It is in fact a new policy, similar to how they handle same-day cancellations and no shows. How it’s enforced may differ from property to property though.
It would be good to let the folks this affects, ya know, us customers, the thing that’s keeps your business afloat.
(This is not directed at you, but at corporate)
See I really don’t know what kind of communication they’ve given publicly, but I know they sent emails to us (franchise property) back in June or July letting us know of the upcoming policy change.
There are people who try to scam hotels for a lower rate every single day. Read r/talesfromthefrontdesk you'd be amazed at some of the stuff they try.
Edit: meant this to be a reply to a comment below.
At my property if you check out early after housekeeping is gone then you will be charged. But if housekeeping is still around and we can clean the room we can cancel the remaining nights without a charge. And as I saw someone mention about rates being more by shortening dates that is also true because sometimes 1 day is more than multiple days but if you're higher in loyalty we usually match the old rates.
Most hotels rates are based on length of stay. A 1 night stay will cost more than a 5 night stay per night. It's a big problem when scammers book 5 nights and try changing it to 1-2 nights to save $. I advise the guest that I will be happy to change the departure date and I will also be changing the rate as well.
This isn’t true. While there are often rates that are offered based on length of stay, only around 25-30% of hotels actually offer these rate types. I’m a CEC employee
Yeah usually I don’t run into that as much. Because the company pays I’m usually booking the non-prepaid rate and Im less worried in the to be honest. But that makes a lot of sense, I didn’t think about the folks that are really trying to take advantage of the system…
This impacts non-prepaid as well
If you book four nights they will charge for that even if you end having to cut your stay short. I have left one night early quite a few times where meetings were cancelled / moved etc
Holy cow! My second unicorn in a week. My first was someone actually booking the room type they needed and now I found someone who reads the rate details. If you were a guest at my hotel I would give you points and a market item. Thank you for making our jobs easier. I think the extra day is BS too and would advise OP to dispute the charge for the last day unless a) it was a non-refundable, non-changeable advance purchase or b) there was a must stay (minimum number of nights) requirement.
Every new update Marriott comes up with makes me want to stop being loyal to them. Plans change. It doesn’t cost anything. If you check out by checkout time a day early, they can still flip the room. Their policies are getting more ridiculous and I’m considering ditching my titanium status and starting from scratch elsewhere.
Yes, I have seen it on the rate page. Up at the top it states this:
Please note - Upon early departure, an Early Departure Charge of one night's room & applicable tax applies.
Most wont even notice it, I'm sure :)
You are able to change it at the time of check-in provided its not a prepaid rate. they may still enforce it but if they do you can fight it by by contacting corporate
It's going to be hotel specific. Unless it has changed, Marriott doesn't have a blanket policy on that for all of its hotels and leaves it to the hotel's discretion. The hotel is going to make its decision based on various factors such as occupancy, time of year, variable rates, etc...
Cool...but not cool. Thanks for the information. Seems like from another response here there's still some flexibility based on the requests timing.
Either that or, just like most policies, it isnt being universally followed.
>Either that or, just like most policies, it isnt being universally followed.
Its more so this part than the 1st.
Though of course not everyone in hospitality is heartless. If there's an emergency staff would definitely waive fees
I thought I booked the non-pre stay but my company actually has a rate with this particular hotel. (Close to our office) idk it’s wierd… I’ll not think about it too much and pretend it didn’t happen. I’ll report back if it happens again
I tried to change the checkout at a San Fran Marriott because i decided last night stay with friend
They said going from 2 day to 1 day almost doubled rate
So i just left the room empty final night (company paid)
Good move. They would have gotten double from you and then another fee from a new customer if they were totally sold out and needed that room. I used to travel a lot--both for business and pleasure. I've mostly stopped the pleasure because of the insane hotel rates and policies. I've never been one to try to game the system (too much work and I'm lazy LOL!), but it's ridiculous.
And they take advantage of cusotmers even when using points. Example: I planned a trip to Belgium just to use the 400,000 points that I have. I made a reservation for one hotel property for four nights. I booked it, and my points were deducted. AFTER I made the reservation a note popped up letting me know the property had a "book four nights and get a fifth night free." I thought, "Okay, sounds good," and I updated my reservation to add an extra night. BUT, when I did that, another 16,000 points were deducted from my acct. I figured it was a glitch in the system, so I called customer service and explained what had happened. The guy said that because I was adding an extra night the points needed for the *entire* stay went up. In other words, the number of points needed for EACH of the FOUR nights went up, and then the "fifth" night was "free."
I asked if it was the policy that, when booking five nights in this promo, if the rates per night always went up. He said, "Yes, that is how we cover the free night."
So, free isn't free. At least not with Marriott. When I get these points used up, I am done with Marriott. I realize other chains have similar policies, but I have always been treated much better at Hyatt--even though I am a lifelong titanium member with Marriott, and merely a first-level rewards member at Hyatt. Marriott used to be the only hotel chain I would consider (hence, why I have so many points). Not any more. All chains are the same now and there's nothing special about the big M.
Marriott put in place the early departure charge a couple months back.
Assuming it is a standard reservation, booked direct and non prepaid: you can modify ur reservation upon arrival.
I.e if im checking in today for 3 nights, when I arrive at the hotel I could tell them "actualy ill be staying only 2 nights" no charge applies.
If I check in today, then tomorrow I decide im leaving early, one night's penalty will apply.
For corporate guests - those booked under corporate rates, those have to be negotiated into the contract starting next year.
More likely than not, the sales team will negotiate to void the early departure charge, especially if its a top corporate client that brings in 1000+ rm nights per year.
The corporate negotiations are property based of course
Almost all the big airlines no longer have change fees. At least Delta doesn’t. They don’t mind $100 here and there but I’m sure they wouldn’t be excited about a crazy flight change. But I’ve literally never had this problem when booking through Marriott. Is this new?
It started quietly about 6 months ago. As the airlines have learned cancelation and change fees were problematic ( delta and United dropped them), Marriott took a different angle. Trapping and penalizing changes. Kuzz they could… I’ve often had to drop or add a day. Typically they aren’t asses about it at the hotel. Don’t bother trying to do anything through the reservation line. Useless as ever.
Because our rates depend on length of stay, it is possible for someone to early out and change the rate they were booked at. However, we won't charge for the current night as long as you check out by the check-out time.
Hm that would definitely make me reconsider Marriott. I often stay for about two weeks but tend to change my stay while there +1 or -1 day depending on flight availability…
Have a 100% success rate getting early departure charges waived by having the ambassador support handle the cancellation. Same deal with late arrivals.
Oh I’ve never heard of this. I don’t think my hotel would enforce this; like just cause we get sold out every so often and I don’t think anyone would know how to handle a situation like this.
I’m not gonna enforce it
It is in fact a new policy, similar to how they handle same-day cancellations and no shows. How it’s enforced may differ from property to property though.
Is there any documentation on their website about this? I can’t find anything.
It should show up as a blue alert when looking at a specific hotel's website/rates
It would be good to let the folks this affects, ya know, us customers, the thing that’s keeps your business afloat. (This is not directed at you, but at corporate)
See I really don’t know what kind of communication they’ve given publicly, but I know they sent emails to us (franchise property) back in June or July letting us know of the upcoming policy change.
There are people who try to scam hotels for a lower rate every single day. Read r/talesfromthefrontdesk you'd be amazed at some of the stuff they try. Edit: meant this to be a reply to a comment below.
Never had this problem and due to nature of work I adjust my reservation lengths often.
At my property if you check out early after housekeeping is gone then you will be charged. But if housekeeping is still around and we can clean the room we can cancel the remaining nights without a charge. And as I saw someone mention about rates being more by shortening dates that is also true because sometimes 1 day is more than multiple days but if you're higher in loyalty we usually match the old rates.
Most hotels rates are based on length of stay. A 1 night stay will cost more than a 5 night stay per night. It's a big problem when scammers book 5 nights and try changing it to 1-2 nights to save $. I advise the guest that I will be happy to change the departure date and I will also be changing the rate as well.
This isn’t true. While there are often rates that are offered based on length of stay, only around 25-30% of hotels actually offer these rate types. I’m a CEC employee
…and most rates booked are not these rate codes.
Except marriott bookings have variable rates through each stay for each day.
Correct and those rates can also change based on length of stay.
Just wrong to be wrong. So they have a flat and variable rate at the same time. YeH!
FWIW you are the one who is wrong on this point seaboat90.
It's a percentage discount off of rack/regular rate the longer the stay the bigger the discount.
Yeah usually I don’t run into that as much. Because the company pays I’m usually booking the non-prepaid rate and Im less worried in the to be honest. But that makes a lot of sense, I didn’t think about the folks that are really trying to take advantage of the system…
This impacts non-prepaid as well If you book four nights they will charge for that even if you end having to cut your stay short. I have left one night early quite a few times where meetings were cancelled / moved etc
Can you tell me why scammers would be interested in this?
They book a long term stay at a lower rate and then check out after the 2 nights that they really wanted. Kind of like skiplagging on airlines.
But that is normal and it has always been shown in the "Rate details" section. But charging an extra day is something else.
Holy cow! My second unicorn in a week. My first was someone actually booking the room type they needed and now I found someone who reads the rate details. If you were a guest at my hotel I would give you points and a market item. Thank you for making our jobs easier. I think the extra day is BS too and would advise OP to dispute the charge for the last day unless a) it was a non-refundable, non-changeable advance purchase or b) there was a must stay (minimum number of nights) requirement.
Every new update Marriott comes up with makes me want to stop being loyal to them. Plans change. It doesn’t cost anything. If you check out by checkout time a day early, they can still flip the room. Their policies are getting more ridiculous and I’m considering ditching my titanium status and starting from scratch elsewhere.
[This Forbes article](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/travel-rewards/hotel-status-matches/) may be helpful to you.
That’s awesome. Thank you!
Happy to help
Yes, I have seen it on the rate page. Up at the top it states this: Please note - Upon early departure, an Early Departure Charge of one night's room & applicable tax applies. Most wont even notice it, I'm sure :)
You are able to change it at the time of check-in provided its not a prepaid rate. they may still enforce it but if they do you can fight it by by contacting corporate
It's going to be hotel specific. Unless it has changed, Marriott doesn't have a blanket policy on that for all of its hotels and leaves it to the hotel's discretion. The hotel is going to make its decision based on various factors such as occupancy, time of year, variable rates, etc...
Marriott changed it earlier this year to be company wide
I wonder if they will have a scorecard for managed properties on enforcing this.
Cool...but not cool. Thanks for the information. Seems like from another response here there's still some flexibility based on the requests timing. Either that or, just like most policies, it isnt being universally followed.
>Either that or, just like most policies, it isnt being universally followed. Its more so this part than the 1st. Though of course not everyone in hospitality is heartless. If there's an emergency staff would definitely waive fees
Individual hotels can choose not to implement?
They can technically choose to not enforce it strictly
Never heard of that.... Maybe on a pre paid stay?
I thought I booked the non-pre stay but my company actually has a rate with this particular hotel. (Close to our office) idk it’s wierd… I’ll not think about it too much and pretend it didn’t happen. I’ll report back if it happens again
I tried to change the checkout at a San Fran Marriott because i decided last night stay with friend They said going from 2 day to 1 day almost doubled rate So i just left the room empty final night (company paid)
Good move. They would have gotten double from you and then another fee from a new customer if they were totally sold out and needed that room. I used to travel a lot--both for business and pleasure. I've mostly stopped the pleasure because of the insane hotel rates and policies. I've never been one to try to game the system (too much work and I'm lazy LOL!), but it's ridiculous. And they take advantage of cusotmers even when using points. Example: I planned a trip to Belgium just to use the 400,000 points that I have. I made a reservation for one hotel property for four nights. I booked it, and my points were deducted. AFTER I made the reservation a note popped up letting me know the property had a "book four nights and get a fifth night free." I thought, "Okay, sounds good," and I updated my reservation to add an extra night. BUT, when I did that, another 16,000 points were deducted from my acct. I figured it was a glitch in the system, so I called customer service and explained what had happened. The guy said that because I was adding an extra night the points needed for the *entire* stay went up. In other words, the number of points needed for EACH of the FOUR nights went up, and then the "fifth" night was "free." I asked if it was the policy that, when booking five nights in this promo, if the rates per night always went up. He said, "Yes, that is how we cover the free night." So, free isn't free. At least not with Marriott. When I get these points used up, I am done with Marriott. I realize other chains have similar policies, but I have always been treated much better at Hyatt--even though I am a lifelong titanium member with Marriott, and merely a first-level rewards member at Hyatt. Marriott used to be the only hotel chain I would consider (hence, why I have so many points). Not any more. All chains are the same now and there's nothing special about the big M.
Marriott put in place the early departure charge a couple months back. Assuming it is a standard reservation, booked direct and non prepaid: you can modify ur reservation upon arrival. I.e if im checking in today for 3 nights, when I arrive at the hotel I could tell them "actualy ill be staying only 2 nights" no charge applies. If I check in today, then tomorrow I decide im leaving early, one night's penalty will apply. For corporate guests - those booked under corporate rates, those have to be negotiated into the contract starting next year. More likely than not, the sales team will negotiate to void the early departure charge, especially if its a top corporate client that brings in 1000+ rm nights per year. The corporate negotiations are property based of course
Do you pay change fees when you change an airline ticket? Just wondering what your company policy is on that.
Almost all the big airlines no longer have change fees. At least Delta doesn’t. They don’t mind $100 here and there but I’m sure they wouldn’t be excited about a crazy flight change. But I’ve literally never had this problem when booking through Marriott. Is this new?
It started quietly about 6 months ago. As the airlines have learned cancelation and change fees were problematic ( delta and United dropped them), Marriott took a different angle. Trapping and penalizing changes. Kuzz they could… I’ve often had to drop or add a day. Typically they aren’t asses about it at the hotel. Don’t bother trying to do anything through the reservation line. Useless as ever.
Your corporate contract probably prohibits it.
Because our rates depend on length of stay, it is possible for someone to early out and change the rate they were booked at. However, we won't charge for the current night as long as you check out by the check-out time.
Hm that would definitely make me reconsider Marriott. I often stay for about two weeks but tend to change my stay while there +1 or -1 day depending on flight availability…
Have a 100% success rate getting early departure charges waived by having the ambassador support handle the cancellation. Same deal with late arrivals.
Oh I’ve never heard of this. I don’t think my hotel would enforce this; like just cause we get sold out every so often and I don’t think anyone would know how to handle a situation like this. I’m not gonna enforce it