Originally Posted by
beltway
I've updated post #1 to narrow the "start early" injunction to retail partners. I agree that hotel transfer rules are very stable & unlikely to change mid-GS, so there's not much reason to do them early.
I got lots of hotel transfer hits solely from Topguesting and E-Rewards transfers and I have already started accumulating for next year.
One more thing to add-refrain from using the toolbar in Sept until the GS12 has started or you will have to wait until the Oct sweep.
I normally travel in Sept because it's off-season and nice weather so I have started planning the trip to coincide with likely GS dates so hotels and cars I have to do anyways will count as hits.