Maintenance Fees - Ambassador Status?

[shoeie]

I'm not sure how to even phrase this question, so I apologize in advance if this ends up being convoluted.

I'm sure many of us just paid our annual maintenance fees, which got me wondering, will the payment of fees count toward the spending requirement for Ambassador status through Marriott Rewards (er ... Bonvoy)?

When we stay at an MVC resort, the nights have always counted, and the spending done at the resort has always garnered us MR points. So, now with introduction of the "Ambassador" level, requiring a combination of 100 nights and $20K in spend, I'm curios to know if the several thousand dollars I just chunked over to Marriott will count? I regularly hit 100 nights, but may not always hit $20K in spend, but if the maintenance fees count, I'll likley hit it every year (not that it appears Ambassador status is anything much more special over PP).

 

[bazzap]

I'm not sure how to even phrase this question, so I apologize in advance if this ends up being convoluted.

I'm sure many of us just paid our annual maintenance fees, which got me wondering, will the payment of fees count toward the spending requirement for Ambassador status through Marriott Rewards (er ... Bonvoy)?

When we stay at an MVC resort, the nights have always counted, and the spending done at the resort has always garnered us MR points. So, now with introduction of the "Ambassador" level, requiring a combination of 100 nights and $20K in spend, I'm curios to know if the several thousand dollars I just chunked over to Marriott will count? I regularly hit 100 nights, but may not always hit $20K in spend, but if the maintenance fees count, I'll likley hit it every year (not that it appears Ambassador status is anything much more special over PP).

Reading various posts on this question across TUG, Marriott Rewards Insiders, Flyertalk ...the answer seems to be no unfortunately.
I have not yet seen this officially confirmed in any Marriott documentation, although the MR Ts & Cs refer to qualifying spend during stays which suggests not?
“Platinum Premier Elite with Ambassador Membership Benefits. In addition to all of the benefits Platinum Premier Elite Members receive, Elite Members who reach 100 nights and $20,000 U.S. dollars in qualifying spend annually based on Qualifying Charges earned on Stays are eligible to receive the following benefits:”

 

[controller1]

Reading various posts on this question across TUG, Marriott Rewards Insiders, Flyertalk ...the answer seems to be no unfortunately.
I have not yet seen this officially confirmed in any Marriott documentation, although the MR Ts & Cs refer to qualifying spend during stays which suggests not?
“Platinum Premier Elite with Ambassador Membership Benefits. In addition to all of the benefits Platinum Premier Elite Members receive, Elite Members who reach 100 nights and $20,000 U.S. dollars in qualifying spend annually based on Qualifying Charges earned on Stays are eligible to receive the following benefits:”

To follow up on exactly what are Qualifying Charges, here is the definition from the program's T&C and I agree that maintenance fees do not appear to be a Qualifying Charge.

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.

 

[catharsis]

I was thinking that perhaps buying Marriott giftcards while on-premise at a Marriott hotel, and then using those to pay for the MVC MFs might work.

Two possible issues.

1. does purchasing giftcards from reception count as qualifying spend?
2. Can one use the 'new' type of Marriott Gift Cards to pay MVC MF's?

would be good to get an answer on either of these?\ questions if anyone has datapoints.

 

[rrazzorr]

What perks of the Ambassador Status would draw your attention; are you after the Your24 (flex check-in/out)? Otherwise, there is absolutely nothing that you cannot get with Platinum.

 

[controller1]

What perks of the Ambassador Status would draw your attention; are you after the Your24 (flex check-in/out)? Otherwise, there is absolutely nothing that you cannot get with Platinum.

Besides the assignment of an ambassador, which has been discussed on FT by many with varied opinions on the usefulness of an ambassador, an Ambassador guest will be at the top of the priority list for upgrades at hotels.

 

[Fairwinds]

That reward level is way out of reach for me. With work travel I might have enough nights in some years but even with maintenance fees (if they counted) I would never meet the spend requirement. And I hope I never do.

 

[shoeie]

What perks of the Ambassador Status would draw your attention; are you after the Your24 (flex check-in/out)? Otherwise, there is absolutely nothing that you cannot get with Platinum.

Your point is well taken. And I also don't think there's much from Ambassador I'm particularly concerned about since I'll hit PPE (or Titanium as its about to be called) every year. My thoughts are two fold, (1) I'm already spending the $$$ with Marriott (nearly $3K in maintenance fees) so I'd like to get "credit" for it, and (2) always nice to be at the tip top of the upgrade list when checking into hotels. That being said, its not of great importance to me given that 95% of the benefits are the same between Ambassador and PPE. The You24 benefit is something I couldn't see using more than once per year, if that.

 

[rthib]

I'm curios to know if the several thousand dollars I just chunked over to Marriott will count?.

This is the part people keep forgetting. They are separate companies now.
You just chunked money over to Marriott Vacation Club not Marriott International.

 

[gravitar]

Your point is well taken. And I also don't think there's much from Ambassador I'm particularly concerned about since I'll hit PPE (or Titanium as its about to be called) every year. My thoughts are two fold, (1) I'm already spending the $$$ with Marriott (nearly $3K in maintenance fees) so I'd like to get "credit" for it, and (2) always nice to be at the tip top of the upgrade list when checking into hotels. That being said, its not of great importance to me given that 95% of the benefits are the same between Ambassador and PPE. The You24 benefit is something I couldn't see using more than once per year, if that.

Only spend at hotels from a qualifying stay counts towards Ambassador status.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[bazzap]

Only spend at hotels from a qualifying stay counts towards Ambassador status.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Yes, if my 11 weeks of MFs counted towards the qualifying spend I might be incented to make more stays to trigger the required spend level but without this I have no chance.
“Platinum Premier Elite with ambassador service: 100 Qualifying Nights and $20,000 U.S. dollars in qualified annual spend based on Qualifying Charges earned on Stays only.”

 

[gravitar]

Ambassador status adds a personal concierge and that's all. I had Ambassador status with Starwood for 5 or so years. For 2 years my Ambassador was great. She moved on to other things and her replacement was worthless and I wasn't able to change to someone else. I would have been irate had I spent $20k for that.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[shoeie]

This is the part people keep forgetting. They are separate companies now.
You just chunked money over to Marriott Vacation Club not Marriott International.

I get your point, but they don't necessarily operate like two completely independent companies (i.e. stays at MVC counts as "stays" and "nights" for Marriott, also the spend at an MVC club also counts toward the $20K spending limit). So while, on paper and to the SEC they are separate companies, they're more like two arms of the same global company.

 

[bazzap]

I get your point, but they don't necessarily operate like two completely independent companies (i.e. stays at MVC counts as "stays" and "nights" for Marriott, also the spend at an MVC club also counts toward the $20K spending limit). So while, on paper and to the SEC they are separate companies, they're more like two arms of the same global company.

Also MVC pay 10-15% in licence fees to MI every year.
As a result, a significant chunk of what we as owners pay to MVC goes to MI and so they are inextricably linked.

 

[SueDonJ]

Ambassador status adds a personal concierge and that's all. I had Ambassador status with Starwood for 5 or so years. For 2 years my Ambassador was great. She moved on to other things and her replacement was worthless and I wasn't able to change to someone else. I would have been irate had I spent $20k for that.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

I think the Your24 floating check-in/out time is pretty good. Like you say, not worth the spend requirements but I could see us making good use of it with hotel stays here and there.

 

[gravitar]

I think the Your24 floating check-in/out time is pretty good. Like you say, not worth the spend requirements but I could see us making good use of it with hotel stays here and there.

Your24 Is at the.....Titanium level. No spend required for it. I agree it is useful!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[SueDonJ]

Your24 Is at the.....Titanium level. No spend required for it. I agree it is useful!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

PPE is going to be Titanium, yes? That's us, and my account doesn't list Your24 as a benefit. It says on the bottom of the page:

>>Achieve it all
Stay 100 eligible nights and $20K in annual qualifying spend you’ll receive all the benefits of Platinum Premier Elite, plus our highest rewards:
Ambassador Service and Your24™<<

and then links to the Ambassador page which says:

>>Platinum Gets Personal
Achieve and receive our ultimate benefits — Ambassador Service and Your24™ — on top of all of the Platinum Premier Elite benefits.<<

Don's account showed Ambassador when the changes were first showing, dropped it I think as of Jan 1, but he should reach it again after two more India trips. We'll see - I'm still too confused and not paying enough attention.

(The funny thing is, with his trips over there where he says status really does mean something, they've always given him what's effectively Your24 because his flights have him checking in/out after midnight.)

 

[gravitar]

PPE is going to be Titanium, yes? That's us, and my account doesn't list Your24 as a benefit. It says on the bottom of the page:

>>Achieve it all
Stay 100 eligible nights and $20K in annual qualifying spend you’ll receive all the benefits of Platinum Premier Elite, plus our highest rewards:
Ambassador Service and Your24<<

and then links to the Ambassador page which says:

>>Platinum Gets Personal
Achieve and receive our ultimate benefits — Ambassador Service and Your24 — on top of all of the Platinum Premier Elite benefits.<<

Don's account showed Ambassador when the changes were first showing, dropped it I think as of Jan 1, but he should reach it again after two more India trips. We'll see - I'm still too confused and not paying enough attention.

(The funny thing is, with his trips over there where he says status really does mean something, they've always given him what's effectively Your24 because his flights have him checking in/out after midnight.)

My error. It used to be a Platinum benefit.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Fairwinds]

PPE is going to be Titanium, yes? That's us, and my account doesn't list Your24 as a benefit. It says on the bottom of the page:

>>Achieve it all
Stay 100 eligible nights and $20K in annual qualifying spend you’ll receive all the benefits of Platinum Premier Elite, plus our highest rewards:
Ambassador Service and Your24™<<

and then links to the Ambassador page which says:

>>Platinum Gets Personal
Achieve and receive our ultimate benefits — Ambassador Service and Your24™ — on top of all of the Platinum Premier Elite benefits.<<

Don's account showed Ambassador when the changes were first showing, dropped it I think as of Jan 1, but he should reach it again after two more India trips. We'll see - I'm still too confused and not paying enough attention.

(The funny thing is, with his trips over there where he says status really does mean something, they've always given him what's effectively Your24 because his flights have him checking in/out after midnight.)

Glad he’s gotten them but nice to have solidified by policy. I know coming back from that part of the world my departures have all been late afternoon/ evening