Your post got me thinking. Marriott is being penny wise and pound foolish with their decision to limit Government rates to official business only. I'll use my own history as an example...

30+ years ago when I started traveling for the government I chose to concentrate my stays with Marriott properties largely because they consistently offered Government rates, AND because they allowed use of Government rates for leisure travel. At that time no other large hotel chain offered government rates as reliably as Marriott did (not SPG, not Hyatt, not Hilton, not IC). Other chains occasionally allowed Government rates for leisure stays, but they were harder to find. Marriott's policy always seemed to be friendly to government travelers.

I've been very loyal to Marriott in the decades since. I've spent over 1300 nights and have 14 years as Plat or higher. Marriott captured my business and my long term loyalty as a young government traveler. It clearly worked to both our benefit as my work and leisure stays were spent largely at Marriott properties.

Compare that to my stays this year since Marriott changed their policy to not allow leisure stays on Government rates: I have just 6 paid nights at Marriott properties since the April policy change. During that same time period I have 47 nights at Hilton properties. I also have just 5 nights booked with Marriott for the coming year, and 4 of those will likely be changed to a Hilton property. I have 22 nights booked with Hilton and plan to book their properties for my work trips going forward.

If I was a Government traveler getting started today I don't think I'd see Marriott as having a significant advantage over any other chain due to their Government rate policies. I certainly don't anymore.