Originally Posted by
rny321
Perhaps you should suggest to Marriott that hotels get paid the same for no shows as they do for guests who stay with them. Although some hotels may be hoping for a windfall if someone arrives late or not at all and guests may be hoping for a full refund if they don't use a non-refundable room, having an official policy that guests paying with points lose them if they don't show and guests paying with cash are charged the same amount if they don't show as if they do seems fair to both sides. Hotels could still be free to waive penalties at their discretion as some do now, but should not be required to do so.
If you pay cash, the nightly rate is already decided, I can't see them charge you more even a no show. It's more tricky what the definition of nightly rate is when points booking is involved.
But fairness is not what Marriott's after. They are trying to dissuade use of points, or at least finding excuses to get something more out of people.