Marriott Nightly Upgrade Awards Replace Suite Night Awards

For context, at three days prior to check-in, hotels begin blocking specific reservations against specific rooms. The move from five days to three days essentially eliminates any pre-blocking priority SNAs had. So, this is a major devaluation.

Marriott needs to take SNA assignments out of the hands of the properties and adopt the automatic upgrade assignments that Hilton now does. There's nothing to stop a tight-fisted property owner from saying "while suite inventory exists, none *available for upgrade* exists."

For St Regis NY, I can still only request to go up from my standard "Superior" room to a "Deluxe" room. No suites as options even though they are available. For Reykjavik Edition, still shows they are not eligible to be used or none are available, even though almost all room types are available.

Glad I picked the 40k FNA for my 75-night choice benefit

In fact, Marriott needs to take tier-status-based upgrades out of the hands of the properties and use the Hilton system for them as well. In spite of having been Ambassador or Titanium, properties were consistently unwilling to grant a tier-status-based upgrade . . . but I could PAY for an upgrade. On more than one occasion, a manager stated, "we're not simply going to give you a suite." After years of this, I left Marriott's hamster wheel.

Marriott overpromised and underdelivered? Shocking

Years back, I had a confirmed PAID suite at that St. Regis. I called the day prior to check everything. They said I had a standard room. The Ambassador team confirmed I had a suite. Ultimately, the confirmation details were forwarded to the on-duty manager. In the end, the manager said their system was assigning me a standard room BUT I WOULD BE CHARGED THE SUITE ROOM RATE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE RESERVATION STATED. Adios Marriott.

Under SPG, I consistently got great value from both automatic and confirmed upgrades, while every year since the Marriott acquisition has been just a little less worse, with a dramatic drop-off about 2 years ago or so. In 2023, every single SNA I attempted to book wasn't able to be honored, so I didn't end up redeeming a single one. As a lifetime platinum, I'm just going to be a free agent now, /shrug

Wouldv'e hoped the elite breakfast benefit for Platinum members and higher would extend to Edition/Ritz brands. This is almost the main reason for actively looking for St Regis properties over the other luxury brands.

If I have booking at the Ritz in the regular Club room , and I use my night upgrade award to upgrade in a suite, do I keep access to club lounge (since all the suite on the upgrade list dont mention "club access")? I paid for it in principal in my original booking. Thanks.

Ritz Carlton is very guarded about Club access. The likely answer is that the upgraded room you chose will be exactly as it was stated at the time you selected it. That is, if it did not state the Club was included, it's not. Period. In similar fashion, for those with the Chase Ritz Carlton card, the three Club upgrades only work on standard room bookings and not suite bookings. It's a matter of "take your pick." If you pick the Club, don't expect a suite upgrade (if Titanium or up).

That hasn't been my experience at all. I've booked a base room using points, was offered an paid upgrade online to a Jr. suite that included club access and jumped on it. When I checked in, I asked to be further upgraded to an executive suite and was given a complimentary upgrade. I've also booked a base room with club access and again was upgraded to a suite and still maintained the club access. So this "take your pick" hasn't applied in my situations. I feel that if you book a room with club access then apply a cert that clears, you'll keep the club access as the only thing you are upgrading is your room type.

I feel like maybe you aren't putting their feet to the fire. I've definitely been declined for an upgrade at check in, even though suites were being sold for the duration of my stay. I would ask politely if I could be upgraded due to my Titanium status and wasn't granted an upgrade. Later in the day, I would speak with someone else at the front desk, express my dissatisfaction and would firmly ask to be moved into a suite. I would get an apology and would be issued keys to my new room.

Jordan, you selected an upgrade that expressly included the Club. Vincent selected an upgrade that did not expressly include the Club.

I just completed all my hotel planning for the next 6 months which is about 50 nights. Not a single Marriott this year vs 85% last year mainly from the terrible benefits of the last 18 months by Marriott. It's mostly Hilton now but they're hanging by a thread too. I'm finding I'm better and better off booking through csr portal

For the Platinum 50 nights perk, does that mean if you have 40 nights from the personal and business cards, you only need 10 more nights to get a Nightly Upgrade Award?

Agree that the renaming was needed. At many properties before they had various upgrades available that were not suites.

As a Lifetime Titanium Elite member, I rarely get a decent upgrade although it is a published perk for that level. Marriott's customer service has slipped substantially over the past several years. With 984 nights, I expect better service.

Disappointed that new nightly awards don’t get you to upgrade to a club room at the ritz! Wish that were the case.

I don't want to have to hold anyone's feet to the fire -- no matter how politely -- to get the benefits that are published. I appreciate that some people do, but I feel like that should actually make an effort to take care of the best customers. Crazy, I know.

My problem with SNAs is that I never seem to be able to apply them when I have two rooms on a single reservation and just want to upgrade one room, which is often the case when traveling with my family. If you don't have enough for every room for all nights, it's not listed as an option. Seems dumb.