"US Government (GOV) Marriott code is the government rate requiring official federal employee credentials. Per GSA policy: "Government rates are available to federal employees who must show valid government-issued ID at check-in." This is not a negotiated corporate rate — it is a federally-contracted rate with mandatory verification requirements. Marriott properties are contractually obligated to enforce government rate eligibility. Multiple FlyerTalk users confirm: "Government rates at Marriott always require showing your government badge — no exceptions at any property type.""

"I work for a large defense contractor. We are specifically told not to bring our badges on international trips due to various concerns about showing our affiliation around foreign national and had a nasty surprise at a JW Marriott insisting that without my badge they were going to raise my rate from $200gbp to $800gbp per night. That was a pretty stressful situation. You’d think they could have validated that the hotel was booked through my corporate partner."

"My badge is definitely not from General Dynamics, but good to know. I'd rather stick with what I can proof anyway."