Tulane staff traveling to Detroit for conferences, recruitment events, or partnership meetings with the Big Three automakers can cut lodging costs significantly with corporate code T72. The Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center sits right on the riverfront, which means you're steps from the Cobo Center (now Huntington Place) where many academic and industry conferences are held. At roughly $45 saved per night before points value, a three-night trip puts nearly $136 back in your department's travel budget.
The Property
The Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center is a 73-story tower located inside the GM Renaissance Center complex, directly on the Detroit River with views into Windsor, Canada. The hotel connects to the People Mover station, giving you a quick loop to Greektown, the financial district, and Huntington Place without needing a car. From Detroit Metro Airport (DTW), expect about a 23-minute drive covering roughly 34 kilometers, with rideshares typically running $30 to $40.
Rooms at this full-service Marriott start around 400 square feet, with floor-to-ceiling windows that make even standard rooms feel larger than they are, especially on higher floors facing the river. Each room includes a proper work desk with an ergonomic chair, multiple power outlets, and complimentary Wi-Fi for Marriott Bonvoy members. Suites and concierge-level rooms are available if your travel budget allows, adding lounge access with evening appetizers and breakfast.
The hotel has an indoor pool and a sizable fitness center, both useful for burning off steam after a long day of meetings. On-site dining includes a full-service restaurant, a grab-and-go market, and a lobby lounge bar, though breakfast is not complimentary with a standard booking unless you hold Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status or above. The Renaissance Center itself houses dozens of shops and restaurants connected to the hotel by indoor walkways, so you can eat and shop without stepping outside in January.
Huntington Place (the convention center) is a 10-minute walk or one People Mover stop away, making this the default hotel for Detroit conference attendees. The financial district and Campus Martius Park are about a 15-minute walk north, with solid lunch spots like Dime Store and Townhouse clustered nearby. For evening dinners, Greektown is two People Mover stops away and has a good mix of restaurants ranging from casual to upscale.
Your Savings Breakdown
| Rate Tier | Rack Rate | Corporate Rate | Points Earned | Point Value | Net Cost | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $130 | $111 | 1,110 pts | $8.88 | $102.12 | $27.88 |
| Superior | $210 | $179 | 1,790 pts | $14.32 | $164.68 | $45.32 |
| Premium | $340 | $289 | 2,890 pts | $23.12 | $265.88 | $74.12 |
A typical room here runs about $210 at the public rate, but entering code T72 at checkout drops that to around $179 per night. You'll earn 1,790 Marriott Bonvoy points on that stay, worth roughly $14.32 at standard redemption value, which brings your effective net cost down to about $164.68. That's a real savings of $45.32 per night, money that adds up fast on a multi-night trip.
How to Book with Code T72
- Go to marriottbonvoy.com and log into your Marriott Bonvoy account, or create one if you haven't already.
- Enter Detroit, MI as your destination along with your check-in and check-out dates.
- Click on 'Special Rates' and find the Corporate/Promo code field.
- Enter T72 in the corporate code field and search for rates.
- Confirm the corporate rate is showing a lower price than the standard flexible rate, then complete your booking.
Stack Your Savings
If you hold Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status (which comes automatically with the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Business card), you'll get a 25% bonus on points earned, bumping your 1,790 points up to about 2,238. Platinum Elite members get complimentary breakfast, lounge access, and room upgrades when available, all layered on top of the T72 corporate rate without conflict. These elite perks apply to corporate rate bookings just as they do to standard rates, so there's no tradeoff.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa earns 6x points per dollar at Marriott properties, meaning your $179 night also generates 1,074 credit card points on top of the 1,790 hotel points. The Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant earns 6x as well, with an added $25 monthly dining credit that works at on-site hotel restaurants. If you carry a general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you'll only earn 2x, so switching to a co-branded Marriott card for hotel charges makes a measurable difference.
Marriott frequently runs quarterly promotions like 'Stay Two, Get a Free Night' or double-point bonuses that stack with corporate codes, so check the Bonvoy promotions page and register before each trip. Booking midweek (Tuesday through Thursday) in Detroit generally yields better corporate rate availability than weekends, especially during auto show season in January. If your dates are flexible, shoulder months like March or November often have lower base rates, meaning the T72 discount starts from an already lower price.
Bottom Line: Depending on room type and season, Tulane University employees using code T72 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center can expect to save between $27.88 and $74.12 per night after factoring in points earned. The hotel's location inside the Renaissance Center, its direct connection to the People Mover, and its proximity to the convention center make it the most practical choice for business travel in downtown Detroit. It's the kind of property where the corporate rate and the location both work in your favor.