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August 25, 2017 Integration Updates

Updates to Marriott International Benefit Programs

With the acquisition of Starwood, Marriott International has grown significantly; we now have more brands, properties, associates, owners & franchisees than ever before. As our portfolio has grown, we have evaluated and modified programs, including the expansion of the Explore program to provide discounted room rates across the portfolio of 30 brands and 6,200+ hotels worldwide.

In addition to the changes to the Explore program, there will be changes to the Club 25 and Quarter Century Club (QCC) programs beginning September 23, 2017.

Club 25 (Notable for: Franchise Management Companies of Marriott Hotels with Reciprocal Agreements)
As you may be aware, one benefit offered to associates at franchised MH properties in the U.S. is access to complimentary rooms through the Club 25 program, which recognizes associates with 25 years of service. As part of our comprehensive benefit program review, Marriott will make the following changes to the Club 25 program:

  • Beginning September 23, 2017, applications for the Club 25 program will no longer be accepted.
  • Current Club 25 members may book complimentary rooms, under the current program guidelines, for stays until December 31, 2018.
  • Starting January 1, 2019, the Club 25 program will no longer offer complimentary rooms; however, Club 25 members will still be able to use the Explore Rate for up to two rooms.

Please share this information with your associates, as appropriate. Marriott’s Customer Engagement Center will also share the changes with current Club 25 members who call to reserve a room.

Quarter Century Club (Notable for: Managed by Marriott Owners of SPG and Marriott Rewards Properties and Franchisees of Marriott Rewards Properties)

As we work to add Managed by Marriott SPG hotels into the QCC program (both in terms of QCC inventory and providing eligible associates with the benefit), as well as in an effort to ensure parity across the portfolio, changes will take effect for QCC beginning September 23, 2017. Associates of Marriott International (including associates at all Managed by Marriott hotels) who are members of the QCC will no longer be able to receive complimentary rooms at franchised properties.

QCC complimentary rates will continue to be available for Marriott International associates at Managed by Marriott hotels, and will now be offered seven days a week across all brands, with a maximum stay of 3 nights.

Revenue Management:

  • Franchise: QCC reservations at franchised properties made before September 23 for later dates should be honored. The week of September 18, all rate codes will centrally be blacked out and set for deletion to prevent new bookings for stay dates after September 23.
  • Managed by Marriott: The QCC complimentary rate is subject to caps but must be offered when occupancy is projected to be below 85% within 90 days, until the cap has been filled. The updated standard will be available on MGS in early September, and RM instructions will be distributed via RM channels after August 28 to be completed by September 15. 

Operations:

  • Front desk associates should continue to accept QCC cards as a valid form of identification for reservations booked under the Explore Rate, as QCC members continue to be eligible for the Explore Rate at franchised hotels.
  • All QCC members, including new members from SPG hotels, will receive an updated QCC card. Review the QCC Job Aid for a list of acceptable cards.

Starwood Associate Relief Fund (Notable for: Owners & Franchisees of SPG Properties)

The Starwood Associate Relief Fund (SARF) is a charitable organization that was designed to provide need-based financial grants to associates who have suffered significantly as a result of a natural disaster or other emergency hardship situation.

Effective September 1, 2017, the SARF will be replaced by the TakeCare Relief Fund, which will be administered by Emergency Assistance Foundation, Inc., an independent section 501(c)(3) public charity. 

Revenue Management:

  • As part of this transition, SPG hotels must take action to change Relief Fund related Explore rate plans because the nightly donation amounts will change from US$1 (employee rate) and US$5 (friend rate) to US$3 for both rates. Revenue Management guidance was distributed Aug. 7 with an Aug. 18 due date to create new rates plans (STARHOT3 and STARFRN3). These new rate plans will continue to be available for booking separately from the Explore rate.
  • Managed by Marriott locations will be required to implement these rates plans and franchised locations will have the option to do so.
  • SPG properties must continue to honor existing reservations made under STARHOTA and STARFRNA and follow the appropriate remittance process, as outlined in the Revenue Management guidance.

Note: Upon transition to the TakeCare Relief Fund, only associates at Managed by Marriott properties will be eligible to apply for a grant. This program is currently only applicable for SPG properties; additional details will be shared for Marriott Rewards properties later this year.

For questions, contact the Take Care Relief Fund team.

Thank you in advance for your support as we implement these important changes to the benefits program. Should you have any questions, please let us know.