SINGAPORE— An American woman has pleaded guilty after falsely claiming to be the sister of a Marriott associate to secure discounted hotel stays in Singapore, obtaining nearly S$3,400 in savings through the scheme.
Kao Jane Zhao, 41, used a Marriott Explore membership bought online to access preferential room rates at Sheraton Towers Singapore.
She received more than S$1,500 in discounts linked to the charge she admitted to, while eight other charges will be considered when she is sentenced in October.
Marriott Discount Scheme
The case began in 2024 when Zhao was in the United States and purchased an Explore membership from an unknown seller on Craigslist for US$300, or about S$380.
According to prosecutors, Zhao knew the seller had falsely identified her in the Explore by Marriott Bonvoy Program Authorisation Form as the sister of Michael Melendez, a Marriott associate. She also understood that the discounted rates were intended for Marriott associates and eligible family members.
The programme allowed qualifying users to obtain reduced room rates at participating Marriott properties worldwide. Zhao nevertheless used the documentation despite knowing that she was not related to Melendez.
14 Nights at Hotel
Zhao first checked into Sheraton Towers Singapore on September 8, 2024, presenting the authorisation form at the front desk and representing herself as Melendez’s sister.
She initially stayed for five nights and subsequently extended the booking several times at the discounted rate. After checking out on September 18, she returned five days later for another four-night stay.
Across the stays covered by the charge, she spent 14 nights at the Singapore hotel and received more than S$1,500 in discounted rates. Her total benefit from the wider scheme was nearly S$3,400, according to court proceedings.
Marriott Form Exposed
The false claim was eventually discovered when a hotel manager sought to verify Zhao’s authorisation form with Marriott counterparts in the United States.
The verification established that Zhao was not Melendez’s sister, prompting the hotel to alert Singapore police. She was subsequently arrested.
Zhao has since made full restitution. Her lawyer, Gino Hardial Singh of Abbots Chambers, asked the court for a fine of no more than S$5,000, arguing that the conduct resulted from poor judgment, the Straits Times claimed.
She pleaded guilty to one cheating charge on September 4, 2026, while eight additional charges will be taken into consideration during sentencing. Under Singapore law, cheating can carry a sentence of up to three years in prison, a fine, or both.
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