I've been looking to burn some points for Colorado skiing and some spring break in HI, and I'm not seeing the type of inventory that I have in past years? I can paying rooms available, but not getting offers for rooms based on points. If I call in can I get them to open some inventory? I understand that the want to restrict points for rooms, but with the snow pack being bad this year in Colorado, I'm surprised that they would be this busy, especially with CA getting legal pot too.

Call whom? Marriott: Zero chance. The hotel: If it will make you feel better reach out to them, but really, if they made the decision they have enough inventory set aside for points redemption and can sell the rest, what do you think you will accomplish? You don't have the facts or numbers to support a decision they made based on the facts and numbers. Hold the dates you can get now. Check the website every day to see if someone has canceled, opening inventory for your missing dates. Be flexible.

Yes, I've reached out to hotels before. While PP. It has never worked. It doesn't hurt, as you will still be without the room, so why not? Even if you have a 0.000001% chance of getting the room, that's more of a chance than you would have if you don't reach out. You may find a miracle. Just don't expect it.

Neither marijuana legalization nor base depth is likely to impact Marriott award availability, IMHO.

You should check daily! Past summer I went to Charleston and I was waiting to get into the hotel using points! Finally the day before a rewards room opened up! I called Marriott and they switched me from one of their locations to the one I wanted without any issue the day before I was supposed to check in!

When a hotel hits 90% occupancy, Marriott pays the hotel top dollar for point redemptions. Under 90% I believe the monies paid by corporate is lower than the BAR. I would venture a guess that hotels in the area you are searching might be under the belief that they will get nowhere near a 90% occupancy rate, thus NOT triggering profitable point redemptions.

IMO this is the unspoken shock-to-come that most SPG elites aren't aware of yet...the days of "standard room for sale = award for booking", aka no blackout dates, will be gone come 2019 for them. Was looking at two Marriott properties 6 months from now...concert nearby that night but nothing that should knock out awards. Yet none available.

Did you check via flex dates to determine if rates available pre and post the day you're looking at as not all props post inventory for a full year (and once again as a Marriott detractor be creating a non existent problem)?

Not sure what your problem is, just because you were shouted down en masse about your ill-informed insistence that SPG LT won't be honored post-merger, contrary to what the FAQ says.

It's pretty well acknowledged that MR award inventory just isn't as good as SPG...that's what you get when you make sure that "any standard room for sale = an award for booking", absent some very rare special condition events.

And yes, it is available before and after. Thanks for the accusation though. SMH.

You and the other en massees are entitled to your opinions, but that’s all they are.

They have also said that if you already have lifetime status in either program, you will have it with the new program.

Totally anecdotal, but I was surprised to find award availability in NYC over Thanksgiving. Had basically my choice of Marriott properties including Marriott Marquis Time Square.

From the FAQs for both programs: We don't know what LT benefits will be under the new program or what will be needed to qualify anew in the future but we know from this and other statements that if you earned LT in either program you will have LT in the combined program.

Thanks for the info CJ.
However, are the terms "both programs" and/or "either program" MRs and SPG or MRs and Ritz C ??

Thanks for the injection of common sense ^