Marriott...Introducing No Blackout Dates

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Dear.......

We appreciate your business. And to prove it, we're making Marriott Rewards® even better.

Starting January 15th, say goodbye to blackout dates*. It's our way of saying "thank you for staying with us." One of many program enhancements to, well, enhance your rewards.

Plus, these new benefits are coming your way:

Redeem 4 nights, get 5th Redemption night free. Use your Marriott Rewards points to stay for 4 redemption nights and get the 5th redemption night free.

Check out the new Platinum bonus. If you're a Platinum Elite member, your bonus will increase from today's 30% to a 50% bonus on points earned during stays.

Mark the date: it all starts January 15. You've earned it. Now enjoy it.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

and increases the number of points needed for a stay

so I was too depressed to post this!

Great, no more black-outs but instead of needing 150,000 points to stay at a top resort - it will now be 210,000.

And they are adding a category 8 so the properties we are used to getting for 150,000 will now go to ??????? 210K for 7 so 8 would be 250K????

I am REALLY discusted with Marriott

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

It's great to see a developer encouraging resales!

While I doubt it was their intention- these changes should encourage more buyers to purchase resale, as the reward pt devaluations take effect..

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

While I doubt it was their intention- these changes should encourage more buyers to purchase resale, as the reward pt devaluations take effect..

Yup, this will damage their sales pitch, considerably.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

so I was too depressed to post this!

Great, no more black-outs but instead of needing 150,000 points to stay at a top resort - it will now be 210,000.

And they are adding a category 8 so the properties we are used to getting for 150,000 will now go to ??????? 210K for 7 so 8 would be 250K????

I am REALLY discusted with Marriott

Ouch, I didn't realize they had gone up so dramatically.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Well, I just called up Marriott, and complained......like they cared.

If nothing else, it did make me feel better, tho. Also, put the pressure on for me to make a decision about going to Europe next year. The dollar is up, so maybe I'll bite the bullet, and make the reservation before the increase.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Nooooo! What about us bottom feeders looking for 10,000-point Category 2s? Did those go up, too?

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Nooooo! What about us bottom feeders looking for 10,000-point Category 2s? Did those go up, too?

I'm pretty sure the increase is going to be across the board.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Darn! I just got their credit card, too!

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Nooooo! What about us bottom feeders looking for 10,000-point Category 2s? Did those go up, too?

What is expected is with the addition of category 8 - there will be an 'up-change' of other properties - so what used to be a Cat 2 could go to a Cat 3 giving u less choices of cat 2s - only time will tell.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Did you know a Category 3 costs more points than a Category 2 even when the money price is lower for the Category 3 than the Category 2?

I'm looking at an $89 room in a Category 3 versus a $107 room in a Category 2 and the Category 3 room is still 5,000 points more than the Category 2 room.

[winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close winger]

This is one of those serious point devaluation moves by Marriott Rewards System that occurs onces every few years. This absolutely STINKS.

How is the best way to ensure Marriott hears my disgust? I already sent emails to three families interested in purchasing a resort (or two) directly from Marriott - told them NOT to support MVCI's sales, since they wanted the MR points option. I recommended they go resale

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I just booked Paris for June 09, using the current Marriott Travel Package.

Too late to get the Champs-Elysees, or the Vendome, but I was able to get the new Renaissance Le Parc Trecadero.

Now, am I going to be able to get a flight?

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Wow....I was able to get a direct flights to, and from Paris, on my first phone call. Even figuring that travel was way down, I'm still surprised.

Now seems to be the time, if anyone wants to use up some of their points before the change.

[mas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mas]

Yeah, it looks like this change is clearly directed at the business traveler as 5 stays for 4, and the no blackout is meant for them. Not many business people stay for 7 days in a row, but many, I'm sure, will grab the 5th night free.

The cat 7 hotels that are now cat 8 and cost 360K pts instead of 270K makes trading your week for points even less attractive. The TS sales people are going to hear a lot about this, especially since you know that there is no way Marriott will ever increase the amount of points one gets for trading in their week. Just makes resale weeks all the more attractive.