I spoke with the Choice Customer Service tonight.

1. Booking was easy - just give them the date(s) and if they can find availability, you got it.

2. Preferred only provides them a certain class of room -- no suites, here. So, if they room is not available, you won't get one. However, these are not cheap properties, so it's a reasonable bet there will be at least one room open. No guarantees, though.

3. The Landmark is 40,000 points/night. The Lanesborough, for some reason, didn't show up, but that may be because I don't have 50,000 points yet.

She also mentioned that, from time to time, they run a promo whereby all Preferred Hotels go for 20,000 points per night. The last one was in February.

I'll be sure and keep my eye open for this one!