Just thought I would share my recent experience. I have a number of old cat 5 and cat 6 certs that expire between July and August. I booked 14 nights at a cat 4 hotel on points advance. I called in and asked to use the earliest to expire cat5 certs knowing they were now cat4. I gave the expiration dates of those certs. The agent put me on hold for about 15 mins and said everything was taken care of. Indeed the reservation showed that certs were attached but only 1 cert from my account was gone. Sometimes the IT system is slow so I just went along with it. Today I login and my account is down 15k points. What the agent actually did was take an old cat 6 certs, turn that in for 75k points and then wrote up two new cat4 certs for 45k each. So basically I got an extra cert for 45k. (15k after the cat6 downgrade).

I just want to make sure I understand, in your situation, you ended up trading an OC6 + 15K bonvoy to two NC4s? I guess...you got a deal? I mean the OC6 converst to a NC4 + 30K. So in essence, they let you buy an extra NC4 for the face value of the NC4, which everyone knows is a horrible value to sell at, but that would mean awesome value to buy at...if you can use the certificate of course.
OMG...I am dreading when I need to convert my certificates.

Yes, this is exactly what happened. Both new certs are attached to the 14 day reservation too. I didn't really need it as I still have 5 additional certs. I'll have to figure out a game plan for those when time gets closer to expiration. I honestly just got the travel package for the United miles as it was better than the standard conversion rate.

This just shows ANYTHING can happen with Marriott agents, even miracles.

Haha...do you have any NC4s near where you live? At worst you can just use those packages for a "mattress run" and check in, then mobile check out from home. Or are TP nights not elite night eligible?

They count but I'm lifetime titanium so it doesn't really matter much. I do have a nice m club nearby so maybe the wife and I will just use them for free breakfast and evening snacks. 😀

Quite some people are just like you who booked some OC1-5 TPs that they do not intend to stay. Now they want to extend the TPs. But they still have to decide if you ever want to stay at those low level properties. Maybe they can have use of those in foreign countries or visit national parks.....

Have you actually checked what categories those limited service properties near national parks are? Most of them are Cat 5 or 6.

Fairfields and Springhill at Maob are Cat 6.

6 properties are at Flagstaff - 3 of them are Cat 6, 2 of them Cat 5. An Element has no cat yet but suffice to guess it would be a Cat 5.
The CY at Sedona is listed under Flagstaff - a room with balcony currently is offered at $587 before taxes for next Monday.

Some of these locations near the Southwest NPs are outrageously priced.

OTOH, Billings might be the bargain should one want to visit Yellowstone. There are some Cat 2s, Though the only property Residence Inn at West Yellowstone that is advertised to open in May, probably would be a Cat 6.

Basically all newer properties near any NPs are at ridiculously high categories. Wonder who would burn a Cat 5 or 6 at those places?

Thank you to remind me. We tried to book CY at Sedona, but it has increased from NC5 to NC6 and we could not use our Cat 1-5 (35k) reward night. So I redeemed a Hyatt Cat 1-4 (15k) reward night for an one-bedroom suite at its HRC.

Marriott has done a great job to price those properties right. All the place we want to go have category increases, such as NYC, Florida, California. Not even NPs can't escape.

Have to check out those lowly Best Western Inns.... Have plans for Zion and Yellowstone. I guess those places are as popular as Florida and Aruba.

You have an extra year from when you convert as I'm sure you know. There's also been reports of NCs been given a one year extension too so you could potentially have a lot of time to use up your certs. I've been rushing to use up all my certs not knowing whether they could be extended like the old ones but I may be able to slow down a bit now.

Another DP here of a NC being extended a year after converting from OC.

Also, I'm hoping to use my NC4 early next year in Colombia. Can I book the reservation under my name (Titanium) when my SO (Gold) will be checking in several days before I do? I would add his name as a second guest, and add a CC authorization if necessary. SO would check in on Tuesday, whereas I would check in on Friday.

Thanks for the fresh DP.

I believe you can do so with your plan. Just make sure wify's name is added and better yet, find the email address of the property and have a direct communication with them on the arrangement. such as due to work schedule you would arrive later the week, etc. They should be able to accommodate that and still extend the elite benefits to her.

Or, any agent who claims something is "impossible" is just lying to you/doesn't know how to do it.

We have done so. Hotels usually change guest name on the bill, but keep the reward # there. But they do charge the physical CCs, not the CC which made the reservation. So no need for CC authorization.

Actually, I was looking at Banff National Park and those are very expensive, even in shoulder season. Ended up using Choice Rewards.

I think National Parks are popular, just a different crowd.