Just to pile on, here is my recent rewards request attempt today.

I have a 1MM+ points and little time to use them and when I try, I'm always shot down.

I'm looking for a summer weekend in Syracuse, NY, near the in-laws for a visit in late July. Nothing "going on", colleges are out, Syracuse proper is hardly a resort vacation destination having lived there for 8 years and visiting family annually for 30 years.

6 Marriott properties available in the area, all with "standard" rooms available for purchase. One recently reflagged REN and the rest CY's, FI's, RI's. All of these are "overlooking the interstate" types, no views, resorts, etc. REN is $109/night, the others cheaper.

Put in for the points stay, and only 3 come up available.

2 of these, including a Cat 1 FI, are the "stay anytime if we let you" type at 2times the points.

The REN and RI, where I would prefer to stay and spend my points, are absolutely unavailable.

Drives me absolutely nuts, having a huge cache of points and a simple pratical reason to actually have to use them and I can't treat my family to a comfortable stay in a REN or RI. But I can certainally spend $250 more and get what I want.

This is why I complain and am such a pessimist on MR lately.

Yes, I know, switch hotels/program, its a free market, stop complaining, they have to do this to stay in business, their T&C say they can do whatever they want, I'm not entitled to anything, its not real currency, etc...

I just wish I had this great advice and sense of the "real redemption world" some 10 years and 1MM points ago.

I still contend Marriott is playing some serious, undisclosed "behind the scenes" game playing with their redemption policy otherwise 6 stay anytime rewards would pop up.

We are constantly being "thanked for your continued loyality to Marriott" at check-in and in print lately. Isn't loyality a two way street?

Just to check out the situation, I tried to make an online reservation for July 21-28th at the Ren Syracuse. I did not receive a no room available message. What I did receive was a message stating that the online tool couldn't calculate the points needed, so to make the reservation please call the 1-800 reservation number. I also noticed that the hotel doesn't have a Rewards Category Level listed. Maybe there is something wrong with its online listing and because of that the online tool can't make rewards reservations there.

So you may still be able to get the Ren. I have no idea why the online tool couldn't figure out the rewards reservation, but you might be able to get one by calling Marriott Reservations. Another option might be to send a PM to the Marriott Concierge, Chris, and see if he can help you figure out why the Ren doesn't show up as participating with MR.

Good luck.

[Edited to add]Just noticed the Marx Syracuse to become Renaissance Syracuse thread. Possibly the problem is that since it is a new Marriott Property there are some "kinks" to work out of the system. So maybe calling the hotel directly might be helpful.

Thank you Mr. hhoope01, also for the info on the phyiscal locaiton of the REN. I would have thought it was the fomer Hotel Syracuse as opposed to the round building that I've past a million times before.

My actual dates are July 27-29. When going to the hotel's page itself, I got the same message you did. So I'll call next.

I'm still upset that I can't pull up the other 2 hotels and get a "stay anytime" award.

Any resolution?
 

Has there ever been any resolution of the issue at Marriott EGE? I want to book an award week for next January/February. I am OK with paying 50% extra for the "Stay Anytime As Long As We Feel Like Letting You", but I want to do it before the premium goes up to 100% over Standard at the end of this month. Frankly, this issue leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and makes Starwood's "True Redemption" look appealing.

Chris got back to me via a PM on May 10 as shown below:

My response to Chris on May 14 was as follows:

Now, why Chris hasn't responded to this thread baffles me, but someone else can take up that fight. I think they are starting to show their true colors, IMO. Marriott Corporate is powerless over the Hotels that refuse to play by the rules. I will continue to stay at Marriotts when it suits me, but not 100% as I have for the past few years. I will be mailing them copies of my Hilton and SPG folios!

So it's true
 

It really is "Stay Anytime As Long As We Feel Like It". Very disappointing, even the airlines will give you an award seat for 2x normal miles if they have a seat to sell.

I am disappointed in Marriott Corporate and the fact that they hold no sway over the rogue properties.

AAupgrade I am sorry for your loss.Best wishes to you and your family.
These sort of things make the petty things we discuss on these boards seem so trivial in the big picture of life.

Here is wear Starwood really comes through-there is a significant fine levied against "rogue"properties for noncomplience to brand standards.

Yet another example of Marriotts disrespect of one of its most loyal customers

He did the same thing regarding the gift card issue. Seems to be the new M.O...except we keep quoting him...

I may be mistaken, but isn't it against FT rules to post private PM's without the author's consent? http://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules.php#q84

My previous post corrected per T&C.