1. Call the number on the TP page, or one of the various worldwide recommended numbers for Marriott Rewards (those can be found buried in this thread or online).
2. Given today's announcement, there is little risk to buying a TP and not attaching the certificate if you don't know where/when you are planning to use it.

The only downside risk I am taking seriously is certificates being converted to "new Cat 1-4 certificates plus 30K points/Cat above old Cat 5"; the downside being you couldn't book some higher end property that you would want given the new price structure. This isn't much of a downside: you're getting a refund of points which provides flexibility in exchange for maybe missing out on your preferred hotel. There is also the possibility that Marriott will try to map old categories to new categories and "downgrade" certificates in the middle (e.g. certs currently worth 40K/nt being worth 35K/nt in the new program), but I now very much doubt that will happen. Locking certs for a month and then devaluing them would go over badly, even though the lock is coming after the programs combine anyway.

So what's the upside? Well, now the remaining upside options are: old category = new category (a great win for probably everyone below Ritz 1-5 holders), or mapping old certs to new cats and "upgrading" certs in the middle (so those 40K/nt certs would be worth 50k/nt). Not sure which would be more likely.

I've always thought this was the most equitable approach, actually. Be interesting to see if they take it.

Received notification today that travel package is not attached--was attached in May
 

I just received an email from Marriott that I have hotel portion of a travel package
which has not been attached. They said that they will not be
redeeming packages between Aug 18 and Sept 18, so be certain
to act before August 18.

I attached that certificate in May for a late August stay. A CSR yesterday said that it was
attached when I had another question.

Has anyone else received this mysterious email?

I'm assuming that it will be points-based, but that is pure assumption. Marriott has referred to other certs as being worth a stay at a hotel up to X points/nt. when they could easily say "category X". My opinion is that Marriott will move to points from categories sooner rather than later.

Just got it about an hour ago, I am not ready to commit to a reservation with my work schedule so I am looking at option # 2. Any ideas what Marriott is up to?

FLL
We recently announced that our new loyalty program is going live on August 18, 2018 and are working hard to ensure a smooth transition for you while we bring together Marriott Rewards® and Starwood Preferred Guest®.

We noticed that you have a Travel Package certificate that you have not yet attached to a hotel reservation. Below are your options:• If you know when you want to travel, make a new reservation or attach your certificate to an existing one prior to August 18, 2018.• If you are still trying to plan that perfect trip, you can hold onto the certificate and will be able to add it to a reservation starting on September 18, 2018 under the new Travel Packages program*.
Please note that whichever option you choose, from August 18 through September 18, you will not be able to modify your certificate for an existing reservation or attach it to a new one. Please plan accordingly.View Account

I think it'd make a lot more sense to have them converting to travel packages similar to the ones they will already be selling rather than having a completely separate type of package just for the legacy certs. The new ones are pricing out within category bands and factoring in peak pricing so I'd expect these to fall within those lines otherwise they become difficult to use.

I am on hold with Marriott CSR.
She said others have called today who had
the certificate attached. Weird.

I am concerned for other travelers because of the statement precluding
attachment between Aug 18 and Sept 18. All those people
planning to book as soon as points drop on Aug 19 may
want to know about this!

Glad Marriott finally sent out some official information on the TPs. I did a Cat 1-5 redemption, but most of my travel are on Cat 7 plus hotels. Should I upgrade to a 6 and hope it maps to the new 5 (vs 4) or just upgrade to 7 now and it should map to new 5? I don't want to tie down more points to higher category since I have no plans for them right now. Thoughts?

I don't know if it is just bad luck, but the rep I was speaking to told me her supervisor stated that their system is not allowing changes to partial packages at this time. I had the codes for the different travel packages, like P870 for a Category 6 hotel package, which I provided to her. She suggested I call back in a month to change my existing packages to different categories. I am simply passing on what I was told and I plan to try again before 8/18.

I called again and the rep I spoke with told me that they had been instructed not to make category changes, but she spoke with someone who was able to make the adjustments I wanted anyway.

Oh man...so they are locking everything before the 18th already? I was hoping to still have the option to upgrade my travel package until the 18th! This puts a damper on things! Thanks for the information...

Had you previously attached this cert, extended it, or upgraded/downgraded it?

Don't let my experience discourage you from trying to make adjustments to your certificates. Even without the current changes taking place, it wouldn't be the first (or the second time), that different members got different answers to the same question.

I called again and the rep I spoke with told me that they had been instructed not to make category changes, but she spoke with someone who was able to make the adjustments I wanted anyway.

One was unmodified and one had a prior category change.