Ko Olina unlimited drink mug

scpoidog · May 5, 2015

I just checked into Ko Olina on Sunday and was told that they no longer offer the free unlimited soda/coffee mugs to Marriott Rewards platinum members. I asked two different front desk people who couldn't tell me when they discontinued this giveaway, but I got one last April.

Has this happened to anyone else? I did get the standard 500 MR points.

SueDonJ · May 5, 2015

scpoidog said:
I just checked into Ko Olina on Sunday and was told that they no longer offer the free unlimited soda/coffee mugs to Marriott Rewards platinum members. I asked two different front desk people who couldn't tell me when they discontinued this giveaway, but I got one last April.

Has this happened to anyone else? I did get the standard 500 MR points.

I'm sad to hear this, was hoping that the few Hawaii resorts' practice of offering something other than the standard 500MRP as a Plat Arrival Gift would become a trend at the other resorts. Maybe somebody can report if there's also been a change at Maui Ocean Club?

spaulino · May 5, 2015

scpoidog said:
I just checked into Ko Olina on Sunday and was told that they no longer offer the free unlimited soda/coffee mugs to Marriott Rewards platinum members. I asked two different front desk people who couldn't tell me when they discontinued this giveaway, but I got one last April.

Has this happened to anyone else? I did get the standard 500 MR points.

awww.. that just sucks! I didn't even know owners used to get this for FREE... We've stayed there but not as owners and I used to buy it for my kids downstairs at the market as they are worth it especially if you're staying for a few days.. I'm in the process of purchasing Ko'Olina now and bummed to hear that they used to have it for FREE for owners and now they dont.. darn!

Sherill

SueDonJ · May 5, 2015

spaulino said:
awww.. that just sucks! I didn't even know owners used to get this for FREE... We've stayed there but not as owners and I used to buy it for my kids downstairs at the market as they are worth it especially if you're staying for a few days.. I'm in the process of purchasing Ko'Olina now and bummed to hear that they used to have it for FREE for owners and now they dont.. darn!

Sherill

It's not an ownership perk; it's a perk of being Platinum status in the Marriott Rewards Program. Their guaranteed Arrival Gifts are usually 500MRP at the MVCI resorts but several years ago Ko 'Olina and MOC had expanded their offers to a list of choices that included the 500MRP or a Free Re-fillable Mug or something else.

spaulino · May 5, 2015

SueDonJ said:
It's not an ownership perk; it's a perk of being Platinum status in the Marriott Rewards Program. Their guaranteed Arrival Gifts are usually 500MRP at the MVCI resorts but several years ago Ko 'Olina and MOC had expanded their offers to a list of choices that included the 500MRP or a Free Re-fillable Mug or something else.

Oh ok.. Thanks SueDonJ...
Then I dont feel so bummed then cuz I'm not a platinum status in Marriotts Rewards Program... I guess I have to just keep buying them downstairs.. haha

scpoidog · May 5, 2015

I'll ask again when I sit through the presentation. But they'll probably tell me to ask the front desk who will then tell me the same thing.

Anyone have any questions they need answers to ?

frank808 · May 5, 2015

scpoidog said:
I just checked into Ko Olina on Sunday and was told that they no longer offer the free unlimited soda/coffee mugs to Marriott Rewards platinum members. I asked two different front desk people who couldn't tell me when they discontinued this giveaway, but I got one last April.

Has this happened to anyone else? I did get the standard 500 MR points.

They stopped giving the mugs to platinum members sometime last year around august I believe. I asked about them and they said that it was costing to much. You now have as a platinum arrival gift of 500 MR points just like every other marriott. If you have any other questions just ask away as MKO is like a second home to me.

LAX Mom · May 5, 2015

My experience matches what frank808 posted:

I stayed there in March 2014 and received the soda mug as a welcome gift for my Marriott Rewards platinum status.

Stayed there in October 2014 and was told the free mugs for platinum members had been discontinued.

Another stay in April 2015....no mug offered, received 500 MR points.

No complaints from me. I'm drinking a lot less diet Coke/ diet Pepsi! I'd prefer to pick up beverages at the grocery stores in Kapolei and have them cold in my refrigerator.

TheTimeTraveler · May 6, 2015

Are the mugs still available if you want to spend money to buy them?

At Ocean Pointe you can purchase them for around $19.95 and have unlimited refills anywhere on the property. Likely not worth it for a one week stay, but more worth it if staying two weeks or longer.

When I was at Ocean Pointe in March 2015 they had run out of the actual 2015 Resort labeled cup and were using a generic tall plastic cup in lieu of. This leads me to believe that they may in fact be slowly phasing them out at some point.

.

dualrated2 · May 6, 2015

TheTimeTraveler said:
Are the mugs still available if you want to spend money to buy them?

At Ocean Pointe you can purchase them for around $19.95 and have unlimited refills anywhere on the property. Likely not worth it for a one week stay, but more worth it if staying two weeks or longer.

When I was at Ocean Pointe in March 2015 they had run out of the actual 2015 Resort labeled cup and were using a generic tall plastic cup in lieu of. This leads me to believe that they may in fact be slowly phasing them out at some point.

.

They are available for purchase at around $34.95 which is why so many took them ILO of 500 points at checkin.

MichaelColey · May 6, 2015

I'm Platinum and I checked in yesterday, too. Got the 500 points, but that was it. (I wasn't expecting anything else.)

FWIW, they do have free coffee (K-cups) in the lobby.

frank808 · May 6, 2015

What tower you are you in? Im in moana this week and move to naia this friday. Drinks and chat?

scpoidog · May 7, 2015

frank808 said:
What tower you are you in? Im in moana this week and move to naia this friday. Drinks and chat?

I'm in Na'ia and will be here through wed afternoon.

frank808 · May 7, 2015

scpoidog said:
I'm in Na'ia and will be here through wed afternoon.

Sent you a pm. Anyone else at mko want to do a meet n greet?

GreenTea · May 7, 2015

Costing too much.....hrumpf. Those 2 cents worth of water & syrup were killing 'em.

SMHarman · May 7, 2015

GreenTea said:
Costing too much.....hrumpf. Those 2 cents worth of water & syrup were killing 'em.

It's not the 2c. It's the foregone $2 sale that is costing them.

dannybaker · May 9, 2015

No big lose

Just another change to allow for a little more profit. As we all know the benefits of being a platinum member are decreasing. I honestly love Ko Olina with or without the mug. We usually buy drinks at Costco. The new management seem to be pretty awesome, let them know if you are un-happy. :banana:

larryallen · May 9, 2015

dannybaker said:
Just another change to allow for a little more profit. As we all know the benefits of being a platinum member are decreasing. I honestly love Ko Olina with or without the mug. We usually buy drinks at Costco. The new management seem to be pretty awesome, let them know if you are un-happy.

It's too easy to attain plat so they have to limit what they give. 500 points is worth under 5 bucks!

AlmostRetired · May 10, 2015

Getting elite night credit, arrival points and a small gift was never a benefit when I first purchased my timeshare in 95. That changed a few years ago though I do not remember the year. The elite night credit is a big deal when you factor in ownership, II non Marriott to Marriott and getaways.

Gold and Platinum on the hotel side (free upgrade and breakfast) are the main benefits of the MR program. The number of extra MR points for each dollars spent is a nice extra as is the use of the Visa rewards Card. The 500 points and arrival gift (it use to be one or the other) was never a bid deal.

With the split of MVCI from Hotels, I will be happy if the only change is the arrival gift. They could go back to the timeshare to MR points exchange as the only linkage with no elite night credit.

I do not know how Platinum stacks up to the equivalent in other hotel chains. I know that the MR program in general was and will continue to be devalued over time with the increase in hotel levels. To me, the upgrade and breakfast are nice features of the program (gold and platinum ). Any benefit to timeshare ownership is a gain as long as it adds nights to get someone there.

MichaelColey · May 10, 2015

All hotel loyalty programs are being watered down. Starwood is generally considerd the best (if you can afford their hotel prices and they have locations where you travel -- neither is usually the case for me). Hilton is my favorite, mainly because there's a Hilton Garden Inn just about everywhere I travel, and they give elites a free cooked to order breakfast. Marriott is next for me, primarily because timeshare stays count. Earning 15+ nights with their credit card and usually 35+ nights a year through timeshare stays, it's easy for me to reach Platinum status. Neither offers a lot for elite members, but you usually get special treatment.

scpoidog · May 11, 2015

Mug over elite nights

l0410z said:
Getting elite night credit, arrival points and a small gift was never a benefit when I first purchased my timeshare in 95. That changed a few years ago though I do not remember the year. The elite night credit is a big deal when you factor in ownership, II non Marriott to Marriott and getaways.

Gold and Platinum on the hotel side (free upgrade and breakfast) are the main benefits of the MR program. The number of extra MR points for each dollars spent is a nice extra as is the use of the Visa rewards Card. The 500 points and arrival gift (it use to be one or the other) was never a bid deal.

With the split of MVCI from Hotels, I will be happy if the only change is the arrival gift. They could go back to the timeshare to MR points exchange as the only linkage with no elite night credit.

I do not know how Platinum stacks up to the equivalent in other hotel chains. I know that the MR program in general was and will continue to be devalued over time with the increase in hotel levels. To me, the upgrade and breakfast are nice features of the program (gold and platinum ). Any benefit to timeshare ownership is a gain as long as it adds nights to get someone there.

I think I'm I the opposite situation than some of you. I only have one timeshare, but am lifetime platinum, so the elite nights don't have any value to me, but the unlimited drink mug would be worth something to me.

I realize that it's much more difficult to get 7 elite nights than a $2 plastic mug that they charge $35 for, but everybody's situation is different.

SueDonJ · May 11, 2015

scpoidog said:
I think I'm I the opposite situation than some of you. I only have one timeshare, but am lifetime platinum, so the elite nights don't have any value to me, but the unlimited drink mug would be worth something to me.

I realize that it's much more difficult to get 7 elite nights than a $2 plastic mug that they charge $35 for, but everybody's situation is different.

I think you're confusing two separate things. Elite Night credits are given to every Marriott Rewards member for all eligible Marriott stays; the Arrival Gift is a benefit for only Platinum MR members. This thread is about how MKO has stopped offering a re-fillable mug or anything other than 500MRP as an Arrival Gift. As a Lifetime Plat you should be getting the Elite Nights AND the 500MRP Arrival Gift.

MichaelColey · May 11, 2015

I think he got that, but was just disappointed that the elite night credits (one of the perks for many of us) do him no good since he's lifetime Platinum.

SueDonJ · May 11, 2015

MichaelColey said:
I think he got that, but was just disappointed that the elite night credits (one of the perks for many of us) do him no good since he's lifetime Platinum.

Most likely I'm confused but it's the "much more difficult to get 7 Elite Nights ..." that's throwing me off. It's not difficult to get the Nights if you're eligible. :shrug:

AlmostRetired · May 11, 2015

scpoidog said:
I think I'm I the opposite situation than some of you. I only have one timeshare, but am lifetime platinum, so the elite nights don't have any value to me, but the unlimited drink mug would be worth something to me.

I realize that it's much more difficult to get 7 elite nights than a $2 plastic mug that they charge $35 for, but everybody's situation is different.

I agree that every situation if different and no one like a benefit taken away. I stay at Marriott hotels at least as much as timeshares. The room upgrade and concierge lounge access (or free weekend breakfast) is the benefit for Platinum membership (to me). Any timeshare benefit is a recent addition and the timeshare/hotel breakup can make that short lived.

I would bet that a call to the platinum desk might result in a 35 credit to you account. Worth a try.

Ko Olina unlimited drink mug

scpoidog

SueDonJ

spaulino

SueDonJ

spaulino

scpoidog

frank808

LAX Mom

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

TheTimeTraveler

dualrated2

MichaelColey

TUG Review Crew: Expert

frank808

scpoidog

frank808

GreenTea

SMHarman

dannybaker

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

larryallen

AlmostRetired

MichaelColey

TUG Review Crew: Expert

scpoidog

SueDonJ

MichaelColey

TUG Review Crew: Expert

SueDonJ

AlmostRetired