Marriott Bonvoy is replacing Suite Night Awards with Nightly Upgrade Awards, and the changes are a mixed bag…
In this post:
Details of Marriott’s new Nightly Upgrade Awards
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 (Titanium members can also select these at 75 elite nights).
Starting in early 2024, Marriott Bonvoy will be replacing Suite Night Awards with Nightly Upgrade Awards, and the changes are both positive and negative. Here are the updates that will apply:
- Nightly Upgrade Awards are the new name of Suite Night Awards, to better align with the benefit, and each will be valid for a one-night confirmable upgrade to a premium room or suite
- Nightly Upgrade Awards will be expanded to five additional brands where Suite Night Awards aren’t available, including Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, Aloft, Element, and Protea
- Nearly 20% more premium rooms and suites will be available for upgrades across all participating brands, with features like oceanfront rooms, balconies, and extra space
- While Suite Night Awards clear up to five days in advance, Nightly Upgrade Awards will clear up to three days in advance
Let me emphasize that these changes are specifically for when you’re using a confirmed upgrade “instrument.” The complimentary space available suite upgrade policy for select elite tiers continues to apply as before.
While it’s not part of the announcement to Marriott Bonvoy members, I’d note that earlier this year Marriott revealed some interesting details to hotel owners regarding these changes. The company stated that it will improve paid upgrade options in advance, and will also improve compensation when these Nightly Upgrade Awards are redeemed. Currently hotels are reportedly only compensated if occupancy is above a certain level, while in the future, they’ll be compensated regardless of occupancy level.
My take on the new Nightly Upgrade Awards
Suffice it to say that these changes are significant, and are a mixed bag. Here’s my take:
- I’m really happy to see these upgrade awards finally be valid at Ritz-Carlton and EDITION properties, since I value upgrades the most at luxury properties
- The decreased upgrade window from five days to three days is a real bummer, since it creates even less certainty when it comes to securing an upgrade; this even further differentiates Hyatt’s awesome Suite Upgrade Awards
- On the surface, I appreciate the accuracy of renaming Suite Night Awards as Nightly Upgrade Awards, since they can currently be used for premium rooms or suites, so it’s inaccurate to just call them Suite Night Awards
- While having access to 20% more rooms with these upgrade instruments sounds exciting, I suspect that a vast majority of that additional inventory will be premium rooms rather than suites, and in some cases even pretty mild upgrades
- What we don’t know is if properties will offer access to fewer suites and more non-suites with Nightly Upgrade Awards, so we’ll have to wait and see what that looks like
Also, while this isn’t part of the public announcement, we also have reason to believe that Marriott will be increasingly trying to sell upgrades in 2024. Historically, Marriott hasn’t done much to sell room upgrades in advance (unlike Hilton). I’m curious to see the execution of that. This could be 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
Marriott Bonvoy is introducing Nightly Upgrade Awards as of 2024, which will replace Suite Night Awards. The good news is that they’ll be valid at five additional brands, including Ritz-Carlton and EDITION, and premium room inventory is supposed to be increased by 20%. The bad news is that they’ll only clear three days in advance, rather than five days in advance.
The remaining question mark is how we see inventory associated with these upgrades change. Will properties offer access to fewer suites with these, or will the additional inventory just be what wasn’t previously available? Is the rebranding of these upgrades just intended to make the name more accurate, or a sign of what’s to come?
What do you make of Marriott introducing Nightly Upgrade Awards?
SNAs have been consistently devalued over the years as more and more luxury properties play games of the eligible category. For example, I used to redeem SNAs at St Regis San Francisco a lot, and Metropolitan Suite is eligible. In the past two years or so you could no longer redeem them for an upgrade to a suite and instead the highest category would be Executive Room, which is not even a suite. This is...
SNAs have been consistently devalued over the years as more and more luxury properties play games of the eligible category. For example, I used to redeem SNAs at St Regis San Francisco a lot, and Metropolitan Suite is eligible. In the past two years or so you could no longer redeem them for an upgrade to a suite and instead the highest category would be Executive Room, which is not even a suite. This is not a one-off example but something quite common among luxury properties within the Marriott portfolio.
I think the decreased time interval is to prevent people from holding 2+ hotel reservations at the same time; then canceling whichever one that sna doesn't clear for. Usually cancelation cut off is 3 days out. When they cleared at 5 days it would have been possible to get upgraded then cancel the remaining reservation and have the sna returned to your account. @lucky
Come on Hyatt, get a hotel with a decent lounge in Doha. I'm yours for the taking
I want to say that this is nothing new. Many hotels allowed one or two levels up for an upgrade but not a suite. So, this rename is just saying what it actually is.
Not happy about these changes as a longtime Titanium member.
That being said, I have a COMPLETELY different experience using SNA's. In the past year I've used nearly all 10 of mine, in Munich, San Antonio, New York City, Scottsdale/Pheonix, Austin, and Fort Worth. And at nice properties, not a Courtyard by Marriott or anything. Not sure if it's the dates/types of properties/locations everyone else seems to be attempting these at, but I've been...
Not happy about these changes as a longtime Titanium member.
That being said, I have a COMPLETELY different experience using SNA's. In the past year I've used nearly all 10 of mine, in Munich, San Antonio, New York City, Scottsdale/Pheonix, Austin, and Fort Worth. And at nice properties, not a Courtyard by Marriott or anything. Not sure if it's the dates/types of properties/locations everyone else seems to be attempting these at, but I've been pleasantly surprised and mine works 80% of the time.
Good that you have a use for them. I wish I could donate mine to you. The Bonvoy gods love you more than most Titaniums.
Have you used it on stays longer than 1 night?
Lifetime Titanium here. I couldn't tell you the last time I got a REAL upgrade besides the "higher floor" trick already mentioned. Even using the SNAs, nothing. Ever. Pretty obvious Marriott's program is nothing more than a shell game and should be valued accordingly. Remember the day when Marriott was truly a premium hotel brand?
This year I actually got
- an upgrade to a suite (Renaissance),
- a quite bigger room (Courtyard),
- a nicer room (Renaissance),
- a nice corner room (Westin),
- a family room/suite (Moxy),
- a quite nice corner room (Fairfield Inn),
- a much bigger studio (Residence Inn), ...
Overall something measurably positive for about half of my stays, more so in Europe, less so in the US.
@Jerry Wheen
It's nice that you are a positive person.
This year I actually got
yes - an upgrade to a suite (Renaissance),
NOT- a quite bigger room (Courtyard),
NOT- a nicer room (Renaissance),
NOT- a nice corner room (Westin),
NOT- a family room/suite (Moxy),
NOT- a quite nice corner room (Fairfield Inn),
NOT- a much bigger studio (Residence Inn), ...
You didn't do much better than...
@Jerry Wheen
It's nice that you are a positive person.
This year I actually got
yes - an upgrade to a suite (Renaissance),
NOT- a quite bigger room (Courtyard),
NOT- a nicer room (Renaissance),
NOT- a nice corner room (Westin),
NOT- a family room/suite (Moxy),
NOT- a quite nice corner room (Fairfield Inn),
NOT- a much bigger studio (Residence Inn), ...
You didn't do much better than other Titanium or Ambassadors. But if a fancier name is measurable positive, then good for you. As @Mark defined, you got 1 "REAL" upgrade.
@DCS has been too quiet lately.
But Bonvoy can call it whatever they want. It has been used to request non suites in the current form. Some property doesn't even offer suites to select, some doesn't even participate at all even for a slightly better room.
AKA, just some upgrade award (JSUA) not SNA.
As every elite can attest, clearing 5 days or 3 days hardly ever matter, because it doesn't clear.
Because there...
@DCS has been too quiet lately.
But Bonvoy can call it whatever they want. It has been used to request non suites in the current form. Some property doesn't even offer suites to select, some doesn't even participate at all even for a slightly better room.
AKA, just some upgrade award (JSUA) not SNA.
As every elite can attest, clearing 5 days or 3 days hardly ever matter, because it doesn't clear.
Because there is nothing better to chose for the 50 night choice, we all select this useless option just to find 5 of them expire every year for the last decade (maybe a few cleared when SPG gave 10).
AKA, useless.
I'm happy to report my 5 is still go unused as of today. But as a consolation, I was upgraded to a larger room room few times this year. One of which is the same room type that I was denied using SNAs.
Been with Marriott for about 10yrs. I think I have over 1100 nights (sad but a lot of is leisure travel) and been Ambassador for as long as I remember ( I truly think Ambassador doesn’t add any value over titanium). Rarely been able to use SNA and now with these changes I’m considering if I should go for it this year or not. I’m totally ignorant when it comes to hotel loyalty programs. Are...
Been with Marriott for about 10yrs. I think I have over 1100 nights (sad but a lot of is leisure travel) and been Ambassador for as long as I remember ( I truly think Ambassador doesn’t add any value over titanium). Rarely been able to use SNA and now with these changes I’m considering if I should go for it this year or not. I’m totally ignorant when it comes to hotel loyalty programs. Are there better ones out there that I could match with? Prefer non-US chains (either European or Asian brands).
If everyone is being pushed to upgrades (which is already difficult to come by) your chances now will be very unlikely.
Bonvoyed by Marriott yet again. They keep cutting while not adding any real benefits for loyalty. In fact, that is probably their next 32nd new hotel brand, Bonvoyed by Marriott. Give us your money, stay here and don't expect anything.
No way to achieve higher tier status with spend alone at Bonvoy . You can advance to top tier with spend alone at Hyatt , Hilton , IHG , Accor etc . Ambassador spend at say 20-50 nights gets you no more than mid tier status with Bonvoy . A hard pass for me . I have always been baffled that property owners haven’t griped about this. Heck , the property owners gripe about providing...
No way to achieve higher tier status with spend alone at Bonvoy . You can advance to top tier with spend alone at Hyatt , Hilton , IHG , Accor etc . Ambassador spend at say 20-50 nights gets you no more than mid tier status with Bonvoy . A hard pass for me . I have always been baffled that property owners haven’t griped about this. Heck , the property owners gripe about providing upgrades and benefits but seemingly fall silent when potential very high ADR but low night customer is actually disincentivized from booking their high end rooms and suites by Bonvoy’s failure to include spend alone as a loyalty metric .
Bad. I could cancel if not cleared at 5 days, but with 3 days it's hard or impossible.
Huge huge miss
Not excited.
RC upgrades will almost certainly not include club level.
I must be 0 for 20 for space available edition upgrades. Not holding my breath for any of these edition upgrades to clear.
Lifetime Platinum and current Titanium member, who has tried for several years to use Suite Night Awards... the only thing valuable about the update is the potential to get an 'upgrade' at Ritz/Edition. Without the additional property options, any update to the program is simply salt in the wound of a non-existent benefit. I've not bothered tracking at this point, but would guess I'm 1 for 20 on attempts to use Suite Upgrades (and the...
Lifetime Platinum and current Titanium member, who has tried for several years to use Suite Night Awards... the only thing valuable about the update is the potential to get an 'upgrade' at Ritz/Edition. Without the additional property options, any update to the program is simply salt in the wound of a non-existent benefit. I've not bothered tracking at this point, but would guess I'm 1 for 20 on attempts to use Suite Upgrades (and the 1 wasn't to a suite, but a slightly better room). As someone with a family who often requires a suite or two rooms, it's always a bummer to see my unused Suite Night Awards sitting there. I haven't stayed at a hotel who even accepts them in a year+ (mostly stay at Marriott/Westin). If Marriott is going to full Hilton on this, at least let me reserve a room for an exorbitant amount of points or reserve a basic room and upgrade with cash. Or even better, when I have to book 2 rooms because I can't reserve a suite with points or have any guarantee of an upgrade, let me book connecting rooms online, like Hilton does.
'Bro' the usage on Ritz/Edition will just be a carrot on a stick.
As a Titanium, how many times have you ever got upgraded at Ritz or Edition.
But I would say one thing, if you let the property know in advance, I never had issues with getting rooms side by side and while they would hardly ever guarantee a connecting room, most of the time I've never had issues.
The holy grail is...
'Bro' the usage on Ritz/Edition will just be a carrot on a stick.
As a Titanium, how many times have you ever got upgraded at Ritz or Edition.
But I would say one thing, if you let the property know in advance, I never had issues with getting rooms side by side and while they would hardly ever guarantee a connecting room, most of the time I've never had issues.
The holy grail is getting a connecting room with a suite. They seem to want more money as a 2br suite price rather than 1 suite+1 room price.
Following the lead of other programs -- whether a choice award or complimentary -- the upgrade benefit will likely be limited to one notch up. If there isn't ***eligible*** inventory one notch up at the appointed hour, no upgrade. All a property has to do is say that there's no ***eligible*** inventory. (Yes, inventory control on award availability and inventory control on upgrade availability as well.)
Some complain about tight-fisted properties in the US not...
Following the lead of other programs -- whether a choice award or complimentary -- the upgrade benefit will likely be limited to one notch up. If there isn't ***eligible*** inventory one notch up at the appointed hour, no upgrade. All a property has to do is say that there's no ***eligible*** inventory. (Yes, inventory control on award availability and inventory control on upgrade availability as well.)
Some complain about tight-fisted properties in the US not giving complimentary upgrades. I've experienced it at Marriott properties in Europe multiple times at higher category properties. I never even think of an upgrade at a network hotel and simply book the room I want. (I have had tremendous success at independent hotels.)
Next, Marriott will try to sell paid upgrades. Ben has ALREADY pointed the way in a different article. The airlines are offering elites discounted confirmed upgrades -- turning a probabilistic non-revenue upgrade into a confirmed revenue upgrade. Some revenue is better than no revenue. This erodes premium cabin inventory that is available for elite upgrades. Marriott is pulling the same thing. Some revenue is better than no revenue. As for the complimentary upgrade: "Sorry, we just don't have any more ***eligible*** upgrade rooms."
This is a massive downgrade.
How many times have you been 'upgraded' to a premium room that is nothing more than a room on a higher floor vs a lower floor. Same room, but, a 'view' which could be anything from a lovely mountain or park view to a higher view of the same ugly building across the street?
And 3 nights? Lame!
As a Lifetime Titanium, I find this to be a very interesting read as I sit here in my Park Hyatt suite that is currently selling for $2200 per night and that I paid for with points and one suite night upgrade (covering me for almost a week), confirmed at the time of booking. Marrriott had to do a lot to lose this lifetime Marriott enthusiast. They succeeded. No idea what they are thinking.
Unless and until any change has an effect on revenue or earnings, any business will seek such cuts.
I gave Marriott a try at Platinum for a couple of years. Every time I tried to use the SNA, it was a miss (9/9). Despite having a couple of occasions when a nicer room was available when I checked in. Gotten complimentary upgrades when I was staying for work, but they were only for a couple of nights usually, and not when I could actually appreciate it with friends or family.
Taking it down...
I gave Marriott a try at Platinum for a couple of years. Every time I tried to use the SNA, it was a miss (9/9). Despite having a couple of occasions when a nicer room was available when I checked in. Gotten complimentary upgrades when I was staying for work, but they were only for a couple of nights usually, and not when I could actually appreciate it with friends or family.
Taking it down to 3 days makes it even worse, and the reality of having more properties doesn't equate to actually getting upgrades.
Fourth year as a Marriott ambassador, and the suite night upgrades being non-confirmable are the biggest deficiency of the program. I’m going to wrap up 2024 as ambassador again, but it will be my last year giving Marriott discretionary spend.
I see it as a downgrade of its loyalty benefit , now the properties particular in the US market have an official scapegoat not be able to upgrade a suite , because everything including corner room or higher floor considers as premium room for most properties yet still getting paid by franchise. Sadly seeing this , but hey US properties hardly give out a suite from get go , at least from my personal experience this year with titanium status.
This is exactly what’s going to happen. Complimentary upgrades based on status were already pretty impossible to get if you’re staying in the US, and now they will be less inclined to do so worldwide. This nonsense coupled with Marriott’s seeming inability to enforce any standards across its way-too-many-shitty brands makes it a non-starter for me. I have lifetime platinum and no desire to stay with them. God I miss Starwood. Only good thing about...
This is exactly what’s going to happen. Complimentary upgrades based on status were already pretty impossible to get if you’re staying in the US, and now they will be less inclined to do so worldwide. This nonsense coupled with Marriott’s seeming inability to enforce any standards across its way-too-many-shitty brands makes it a non-starter for me. I have lifetime platinum and no desire to stay with them. God I miss Starwood. Only good thing about Marriott is the ability to transfer their Delta-esque (in value) Marriott points to airlines.
Couldn’t agree more.