Not true. I fully intended to stay at the Hilton property when I made the award reservation. Given the high paid rates at both properties I assumed that something was going on in the area and that both places expected to be pretty full. As it turned out they both dropped their rates significantly not long before the stay. The Marriott dropped theirs first so I went with them. If the Hilton had offered the more reasonable paid rate first I would have changed the award stay to a paid stay with them. More money for them so I don't see how they could complain.

If Hilton offers me a decent value they get my business. If they put in high rates initially for a future stay and then want to charge me $50 later when they drop down to the competition's new level then they shouldn't expect me to play their game. I don't see how this $50 fee will fly if the competition doesn't charge something similar.