I have been a Gold member for several years with a couple of years at Platinum, obviously based on my travel patterns. As I am in the travel industry, I utilize the travel rate which is a special rate. Usually, the rates are $5-$10 less than the AAA rate. Almost not worth the aggravation, but every penny my company saves is a good thing!!! Now, Marriott has decided that they will enforce a policy that was never enforced in the past. If you use a special rate, you will no longer receive points and nights. Hilton does not have this policy, and my company has a corporate agreement with them. I have always chosen Marriott with the travel rate because it was often cheaper than our corporate rate with Hilton. Plus, I am a fan of Marriott. I will qualify as a Gold member by the end of August again, but that will probably draw the line for me. Even today, I received an email from Hilton stating that they wanted me back. With my travel pattern, I will probably add another 30 nights this year. Marriott won't get them. Maybe there is too much profitability at Marriott that giving points and nights on a rate that is $5-$10 less than a rate that receives points and nights isn't worth it.
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