Credit Card Revenue Protection Update: Payment Validation at Time of Booking

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As communicated in July, as part of a larger Credit Card Revenue Protection initiative, Marriott has implemented a Payment Validation at Time of Booking policy (formerly referred to as Zero Dollar Authorization) to address the negative revenue implications associated with Guaranteed No-Shows (GNS) and Late Cancellations. This initiative was launched in August to all Marriott Rewards hotels in the U.S. and Canada that use credit card services through Chase.

Payment Validation at Time of Booking increases credit card accuracy by checking credit card validity at the time a guest makes a reservation within Marriott.com or the Marriott Mobile App. Both MMF and MMP reservations are included.

Since launch, approximately 12% of qualifying reservations* have been declined due to an invalid or inactive credit card. The Marriott App is currently utilizing this new functionality 100% of the time, as is Marriott.com. SPG hotels are not currently in scope, but will be assessed at a future date.

Also related to the Credit Card Revenue Protection initiative are plans to add a checkbox which requires a guest to acknowledge cancelation policy before a booking is completed.  This is expected to be available by the end of Q1 2018. This additional step should further reiterate the property’s cancellation policy and serve as even further justification with chargeback disputes.

For any chargeback related assistance, issues or questions, please refer to the following support:

• Franchise: Dial 1-866-722-0346, which is Chase’s Marriott-dedicated support line.
• Managed by Marriott: contact Terry Shaw at shaw@chase.com or 813-302-4672.

We will continue to monitor and share progress to these changes as well as other credit card solutions currently being evaluated—including EMV (Europay, MasterCard and VISA). We thank you for your continued support.

 

* Qualifying reservations are defined as follows:

	4+ nights from stay	<4 nights from stay
Marriott.com	All reservations	All except Elite
Marriott Mobile App	All reservations	All reservations