Hi, I'm looking for some advice/experience in regard to using the Passport rewards program to force availability of rooms.

I'd like to stay at the Atlanta Hyatt Regency during Labor Day weekend, it's currently sold out. I've like to arrive Thurs or Fri and leave Monday.

I've signed up for the 180-day trial of Platinum-level Passport.

I'm going to make a Hyatt stay 2 weeks from now that will generate a 1-free night reward good until Sept 30, they had Emailed me a retention deal, make a stay by May 21st, get a free night.

I've signed up for the BWB promo, selected 5k points, and will have 2 stays by the end of May, and will have 13k points at that point. The Atl Hyatt is a 12k/night redemption for a rewards stay.

If I call in early June and say that I want to redeem 2 rewards nights and force availability at the Alt Hyatt Labor Day weekend - will they do that for me? Do I need to use 15k points and force a Regency-level room?

The Atl Hyatt was recently available Labor Day weekend through a British-based room reseller website, at a really low rate, $68/night. I didn't jump on it because that reseller doesn't take AMEX, and I've had some bad experiences with intl room resellers.

You will have to pay the full rack rate if you use the guaranteed availability clause.

Full rate for 1-2 nights would be fine if I can also use the 2 free nights during the same stay - would they go for that?

Are they sold out for all of the nights? If they are, then I doubt they would allow free nights as well.

If they are just sold out on a couple of the nights then it would probably be okay to mix free (on the nights not sold out) and paid on the sold out nights.

Wrong program -- Hilton allows force awards. Marriott Plats see rooms for sale that others do not.

Hyatt is more egalitarian in this regard; however, I will take this any day when as a Diamond I can extend my free nights by up to 3 months! ^

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There is a major convention in that hotel that runs Friday through Monday and the rooms are pretty much sold out Thursday night until Monday afternoon.

Yes! I'm attending that convention ...

I think I'll breakdown and go for the bargain room resellers, maybe even that British firm and cross my fingers.

I'll also see if I can force 2 nights availability for $250/night and apply one of those AMEX $100-off two nights certificates. That's not a really great deal though. Hoping they are holding back a block of rooms that will be released sometime between now and the end of the summer, and I can grab one and use the Passport rewards I've accumulated.

I used lastminutetravel.com last year, was initially put in a decent hotel about 0.75 miles from the convention, and a week before labor Day LMT called me to say I've been bumped from that room, into a room at the Hilton that was also part of the convention - lucky break! $90/night for what other had paid $200+

I guess the lesson to learn is that if you want to stay in a specific hotel, you should always book in advance.

For me, it doesn't even show availability as a diamond guarantee and in Hyatt's T&C it says that guaranteed availability does not apply in times of high demand such as conventions so you may be out of luck. The alternative is a HP: http://duluthgwinnettmall.place.hyat...lace/index.jsp

Ok, thanks for the info. I'm going to try to get a reservation transferred from someone that booked when they were available (last October) and has since changed plans.

Otherwise, there are a lot of hotels in the neighborhood that can be had at reasonable prices.

I often book my partner's annual conference hotel about a year in advance and have always managed to beat the "official conference" rates by quite a bit because they are booked prior to the conference being loaded into the reservation system. The best deal I ever got was at the former PH SF (booked through PL in Aug for $70) for the conference in May (rates well over $300) got a suite and free breakfast as a Diamond. This coming year, in New Orleans (no Hyatt) booked the Ritz Carlton through Virtuoso back in June for ($239 - kinda pricey) while official conference rate is $249 (not much savings but we're already pre-upgraded to Club - which goes for $419).

While the hotel is nice, the area it is in has been going downhill. Also, having done this convention coming from that area, you easily miss a lot. I grew up in Atlanta, and although it is a little bit of a train ride, you might want to consider the Grand Hyatt Atlanta. It's about two blocks from the MARTA station, and the rooms were real nice about two years ago. I can recommend the regular rooms, the suites, and even the Governor's suite (there is a long story there)

Thanks for the info, I'm sure that's a nicer place and neighborhood, but I need to be walking distance from my room. Will figure something out. The past couple of years I've made 'last minute' arrangements in the June/July time frame.

The main convention hotel is now showing availability via platinum status guarantee at $299/ night . It's a 12k point property. I'm doing a few hyatt stays next week and once those points post I'll call in and see if I can book with points or If they insist on cash

I booked at the 'Guarantee Availability" Rate of $299/night. Hyatt is going to accept my $100 off 2-night stay AMEX Membership Rewards Certificate. Couldn't use that offer code, but instead put a notation in the reservation details. Happy to have this solution !