Marriott, Ripoff Look No Further Guarantee Look No Further Guarantee a sham; misleading and deceptive! Bethesda Maryland

Phil,
You are getting angry before asking questions. You should call the Marriott Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee office at 800-771-5665 which is listed on the Marriott.com website and ask them to explain the program. Marriott would not have the program if it was not popular with guests.

Furthermore, regarding the comments on this board, many are misinformed comments. For example, if you think calling the hotel will get you a better rate, guess again. Many hotels do not even have reservation staff on site. Most often you are being transferred to a central reservation agent. If you want to waste a long distance call to the hotel, and get transferred to a central reservation office you could have called toll free, have at it! If you have already made a reservation and want to make more specific requests, there is an advantage to calling the hotel to determine how far or capable the hotel is in filling your requests. However, if you have received an email confirmation from the hotel, you may find a link to a form to make such requests.

The hotel industry is highly decentralized. You may call the general manger only to find he is not only, not on site, but is the general manager for a hotel five blocks away! This is happening because computer programming has allowed hotels to be more efficient in providing services to you. In fact, the more hotels do this, the more savings ends up in your pocket.

If you are concerned about getting good service, you may want to consider avoiding hotels which have less than 200 rooms. Such small hotels will have fewer staff to assist with problems, unless they are a sister hotel with a neighboring hotel or part of a large company like Marriott. This is not to say hotels with less than 200 rooms are bad, it is just they often have less to work with in serving you. It is all about volume! Beware of the limitations. Hotels really do want to serve you. Just be certain to ask the right questions and be aware of their limitations.

Phil, back to your objection. The Marriott Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee uses a claim process. Please understand the meaning of the word claim. In processing any claim with any organization, you have to prove your point. Marriott is not just offering a rate matching situation. They are going beyond rate matching. They want to give you a 25 percent discount below the lower rate! They can only give you such a discount if you prove your point to them and you should make a point of doing so.

I stay at Marriotts all the time and normally book a room through their web site. I know approximately what constitutes a normal rate at a Fairfield and if the rate seems high (I normally book a senior discount) I call the hotel. Many properties have "special" weekend rates or rates advertised on banners that may not be on the website. I never use the 800 reservation line and I NEVER book a hotel or airline ticket through a third party company like Expedia, etc. You may get a slightly lower rate but cancellations are a real problem and there are fees. I'd rather deal directly with Marriott. I'm assured that my points are credited and that they expect me. I have had excellent service from both Hilton and Marriott and can expect uniformity wherever I stay. This is NOT the case with other chains.

I had several cases now where I did not only find lower prices on other websites, I was also able to book them. I also had cases where they were the AAA rate (on marriott.com) was HIGHER than the regular rate on their site (on marriott.com). Yes, the discounted rate was HIGHER than the regular rate for the same room. Their pricing is just way off. You can't trust them one second.

These terms and conditions are written by lawyers and marketing people. They try to blindfold everybody so we believe that their site has the best deals. As a Gold Elite Member, I feel that Marriott is misleading me and other guests. I call it "Look No Further to Marriott"...

I am an employee of Marriott Intl. who just sat through a three hour meeting on this subject so let me tell you what I know.

When you go through Marriott.com and say you're quoted a 89 dollar rate, less taxes that rate is what you will be paying and what the hotel makes from your stay.

When you go to Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire etc the site says you're paying 79 dollars a night, but thats before the sites fees, taxes, and commission. Not to mention you might be paying 79 dollars a night, but the property itself is maybe making 40 bucks or so a night. You will be also first in line to be bumped to a smoking room, a double if you booked a king, or if the hotel has been over booked to another hotel completely. And I don't know about other proprerties, but ours sends people to the Baymont Inn next door.

My suggestion if you see a lower rate on one of the various websites, call the property and book the reservation through the Intl line. Mention the gaurentee and they will give you that rate as well as the security of knowing that you'll have a room when you get to the hotel.