Via Flyertalk, phltraveler posted what appears to be Marriott’s new terms & conditions. If these terms are correct (not yet verified), then there’s a bit of good news and bad news…
Good News:
- Marriott Elite Benefit Guarantees continue and extend to Starwood properties. This is a great benefit that I’m happy to see extended. See: Marriott pays up when they fail to deliver elite benefits.
- There also appear to be select benefits for Platinum Premier members that we didn’t know about previously (we’ll follow up in the future with more details)
Bad News:
- The ability to earn 10 elite nights per meeting appears to be limited to one time only in the new program
- Certain properties are not available at standard rates:
524. iii. Free Night Awards at the following locations require a higher amount of Points either because the Participating Property does not have standard rooms or the standard rooms it offers have a mandatory full board requirement in peak seasons: Vana Belle, a Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui, Thailand; The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket, Thailand; Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas, Steamboat Springs, Colorado; The Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal, Costa Rica; The St. Regis Bora Bora and the Le Méridien Bora Bora, Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Mystique, a Luxury Collection Resort, Santorini, Santorini, Greece; The St. Regis Bali Resort, Nusa Dua, Indonesia; Hotel Cala di Volpe, Hotel Pitrizza, and Hotel Romazzino, Costa Smeralda, Italy; W Maldives, North Ari Atoll, Maldives; W Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand; Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, U.A.E.; St. Regis Residence Club, Aspen, Aspen, CO; and Phoenician Residences, a Luxury Collection Residence Club, Scottsdale, AZ.
The quoted text above directly contradicts what has been told to us by Marriott executives, so I’m not at all certain that it is true, but I guess we’ll find out on or shortly after August 18th when the new program goes live.
For background, see: SPG’s Off the Chart Properties, and a Map.
Here’s the document in full (Hat Tip: Flyertalk via View from the Wing)
[…] Looks like Marriott is aching to burn its members as predicted here. It is only a matter of time you guys: Leaked Marriott T&Cs: off-the-chart properties still off the chart? […]
The issue on the Rewarding Events limiting the 10 nights to only the first event is being discussed on Flyer talk with some reading the terms to say per contract, as it does and always has.
8.12 Waiver
The Company may waive compliance with these Program Rules in its sole discretion and may run promotions from time to time that provide enhanced benefits to select Members.
Not sure on that. It depends which Program Rules are Terms (changeable by mutual agreement) and Conditions (enforceable by law). Basically they can change anything they like but have to stay within the law. So, back to travel packages, were the new categories Terms mutually agreeable or are Marriott saying they are Conditions enforceable by law?
so……
8.15 Subject to Law.
If any part of these Loyalty Program Rules is held to be unlawful or unenforceable, that part will be deemed deleted from these Program Rules in such jurisdiction and the remaining provisions will remain in force, subject to Sections 1.7.c.
1.7.c is missing from that document 🙂
3.6.b points advance – No booking SPG hotels without the required points like you can with Marriott properties. I think that is going to hit a few people.
The five elite night credits after fifty nights do not count towards ones lifetime elite count, how chintzy can Marriott get. Would they count towards my Marriott fifty night count If in 2018 I am trying to get two elite night platinum years, one based on fifty Marriott legacy nights, the other based on 25 Starwood legacy stays?
Thank you
Also note for non genuine meetings and non genuine meeting planners, something I have never done, Marriott threatens to close ones entire account, as they do for anything else they don’t think is consistent with the program as they intend it.
Argh….I was planning on redeeming my Ritz sign up bonus free nights at one of the hotels on the list. Thoughts? (Wait and see I guess)
[…] (Tip of the hat to Frequent Miler) […]
Jeez, what a phone book.
It seems very odd that these terms and conditions would list the W Maldives but not the St. Regis Maldives, right? Maybe just an oversight but rather confusing if these are the real terms and conditions. I guess I’ll redeem my points at the St. Regis instead of the W if Marriott insists…
Good luck with that. St. Regis Vommuli (Maldives): “This hotel has Limited Participation in the Starwood Preferred Guest® Program.” Points are not even listed as a rate option.