There are no SPG hotels in Corpus Christi, TX (where I live), Terre Haute, IN, Victorville CA, Reno NV, where I work, but that does not stop me from being an SPG PLAT. There are also no Hyatts, with the exception of a brand new Hyatt Place in Reno, but that does not stop me from being a Hyatt Diamond. In all these places there are nothing but smaller Hiltons (Hampton Inn, HGIs and Homewood Suites) or smaller Marriotts (Residence Inns, Fairfield Inns, Summerfiled Suites and an occasional Courtyard). So choose hotels that fit your travel schedule and choose accordingly, but do not deride a program on the fact that they do not have properties where you travel to. Looking at hotels available in Spokane, the best Marriott property is a Courtyard while if you want a full service, major chain hotel, the only choice is a Hilton - Doubletree. So explain to me the "manure" statement. I am basing my dislike of Marriott Rewards on the treatment that I have received at both full service and limited service hotels as Gold compared with the treatment I have received at all other chains and also with the availability of rewards based upon my chosen travel dates and not those imposed by the program. As stated before, I was trying to cash some of my points for a summer vacation. Marriott had nothing available even though they have no blackout dates, while SPG, Hilton and Hyatt had multiple options.