I am going to redeem Cat 9 travel package in the near future and I would think I should able to use on the new Cat 7 hotels from 8/1-12/31 chart. Perhaps if they are going to the points value based, it will be reduced to 5 nights. Still I think it will be great opportunity to stay at SPG's top properties for at least 5 nights. I wouldn't wait until 8/1 to redeem as I am sure Marriott will put some restrictions before then.

If the same logic is applied to Travel Packages, this could present some quite interesting opportunities to redeem a 7-night certificate for a non-7 night stay. E.g. suppose you have a Cat 1-5 Voucher sitting in your account at 1 August. This would presumably be converted into a 150,000 Point certificate (6 nts x 25,000, taking into account the 5th night free). This could then be used (for example) for a 3 night stay at a new Category 6.

I suspect that this will only be possible for pre-August certificates that are not redeemed by 1 August. I fully expect Travel Packages sold after 1 August to be based on the new Category bands.

Given the approach to CC free night vouchers, I suspect they'll just convert 7-night vouchers into Points Vouchers, i.e.

Cat 1-5 > 150,000 Point Voucher
Cat 6 > 180,000 Point Voucher
Cat 7 > 210,000 Point Voucher
Cat 8 > 240,000 Point Voucher
Cat 9 > 270,000 Point Voucher
Tier 1-3 > 300,000 Point Voucher
Tier 4-5 > 420,000 Point Voucher

That's simple, fair, and allows people to put the points towards whatever they want after 1 August. It also saves Marriott having to awkwardly compare legacy Categories to current Categories.

Per my previous post, I suspect this will be a one-off opportunity for legacy Travel Package certificates that are outstanding at 1 August, and that new packages sold post 1 August will be based on the new tiers (but that's just a hunch).

This would seem like a massive windfall versus the new points regime. I am highly skeptical they will be so generous... if you were redeeming at max points that would result in e.g. 132,000 UA miles at a net cost of 120k MR points

That's a fair challenge. Still, it's the only solution I can think of that's (i) consistent with the limited information provided by Marriott (and the approach to Credit Card certificates), and (ii) semi-logical. I can imagine Marriott taking a hit on outstanding (time limited) certificates on a one-off basis to smooth the transition.

It may not be as generous as you think. Voucher has some restrictions attached, like single stay, valid date. For example, 1-5 cert for 150k. If your time is restricted, you may be able to get cat-5 3 nights only (peak 40k*3) or just six nights cat-4 (peak 30k*5 + 5th night free). They will not refund the un-used portion.

Indeed. And you can also take the view that the "generosity" here is simply the generosity of the Travel Package (as sold at current prices) in the first instance. Under the current rules, Marriott will effectively sell you 120,000 miles for 120,000 MP if, at the same time, you agree to redeem 150,000 MP for 7 nts at a Cat 5 Marriott hotel. I don't see how the value proposition changes if the 150,000 MP redemption is swapped out for a 150,000 MP voucher that can only be spent at Marriott properties.

Atlantas Bahamas: Does not accept travel packages??
 

I called Marriott to use the hotel certificate from my travel package for the Atlanta in the Bahamas.The representative called the Atlantas to try to arrange this and was told they do not accept travel packages.
I was not aware that Marriott Hotels could opt out from accepting Travel packages and I was counting on using the certificate for this hotel.
Has anyone else had this experience with the Atlantas (or at other Marriott properties?)
Anything that can be done?

Can anyone get through by calling?
 

wrong thread

My guess it that you are correct about the number of points, but that there will still be a 7-night stay requirement. After all, consider how tenaciously Marriott hung onto the 7-night requirement when folks were trying to get in on the 5-nights for timeshare owners deal. I don't think you'll be able to use your 7-night@25k certificate as 3 nights at a 50k per night property. I expect that if you want to use your converted Category 1-5 Travel Package certificate at a 50k per night property, you'll be asked to pay an additional 150k points to upgrade the certificate (and it will be for 7 nights at the 50k per night property, with the 5th night free). That's how it worked in the old system, and there's nothing in the new system that prevents this.

I would try calling again. I just booked a 5 night TP for The Cove in March. It took about 35 minutes with MR to get my certificate processed.

I wish this were the case, but I highly doubt that the Cat 9 cert that lets you book 45,000/night hotels will become valid for 60,000/night hotels under the new chart. Category 6 would already be 50,000/night hotels and that's probably where it will sit. There's obviously a lot of gray area here, but Tier 1-3 certs can be used for hotels up to 50,000 pts/night currently. It's hard to imagine those can be used for Cat 7 properties Aug-Dec but I think those would be the most likely to get bumped to be Cat 7 certs under the new chart and could represent an opportunity to level up there. If Cat 9 converted to Cat 7 then you'd presumably have Cat 9, plus all Ritz packages moving into Cat 7 packages and that doesn't make sense.

What would be the recommendation on buying TP if you have enough points? Buy or no buy before Aug1st.. If Buy, which cat one?

I'll buy it just for airline miles. I value point's at 0.8 and my specific airline at 1.5. In this case, i'll break even as long as 7 night cat-5 worth $360 after 8/1

I don't think that's how it will be interpreted. They won't be giving points towards a stay, rather defining the eligible property by points cost instead of category.