Originally Posted by MacDaddie

I don't have any great issue with Marriott deciding that they have to raise the rates for point redemption.
I also agree with the other posters asking for the travel package to be available for the 5 night stays since that seems to be the new standard, keeping the miles at the 1-1 ratio.

Anyways, inflation elsewhere means inflation at Marriott - no problem. But I honestly don't follow what is special about 5 night award stays. And I think you need to figure out how to make the travel package work for 5 nights. I'm not switching from Marriott, but two of the biggest "attractions" to the program were the sliding scale and the travel package. I do appreciate the move from 30 bonus points to 50 bonus points.
The only other question I have is will the change in bonus points impact the Marriott promotions that get run in 2009?

Originally Posted by GrizShel

Ira / MC thanks so much for coming into the Lion's Den and responding to our concerns one by one. I earlier suggested that the best way I could see to ease the pain of the travel package devaluation would be to at least reduce the increased point requirements and/ or to make the hotel+miles packages available for five nights as well as the current 7 nights - and it looks like from what others have said that I am not alone in that opinion.

I for one do think that the removal of capacity controls is indeed a real enhancement, and will come in handy in situations where I am looking for something during a high demand period. If I understand you correctly, the exceptions to the "if a room is available for normal booking, you can book award nights" rule will be very limited and can in any case only be implemented for a very few nights by any given property.

Please, keep coming back! (I'll send you some Maalox if you need it. )