I appreciate that my views are conjecture (albeit based on common sense and what Marriott has publically said about CC certificates), but a few responses...
Originally Posted by
nexusCFX
Pretty sure this is just supporting evidence that the certs will be assigned an equivalent value in points instead of mapped to a category. Too much room to game it if they do the latter.
Exactly. Swapping un-redeemed TP certificates on 1 August for points certificates (presumably redeemable only against a single stay) is simple, easy to explain, is consistent with the approach to CC certificates, doesn't require them to "map" new tiers on to old tiers, doesn't cost them too much, doesn't irritate customers, and may even create good will. It's the only sensible solution imho.
Originally Posted by
nexusCFX
In your scenario, do you think there's any concession for people with the 7 night R-C tier 5 cert which would translate into 420k pts, but within a system where the highest category is 60k per night and fifth night is free? Technically the highest cost of a seven night redemption will be 360k points. I suppose you could book for eight nights but people have enough trouble using all seven nights on a cert as it is so I'd rather get the difference back if that's how things go down.
Interesting argument -- but given that you'd still be able to redeem for 7 nights at a Tier 5 property (with presumably better availability than now), which is what you originally purchased, I think it would be tough to argue that you're due any kind of refund. If this scenario comes to pass, I would just consider myself fortunate that I might be able to redeem for an additional night.
Originally Posted by
pinniped
The whole catch with the TP's is that it's a 7-night stay. I don't see them creating a loophole where an "old" Cat 5 TP can become a 3 night stay at a 50k/nt hotel.
Completely agree that that's the usual 'catch' with TP certificates -- and that that's the basis on which new certificates will almost certainly be sold after 1 August (at whatever new pricing they come up with, which will almost certainly be less attractive than current pricing). But we're talking about a one-time solution to bridge the gap from old MR to new MR -- I see them taking the path of least resistance.
I also don't really see this as a 'loophole' or a significant 'windfall' if this comes to pass. Marriott are effectively swapping something that's worth 150,000 points to them, for something that's worth 150,000 points to them, on a one-off one-time basis (for vouchers that by definition will expire by 31 Aug 2019 at the latest).
Originally Posted by
pinniped
They'll have to do a one-time fix on today's cat 6, 8, and 9. The logical thing is that they'd convert them down a half-step and refund some points, knowing that members can always call back in to upgrade their certs.
Or they could map them up a half-step for free, which could be really solid of them.
But I'm not expecting that.
Per the above, this is one of the many reasons why I think Marriott will convert all legacy TP certificates to points vouchers. Anything else just gets too messy. Let's not get too wrapped up in the fact that a Cat 5 voucher would map neatly onto Cat 4 -- pretty much none of the other tiers do.