I'm a new Diamond member trying to book a Preferred Hotel & Resort for the first time. I call the points redemption line, rep can't look up these properties, which is fine, so tries to connect me to the Member Services Department, but transfers me back to the main menu instead. Call back--exact same thing happens. The third time is no charm, same thing happens. And of course, Fourth time, I ask the rep to stay on the line during the transfer, he does, it transfers fine, but the Member Services rep tells me that Choice's access to the Preferred Hotels & Resorts inventory is down and might take a week to restore.

Has anyone else encountered this nonsense? Any tips for what I do next? Thanks.