Marriott Bonvoy has just tweaked its upgrade policy a bit. It’s good news, though I’d expect the practical implications to be limited.
In this post:
Marriott expands suite upgrades at Ritz-Carltons
On paper, Marriott Bonvoy has a generous elite upgrade policy, whereby Bonvoy Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium, and Bonvoy Ambassador members, receive suite upgrades subject to availability at most brands. The one exception is that historically, Ritz-Carlton suite upgrades have been limited to Titanium members and above.
That’s no longer the case. Marriott Bonvoy terms & conditions have been updated regarding the room upgrade benefit for elite members. Historically, the terms stated the following when it came to Platinum upgrades:
At The Ritz-Carlton, suites are only included for Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite Members and rooms with direct Club access are excluded.
With these updates, the terms state the following:
At The Ritz-Carlton, rooms with direct Club access are excluded.
As you can see, this means that Bonvoy Platinum members are now eligible for space available suite upgrades at Ritz-Carlton properties.
The practical implications of this are limited
As mentioned above, Marriott Bonvoy’s upgrade policy is generous on paper. The challenge is the huge amount of elite inflation we’ve seen, which limits the value of the “subject to availability” benefits.
Given that in most situations there are a lot more people eligible for suite upgrades than suites available, Marriott has a secret way that it prioritizes upgrades, so Platinum members members have lower upgrade priority than Ambassador and Titanium members.
So I’m happy to see Marriott Bonvoy update terms to add Ritz-Carlton suite upgrades for Platinum members, since it makes the policy a bit more consistent and logical, and aligns upgrade policies between luxury brands. However, I wouldn’t expect this will suddenly lead to some goldmine of suite upgrades for Platinum members.
The Ritz-Carlton properties that had the availability or desire to upgrade Platinum members probably already did so before this policy was implemented. Meanwhile at most properties, it’s not like there’s availability anyway.
Bottom line
Marriott Platinum members now officially receive suite upgrades at Ritz-Carlton properties, subject to availability. Historically, this was limited to Titanium members and above, so it’s nice that this carve-out has been eliminated. That being said, I wouldn’t expect this to materially change the number of times that Platinum members get upgrades at these properties.
What do you make of Marriott updating the Ritz-Carlton suite upgrade policy?
As I am travelling alone on business, a suite upgrade is unnecessary for me. What would be more valuable would be lounge access.
We were just in Kyoto between May 7–12 at the Ritz and we were told specifically that as a platinum elite we won’t be eligible for suite upgrades even if they have availability. They gave this to us in writing. When did this new policy go into effect?
This is pretty much in the US. I have received upgrades to suites and free breakfast at Ritz overseas.
What I what know is when Ritz will start providing free breakfast for platinums? I've avoided staying at Ritz have this reason.
Can vouch for this change. Wife and I just got upgraded to a suite at RC Kapalua last weekend, but it did not come with club access. We ended up paying for the club since the math made the sense in such an expensive place, but not sure that's the case in most places
When I first received my Ritz card years ago, it came with 1 free year of Platinum status as well as 2 free nights at (almost) any Ritz property. I remember asking if I could be upgraded to a suite at the Ritz in San Francisco as well as Ritz Dove Mountain and while only being Platinum, receiving those upgrades. Now I am Titanium and don't have that issue, but in my experience when I was Platinum, I have received multiple upgrades to suites at Ritz properties.
What was legacy platinum has been titanium in Bonvoy since 2019. Platinum today is what gold used to be.
plat here: every time I stay at the Ritz in Chicago I just politely ask if there is anything they can do. being polite and slipping a $20 seems to do the trick
The Ritz-Carlton in Chicago is a fake Ritz-Carlton. It's franchised and the overall standard is more like a nice JW Marriott. The only one in the USA. The Montreal Ritz-Carlton is licensed because it predates Ritz-Carlton as it exists today. I believe the only other licensed Ritz-Carlton is one in Malaysia.
Getting a suite upgrade at most Ritz properties is like pulling teeth, even if suites are showing available, and even for Titaniums and Ambassadors. So I doubt this will even move the needle for Platinums. The real news would be if Marriott updated its complimentary breakfast policy to include Ritz properties. Now that would be a game changer.
It would undercut its club offering.
Except, it would probably be a piece of bread with coffee. St. Reis properties in the USA (all directly managed by Marriott) are increasingly limiting breakfast for platinums and higher to muffins, croissants, toast, etc. with coffee. That's it.
That is not a breakfast. That's a snack and not a very good one at that.
I was upgraded to a beautiful one bedroom suite at the Ritz Carlton Doha as a Platinum using a 35K points free night certificate last year. One thing is very clear to me about hotel loyalty programs: one rule applies to North American properties (Mexico, USA and Canada) and another, much more generous, to everywhere in the world.
I drought anyone will get the upgrade. As an Marriott ambassador level member I have a Ritz credit card and spend over 60K a year that gives me at least 5 club upgrades. So far every time I try to use the upgrades at two the properties, they always have some restrictions. The Ritz in half moon bay will only honor the upgrade with the worst room booking. I booked a $1500 ocean front room,...
I drought anyone will get the upgrade. As an Marriott ambassador level member I have a Ritz credit card and spend over 60K a year that gives me at least 5 club upgrades. So far every time I try to use the upgrades at two the properties, they always have some restrictions. The Ritz in half moon bay will only honor the upgrade with the worst room booking. I booked a $1500 ocean front room, but the upgrade was not applicable. The Ritz in SF makes you book a club level room that only saves you $50.
Imagine spending over $60k at a single Ritz property and that property offers no grace.
Why are you doing this even though you know it's worthwhile? You're like a battered wife.
I think Marriott has the biggest gap between what they promise elites in theory and what is delivered. Hyatt promises and generally delivers while Hilton doesn’t really promise all that much to its elite. Marriott, on the other hand, theoretically subject to availability promises the world while giving its franchisees infinite ways to weasel out. I wonder if their management recognizes the brand damage this does.
IHG is like the scene from Malcolm in...
I think Marriott has the biggest gap between what they promise elites in theory and what is delivered. Hyatt promises and generally delivers while Hilton doesn’t really promise all that much to its elite. Marriott, on the other hand, theoretically subject to availability promises the world while giving its franchisees infinite ways to weasel out. I wonder if their management recognizes the brand damage this does.
IHG is like the scene from Malcolm in the Middle where Dewey says I expect nothing and am still let down.
No hotel loyalty program promisses more and delivers less than Bonvoy.
Marriott has known from the earliest days of Bonvoy after Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood's SPG merged into ONE loyalty program in August 2018 that there were issues; namely, the breakfast benefit.
David Flueck, who runs the Marriott loyalty division, touted the breakfast benefit as a game-changer. He was lauded by many of the bloggers even though it quickly became apparent that properties were cheating.
But Marriott has taken steps to fix...
Marriott has known from the earliest days of Bonvoy after Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood's SPG merged into ONE loyalty program in August 2018 that there were issues; namely, the breakfast benefit.
David Flueck, who runs the Marriott loyalty division, touted the breakfast benefit as a game-changer. He was lauded by many of the bloggers even though it quickly became apparent that properties were cheating.
But Marriott has taken steps to fix the benefit issues, including a simple definition of breakfast, like Hyatt and IHG.
Flash forward 7 years later and even Marriott-managed properties actively cheat elites on breakfast. It's no longer just rogue franchisees.
Marriott's management recognizes this. It also recognizes that there will be customers like Fred who will continue to spend $60K at properties and return despite how badly they are treated. It is a win win for Marriott and there is no incentive to change.
Given property attitudes, I question the practical effect of this. Perhaps outside the US it might happen.