless, when they work they’re great.

Marriott has made two changes to Suite Night Awards, each reflecting problems with Marriott’s own internal systems that they’ve been unable to solve.

For Marriott’s New Global Promotion, They Won’t Tell You What It Is

by Gary Leff on October 15, 2019

Oct 15 2019

Marriott has a new global promotion (registration required by December 31) and it’s a secret promotion. What we know about it so far is incredibly weak. You don’t find out full details of the promotion until after your second stay.