Price guarantee
Isn’t this a bit of a scam ? Found myself browsing a big city the other day, the rates seemed obscenely high, hit up an OBE that I’m also on the highest member tier in, which showed me the desire property at a approximately 40% lower rate ($379 vs $203). Did the whole price match guarantee spiel, only for the Marriott/property to come back and say that they couldn’t honor it because it was a member rate on the OBE - brother, your f-ing rate is a “member exclusive” rate too. I’ve already moved my business elsewhere for the most part, but are they just taking the p-ss at this point ? With the exception a a few dozen five star properties around the world Marriotts have all become select service properties in practice that charge well above market average nightly rates, for what ?
And this isn’t a Bonvoy complaint, but about loyalty in general, it’s really not worth it anymore unless you’re ambassador who makes a ton of last minute reservations and jumps between time zones to take advantage some perks. Becoming a free agent has already reduced my annual travel expenses by 30% and I’ve not had one had experience saving five figures doing so.
TLDR, is it normal for them to find a copout for best rate guarantee ? If you’re paying yourself/your own business, sorry to exclude the corporate rate travelers, why do you stick with Marriott ?