Has anyone been granted Ambassador status for 2018 without spending the $20,000? I understand that meeting both levels are requirements for 2019. C
Has anyone been granted Ambassador status for 2018 without spending the $20,000? I understand that meeting both levels are requirements for 2019. C
Once you get to 50 nights, your annual spend is in your account "Overview' section:
I am going have about 110 nights, but 5K short of the 20K..
maybe they give me a Christmas present.
Yes, it's called "Platinum Premier" - "Merry Christmas, now get us $5k more, and we'll up your present!"
Yes! I was granted Ambassador, twice! For about 2 days each time! and then Lucy pulled the football from under me like Charlie Brown, and I fell back down to earth!
(Similar to MANY other members!)
I've spent the $20,000 required but for some reason it's not showing the correct amount and I'm questioning it. Every time the system is down and comes back up the amount ive spent is less as if i need to spend more money. I have receipts. However when i called the PP line the to inquire about the Ambassador level she (associate ) told me all i needed was 75 stays and $20,000 only to find out that's misinformation.
Thanks for your answers. I know that others just recently achieving 100 nights with roll-over nights and low cost rooms will not be at $20,000 spent. Also, as shoeman1000 has stated, the $20,000 has not been a prerequisite in the past. C
If Ambassador status has worked like the 50/75 Annual Choice Benefits have this year, it does not appear that rollover, etc nights would matter - it just needs to be 100 nights (even though that's not what's stated) and $20k spend. I had over 50 nights, but at the time did not have 50 butt-in-bed nights and was able to choose my 50, and then 75 night benefits before reaching either of those butt-in-bed totals.
I do think 'qualifying spend" includes $$$ spent at the hotels (possibly only during a stay), but I won't make it this year so it doesn't matter for me. I will pay closer attention next year (whether I make it or not) just to see how the spend is being tracked and see if the numbers match what I think they should be.
Yes, o0o0o0o0o0o...points!, "$$$ spent at the (MarriottSPGRitz) hotels" (not including parking, taxes, fees, etc.) are the "qualifying spend" referred to. For us in 2018, with over 25 nights rolled-over, plus 15 night Bonus for Chase Visa, 1 or 2 extra Bonus nights, 1 night/every $3,000 spent on Chase Visa, AND the several times we redeemed "4 nights of points for 5th night FREE," the remaining less than 30 nights out of 100 would need to average $667 each to reach $20,000 required. C
I also had it for two days or so during the transition.... I spent well over $20,000 in 2017, so I thought it might stick. But no. I’ll catch $20,000 in the last week of December, so I should get Ambassador for next year..we’ll see.
painedplatinum, I’ll be anxious to hear about your Ambassador experiences. I suspect to end about $2k short on spend. 15 redeemed nights, 30 credit card nights, and my final 27 rollover nights have me woefully short of nights where the spend would have made the difference. Only 60 paid nights this year....Oh well, such is life! We will be living vicariously through you Pained!
Hi painedplatinum, what qualifies for Annual Qualifying Spend (AQS)? Room charges, in-room dinning? restaurant on premises dinning? I'm quite surprise on-site parking didn't qualify. Only paying nights qualify?
davidktyu..good question. I almost never have dining charges, so I'm not sure. I have tracked the last dozen stays or so and the meter for spend on my account goes up exactly the amount of $$ that I spent on room rate.
This is exactly what I have found, painedplatinum
"the meter for spend on my account goes up exactly the amount of $$ that I spent on room rate"
C
2.1.b specifies qualifying charges - basically what you can earn point on is qualifying spend - Terms & Conditions | SPG & Marriott Rewards
2.1.b. Qualifying Charges. “Qualifying Charges” are:
i. Charges incurred during a stay in a guest room at a Participating Property by a Member on his/her folio and up to two (2) additional guest rooms, including, without limitation, charges for:
A. Qualifying Rates for Stays;
B. Food and beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages where prohibited by law) and may exclude charges incurred at outlets that are not managed or operated by the Participating Property;
C. Direct-dialed in-room telephone and direct-dialed in-room fax;
D. In-room movies and video games;
provided the Member provides his/her Membership Number at the time of reservation or at check-in, stays in one of the reserved guest rooms, and pays for the charges; or
ii. Charges incurred by the Member, without a stay in a guest room, for food and beverage (excluding alcoholic beverage where prohibited by law) at restaurants located within or adjacent to Participating Properties that offer this benefit if:
A. the restaurant permits guests to charge food and beverages on their folios;
B. the charges are greater than $10 U.S. dollars (excluding taxes, service charges, and gratuities);
C. the food and beverages are not in connection with a banquet, meeting or other function that is excluded from Qualifying Charges as provided in Section 2.1.b. and
provided the Member provides his/her Membership Number at the time of payment. Elite bonus Points will not be awarded on charges incurred by the Member without a stay in a guest room under Section 2.1.b(ii). Earning at restaurants without a stay is offered at all Participating Properties and Brands, except for Marriott Executive Apartments and ExecuStay, in Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, as well as at the following Participating Properties and Brands in United States, Canada, Europe, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, Middle East, and Africa: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin, Tribute Portfolio, Four Points, Aloft Hotels, and Element; or
iii. Charges incurred during a stay in a guest room by a Member on his/her folio and up to two (2) additional guest rooms paid by the Member at the following all-inclusive properties: The Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal, Costa Rica and Sheraton Bijao Beach Resort, Panama. These charges as part of the all-inclusive package include, without limitation, charges for:
A. Qualifying Rates for Stays;
B. Premium food and beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages where prohibited by law) purchased at the property in addition to the all-inclusive rate, and may exclude charges incurred at outlets that are not managed or operated by the Participating Property;
C. Extra-person charges;
D. Spa, Golf, and other resort-run activities if managed by the Participating Property
E. Taxes, service charges and gratuities;
provided the Member provides his/her Membership Number at the time of reservation or at check-in, stays in one of the reserved guest rooms, and pays for the charges.
The main benefits of Ambassador Status are the Ambassador and the Your 24. Under SPG I earned Your 24 last year and again in June this year. However, it was taken away from me in August and despite numerous attempts to get it back and promises that it would come back I'm pretty certain now that its gone for good. I've done 91 butt in bed nights this year and have stopped there - all my remaining stays this year will be will other chains. I never needed the Ambassador under SPG - it was generally easy to get upgraded and as I'm retired I have the time to properly plan my stays. I've earned all the status I can ever get (LTP + PP till 2020) so the only target that is there now is $20K spend - that may be a target for Marriott but it holds no attraction for me (especially as they can simply take away any benefits you worked hard to earn at any time).
It looks like I'm going to finish the year with 99 nights. Like almost everyone else I'm short on the spend and so I don't think there is a good reason to book night number 100 next week. And I don't think I care. If I had a personal ambassador I would probably never use the service anyway. I think they need to figure out a different reward system for their frequent guests or after 75 nights I will be staying at the Hilton.
On the Marriott side, 'Ambassador' status was doled out without clarity as to why you were given the status. Additionally, it was only recently that the $20k was a pre-requisit. BTW, how does anyone know what they have spent short of keeping track on their own?