You can make a 7 night award reservation online, and then call Marriott and have them attach your TP certificate to that previously-booked online reservation, but (and correct me if I'm wrong) I don't think you can attach the 7 night TP to a reservation without calling in.

Correct (as I understand it). No way for the customer to attach TP certificates to a reservation on-line. You must call so they can do it at their end.

They did not release that information until July. Prior to that, Marriott Rewards reps only confirmed that the travel packages would continue to be offered but that they'd be moving to a more streamlined reward chart that included all airlines. Most people with TPs (not the last minute speculators, but those of us who already had them in our accounts) booked those TPs BEFORE that information was formally announced. We were given no notice as to what the changes would be, or how they would apply to our certs (and frankly, we still haven't received official word of what will happen to floaters). Many of us have been asking for that information repeatedly since April. One Marriott Insider escalated this question all the way to Mr. Marriott's office only to be told that they still did not know.

Bottom line, Marriott has been very cagey with their answers on the subject of travel packages since the merge was announced. You cannot claim that Marriott has done their due diligence when it comes to informing TP certificate holders. They haven't. Not at all.

We're days from the merge now and we only just were informed that:
1) Marriott is blocking our ability to change or attach certs between August 18th and September 18th, effectively locking us out from using it. (On a side note, I feel bad for those who were planning to use their certs during that window, or those whose certificates expire within that window and may not be following the merge news as closely as we are).
2) Marriott says the system will be down intermittently between August 15th and August 18th, so it's likely going to be tough to make changes now.
3) Marriott said we WILL be able to use our certs after September 18th, but has not given us any information as to what they will be valued at come September.
4) Marriott has made it clear that an official answer on a TP's post-September value won't be available to us until after August 18th.

So, effectively, we are not getting ANY notice or information that would allow us to make an informed decision as to how to use our certs, and by the time we find out, it will be too late to make any adjustments. That's a pretty bad way to handle a reward that, by sheer virtue of its cost in points, is held primarily by very loyal customers.

Hi,
I have a very basic question about Marriott Travel Packages but I haven't been able to find a precise answer. I am new to Marriott / SPG hotel loyalty programs so apologies if this has been answered elsewhere.

I wanted know whether, at present, it is possible to book a Starwood Hotel with a Travel Package or if this will only be possible after August 18th. I am aware about the ongoing big merger between Marriott and Starwood.

Also asking because I would like to book an SPG Category 7 Hotel and I am not sure whether I can use a Travel Package to book it now or need to wait til next week. Thanks.

No, it is not possible at present. Also, TP certificates cannot be attached from August 18 to September 18 and we don't know how unattached certificates will be classified in September.

Ok, thanks!

Guys Im confused and time is running out...

I have about 200K SPG points
I used one travel and points reward from Marriott last year to go to Grand Cayman Marriott - it was category 5. Great time and great deal.

I want to purchase one Marriott hotel and air package before the 18th. I dont know the exact destination we are flexible - thinking maybe Phuket or Maui? ( we have a 2 year old)

Im confused what to do. I was up till 2am last night reading and reading blogs and this thread but I seem no closer to an answer

Is my best bet to buy a current package 1-5 ? or a package 9 - hoping that it will translate to a new category 7? Also seems to be likely a category 8 witll translate to a new category 6?

Should I make some sort of booking even thought we really dont have any idea of plans at this point....too many moving parts..

Anyone who can help with some advice would be greatly appreciated...simply running out of time so I dont think I can do too much more research!

I doubt this will fly, when they're still selling TPs under the current T&Cs. At the very least, I would expect to have a 45k refund on a Cat 1-5 (future Cat 1-4) on "legacy TPs".

If you are looking at staying at a Cat9, there is no reason to buy a Cat1-5. Your best bet is to buy a Cat9 and attach it to your preferred hotel, even if you do not have fixed dates yet.
Worst case - you would end up getting treated the same as those with floater certs when you go to change the dates later on.

Second guessing on the mapping is gambling, but Dans Deals blog had a good analysis of how it 'might' play out