smgainey

I searched to see if a thread for this topic already existed, but didn't find one, so please forgive me if it does.

I read through Marriott's terms and conditions and found that the wording clearly states that if a standard room is available to book with cash then we can book it with points. I think this is great news and I applaud Marriott for this change and for the clarity!

Previously, I believe their policy was that hotels could release a small percentage of standard rooms for award redemptions, but in my experience some hotels wouldn't release any during peak times (I know because I tried to book as soon as the dates opened up for booking but no award rooms ever became available although standard rooms did), however there was no way to prove it because when I would call for help then the rep would just say that all of the rooms set aside for awards must be full. Now that shouldn't be a problem because if we can see that a standard room is available for cash then we can prove that it should be available for points as well.

My only wish is for Marriott to make sure hotels don't re-categorize their rooms so that they dont have standard rooms anymore.

Anyway, here is the policy:
"3.2.n. Blackout dates refer to a limited number of dates when a Participating Property could choose not to permit Members to redeem Points for Awards, but the Company has a “No Blackout Dates” benefit so that if there is a standard room available for booking by any means, whether by cash, credit or Points, then a Member can reserve the room using Points. The following properties either do not participate in or do not fully participate in the No Blackout Dates benefit at this time: Boscolo Exedra Nice, Autograph Collection
The Dedica Anthology, Autograph Collection
JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn® Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ
Marriott Vacation Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club – all properties
Participating Vistana properties
Rome Marriott Grand Hotel Flora, Rome, Italy
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Hawaii
Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott - Maui, Hawaii "

carrotjuice

[pedantry mode on]

its, not it's

[pedantry mode off]

mwk190

My immediate thought here is that properties will do what Hilton properties do- they'll have a very limited number of "standard" rooms and then everything else is premium in some way. Some Hilton properties add a few amenities like a robe and a coffee maker to most of their standard rooms and call the room "deluxe", and suddenly the same room in every other way is an upgrade over the room without the amenities. That then shows up as a $10 cash difference between the rooms, but double the number of points for the "deluxe" room as a "premium" redemption.

So Marriott properties can use this tactic and claim there are no standard rooms available, thus no rooms available for booking on points.

3Cforme

Starwood has used the no blackout/standard room convention for at least a decade. Properties don't set standard room inventory unilaterally - they've done in in negotiation with SPG.

smgainey

Sorry, auto correct did that. I would fix it but I don't know how. 😏

smgainey

That's my fear. 😞

mwk190

Good to know. Hopefully that practice / requirement carries over.

quinella66

The difference was that SPG usually offered upgraded rooms if you were willing to use more points. I can remember a 10k hotel being 11k since they did not have the base room available and only a room that was slightly better, which was fine.

I have experienced with a particular Marriott hotel that has less than 20% of its rooms as "standard" and those are the only ones you can book with points. To make it worse, during the busy season, these rooms were being pre-booked before they even became available to Marriott members (over 1 year in advance), making it impossible to use points on those dates. What I learned is that while each hotel has to make "standard" rooms available for points, it is their discretion if they will accept points on upgraded rooms.

FlyinHawaiian320

Have a question for everyone - booked a standard room rate a few months back and now that the hotel is dropping in points I want to switch my rate from cash to strictly points. I tried this a week ago and the hotel said they weren't allowing it. Seems with this updated T&C I have some ammo, no? There is space available in a standard room since I booked one. Might call back again today and try.

smgainey

I would try it if I were you, but don't cancel your current reservation until the new award reservation is confirmed.

silverforumsurf

It looks like most Marriott properties are not honoring this?
It should be fairly simple for Marriott to run a search of standard cash rooms and awards, and see that they're not the same???

Kagehitokiri

offering entry level room for cash but not points?

rrgg

I'm sorry if this was already posted somewhere, but I couldn't find it:

"Marriott has changed its no Blackout Dates policy without announcement."

https://www.uscreditcardguide.com/ma...-dates-policy/

3.2.n. The Company has a “No Blackout Dates” policy, which means that, subject to the limitations and exclusions below, Participating Properties have standard rooms available every day for Award Redemptions. These limitations and exclusions are:

i. Participating Properties from the following Brands may cap the number of standard rooms available for redemption on a limited number of days: The Ritz-Carlton®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Gaylord Hotels®, Courtyard®, SpringHill Suites®, Protea Hotels®, Fairfield by Marriott®, AC Hotels®, Moxy® Hotels, Residence Inn®, TownePlace Suites®.

ii. The following Participating Brands allow only for Points/Miles earnings and do not offer Points redemption: Marriott Executive Apartments® and ExecuStay®.

iii. The following Participating Properties or Brands either do not participate in or do not fully participate in the No Blackout Dates benefit at this time:

● Boscolo Exedra Nice, Autograph Collection
● The Dedica Anthology, Autograph Collection
● JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn® Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ
● Marriott Vacation Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club – all properties
● Participating Vistana properties
● Rome Marriott Grand Hotel Flora, Rome, Italy
● Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Hawaii
● Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott – Maui, Hawaii

EuropeanPete

Antarius

"Participating Properties from the following Brands"

and then they proceed to list seemingly every MR brand