I’ve gotta say, incomes Marriott’s high tier elite standing wasn’t on my loyalty program bingo card for this yr, however I simply certified. Let me present some background, after which I’ll share how I earned it, and why I (form of) went out of my method to take action.
My historical past with Marriott Bonvoy elite standing
Marriott Bonvoy has 5 revealed elite tiers (along with invitation solely Cobalt standing), with the next qualification necessities:
I’ve had Marriott Bonvoy lifetime Platinum standing for a number of years now. On high of that, I’ve certified for Titanium standing most years. The reality is that it’s not that tough to earn, at the same time as somebody who doesn’t spend anyplace near 75 nights per yr at Marriott properties.
That’s as a result of Marriott elite nights could be earned with bank cards — only for having the Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Categorical® Card (assessment) and the Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Categorical® Card (assessment), I obtain 40 elite nights per yr, which will get me an enormous head begin to Titanium standing, plus Selection Advantages.
Up till 2020, I had Ambassador standing for a few years, and that even goes again all the way in which to the Starwood Most well-liked Visitor days. Nonetheless, for the previous (almost) 5 years, I haven’t had Ambassador standing, just because I break up my lodge stays throughout too many lodge teams, and don’t keep in accommodations almost as a lot as I used to.
How I earned Marriott Ambassador standing
Originally of the yr, I wasn’t even anticipating to earn Titanium standing with Marriott, not to mention Ambassador standing. As you possibly can see, the largest hurdle with Ambassador standing is the (vital) spending requirement.
What’s humorous is the scenario I discovered myself on this yr — I used to be considerably over the spending requirement for Ambassador standing, however didn’t have many elite nights. As I wrote about earlier this yr, I rented a villa by way of Houses & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, and that counts towards elite standing. Not solely do you earn factors and elite nights for these stays, however the spending additionally counts towards Ambassador standing.
I had extra nights with Marriott this yr than traditional, however nonetheless solely discovered myself ending the yr with slightly below 90 elite nights. Maybe I’m a sufferer of sunk value fallacy, however I figured that since I had already spent a lot with Marriott, I would as properly spend a bit extra with a view to earn Ambassador standing.
I accomplished a mattress run at an inexpensive airport lodge, which ended up costing me round $1,000 out of pocket, and put me over the edge of 100 elite nights. In order that was my incremental funding in incomes Ambassador standing.
What I’m hoping for with Marriott’s high standing
As any OMAAT reader can attest to, I’ve my justifiable share of criticism of the Marriott Bonvoy program, and the way it usually over guarantees and underneath delivers. So what’s unsuitable with me, that I’d all of the sudden throw more cash and energy into incomes standing with this system?
On paper, the incremental perks of Ambassador standing over Titanium standing are restricted. You get a customized Ambassador, who may also help you together with your reservations (some folks worth this immensely, whereas others by no means). On high of that, you get entry to Your24, whereby you possibly can affirm early check-in days earlier than arrival, on the lodge’s discretion.
The most important constant profit, finally, is that you simply’re just a little greater up the totem pole for upgrades. The truth is that there was a fully huge quantity of elite inflation at Marriott properties (resulting from how straightforward standing is to earn), and there are occasions the place a property might have 100-200 (or extra) Platinum members and above. Platinum and Titanium standing are each quite common, whereas elite ranks positively skinny out with Ambassador.
Sure, on paper the elite tiers have very related improve advantages, however as you’d anticipate, accommodations will sometimes attempt to be extra proactive with upgrades for greater tier elites.
Admittedly your expertise will fluctuate massively based mostly on the place you’re staying. The typical mega-hotel in the US doesn’t actually care about visitor expertise or elite standing, so I wouldn’t anticipate a lot. Moreover, should you’re touring over main holidays, you’re unlikely to get an entire lot.
However I don’t keep at quite a lot of accommodations in the US, and a overwhelming majority of my stays are worldwide, and never throughout peak season. So I figured it’s value giving Ambassador standing one other attempt, to see the way it’s holding up:
- I’m curious if I truly do discover a fabric distinction by way of elite recognition and upgrades, in comparison with Titanium standing
- I’m going to exit of my strategy to make it “the yr of Marriott,” and keep as at many luxurious worldwide Marriott properties as potential
There are quite a lot of Marriott properties on my radar, from the St. Regis Astana, to the Ritz-Carlton Melbourne, to the Reykjavik EDITION, to the Koenigshof Munich, so I sit up for hopefully checking these (and lots of others) out.
The best way I view it, if I get nice upgrades on just a few stays that I wouldn’t have gotten as a Titanium member, then I’ll recoup my funding. However both method, I feel it makes for attention-grabbing weblog content material, each by way of reviewing extra Marriott properties, and likewise offering my up to date, post-pandemic tackle the worth of Ambassador standing.
I’m excited concerning the Ambassador I used to be assigned!
One of many predominant advantages of Marriott Ambassador standing is that you simply get a customized Ambassador, who takes care of you. Actually, my favourite factor about this standing again within the day is that my Ambassador, Mike, was merely unbelievable. He was knowledgable, pleasant, and proactive, at all times going above and past.
Once I set my sights on Ambassador standing, I actually hoped that I’d get Mike as an Ambassador once more, given what a celebrity he’s. I’ve seen very blended reviews about service from Ambassadors, and Mike units a really excessive bar.
So this morning when my standing formally posted, I shot off an e mail to him (it was our first contact in 5 years), simply telling him I earned Ambassador standing, and asking if there’s any method I might request to have him as my Ambassador.
Ambassadors are assigned centrally, however he was sort sufficient to place within the request, and evidently it received accredited. So I’m delighted that I’ll get to work with him once more, as he was such an outstanding consultant for the corporate. So far as I’m involved, he ought to be operating your entire Ambassador program.
Backside line
By some means Marriott Bonvoy received me again on the elite standing hamster wheel. Possibly I’m only a complete chump for assuming there might be any distinction in comparison with Titanium standing. However provided that I had knocked out the spending requirement for Ambassador standing, that additionally appeared like the correct time to make the additional push for the 100 elite nights.
For those who take a look at on-line boards or Fb teams about Ambassador standing, it’s extremely polarizing. Some folks act as in the event that they’re handled like a very powerful particular person on this planet, whereas others declare they’ve by no means obtained an improve. I’m trying ahead to sharing my trustworthy impressions…
Am I nuts for placing within the further effort to earn Marriott Ambassador standing? Which Marriott properties would y’all wish to see opinions of?
Supply hyperlink
