Marriott Bonvoy Lounge: New Concept Coming To Asia-Pacific, Serving "Bonvoy Bites"

Definitely feels like a shrinkflation style downgrade - all the references to “signature” and “light bites” reads like a way to reduce portion sizes and options while sounding fancy and curated.

Especially since it’s starting in Asia where the lounges have traditionally been much more generous.

Alliteration. Niccce.

It is not like there is a host of Marriott properties in Japan that has one lounge for status and one lounge for guests that pay as part of the room rate. To the best of my knowledge, there is one. The Marriott Associa in Nagoya, and it is not new. It has been like that for ages.

The Sheraton Miyako in Tokyo has sometimes added lounge capacity by using one of the ballrooms as extra space. I can't say I have noticed a logic to who got sent down, based on when the actual lounge was full? Though I have not seen this in a good while.

There were a few European hotel that were "infamous" for having a less good lounge for status, on one for club level bookings. Renaissance St Pancras in London and (I believe) a Sheraton in Germany were some of the prime examples. Though I believe The Ren has stopped this again. I am sure there are a good chunk of other examples spread across the world.

This is definitely a big downgrade! Lounges in Asia-Pacific typically provide food that would qualify for dinner. Bites implies (and the picture shows it) just some small hors d'oeuvres. And the attentive service could be they serve you a little plate with a few hors d'oeuvres at your table or place of seating. And eliminate the buffet style service.

If this happens I will be looking more to stay at a Hilton or IHG property. I am not a fan of Hyatt. Hyatt Regency Tokyo already does the small plate served at your table (no refills).

I just wish they'd do something about hours of operation. It's increasingly common for hotel lounges to close right after happy hours end, which is completely absurd at the self service lounges which don't see any staff for hours even during the day, so it's not like there's any hourly cost to keeping them open longer.

Ben, I think your third option is very likely and easy for hotels to implement.
Just keep the old lounge for paying customers and open a new "elevated" Marriott Bonvoy Lounge.
If you see the numbers of status members in China and elsewhere in Asia, I can understand the hotel owners.
Especially with most hotel chains not carrying about the status sell on the black market.

A few points:

1) The "M Club" branding only applies to legacy Marriott brand (the brand not the chain) lounges at some but not all properties.

2) Most club lounges in Asia are already staffed.

3) If you read between the lines, this seems to only apply to corporate-managed properties. The same for the airline-style upgrade lists. Marriott can really only test these things at properties it manages.

4) I think this is an expansion of the lounges that we've seen pop up at the Sheraton Toronto Airport and elsewhere. They have a basic selection. It's not a buffet. You get what they have. That reduces costs. Maybe they serve it to you with some presentation. They also have a premium drinks menu, etc. where they make additional money. The goal is to segregate the freeloaders from the food and beverage outlets and then nudge them toward buying premium food or drinks.

5) Of course, it could just be a re-naming of all the lounges across all the brands. It's really a mix right now between club lounges, executive lounges, concierge lounges, M Clubs, Sheraton Clubs, etc. I guess if they had a consistent name across brands it might make it less confusing as to benefits, etc.

6) I suppose it's also possible we could see a separate "club lounge" for guests who pay for lounge access -- like Fairmont, InterContinental and Ritz-Carlton -- and then a "Bonvoy lounge" with reduced options for elites. I'm not sure this would go over well in Asia and the Pacific since there is a strong club lounge culture and expectation there.

But, as they say, more than one thing can be true at the same time.

Immediately, I can think of three Marriott properties whose lounges have been offering food in pre-plated small portions as opposed to a buffet. For years. Food quality is/was fine.

Accor ALL might be the last major hotel loyalty program to withstand the effects of the massive status inflation being generated in Asia by the loopholes available to people in China.

With Bonvoy if something isn't done soon we'll have a situation where elites get worse treatment than in Europe (though probably not worse than the US unless literally a billion Chinese all get made up to Platinum).
I expect Middle East/North Africa will be relatively unaffected by Chinese faux elites as they are increasingly seen as no-go areas for people from East Asia and elsewhere.

Although there is an Accor China program the ALL program itself seems relatively unaffected by the people who can buy top tier bonvoy etc for just a few RMB.
It also helps that Americans can't buy their way to Platinum simply by having the right credit card.

The only thing we can say for certain is that this will a devaluation. Whether its an upfront devaluation or one hiding in wolfs clothing remains to be seen.
If anyone disagrees, lets engage on Kalshi

I can't imagine this will be an offering at loungers with normal entrance requirements. Buy-up only, imho.

"Bonvoy Bites", eh?

I think most of us have been saying that for years.

I sure have been bitten by Bonvoy many times, nothing new then.

I love how that image with the smoked salmon crostinis looks like it includes a dollop of caviar. Lol. Sure Jan.

Is it possible that these new lounges will be limited to Titanium members and above? This would help with the crowd issue?

I think in part it is a rebranding. As you mention many hotels in Asia and China have lounges even brands that usually don't. In addition about the special drink and the bites sounds like a paid menu in addition to what is offered as part of the lounge.