It looks like Marriott changed their ultimate reservation guarantee slightly. It used to indicate one would receive cash + points (https://web.archive.org/web/20150906...s/guarantee.mi)

The new policy (http://www.marriott.com/marriott-rew...s/guarantee.mi) indicates still cash, but now room certificates. The catch, I can't figure out what category room certificates it is for. Is it for the same hotel? Is it just for the same category as the hotel (or category 1 - to whatever category hotel that is)? Are there expiration on the certificates vs. points don't expire if you continue to earn/use.

I don't think one would end up losing too much on the change, but just interesting on perhaps why they moved to certificates now.

Another change of note on the PAG, it now specifically calls out a $10 F&B credit. In the past, it was just a F&B amenity @ JW/Marriott/Renaissance/AC

I guess they had to find a use for those certificates, now that they no longer offer them for the mega bonus.

if memory serves me correctly, before they offered points they offered 2 certs.

the prior issued certs as part of the URG were not Cat 1-4/5 as offered in prior MegaBonuses

Valid question. Perhaps PM MarriottConcierge and ask or go over to Marriott Insiders and ask there?

Cheers.

Correct. Those certs were supposed to be usable at any Marriott hotel (i.e. any category level).

I'm wondering if these are the same? And given they would be handed out a RCs as well, are the certs usable at RCs?

As an FYI, the actual terms and conditions still state points, not certificates.

Also it says some benefits are for Platinum only, but is that the points for plats only or the whole guarantee?

I posted the question to Marriott Insiders. I will post the answers I get, here, too.

Thank you! I don't have an insiders account and don't want to set one up. It would be nice to ensure we have clarification on what changes there are in the event it ever happens to us.

My only fear is that it results in a certificate only for the hotel that walks you, which honestly, that would be a devaluation as I would never want to stay at a hotel that walks me in the future or the certificate has a ton of restrictions on them that may them useless. Granted, I've only been walked once in the past three years from a Marriott, so probably doesn't happen often.

I would bet that you don't get a certificate for that hotel only. I would say it *could* be a Cat 1-X, where X is 9 or the value of the hotel. I think the point of the certificate vs. points is so that they can put an expiration date on the item.

The cert/points would be for Plats only. Up until a few years ago, the Ultimate Guarantee for Plats had the 2 Ultimate certs which were good anywhere and I do believe didn't have the same "availability" requirements as awards. Basically they were very nice and usable certs. Marriott then changed the T&Cs to offer points instead of the certs. They may well be moving back to the certs again.

And the fact that some parts of their website states points and others say certs is par for the course. Almost any time they have made these types of changes, they weren't able to update everything on their website initially. It usually takes them a bit of time (i.e. months or longer.)

The old certs were very usable. Much better than points.

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yes, the certs were/are usable, except the points were deposited into ones accrual towards LTS/G/P and could easily be used towards TPs.

I do believe that back when the certs were supposed to be given, some here stated they were able to "negotiate" points instead. I do believe those certs were expensive and the points were less so.

expensive to the property but not to the walked guest

so, would you prefer the 2 certs (if again valid to Cat 9) like dayone or the 90k points?