With Marriott and SPG moving to a new unified award chart in August, we’ve been eager to find out which categories our favorite hotels will fall into. That time is…. NOW.
New Marriott SPG Award Category Assignments
New category assignments are published here: points-redemption.marriott.com/category-change.
Nick and I have spent the day analyzing the new information. Here’s what we’ve written so far:
- New Marriott award chart: first reactions
- New Marriott Travel Packages: a first glance
- New Marriott award chart analysis
- New Marriott Cash + Points Awards. Good deal?
And here is what Marriott has to say about the latest info:
Points Go Further Starting in August with the New Award Chart:
- Nearly 70 percent of all participating hotels can be redeemed for the same or fewer points. (52 percent of hotels will move to a lower redemption rate and only 31 percent will go higher.)
- 6,300 hotels can be redeemed for just 35,000 points or lower.
- Members can save up to 25,000 points per night by redeeming future Category 8 hotels that are priced at Category 7 rates until early 2019.
- For the first time, SPG’s all-suite hotels such the W Maldives, the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, or the Phoenician Residences, a Luxury Collection Residence Club in Scottsdale, are now included in the published award chart. These sought-after properties can be redeemed for 5,000 fewer points.
Also, please note a number of our most popular redemption hotels are becoming more affordable:
- Hotel Talisa in Vail, Le Méridien Barcelona, W Punta de Mita, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali, The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, and Le Méridien San Francisco will redeem for 10,000 fewer points in the new program.
- The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Renaissance Paris Republique Hotel, The St. Regis Princeville Resort, Courtyard New York Manhattan/Midtown East, Autograph Collection’s Hotel Punta Islita, and Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Napa Valley will redeem for 5,000 fewer points in the new program.
See the complete new Free Night Award Chart here.
More Ways to Redeem:
Free Night Award – We are excited to extend the Free Night Awards to SPG Amex cardholders and offer more hotels that Chase Marriott cardmembers can choose from this August! With the Starwood Preferred Guest® Consumer and Business Credit Cards from American Express, and the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card, members will receive one Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after their card anniversary. The 35,000-point Free Night Award gets members a free night at 6,300 of the 6,500 participating hotels.
Point Savers – New to SPG members, PointSavers allow all members to save up to 20 percent by redeeming points for stays at select properties worldwide. See the PointSavers Chart.
Instant Redemption – All members can instantly redeem points for meals, cocktails, spa treatments or anything else that can be charged to the room. Each $1 is valued at 250 points.
***In August, members can also earn points on total folio (room, F&B, spa) purchases at all brands which helps accumulate points faster.
Cash + Points – All members can redeem as little as $55 and 3,500 points for stays. See the Cash + Points Chart.
Points Advance – Points advance redemption stay reservations are valid if the required points are purchased or earned at least 14 days prior to check-in.
Travel Packages –Travel Packages now include all SPG properties. Previously, SPG Nights & Flights applied to SPG categories 3 & 4. Starting in August, Marriott Rewards and SPG members can redeem points for airline miles and hotel stays at any of the 6,500 participating hotels. This offer remains one of the richest among travel loyalty programs. As always, United’s Mileage Plus members receive 10 percent more miles under the RewardsPlus program.
In May, Marriott published new award category assignments for hotels in 5 popular destinations. Nick posted his pleasant surprise that several New York City hotels will cost only 35,000 points and will be eligible for new free night certificates (found here). On the other hand, he also pointed out one particular hotel that should be booked before August because it will go way up in price. We have found similar surprises and opportunities in the complete chart listings and we’ll continue to publish more to keep you informed. Stay tuned.
The New Award Chart
The following standard award prices will be in effect when Marriott and SPG merge in August. In early 2019 Marriott will add peak, off-peak and Category 8 redemption rates. Until then, category 8 hotels will be temporarily plopped into category 7, and all awards will be priced according to the standard column.
More info
Please see our Marriott SPG Ritz Transition Guide, or click through to the guide via any of these topic links:
- Transition overview
- Unified award chart
- Potential chart mappings (old to new)
- Elite status transition
- Lifetime status transition
- Point earnings now vs. August
- Point transfers to Airline Miles
- Free night certificates
- Travel packages
- United & Delta partnerships
- Free breakfast / lounge access
- Suite Night Awards
- Credit card changes
- New program pros & cons
- Short term opportunities
- Q & A
- All Frequent Miler posts regarding the Marriott SPG transition
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