Originally Posted by crazygrow
Unless the hotel is completely sold or you don't have enough points, you should be able to redeem stay anytime award, which cost an additional 50% more points to book.
Sorry, but other than the attitude you suggest was there with your discussions with Marriott (which I have never encountered), Marriott has done nothing wrong. We can be very helpful on this board if you provide us with dates/locations in perhaps finding availability.
If he's coming to Bloomington for the big softball tournament, every hotel/motel room in the city will probably be booked. I don't see the chances of an award stay as very good...
The Courtyard is a decent property (one of the better hotels in Bloomington) and is walking distance to the restaurants downtown (mostly concentrated within a few block area starting ~3 blocks from the hotel).
jon