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In the world of points and miles, hearing the word “enhancement” is rarely a good sign. It often means that a negative change to a benefit/card/status is about to be spun as though it’s actually a member-centered improvement. Given that, when we heard that Marriott was “enhancing” its Suite Night Awards (which are earned as choice benefits for Platinum and Titanium-level elite members), we assumed bad juju was on the way.
All-in all, the changes are a mixed bag. However, what surprised me was that Marriott is plainly resetting expectations by willingly saying out loud what had long been known about Suite Night Awards: they often aren’t useful for suites.
Marriott Upgrade Awards: What’s Changed
Five Marriott Suite Night Awards can be earned as a choice benefit upon reaching 50 and 75 elite nights, as well as when spending $60K annually on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card. Unlike Hyatt’s Suite Night Awards, which can be confirmed at booking and cover an entire stay, Marriott’s can only be confirmed five days in advance and each one is only good for one night. Starting in early 2024, these awards will see several changes:
The Good
- It will be possible to use upgrade awards at Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, Aloft, Element and Protea hotels. Currently, those brands are excluded.
- “Nearly” 20% more inventory will be available for upgrades across all participating properties. This includes “premium rooms and suites with features like oceanfront views, balconies, patios and extra space.”
The Not-So-Good
- Hotels will now start notifying guests about their upgrade status three days prior to check-in, two days later than the current five days.
- Suite Night Awards will be renamed “Nightly Upgrade Awards” “to better align with the benefit.” Effectively, Marriott is now saying the awards are for premium rooms, which might include suites. There isn’t any obligation for hotels to make unsold suites available (not there ever really was).
Direct link to Marriott’s announcement page
Quick Thoughts
Suite Night Awards have long been a contentious subject for many Marriott elites. They’re difficult to use, both because you need to have one award for every night of the reservation that you’re applying them to and also because you don’t find out if you’ve actually received your upgrade until five days before check-in…at the earliest. I’ve heard countless complaints over the years from folks who weren’t able to clear their awards.
In edition, many hotels have rarely, if ever, provided suites. Unlike Hyatt and IHG, which pull suite upgrades from available inventory, Marriott only makes a suite available if it forecasts that the suite won’t sell. So, available suites are often not available for upgrades.
Now, Marriott is taking great pains to point out that these upgrade awards are no longer for suites…they’re for premium rooms, which might include suites. Again, these have already been treated this way, so it’s really just saying the quiet part out loud. But it’s a clear message to membership to lower expectations when it comes to which rooms you’ll actually get when trying to apply these awards.
I’m a little skeptical about the announced 20% inventory increase. I assume that it will not be a ton of “suites and oceanfront rooms,” but be primarily made up of rooms with “more space and balconies.” However, being able to use awards at Ritz-Carlton and EDITION properties is terrific, with the caveat again being that we’ll have to wait to see what we’re actually able to use them for. I’d have a hard time imagining that suites will be a common occurrence, but having the option to confirm a better room in advance is better than not having any option at all.
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“In edition…” Pun intended? 🙂
I’m a lifetime Platinum elite, and I honestly have given up on them completely. I have 15 suite nights that will surely go unused. If I stay at their hotels I book through a 3rd party. Then I don’t get mad when they won’t honor any of the elite benefits. And yes, Hyatt is the best.
I am the same (LTP) and agree completely. This is just another one of the death by a 1000 cuts
Properties will easily game this by creating a new tier of “premium” rooms that are like high floor or some nonsense like that. The “new” room upgrade award benefit seems like a distinction without a difference from the old program to be honest.
They already do this. Not unusual to see no suites available but “premium” king or some such
Whether it is an upgrade award or complimentary via tier status, it will be an unrealized benefit. As the airlines are now doing, Marriott will sell (at a discount) eligible upgrade inventory and award/tier upgrades will happen less. The member will gladly pay a discounted amount to go from a probabilistic upgrade to a certain upgrade. A little revenue from a discounted upgrade is better than no revenue from an award/tier upgrade.
I agree
I’m Marriott Gold with 31 nights in (15 from Boundless, rest in spending+staying), and I’m considering an Amex Marriott business card to get another 15 in, putting me at 46.. I can try to squeeze 4 more nights in to reach platinum.
When is the best time to do this? If I do it in November, am I getting Platinum for the rest of 2023 and until the end of 2024?
Yes, you’d want to do it before the end of the year and then you’ll get Platinum for the remainder of 2023 and the entirety of 2024.
I’ll get it.. I don’t know if I’ll have 20 nights in 2024 to maintain my status, but worth trying.. Thanks!
You can just buy Platinum status now for the price of the $650 annual fee of the AmEx Brilliant card. If you’re considering staying 4 more nights this year just to earn Plat status, the Brilliant card is the much easier and possibly even the cheaper solution. If those 4 stays are any greater than about $150 / night, you’ll definitely come out ahead just getting the Brilliant card. It really doesn’t make much sense to mattress run for Platinum anymore.
Never thought about that, you’re absolutely right.. I ended up getting the Amex business card, but maybe after my first platinum year, if I want to keep the status, I may consider this.. Thanks!
My advice honestly, switch to Hyatt or even IHG
I’ve been Marriott platinum 9 years running (1 away from lifetime I think). Bottom line, I don’t care much about Marriott anymore. Last five years has been worse and worse marching towards the bottom.
If you do what you’re proposing (Nov), then yes your assumption is correct…end of ’24 actually technically Feb ’25 I think but yea, it’s really not very much worth it. I’ve stayed in Marriott as platinum, then Hyatt as explorist (equivalent to gold roughly) in the same trip. Experience night n day. Marriott I got a high floor no welcome gift (yep I got my retribution). Hyatt gave me corner suite and welcome amenity and the service was notably better.
If breakfast benefit matters to you –
IHG might not be a fit, but back to Marriott/Hyatt –
On another trip I was Marriott platinum and Hyatt globalist. I got whatever I wanted at breakfast with Hyatt from a restaurant. Marriott, lmfaol a $20 credit or some nonsense like that.
Both experience I mentioned were in US. Outside US you might be treated a little better with Marriott but I am just trying to convey my experience n give some ideas of what to expect
I have IHG Platinum from a business card. and I have the Hyatt consumer card, which gives Discoverist, but it’s pretty hard to get to a decent level at Hyatt.. Marriott was easy, and I stayed at 5 different Marriotts this year, hence my attempt at getting Platinum.
Thanks for your advice 🙂
Read the added part of your comment now, I really appreciate taking your time. I’m currently living in Europe, and traveling between Europe and Asia, and my experience in Asia with Marriott was very satisfactory.
I didn’t try Hyatt yet, but Discoverist doesn’t give much anyways.. And they don’t have a shortcut like Marriott does.. Maybe a year of Platinum, and then I can decide if it worth it..
Thanks again!
I agree Hyatt is much better than Marriott.
Interesting, when I tried applying the business card on Amex site, a popup stated that I’m not eligible for the signup bonus, as I have the Chase Marriott Boundless card already… Never heard of this limitation before…
FM has a chart that explains the limitations.
When did you open your Boundless card and when did you get the sign up bonus?
Card opened 3 months ago, bonus around 2 months..
But I’ve accepted Amex’s offer to get the business card without the signup bonus, to at least get the 15 nights in before the year ends…