With Marriott Bonvoy’s Choice Benefits program, Platinum members and above who earn at least 50 elite nights in a calendar year can select Suite Night Awards as a perk. People have mixed experiences with these, though it looks like we could expect some positive changes later this year.
In this post:
Marriott improving & expanding Suite Night Awards
Doctor Of Credit claims to have seen an internal Marriott document that details changes to how Suite Night Awards and upgrades will work. Let me emphasize that I haven’t personally seen this, so can’t speak to it, but I think it’s interesting to discuss nonetheless.
According to this document:
- Marriott Suite Night Awards will be valid for more brands as of early 2024, including Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, Protea, Aloft, and Element
- Suite Night Awards will be expanded to existing room types at currently participating brands, to give more options for redeeming these
- New names will be announced for Suite Night Awards as of late 2023
- Hotels will receive improved compensation when a Suite Night Award is redeemed (currently hotels are reportedly only compensated if occupancy is above a certain level)
- Marriott will improve paid upgrade options in advance
My take on these potential Suite Night Award changes
Suffice it to say that these changes would be pretty significant. Here’s my take:
- I’d love to see Suite Night Awards expanded to Ritz-Carlton and EDITION properties, given that these are among Marriott’s most aspirational properties, and are currently excluded
- I’m also a fan of hotels providing more room type choices for requesting Suite Night Awards, since it increases odds of them clearing (even if you don’t get the best suite)
- Hotels receiving more compensation for Suite Night Awards sounds great in terms of hotels having more of an incentive to clear these, though I can’t help but wonder if there might be more to this; is Marriott willing to spend more money on the program, or could we see some changes to how many Suite Night Awards members get, or something else?
- Marriott really doesn’t do much to sell room upgrades in advance (unlike Hilton), so it’s interesting that this should be coming later this year; that’s good news for those willing to pay a discounted price for an upgrade, but ultimately it sounds like Marriott will be selling rooms that guests may otherwise be upgraded to
Bottom line
While we’ll have to be patient, it sounds like Marriott Bonvoy is planning some changes to Suite Night Awards as of late 2023. Suite Night Awards could be getting new names, and could be valid at more properties and for more room types, all while Marriott improves the compensation for hotels related to these.
That all sounds very exciting, though I can’t help but wonder what the catch is. Is Marriott willing to invest in this program, or what’s changing for the worse?
What do you make of these potential Marriott Suite Night Award changes?
Can you earn SNAs via Bonvoy Brilliant AMEX spend AND upon reaching the 50-night stay milestone?
Will this be a good thing for guests? No not a chance. This is nothing but marketing spin just like when they jacked up redemption rates and massively devalued points.
All you’re going to see is Marriott actively peddling room upgrades for cash at the expense of both SNAs and normal elite upgrades.
One of the most useless benefits from having high status with Marriott. You could get the upgrade anyway based on your status and often times the hotels do not honor the suite. Getting a refund of the suite ticket is also difficult if it is not used.
When it comes to any kind of room upgrades at Marriott it's usually very meh.
Re: "Hotels receiving more compensation for Suite Night Awards sounds great in terms of hotels having more of an incentive to clear these."
For Marriott, doesn't corporate clear SUAs?
Uh-oh. SNAs are going to be enhanced...
I tried applying for the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant and got the pop-up box that I won't get the signup bonus. A bit disappointing and unexpected because I have the Amex Bonvoy Personal card (the legacy one) and the Amex Bonvoy Business card (got it in the past year, but didn't get a sign-up bonus because I've had it in the past).
Not sure why I'm ineligible for the sign-up bonus. Based on the matrix...
I tried applying for the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant and got the pop-up box that I won't get the signup bonus. A bit disappointing and unexpected because I have the Amex Bonvoy Personal card (the legacy one) and the Amex Bonvoy Business card (got it in the past year, but didn't get a sign-up bonus because I've had it in the past).
Not sure why I'm ineligible for the sign-up bonus. Based on the matrix I've seen and the terms I've read, I should be. Is there a way to dispute this with Amex?
On paper it sounds like a slight improvement. But the individual hotels still have discretion to decide whether to honor an upgrade request or not and there is next to no transparency here. Marriott is using the "carrot" approach here so I'll just wait and see how the properties themselves respond.
Marriott needs to make Titanium more "special". I literally am never made to feel like anything remotely above someone who booked on a 3rd party website at nearly every property. I don't have 4 Marriott CC's, I have 1 and only get 15 of those 75 nights from there. 60 (around 50-55 if we're being honest) are earned the hard way. The front desk has gotten LAZY in the recognition department.
As far as...
Marriott needs to make Titanium more "special". I literally am never made to feel like anything remotely above someone who booked on a 3rd party website at nearly every property. I don't have 4 Marriott CC's, I have 1 and only get 15 of those 75 nights from there. 60 (around 50-55 if we're being honest) are earned the hard way. The front desk has gotten LAZY in the recognition department.
As far as SNA's are concerned, I've had fairly good luck with the movers the last 5 years. But I've had to be flexible. For example, I stayed at a an off the beaten path property near Santa Fe and got the MASSIVE Presidental Suite. Or in South Padre Island got the top Ocean Suite, Or in Savannah got the huge Moonstone Suite. Of course If I went during Memorial Day Weekend or Labor Day: That's Not Happening. Period. Members need to also try harder to use their benefits, you CAN get outsized value for them if You try.
To answer the headline question: NO. Marriott management lacks the backbone to enforce existing benefits. Why would like somehow be different?
Last year I had ten upgrades failed, (I am Titanium Elite), and a further five requests thwarted at the start as the reservation said “this booking is ineligible for a suite upgrade”
These at Sheraton properties with a normal app booking.
One Sheraton (Edinburgh) denied a suite upgrade even though at check in they were offering several suite options to buy. I was and still am confused!
It is a very poor “benefit”
It would be great if the upgrade gives properties an easier route to ‘refund’ the suite night if things don’t work out.
I have had a suite night upgrade accepted on more than one occasion, but the room hasn’t been ready when I’ve arrived, so I’ve voluntarily downgraded myself again to an available room - and getting the suite night ‘refunded’ to my balance has been quite a task for both me and the property.
How about fixing the breakfast benefit and adding some tangible benefits to ambassador that are over and above platinum or titanium.
At the end of the day, hotels can opt-out of accepting a suite night award. That's just absurd. You're either in the chain's loyalty program or are you aren't in the chain's loyalty program.
There's one hotel that I frequent all the time. They only accept the current suite night award certificates...
How about fixing the breakfast benefit and adding some tangible benefits to ambassador that are over and above platinum or titanium.
At the end of the day, hotels can opt-out of accepting a suite night award. That's just absurd. You're either in the chain's loyalty program or are you aren't in the chain's loyalty program.
There's one hotel that I frequent all the time. They only accept the current suite night award certificates for club lounge room king rooms. They have suites -- four two-room suites. But those suites are only bookable directly through the hotel. So not only can't you use a suite night award, but you aren't eligible for a complimentary upgrade at check-in because the suites are never part of the available inventory. Of course, I'm a regular and the GM always upgrades me to the suite -- sometimes a month before my stay.
Potentially good news…
I’ve avoided RC and Edition for the last 4 years or so as an Ambassador because of this and lack of elite benefits
I would still like to see additional choice benefits offered at 100 nights/or when reaching Ambassador status for the year