"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 have seen many of my corporate rates with 6:00 same day cancellation. If someone were ineligible for that rate and asked for ID at checkin, I guess they could say I have some business cards in the car and then go and cancel the reservation before the agent changes the details."

"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."