Its promotions - large and small - which essentially counterpoint those folks who complain about "devaluation" in benefits.

Tomorrow night - and over the course of the next several months - I will be using hundred dollar bonus bucks on a succession of two night stays. Many of these nights coincide with the mega bonus and weekend break rates. The thousand dollars in bonus bucks, essentially, translate into 15,000 free points along with platinum check in points and the fifty percent bonus on revenue spent.

On January 1, I stayed at a full service Renaissance which, for $149, not only gave me credit for $20 against food/beverages, but also gave me 5,000 bonus points on top of the platinum 500 point bonus. Needless to say, I've scheduled several more nights for this special bonus. And, my, how the points add up.

I assume that, in bonus points alone, I earn enough to get well over a week at a level 6 or 7 property. Give up these promotions, and I'm sure that Marriott and other companies would be happy to roll back exchange levels. I enjoy the promotions. At the end of the day, at least so far, I believe that all things more than balance out.