Do you know the details of the deal Marriott/UA signed? I wouldn't assume the contract signed is year-to-year.

What we are told (that it is valid until the end of the year) is not necessarily the deal that they have signed. For all we know, its a long-term deal, perhaps with an option for one of the parties to cancel out of with X months notice. Also, I know at the company I used to work for, contracts needed to be signed annually, most of which were pretty much automatically renewed, with the purpose of the annual provision being legal got a chance to read over and approve the language every year before the new one was signed.

I have no idea, maybe someone on here knows more details. I just wouldn't assume the contract is short-term.