An American woman pretended to be the sister of a Marriott employee to obtain discounted hotel stays in Singapore, including 14 nights at Sheraton Towers Singapore.
Kao Jane Zhao, 41, pleaded guilty to one cheating charge on Friday, 4 September. The charge involved more than S$1,500 in discounts she received at Sheraton Towers.
Eight other charges, including those involving the remainder of nearly S$3,400 in discounts she obtained, will be taken into consideration when she is sentenced in October.
She has made full restitution.
Bought Marriott Explore Membership Online for US$300
The court heard that Kao was in the United States in 2024 when she found someone selling a Marriott Explore membership on classifieds website Craigslist.
She paid the unknown seller US$300, or about S$380.
The seller provided an Explore programme authorisation form identifying Kao as the sister of a Marriott associate named Michael Melendez.
Kao knew that this information was false, according to the prosecution.
The discounted rate she subsequently used was available to eligible people under Marriott's Explore programme, which offers special travel rates to associates and qualifying family members.
Marriott's current website says eligible associates and immediate family members can use its Explore programme. The company has since introduced digital eligibility verification through the Marriott Bonvoy app.
Stayed at Sheraton Towers for 14 Nights
Kao checked into Sheraton Towers Singapore on 8 September 2024 and presented the authorisation form to the hotel's front desk.
By doing so, she falsely represented herself as Melendez's sister and received a discounted room rate.
Her first booking was for five nights. She later extended the stay four times, adding another five nights in total before checking out on 18 September.
Five days later, she returned to Sheraton Towers and stayed for another four nights at the discounted rate.
That brought her stays covered by the charge to 14 nights, with the discounts exceeding S$1,500.
Hotel Manager Checked the Form With Marriott Staff in US
It was during Kao's final stay that a hotel manager decided to verify the authorisation form with Marriott personnel in the US.
The check revealed that Kao was not Melendez's sister.
The hotel then contacted the police, and Kao was arrested.
Across the case, she obtained nearly S$3,400 worth of discounts. She pleaded guilty to the cheating charge involving the Sheraton Towers stays, while eight other charges will be considered during sentencing.
Her lawyer, Gino Hardial Singh from Abbots Chambers, asked the court on 4 September to impose a fine of no more than S$5,000, arguing that the offence resulted from poor judgment.
Under Singapore law, a person convicted of cheating can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.
Kao is due to be sentenced in October.
