FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,048
As everybody complains about this, take a second to think about Marriott, Hilton and IHG, where you don't have this annual event because points prices are increased on a daily basis.
Make your bookings as needed under the current categories, then get back to looking for sweetspots in the last major category-based hotel program...