How to add Marriott Rewards number to Interval Reservation

Wally3433 · Mar 9, 2014

I have been able to do this in the past, most recently in December. However, after calling Interval and Marriott several times, they are telling me that they cannot add my Marriott Rewards Number ahead of time, that I have to do it at checkout.

They keep saying that it is too difficult to change an Interval Reservation if there is a MR number on it. In other words, they can cancel a reservation with a first name and last name. But a reservation with a first name, last name and a MR number - that's just too much for the Marriott reservation system to handle. Obviously doesn't make sense.

Anyone have any luck here or ideas?

dioxide45 · Mar 9, 2014

Check out post #18 of this thread. E-mail has been successful every time for me. I no longer bother to call.

TSPam · Mar 9, 2014

HI,
I have used the customer care e-mail many times but this is what I got last week from them:

Thank you for taking the time to contact Marriott. We appreciate the
opportunity to provide you with information.

We have forwarded your message to our Marriott Vacations Worldwide Customer Care
department as they will be better able to assist you. You should be hearing
from them shortly. If you would like to contact them directly, you may do so by
one of the following:

Phone: 800-860-9384 (toll-free in the United States and Canada)
Email: customer.care@vacationclub.com

If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to reply to this
email.

Thank you for choosing Marriott.

I then got a phone call from the resort saying that my marriott number had been added. It was Marriott Fairway villas

dualrated2 · Mar 9, 2014

What use to be accomplished by email in a couple of hours is now taking days. Recently, I've had to request it more than once to get the number added and the last three times I got the acknowledgement back from the resort involved, not Marriott Customer Care.

It's no longer easy to do via email, at least for me.

TheTimeTraveler · Mar 9, 2014

I always email my VOA and she takes care of it for me every time without any difficulty. I believe this is part of the VOA (Vacation Ownership Advisor) job description.

I think that all owners who own weeks have a VOA, and their individual advisor's name is listed when they log into their account.

.

bazzap · Mar 9, 2014

TheTimeTraveler said:
I always email my VOA and she takes care of it for me every time without any difficulty. I believe this is part of the VOA (Vacation Ownership Advisor) job description.

I think that all owners who own weeks have a VOA, and their individual advisor's name is listed when they log into their account.

.

That may be true in the US.
Unfortunately, as a European owner, it is certainly not true here from my experience.
In our early days of ownership, we were able to maintain a good relationship with our Salesperson and successfully benefit from their knowledge and experience as our "VOAs"
However, over the years, all the Sales people we have bought direct from have moved on.
I have spoken to European Owner Services in Cork and asked who our VOA is now and been told that they do not assign a specific person.
We do maintain contact with one or two resort Sales people we have met during recent stays and they have offered some help.
We really would prefer to have an assigned VOA though, who knows something about us and our needs/wishes.

Mr. Vker · Mar 9, 2014

A phone call to MR has always worked for me. BUT, I have had to wait a week or so to allow the exchange to completely process on the back end. If I call too soon, the exchanged week is still in the other party's name.

OutAndAbout · Mar 9, 2014

Wally3433 said:
add my Marriott Rewards Number ahead of time

It looks like someone (or some computer system) is trying to do this proactively without owner assistance (this may depend on how unique your name is). For the 2014 stays, even the exchanges, the "Submit Your Vacation Preferences Now!‏" email already included the correct Marriott number.

dioxide45 · Mar 9, 2014

I am no longer usually in a hurry to add our number like I used to be. Other than the reservation showing up online before checkin, there is no major benefit to adding it early. Not even that platinum arrival gift.

Last fall when we went to Kauai Lagoons on a DC points stay, the reservation was in my name. I am gold status and DW is platinum. When I checked in I asked to switch it from my MR number to DWs. After doing so the rep said, welcome thanks for your loyalty, you will get 500 MR points as a platinum arrival gift.

We have a stay in September on an II exchange that we confirmed some time ago. I would usually add one of our MR numbers within a week or two of confirmation. I may just wait until checkin this time.

BocaBoy · Mar 9, 2014

dioxide45 said:
I am no longer usually in a hurry to add our number like I used to be. Other than the reservation showing up online before checkin, there is no major benefit to adding it early. Not even that platinum arrival gift.

Last fall when we went to Kauai Lagoons on a DC points stay, the reservation was in my name. I am gold status and DW is platinum. When I checked in I asked to switch it from my MR number to DWs. After doing so the rep said, welcome thanks for your loyalty, you will get 500 MR points as a platinum arrival gift.

We have a stay in September on an II exchange that we confirmed some time ago. I would usually add one of our MR numbers within a week or two of confirmation. I may just wait until check-in this time.

Technically, if the Platinum member's MR number is not on the reservation prior to check-in you are not entitled to the Platinum gift and other platinum perks like the compensation for not getting what you had reserved. It sounds from your post like they sometimes give the gift if they get the number at check-in, but that is not guaranteed. I think I still want my number on the reservation ahead of time.

Mr. Vker · Mar 9, 2014

As a reference, the only place I can't add my Plat MR number is the Aruba Ren. That's because the timeshare units are not Marriott-although you can reserve them by the night on marriott.com. The hotel side is all Marriott.

I have been able to add my MR every time checking in to the Ren. Get my plat arrival gift and benefits. (The real choices--wine/cheese/beer etc.) Free internet. Etc. They charge for internet in the units at the Ren. The lobby is free and ALWAYS packed with people sucking up the wifi.

gwhamm · Mar 9, 2014

I've also had recent issues with this

TSPam said:
HI,
I have used the customer care e-mail many times but this is what I got last week from them:

Thank you for taking the time to contact Marriott. We appreciate the
opportunity to provide you with information.

We have forwarded your message to our Marriott Vacations Worldwide Customer Care
department as they will be better able to assist you. You should be hearing
from them shortly. If you would like to contact them directly, you may do so by
one of the following:

Phone: 800-860-9384 (toll-free in the United States and Canada)
Email: customer.care@vacationclub.com

If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to reply to this
email.

Thank you for choosing Marriott.

I then got a phone call from the resort saying that my marriott number had been added. It was Marriott Fairway villas

I too like to be able to see my upcoming reservations on Marriott Rewards.com. But with one of my most recent exchanges with II/destinations club I sent the email just like I have in the past. I was told that the request was sent to the resort and the resort confirmed that my MR number is in the reservation on their file, but that it will not list online.

I've also called two different times to Marriott Reservations and once to a VOA at MVCI and all of them have told me that they can no longer change a II reservation without being in trouble.

I've finally given up on getting the job done.

larryallen · Mar 9, 2014

Why does it matter?

I have always gotten my plat arrival gift and points for the stay even when adding my MR at checkin.

What's the prob?

dioxide45 · Mar 9, 2014

larryallen said:
Why does it matter?

I have always gotten my plat arrival gift and points for the stay even when adding my MR at checkin.

What's the prob?

So it seems that my experience at Kauai Lagoons wasn't unique. You are now the second other person than myself that has reported getting the Platinum Arrival Gift when providing your MR number at checkin.

OutAndAbout · Mar 9, 2014

dioxide45 said:
So it seems that my experience at Kauai Lagoons wasn't unique. You are now the second other person than myself that has reported getting the Platinum Arrival Gift when providing your MR number at checkin.

Since the only arrival gift choice is points and room type reserved shouldn't be an issue, I cannot fathom a real "need" to the P or PP status prior to checkin. If the arrival gift doesn't post a quick call to marriott rewards always gets it added (presuming the stay posts).

SueDonJ · Mar 10, 2014

OutAndAbout said:
Since the only arrival gift choice is points and room type reserved shouldn't be an issue, I cannot fathom a real "need" to the P or PP status prior to checkin. If the arrival gift doesn't post a quick call to marriott rewards always gets it added (presuming the stay posts).

A couple of the Hawaii resorts have started offering a choice of Plat Arrival Gifts so it's not limited to only MR Points anymore. But regardless of what the gift is, if it's not offered at check-in then the MR Member is entitled to compensation ($100 at the timeshares) as long as the guarantee is invoked prior to check-out.

If someone with Plat MR status can't get his/her number attached in advance of check-in, the hotel won't know that a Plat Arrival Gift is due so won't offer it. But for the same reason, the hotel can argue against paying the compensation, too. "You didn't include your MR Number with your reservation."

$100 isn't all that much in the grand scheme, of course, but it's the little nit-picky things that add up and make you bang your head on the desk. This little thing is a vicious circle and for some reason it's again difficult to do what should be simple, what had been simple for a time but now isn't anymore. It doesn't make any sense.

Mr. Vker · Mar 10, 2014

Excellent point Sue. although you cannot get the $100 if they don't post the points. That's in their terms. I don't agree with this. If I have to take the steps to get the points, I should be due the guarantee. Some on FT have taken to asking MR for 500-1k in points whenever they have to process missing stays or this type of thing.

I like my number on because its convenient to show all of my reservations in one place-hotels and MVCI in order.

Also, I mention my status HOPING for an upgrade. Not sure if or how often it worked....

dioxide45 · Mar 10, 2014

SueDonJ said:
A couple of the Hawaii resorts have started offering a choice of Plat Arrival Gifts so it's not limited to only MR Points anymore. But regardless of what the gift is, if it's not offered at check-in then the MR Member is entitled to compensation ($100 at the timeshares) as long as the guarantee is invoked prior to check-out.

I think getting the $100 is near impossible at a MVCI property. In most cases if you challenge them on the guaranty, they just use the "we give 500 points" excuse. I really am seeing no reason to attach the number ahead of time other than to see the confirmation show up online.

dioxide45 · Mar 10, 2014

SueDonJ said:
If someone with Plat MR status can't get his/her number attached in advance of check-in, the hotel won't know that a Plat Arrival Gift is due so won't offer it. But for the same reason, the hotel can argue against paying the compensation, too. "You didn't include your MR Number with your reservation."

Though, my one experience, and it seems others, is that even if you have the MR number attached AT checkin, they are still offering the arrival gifts.

frank808 · Mar 10, 2014

dioxide45 said:
So it seems that my experience at Kauai Lagoons wasn't unique. You are now the second other person than myself that has reported getting the Platinum Arrival Gift when providing your MR number at checkin.

I always get my plat gift at MKO. In the 6 weeks this year alone I have always added my MR number on arrival and gotten my choice of gift. Last week my wife checked in with my MR number and they even welcomed her as a platinum and got the gift. Maybe at the hotels you would need the MR number before hand but the VOA side is different.

Mr. Vker · Mar 10, 2014

frank808 said:
I always get my plat gift at MKO. In the 6 weeks this year alone I have always added my MR number on arrival and gotten my choice of gift. Last week my wife checked in with my MR number and they even welcomed her as a platinum and got the gift. Maybe at the hotels you would need the MR number before hand but the VOA side is different.

Same thing would happen at a hotel. If you offered you number at checkin, they would recognize a plat, gold, etc and provide those benefits. Thats my example above at the Ren. However, at hotels, having your number in advance guarantees other benefits for elites: room type, upgrades in advance, concierge level etc. If your number isn't on, the hotel won't know and isn't obligated to provide these.

MVCI's are generally only providing points. In some cases, a different the of arrival gift. Easy for them to take care of at check in.

Wally3433 · Mar 10, 2014

I emailed the address stated....they replied telling me that my email was forwarded to customer.care@vacationclub.com......whatever

I too just like to have all my reservations in my account online. What is upsetting is that there is no reason this has to be so difficult......all the crap we deal with making reservations and earning points and they can't just add a nine digit number to a reservation.

davidvel · Mar 11, 2014

Wally3433 said:
I too just like to have all my reservations in my account online. What is upsetting is that there is no reason this has to be so difficult......all the crap we deal with making reservations and earning points and they can't just add a nine digit number to a reservation.

Here is a long answer about a possible reason. This is from an earlier thread from back when they started making it hard to add. Seems to match what someone said above about the "difficulty" when II reservation linked to MR#:

davidvel said:
Here’s one theory, although I don’t know if it is the reason for the change:

Someone I know “R” had a bunch of reservations for family and friends in Palm Desert (MRD & DSV) after trading various weeks through II. So they checked into DSV for one of the guests who was to arrive late at night. When the guests arrived and were given the key they could not get into the room. Security came out and discovered that someone else was in the room (Guest2)! The front desk didn’t understand but they had two reservations from II with the same number with two different people reserved in the same room! When Guest2 arrived after R, they had been checked into the room by a different clerk, and given new keys locking out the old. (No idea how the computers allowed this and the manager could not explain.)

Here’s what happened: the week was originally obtained by “R” as a trade through II. He added his MR# to the reservation and it showed up in his MR account, along with a bunch of other reservations for that same week for him and his family, etc. However, he later RE-traded the subject week from DSV into a bigger unit at MRD (and added his MR# to this res) many months prior to arrival. He completely forgot this and just printed out all his confirmations from his MR account. When he arrived in Palm Desert he then checked into all the various rooms (one of which really was no longer his trade because it had been RE-TRADED, but still showed up as a valid reservation in his MR account (and NOT cancelled).

After many calls by the front desk to Marriott and II the following Monday the following was determined to have occurred. Because his MR# had been added to the reservation, when he re-traded the DSV week for MRD, II’s system could not “cancel” the reservation as it was locked to his MR account. For this reason it continued to show as an active reservation in his MR account. However, II’s system showed the DSV week had been traded in for the new week at MRD. Thereafter when Guest 2 traded for the DSV week, II created an identical reservation with Marriott for the new Guest2. “R” felt really stupid for checking into the room but with all the reservations he had, it was an honest mistake. They had plenty of room in other units so his friends were ok.

Everyone at Marriott and II agreed that this should not be allowed to happen but something with Marriott’s software allowed it, and this was related to it being tied to the MR account as described above. (Even through R was not staying in the room, his MR account showed it as an “ongoing” reservation the whole week. Also, it never showed up as a cancelled reservation in his MR account. He did not get credit for the stay nor receive their folio by e-mail, fortunately!) This all happened in mid-June after which it seems the new policy of not adding MR#s to II trades began. Coincidence??

dioxide45 · Mar 11, 2014

davidvel said:
Here is a long answer about a possible reason. This is from an earlier thread from back when they started making it hard to add. Seems to match what someone said above about the "difficulty" when II reservation linked to MR#:

While this may be one possible cause, and perhaps why it takes more effort to get it added. The real issue here is that in the past when you added a MR number to an II confirmation and did a retrade, the old week still showed up on Marriott.com because they never removed the old number.

I think this has changed and now whenever I do a retrade, I can no longer look up the old reservation nor does it show up on Marriott.com if I have added my MR number to it. They need to make sure they "clean up" reservations that are cancelled/retraded. This would solve the problem that you outlined above.

crf450x · Mar 11, 2014

I had a 1b/1b marriott Ko Olina that I added my MR# to then retraded for a 2b/2b unit that I also added my MR# to for this summer and I still see the original reservation. However the name on the reservation is no longer me. It shows the name of the person who now has exchanged into it.

How to add Marriott Rewards number to Interval Reservation

Wally3433

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert

TSPam

dualrated2

TheTimeTraveler

bazzap

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

Mr. Vker

OutAndAbout

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert

BocaBoy

Mr. Vker

gwhamm

larryallen

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert

OutAndAbout

SueDonJ

Mr. Vker

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert

frank808

Mr. Vker

Wally3433

davidvel

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert

crf450x