Here is my question. I ordered 3 travel package codes 0830 for Category 1-5 at 235,000 points. I was going to use them this year, but plans have changed.

Now, lets say, I want to upgrade the certificates to a cat. 6 hotel using points in the springtime. Will the additional points (to go from a cat 5 to a 6) cost me 15,000 per certificate (the old rate, 235K for cat 5 to 250K cat 6) vs the new rate, now being 65,000 per certificate. (the old rate 235K I redeemed at for cat 5 to the new rate of 300K for a cat 6 change)?

Marriott Concierge-

I have an e-certificate from a travel package (category 5) that expires Oct. 2009. Currently it is linked to a March 2009 reservation, but I might not be able to take that trip. I know I can make reservation changes (subject to availability of course) until Jan. 14, but I'm worried my plans may change after that date. I hate to make 20 reservations now just to cover all my options, but I also don't want to have to pay additional points in 2009 to use this category 5 certificate.

Questions:

1) Prior to Jan. 15, can I extend this certificate so it is good until Jan. 14, 2010 or at least Dec. 31, 2009?

2) What happens if I find availability and want to use it at a category 5 in July 2009? Will there be an additional charge for extra points?

Thanks for your infomation. It is really helpful in determining how to use my point in the future.

What a STUPID response. Did you ever hear of DOUBLE DIP??? Geezus, whizkid. Think of EARNING points when referencing spending them.

MC...just a suggestion-why not try to GIVE us a reason to stay. How about making SUITES BOOKABLE? Have you ever taken a look at the Hyatt program? You can BOOK SUITES ON POINTS!

MR does NOT offer suites to book on points*, and this has pushed me into Hyatt. I pay for suites a lot of the stays I have, and want to do that on points when I stay! PLEASE give us this option!



*Yes, I know MR has 5K/nt suite u/g certs, but I have NEVER found ONE property to use them on!!! (Maybe they are only good in east bumblef@#k, WI, in March? )

Got a very nice note today from Ed French iviting me to join in a Emeeting so all of the new "enhancements"that "we""asked"for could be explained.
Ummmm no thanks Ed-I can understand point deflation/program rot all by myself.
Next time how about asking me to have tea BEFORE the suits pull something like this.

------repeat post-------sorry

What are the details of the e-meeting? Is it personalized, or can anyone participate?

I have looked into this further, and I did in fact speak hastily. If you order a European Hooper reward prior to the change you will be able to use it at any European property regardless of when you book. As long as the expiration date has not expired on the reward and the stay is booked for reward redemption you will be able to use it. This includes all the properties that will become category 8.

Question 1: If the hotel portion of a travel package cannot be used you can turn it back in for some points. To be honest, the points you get for returning the hotel portion of a travel package is pretty insignificant. You usually get a better value if you use them for a weekend somewhere when you can get a way for seven nights.

Question 2: You do not need to make a reservation to extend a travel package. Contact guest services and let them know you have a hotel portion of a travel package that will be expiring and ask them to reissue it for you. That will change the valid date to a year from when it is reissued. Keep in mind you need to do this before January 15th.

Question 3: If you think this may happen I recommend you call sometime in January (before the 15th) explain that you are uncertain about the dates and would like to have your hotel portion reissued so that the expiration date is a year form when you call.

Question 4: Some of the current travel packages will be issued after January 15th in order to accommodate redemption reservations made prior to the change. These certificates though will have a final expiration date of sometime around January 15th 2010, regardless of when in 2009 they were ordered.


Technically speaking if you wait until after the change to upgrade the certificate, the old rewards will not be available (meaning you would pay the higher amount) unless you have a reservation using points that was booked prior to the change. My recommendation is that, if possible, you do the upgrade before the change.

Question 1: Yes, see the information above regarding extending the rewards.
Question 2: As long as you have a category 5 certificate and the hotel is a category 5 at the time you booked it, you will not need to spend any additional points.

Ira

Ira....how about my question on SUITES?

First, I think your asking for a general suite upgrade award at Marriott hotels is not a bad one to make. It would be nice if they do that. And given that they seem to be trying to copy SPGs program with with a number of these changes, Marriott is showing a propensity to copy. So maybe they will do that with the Hyatt program as well. (Unfortunately, I suspect they don't worry about Hyatt's program as much as they do Hilton's and *wood.)

Second, my understanding of the current 5K/night suite ug certs is that those are really used for suite upgrades at only certain chains (i.e. RIs, TPSes, MVCIs) or for non-suite upgrades (i.e. view, balcony, etc.) at certain hotels that may have those type of upgradeable rooms. That would be why you can't find any "hotels" that will let you upgrade to a suite with those today.

The upgrade rewards are primarily there to upgrade to a two bedroom or penthouse suite at a Residence Inn or TownPlace Suites. A few other hotels, mostly resorts, use them for upgrades. Even when they are accepted at full service properties they generally only upgrade you to better view and not necessarily a suite. I am not aware of any plans to create new rewards redeemable for suites in the near future.

Ira

Marriott Concierge

Please give us an update on MVCI owners who purchased directly from Marriott with the intent of converting to MR points every year after being told by our salesman that "first class" dream vacations could be taken every 2 years.

Is Marriott going to raise the amount of MR points we receive for our timeshares in order to stay on even kilter with the 2009 changes. With the new system, 2BR Marriott Maui owners will be able to trade there units in for enough MR points to stay in a Courtyard hotel. That's right, a $1,000/nt value will now get you only a Courtyard hotel.

Do you not think that these salespeople throughout the MVCI system were a bit misleading? Please explain this.

I think you missed this post can you respond to this?

Marriott Concierge:How will Marriott police hotels

How will we know that hotels have release award rooms and how will this be enforced?

Will hotels still be allowed to block rooms from PL override and award rooms 2 times per year?

We own four Marriott timeshare weeks, and have been heavy users of points from our purchases, stays at Marriott hotels, and use of the Marriott credit card. I have been thinking that I would no longer buy any timeshares directly from Marriott. This change confirms that view. Certainly I will no longer be trading in my timeshares for points.

To Marriott Management: Since the "enhancements" or point increases were certainly planned for at least 12 months( direct comment by Marriott Moderator Ed French on Marriott Rewards Insider -for elite members only) here is a proposal I would like to see presented directly to Mr. Marriott and Senior management.

Any purchasers of Marriott time-shares through MCVI in the last 12 or 6 months be given either of 2 options:
1) A full and complete refund and the ability to cancel the transaction

2) The indexing of points when exchanging for Marriott Reward points. This indexing be at 30-60% of prior fixed point exchange. This matches the increases in the 7-day travel packages, award schedule and creating of new Category 8 for hotels.

The reason that good corporate governance is called for is HONESTY. The time-share sales executives did NOT disclose a material fact--THE UPCOMING Change of agreement on awards! This is not only unfair, not in the way Marriott does business but probably illegal. Certain properties were sold COMPLETELY on the process of exchanging for points and "You never will stay in the property". Deceptive at the vary least.

If you read the posts on this and other forums (Marriott Rewards Insider) it is clear that the firestorm of ill will and amount of "hatred" that has been created BY MARRIOTT is certainly not what YOU expected. Time to stand-up and do the right thing (we have seen this played out in numerous Congressional Hearings) and maybe TURN IT AROUND into a WIN/WIN. Just imagine the Good Will that this would do for Marriott.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing this issue addressed at the next Marriott Board Meeting.