ramsfan
TUG Member
We stayed at Barony Beach over July 4th and attended the Welcome Breakfast. We were told that if owners went to a presentation for Surfwatch they would not only have the normal offer of $$$ or points, but also get a 4-day/3 night free trip to Surfwatch. The trip would have to be given to a friend/family member who does not currently own and they would be required to attend a sales presentation within the next calendar year. We did it. We went to the presentation and received the certificate in addition to the $$$.
I have other family members who own Marriotts, but my dad does not. We offered the trip to him and he decided to book it for last week. When he booked the trip he was told there was no availability at Surfwatch, but he could stay at the Marriott Beach Resort for $100 upcharge. He went ahead and booked it along with airfare. When I received notification of his booking in the mail, I was very upset!!! The accomodations ($2XX/night hotel room) were not comparable to SW ($4XX/night villa) so I called the person responsible for the booking and complained. I felt that she should have explained that the accomodations were not comparable. That they charged him $100 upcharge for this was even more upsetting. The trip coordinator was unprofessional with me on the phone, but said she would try to get him a villa if she could.
My dad returned from the trip. The hotel was nice enough, but they gave him a room with no view despite the fact that it was 1/2 empty. All the hotel staff were nice and they were happy anyway. When he went to the presentation, he did not bring his girlfriend because she was feeling ill. She is a girlfriend who does not live with him or share any financial decisions with him. He did like the salesman and the property. He chose not to purchase. When he returned to the hotel, there was a frantic call from the trip coordinator that she was in trouble because his girlfriend did not attend the presentation and that he may be charged an extra $196/night for his stay at the Marriott Beach Resort. He explained his girlfriend was feeling ill (throwing up) and could not have attended, but that she would not be part of the financial decision anyway. The trip coordinator argued with him and was very unprofessional. She ended the call with a threat that his MasterCard may have the rest of the hotel charges on it. My dad can afford and will pay this if required to, but was shocked at how he was being treated. I am embarassed that this so-called gift visit was handled in this manner.
If anyone has recommendations on who I should call to talk to about the situation, I would appreciate it. WARNING: Do not trust Marriott to treat your friend/family member as a valued customer. I certainly feel that both my dad and I were treated poorly.
I have other family members who own Marriotts, but my dad does not. We offered the trip to him and he decided to book it for last week. When he booked the trip he was told there was no availability at Surfwatch, but he could stay at the Marriott Beach Resort for $100 upcharge. He went ahead and booked it along with airfare. When I received notification of his booking in the mail, I was very upset!!! The accomodations ($2XX/night hotel room) were not comparable to SW ($4XX/night villa) so I called the person responsible for the booking and complained. I felt that she should have explained that the accomodations were not comparable. That they charged him $100 upcharge for this was even more upsetting. The trip coordinator was unprofessional with me on the phone, but said she would try to get him a villa if she could.
My dad returned from the trip. The hotel was nice enough, but they gave him a room with no view despite the fact that it was 1/2 empty. All the hotel staff were nice and they were happy anyway. When he went to the presentation, he did not bring his girlfriend because she was feeling ill. She is a girlfriend who does not live with him or share any financial decisions with him. He did like the salesman and the property. He chose not to purchase. When he returned to the hotel, there was a frantic call from the trip coordinator that she was in trouble because his girlfriend did not attend the presentation and that he may be charged an extra $196/night for his stay at the Marriott Beach Resort. He explained his girlfriend was feeling ill (throwing up) and could not have attended, but that she would not be part of the financial decision anyway. The trip coordinator argued with him and was very unprofessional. She ended the call with a threat that his MasterCard may have the rest of the hotel charges on it. My dad can afford and will pay this if required to, but was shocked at how he was being treated. I am embarassed that this so-called gift visit was handled in this manner.
If anyone has recommendations on who I should call to talk to about the situation, I would appreciate it. WARNING: Do not trust Marriott to treat your friend/family member as a valued customer. I certainly feel that both my dad and I were treated poorly.