Thanks to Marriott’s overlapping early 2021 promotions, I expect that many readers will soon have access to Marriott’s Choice Benefits. One benefit you can choose is a set of 5 Suite Night Awards. These can be used to try to get upgraded to a suite on a paid or award stay. Suite Night Awards never guarantee an upgrade, but they seem to at least make an upgrade to a suite more likely. Unfortunately, Marriott has a long list of brands where Suite Night Awards can’t be used…
Ineligible Brands
Marriott’s Suite Night Awards are not redeemable at the following brands:
- The Ritz-Carlton
- The Ritz-Carlton Reserve
- The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club
- EDITION
- Protea Hotels
- Aloft
- Element
- Design Hotels™
- all-Suite Hotels
- Marriott Executive Apartments
- ExecuStay
- Marriott Vacation Club
- Marriott Grand Residence Club properties
- Vistana properties
Ineligible Properties
In addition to the list of ineligible brands (above), certain specific properties are ineligible. Unfortunately, Marriott doesn’t provide a list of these properties. Instead, the terms say to “Contact a Customer Engagement Center for individual Participating Property Suite Night Award participation.” LOL. And when you call to contact Marriott, the automated system will tell you that you should give Marriott.com a try…
I always get an upgrade as an elite recognition without using the reward when it’s still under SPG. Even those excluded resorts will sometimes offer exceptionally, the best program ever! Oh, I missed her …. Now is totally a joke under Marriott, as a titanium member I rarely get an upgrade to suite since then, needless to say never get luck with the suite night awards, either bigger room is the only upgrade option, or sorry… you just can’t use it without explanation. Unsurprisingly not sure when they cut off the lounge access for W, Ritz Carlton and St.Regis… I don’t get this so call “loyalty program”, just to “pay” for your own “loyalty”?! Seems a bit stupid for doing so at this point
These has to be one of the most disappointing benefits in the business. Sad.
Bonvoy is such a dumpster fire of a program. It’s too bad, they have a strong market position and they did a hard reset on their program, so they could have come up with anything, and they come up with this disjointed, confusing and frustrating turd. You need a ouji board to figure out your benefits at each property. No thanks. I’m going for easy Globalist plus Aspire Diamond as backup. Bonvoy is for FN certs and transfers to AS, nothing else for me.
how is it different than from just being upgraded using the elite status? Seems like room guarantee is not it. Is it because “suite” rooms are more than one level upgrade and the elite status upgrade can be only one level up?
The difference is that when you use a suite night award, they start looking for upgrade availability 5 days before check-in and will then sometimes confirm your upgrade in advance. It seems to mostly be a way to jump the line for potential upgrades compared to other elites who check-in same-day but don’t use the awards.
i see, thanks !
Unfortunately, the ability to use Marriott suite night may work even less than presented. Availability is fluid weeks and even months before arrival dates.. I have had requests made almost year in advance only to be canceled (without any notice) weeks before the arrival date. I have been told that it is not uncommon for properties to change their eligibility, but that they usually honor requests made before their status changes. In cases where requests have been canceled I have been advised to call customer service close to check in and they will call the property. Of course, as usual, it’s best to have a screen shot as proof of your request.