Guaranteed availability is useless
 

GP Platinum tried to book the Orlando Grand Cypress on Feb. 6. Online: hotel sold out. Called: sorry, it's "too full."

What use is "guaranteed availability" if it doesn't get you a room when you need it?

It's not available at resorts. Works great otherwise. Read the fine print.

Well, don't I feel dumb now?

Marketing tool, since even "regular" properties are entitled to two periods a year to opt out of the guaranteed availability (which they would if they are sure that they would indeed sellout). Could be useful for "regular" busy periods.

It may not always be of use, but I did appreciate this benefit the one time I used it. As a Diamond I was able to book HR Kyoto on a sold out holiday weekend, admittedly at a high rate.

its happened to all of us ;)

Agreed, the only times I would ever pay the "guaranteed availability" price likely coincide with those times that the hotel is not required to honor it. It's a specious benefit, one that sounds far more useful than it is ever likely to be.

It's good for making a long-lead time reservation in hotels that have a lot of rooms blocked off for groups that haven't filled them yet

When the hotel is actually full (and/or one of the opt out periods) can't get in -- I wouldn't expect to be able to book a room at HR New Orleans this upcoming week