First of all, Bloomington, IN sounds a bit like several of the college towns in the Midwest in terms of its hotel market. We're talking Courtyards and HGI's at the high end, with lots of Best Westerns, Ramadas, Super 8's, etc. Or perhaps a couple of non-major-chain hotels that are nice, with all of the 2.5* chain hotels filling out the market. Having stayed in Columbia, Champaign, South Bend, Peoria, West Lafayette, and Iowa City in the past, this sounds totally familiar.

The catch is this: 90% of the time, these hotels are low-yield as compared to the average Courtyard, HGI, etc. nationally. Then, 10% of the time, the entire city is overwhelmed with travelers for a major event, so they are going to jam you up while they can. So forget about using points and, in general, forget about expecting any type of "favors" or other nice treatment from the hotels. I recall staying in West Lafayette at some dumpy motel down the street from the football stadium and paying $100 per night - cash only. This was a place that had a "$24.99!" sign on the lawn and usually took MC/Visa. But for a football weekend, the proprietor jacked rates 4x and probably decided to cut the State of Indiana and the IRS out of the loop.

So don't expect to use points. In fact, don't get your hopes up on a Stay Anytime award. It would not surprise me if they somehow blocked the use of those awards.

In general, I can't bring myself to pay $200-300/nt. for a hotel in a Midwest college town. If I'm going to a football game or whatever, I either find a 2* fleabag that isn't marking up rates, or I find a small town 30-45 minutes away and stay in a decent hotel there. I hate feeling like I'm getting gouged.

Hopefully your group block was booked at a rate that isn't a thorough shafting. Either decide to pay that rate, or succumb to a bit of a drive from a neighboring town to get to your softball games. Your Marriott points will pay off later when you do a stay more suitable for their use. You mentioned Hawaii: I've always found fair availability for Marriott hotels there, and have done 2 weeklong award stays using points on different islands.

Welcome to FT, by the way...