My calculation is for the value these gift checks is 120 points per $1 (135,000 points per $1,000 plus additional 15,000 points back as Plat when I spent $1,000). I will use then when it make sense or I could choose to use points. Also, they make great gifts.

I did count that. Tier 4 is 20k points/night = 80k points for 5 nights.

Please don't mess with the gift cheques
 

Another Platinum Premier here kindly requesting clarification from Marriott Concierge to the discontinuation of the $1000 gift cheques for 135K points. This is how my wife gets spa treatments when we visit your nice hotels. . .


---------------------------------

Nights Stayed: 67
Bonus Nights Earned: 75
Promotional: 0
Rewards Credit Card: 24
Rewarding Events: 0
Rollover Nights: 51
Total Nights Earned this Year: 142
Total Membership Nights: 803
Balance: 1,115,138 points

A lot of organizations are moving away from paper certificates and using gift cards. It makes sense to me - easier to deal with and the value is stored in a computer system as opposed to a paper cert that can be lost. Less chance for mis handling a gift card too.

As long as the discount from 190k points to 135k points for $1000 stays intact give me the gift card all day long
J

+1

The certificates are going away at the end of the year. Several here have stated they been told by Rewards customer Service reps that this is the case and will not be replaced at the same value. Still have a few days to take advantage if you choose to.

Really Marriott?? After removing the AI packages we still can do the cheque option if we want a cheap trip but with this disappearing there is no longer and way to effective pay with points for anything other than the room itself. I'm a platinum who already left for SPG back in October when the AI packages were removed but I was still checking back here hoping they would roll out some replacement package even if at a higher cost.

I never cashed in for the cert since I thought it was use it all up or lose any left over value. A GC I can tell them how much to take from it and if the total amount I owe is less then the value of the GC then I can use whats left on another stay

The 1000 dollar award comes as 20 x 50 certs. No change given so we used them up to just less than the stay (770 stay, use 750 worth of certs) and put the rest on our credit card.

Have sent them a PM. If they do not see this thread and respond, I will post their response to me.

Who cares about loyal members?
 

Here is the response from Marriott to my request for information about these program changes:

"Thank you for contacting Marriott Rewards regarding our Elite only Marriott Gift Cheques.

It appears you are currently a Platinum Elite member. Thank you for your valued loyalty and continued patronage.

Marriott Rewards will no longer offer our Elite only Marriott Gift Cheques for point redemption or the Marriott Dinner for Two. They will be discontinued as of January 1, 2012.

Any Elite only Marriott Gift Cheques or Marriott Dinner for Two certificates ordered prior to this date will be valid for one year from the date of issue. Both of these certificates are transferrable as there is no name attached to them.

The Marriott Dinner for Two certificates will be valid at participating JW Marriott, MHRS, RHRS and International Courtyards until the final expiration date. Please see terms and conditions of certificate for non-participating restaurants and dates.

We appreciate your understanding in this matter and thank you for choosing Marriott.'


It is obvious that Marriott has no current plans to replace these benefits, and is losing touch with its most loyal members. In the past, I always received 3-6 months advance notice regarding program changes, but they are trying to sneak these in so nobody notices it until it is too late.

This royally sucks.

I'm sitting at around 70k points so I can't get the certs. I use them at the Residence Inn located in Erie, PA, that has the waterpark attached to it. I can pay for the room AND the park entry fee with the certs as it all rolls up to the room bill. Can't do that on points.

Really, really gonna miss these. Not sure I can even use points for the room and have the waterpark passes goto the room as it's a combination deal that gives a break on the waterpark passes when a room is taken.

Uggg.

What is very disconcerting is the lack of an official statement from Marriott. If not for FT I would not have known. This is just wrong.

I chickend out and ordered two sets of cheques. Still hoping that they just switch to gift cards instead of cheques comes Jan 1, 2012.

What other changes are coming?
 

Since no notice was given for the recent elimination of valued benefits/ awards, I am concerned that Marriott may also increase hotel reward requirements on 1/1. Previously, we were warned of changes to the program.