In late 2023, Marriott Bonvoy announced plans to replace Suite Night Awards with Nightly Upgrade Awards. There’s now an update, as this is being implemented effective immediately, and the changes are a mixed bag…
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).
As of January 11, 2024, Marriott Bonvoy is replacing Suite Night Awards with Nightly Upgrade Awards, and the changes are both positive and negative. Here’s everything that’s changing:
- Nightly Upgrade Awards are the new name of Suite Night Awards, to better align with the benefit, and each is valid for a one-night confirmable upgrade to a premium room or suite
- Nightly Upgrade Awards have been expanded to five additional brands where Suite Night Awards weren’t available, including Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, Aloft, Element, and Protea
- Nearly 20% more premium rooms and suites are available for upgrades across all participating brands, with features like oceanfront rooms, balconies, and extra space
- While Suite Night Awards cleared up to five days in advance, Nightly Upgrade Awards only 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.
Marriott describes the implementation of this as being a phased system update, so it might be several days (or even weeks) before you consistently see this new branding. However, you should start to see upgrades now available at the new eligible brands, plus expanded upgrade options at existing brands.
While it’s not part of the announcement to Marriott Bonvoy members, I’d note that several months ago, Marriott revealed some interesting details to hotel owners regarding these changes. The company stated that it is improving paid upgrade options in advance, and is also improving compensation when these Nightly Upgrade Awards are redeemed. Previously hotels were reportedly only compensated if occupancy was above a certain level, while with the new program, 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 could previously be used for premium rooms or suites, so Suite Night Awards wasn’t really an accurate descriptor
- While having access to 20% more rooms with these upgrade instruments sounds exciting, I suspect that a vast majority of that additional inventory is premium rooms rather than suites, and in some cases even pretty mild upgrades
- With Marriott reportedly planning on selling more upgrades as of this year, we’ll have to see how that plays out, and how it impacts complimentary upgrades
Out of curiosity, I just tested out the new Nightly Upgrade Award options at two Ritz-Carlton properties. At the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles, I was disappointed to see that there was an upgrade option to a single room type, which was simply a larger guest room.
Fortunately that doesn’t seem to be a consistent pattern, because I also looked at the Nightly Upgrade Award options at the Ritz-Carlton New York NoMad, where a request could be made for several room types, including a couple of types of suites.
I’d of course love some more data points from OMAAT readers. For properties that are new to Nightly Upgrade Awards, what kind of room types are you seeing? For properties that previously were eligible for these upgrades, have you noticed any changes in inventory?
Bottom line
Marriott Bonvoy has introduced Nightly Upgrade Awards as of early 2024, which replaces Suite Night Awards. The good news is that they’re valid at five additional brands, including Ritz-Carlton and EDITION, and premium room inventory has also reportedly increased by 20%. The bad news is that Nightly Upgrade Awards only clear at most three days in advance, rather than five days in advance.
With Nightly Upgrade Awards having now been introduced, hopefully we can get lots of data points regarding the implementation of these. I’d love some firsthand reports of what kind of upgrade options you’re noticing at brands that weren’t previously eligible for these upgrades, and also what changes you’ve noticed to upgrades at existing brands.
What do you make of Marriott’s new Nightly Upgrade Awards?
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