Marriott International last week issued an FAQ document for group intermediary partners in response to questions regarding its controversial new policies on paying third parties’ hotel room commissions on meetings business.

Announced on a small scale in August and more broadly in October, Marriott’s policy requires independent meeting management companies to be accredited by a national reporting organization in order receive commissions on meeting contracts signed after January 1, 2007, for meetings convening after June 1, 2007. (For more, click here)

On MeCo, a meetings industry listserv, some independent meeting managers are saying that their property-based Marriott contacts have told them they plan to skirt the new rule. Marriott’s Stacie Canova, director, intermediary partners, Marriott International, says they won’t allow it.

Click here to download a copy of the Marriott FAQ document.