I think Horace hit the nail on the head. Two things need to be done to fix (or at least greatly improve) the current SNA system. First, Marriott needs to incentivize the properties to make suites available (including real suites) for SNA's. I.e. significantly increase the available inventory of suites in the SNA pool. Second Marriott should extend the term a SNA is valid. Three Years would be great, as Horace requested. Even Two years would be good.

The rationale for making the SNA's valid over an extended term would be twofold from the MR member point of view. First, it makes it easier to use the SNA's when they truly have value to the member rather than just hurrying to use them up before they expire. Second, for extended aspirational leisure trips that may include multiple stays (European Tour, Asia Tour, etc,), it would enable the member to really enhance that trip.

On another thread, someone had suggested making the SNA's confirmed at booking time, or at least a subset of them. This would be a great enhancement. Even if you had to use 2 SNA's for each night confirmed at booking (e.g. "Peak SNA" award), it would be a great enhancement.

Sprinkled throughout the recent FT posts, there have been some reports of Marriott taking a more consumer (MR Member) friendly stance and somewhat better CS. Hopefully this is a trend that continues and the SNA system gets reworked. For now, I'd be happy to have my 3 expiring SNA's extended a year as a good faith measure. YMMV.....

--Jon