I think there's a bit of a slight difference. While a large convention could take up an entire city/fill up hotels, the Plat OR still usually works in that instance. But - if a hotel has given over its entire inventory to the large convention then it doesn't.

Cheers.

That's my point exactly. There are hotels in Indy offering the platinum overide. But the rates seriously exceed what I'm allowed to be reimbursed. On normal days, I have no problem getting into Courtyards and even the FS Marriott. But when these conventions come to town, Rates often go up to $229 to $289 downtown which is high for Indianapolis. (Except for Indy 500 week or when the Colts are in the playoffs) When that happens I normally move out to one of the hotels out on the 465 beltway. I'll even stay at a Fairfield. Yet this week the airport FF has a $159 rate and the airport RI is a $199 rate. Every other Fairfield and Courtyard in the outlying areas of Indy say "Unavailable" tonight. That tells me this convention of 55,000 teenagers and their chaperones have taken all the normal availability, and the rest of us, many like me who have 100+ nights are pretty much locked out of the hotels we usually count on and unless we want to pay money we cannot recoup through our travel reimbursement channels, we are out of luck. Which brings me back to my original observation. Platinum override is only a benefit when its convenient to Marriott.

but when a hotel looses control of their inventory is it realistic to expect this benefit? Many of the large conventions demand such an arrangement from all hotels within the city (controlling the hotels inventory that is)

that is correct

I'm not exactly sure how to respond other than to say if a hotel doesn't control it's inventory it's not realistic to believe they could offer the PO, I do see platinum rooms available for the dates you've requested but not at the rates you'd like to pay but they appear to be the hotel's I've check'd normal rates

Bolding mine. That's your problem, not Marriott's. I don't recall Plat OR being a we'll offer you a POR at whatever you're reimbursed policy.

Cheers.

And so are "standard" and "stay anytime" reward stays. And the entire frequent flier / stayer / traveler rewards concept.

In a word, yes.

I've never stayed in a Marriott where the government or military could legally demand (or otherwise seize) control of a hotel's inventory.

And to be very fair to Marriott here: I don't expect the Platinum Override rate to be anything other than a very high or "rack" rate. In fact, where I have seen the POR work as designed, the rates haven't been horrendous price-gouging type rates. For example, an FS Marriott that I commonly get for $199 (Seattle Waterfront) shows up at $299 or $329 for the POR. That's understandable. It's up to me whether I want to pay 50-60% above market to use the benefit.

I've sometimes used the PO and still got the corporate discount at the hotel I frequent. I think it's probably because the staff knows me by name, though... but it does show that it doesn't hurt to ask. In that case, I use the PO on-line to get the room, then call the hotel and ask if they can change the rate on my reservation.

That being said, this is the first week in a long time that I was unable to do that. I booked a room at my normal CY a bit south of Indy, but I couldn't get my corporate rate ($159, vs $85)... so I just looked elsewhere. I did find a room at the Indy South CY for this week, didn't have to use my PO, and it was their standard going rate of $119. I reserved that room about 10 days ago, so maybe I booked it before the issue the OP is facing showed up.

I've done exactly the same thing, only I did it at check in time. The front desk clerk said "Since you're a Platinum..." and adjusted the rate to my client's negotiated rate.

It won't happen all the time, though. The PO has saved my butt on several occasions - even at the rack rate.

The way I look at it, assuming the property is in a "no availability inventory" postion, it's entirely possible that accepting the POR guest's reservation could well result in someone else (who'd booked somewhat earlier )finding out they're being "walked" no matter their "guaranteed" reservation.

That has to be one of the more unpleasant tasks for front desk associates and management, not to mention the possiblity of other unpleasant repercussions.

Although they wouldn't be anyone eligible for the cash renumeration (or 2 free nights certificate) accorrded plats, still and all, it would be customary for the property to still pay for the lodging at another like property for as long as required plus transporation and incidentals so it's not beyond the realm of possibility that the a portion of the higher-than-normal rate would be considered as at least partial renumeration to the property for that expense.

Yep...makes sense to me.

It has been my observation that a "few" rooms are held in anticpation for those who would be exercising the PO. I have noticed on occasion that ostensibly sold out hotels all of a sudden are available at the last minute - even for standard award rooms.

A Plantinum (and most likely Gold) guest will not be walked. I would worry about the one who booked the $49 room on Priceline.

Just some clarification here:

I dont recall mentioning either a governmental or military takeover of a hotel, but they do have legal standing to do so, infact it has occurred very recently

Large citywide events know they are in a buyers market - they demand (and have for decades) that hotels turn over all of their inventory or they will take their event to another city - can hotels say no, absolutely they can - is it worth the risk of loosing the event, I'll defer to the specific hotels for that answer