This is such an interesting thread and i've really enjoyed reading all the posts.

At first, i started i was going to agree and be happy that i wasn't the only one a bit disappointed lately on the way 2009 serviced somebody like me (a 4+ year Platinum member with 140 nights/year). i've just seen the general service and perks dwindle a bit and mostly it came noticeable because i only do this grind to then get my two trips to hawaii a year. When we booked the trip this year - it cleaned out my whole account! not only did the base points increase, but to get a good room w/ a view - i needed to add extra points again. it was crazy high and very frustrating. No calls to try and throw my status around got anywhere and i got a bit upset when a last attempt for a breakfast package also got rejected.

but reading "Jon Maiman"'s post - i recall why i actually liked Marriott this year. I was on a client (and my own employer) that reached a point where two projects were going to get cut because the travel expenses were just too high. Going full no-travel just wouldn't cut it and it was costly. I explained it to marriott before going to the biz folks - and they gave me and my team a $55/rate to help offset the costs if we still locked up the next 12 weeks. And they still found other ways to get me 'bonus points' because they knew it was important. definitely not a lot - but the gesture was there.

That was a huge gesture and i'm not sure it would have happened if i wasnt a status carrying MR member.

So while it was tough for all sides of the MR chain this past year, Jon's post made me think back to the times they helped me more than frustrated me and i changed my tune.

I'll give 2010 another go.