So I was under the impression, that this benefit would continue in the new program. I just tried to book a hotel without having all the points I need and neither the Starwood site nor the Marriott site will let me book. I’m waiting on the transfer from diners club so I know I’ll have the points in plenty of time. But if they’re not going to let me book considering how weak the hotel options there were for that week in Paris, I think I’ll just put the cash reservation someplace else and save those points for a later trip somewhere. By the time t the points show up the only thing that could be the courtyard out by the airport. Im very disappointed that that great benefit went away. It does remove one of my incentives to stay at Marriott