thanks for your responses everyone. i am now back from the conference and can report that the folio for the room had my name on it, but the name of the conference listed as the rate. the actual charge for the room rate was "$0.00" each night with no taxes stated, so all that was listed were some incidentals (which i was responsible for paying). the friendly staff member at the desk took my rewards account #; her theory was that i would possibly get some points for the incidental spend, but would not get night/stay credits. so far nothing is posted in my account at all; we'll see if that changes.