Originally Posted by MileKing
I don't believe this change gives Golds the ability to redeem wherever and whenever they like. Blackout dates are distinctly different from capacity controls in the HHonors program. HHonors has numerous blackout dates at numerous properties throughout the year (see the HHonors website) so this does provide Golds some benefit. There is nothing that indicates Golds will be able to get an award room when all award rooms are gone or no inventory has been released.
That's the way I interpreted it: the real benefit lies in capacity controls, not the blackout dates. And I still interpret it to mean that Diamonds have the REAL benefit - no capacity controls - whereas Golds still don't.
When you think about it, "blackout dates" seem to be a red herring. If a hotel foresees enough extreme demand to call it a "blackout date", what are the odds that there would have been any regular award inventory there to begin with? I don't know...maybe I've never tried it...but I'm still assuming that this new "perk" doesn't mean that I, a Gold, am going to be able to book an award stay at the Super Bowl or Olympics anytime soon.