Marriott Bonvoy has quietly added a new perk for Ambassador members who over qualify for status…
In this post:
$40K+ Marriott Ambassadors can gift status
Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador status requires earning 100 elite nights plus completing $23,000 of qualifying spending in a calendar year. It’s Marriott’s highest elite tier, and the only one with a revenue requirement. At least on paper, the incremental perks over Titanium status are fairly limited, though soft treatment is often better.
A FlyerTalk member reports on an interesting new perk that’s being added for Ambassador members who greatly exceed the spending requirement. Specifically, those who exceed $40,000 in eligible spending are able to invite their significant other to also receive Ambassador status throughout the 2025 program year. I like the way the email to eligible members phrases this:
We know that for those who travel extensively, it often means there is an unsung hero supporting you, whether they are back at home or traveling alongside you. We would like to help you honor that special someone in your life by allowing you to pick a “plus one” to upgrade to Ambassador Elite.
The communication goes on to clarify that the plus one can be a companion, spouse, significant other, or a person who resides at your same home address, and notes that “any suspected fraud will be thoroughly investigated, and if confirmed, both accounts will be revoked.”
It seems that for now, this is only being offered for this membership year, though we’ll see if a similar concept is offered again in the future.
The concept behind this reward is great
I can be tough on Marriott Bonvoy at times, as I feel like in many ways the program doesn’t try, because of how big the hotel group is.
In an ideal world, Marriott would meaningfully improve the perks that Ambassador members receive, to make them a bit more differentiated from other elite tiers. So while nothing is being done for “base” Ambassador members here, I very much appreciate the concept behind this.
For anyone who spends a lot of time on the road, there’s nothing quite as nice as being able to share perks with loved ones. Now, this is something that World of Hyatt does really well with its Guest of Honor program, which offers a lot of flexibility. But this is pretty awesome as well.
Yes, the requirements here are very high, but at least being able to gift Ambassador status to a loved one is a nice perk that can add a lot of value. I also feel like this perk is a no-brainer from Marriott’s perspective:
- It’s likely to generate incremental business for the hotel group
- It’s also presumably low cost to offer, and shouldn’t swell elite ranks too much, since I imagine the spouse of an Ambassador likely often travels with the Ambassador, and there aren’t any benefits to two people both having the status for a single room booking
Bottom line
Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador members who spend at least $40,000 are being invited to gift their same status to someone for 2025. It’s nice for Marriott to recognize those who go above and beyond with spending, and similarly, this is a nice reward for that loyalty. While I wish we’d see some other overall improvements to the program, this is positive, and Marriott deserves credit for that.
What do you make of Marriott’s “plus one” perk for high revenue Ambassador members?
I was ambassador for 3 years and spent $30,227 for 31 nights last year. If I were not lifetime platinum, I would be down to gold this year. Marriott's night's requirement is unreasonable. All other major hotel chains can do either spending OR nights, only Marriott goes spending AND nights.
Marriott sucks... Upgrades are mediocre , particularly with franchised properties. I am a Lifetime Titanium and should get suite upgrades as a minimum. But you have to earn suite upgrades by earning status tiers each year.
I am getting far better treatment and consistent experience with Hhonors
maybe they can figure out a way to make Ambassador status actully something to chase
the benefits between Ambassador and lifetime Titanium are marginal at best
so two people can get shitty service simultaneously? win-win!
I share the main conclusions of Ben's piece on the new perk for Ambassadors spending more than 40k dollars a year. But I am in a situation where that perk would be completely useless to me.
I am a Platinum-for-life Bonvoy member and have reached Ambassador level for the last seven years. But very close to 100 per cent of my Bonvoy nights (more than 1200 so far) have been nights spent at a Bonvoy...
I share the main conclusions of Ben's piece on the new perk for Ambassadors spending more than 40k dollars a year. But I am in a situation where that perk would be completely useless to me.
I am a Platinum-for-life Bonvoy member and have reached Ambassador level for the last seven years. But very close to 100 per cent of my Bonvoy nights (more than 1200 so far) have been nights spent at a Bonvoy property with my wife.
We are both retirees and we travel simply because we enjoy it. If my wife was a Bonvoy Ambassador member herself this would not change anything for us.
What an inane bunch of comments. I’d rather hear out delta and Hilton fanboys than an idiot making snide remarks about women who spend 100 nights at hotels or ambassadors not having relationships . I’m at 125 nights and will end the room at about 140… and my spouse is quite happy to enjoy my ambassador perks with me for 10-15 of those nights each year. I’m far from alone in being happily partnered and having top tier elite status.
And yet, you can stay 75+ nights a year and be Titanium... and be treated the same as gold. Makes no sense.
I wonder profession of woman spends 100+ nights a year at a hotel.
Chief executive officer, for instance.
Maybe even your mom!
The Ambassadors I’ve known have indeed been practitioners of the world’s oldest profession. And they tend to get VERY nice suite upgrades.
I find this perk kind of funny. As if 100 nights and $23,000 USD is not a high enough bar already. I have a very pleasant earnest concierge but their assistance is extremely perfunctory, and when she inquires on hotels for items I asked her to look into its not like they jump for her on giving her great answers or any special attention really. Especially in places like Mexico etc and holiday destinations where...
I find this perk kind of funny. As if 100 nights and $23,000 USD is not a high enough bar already. I have a very pleasant earnest concierge but their assistance is extremely perfunctory, and when she inquires on hotels for items I asked her to look into its not like they jump for her on giving her great answers or any special attention really. Especially in places like Mexico etc and holiday destinations where they seem, in general, to respect BONVOY loyalty less. I am looking into Hyatt and IHG as a possible switch. The juice ain't worth the squeeze on the jump from Titanium to Ambassador at this point. This new item doesn't change that for me.
Every loyalty program has its good points and bad points. And, Marriott has had more than its share of bad points. But, I do sense that the current CEO is trying to repair the company's relationship with Bonvoy members. To be sure, not every member will experience a better relationship. And, dogmatic individuals will find a reason to dislike Marriott (or any other program being discussed). But, I sense a change.
What a marketing ploy.
No wonder people fall for government propaganda.
It's almost like spending to reach 2 Ambassadors anyway. And on the old spend requirements, it is actually $40k.
Just like Basic Economy or Delta Elite+ or credit card SkyClub access annual limit.
They take away what you are already entitled to. Then they give it back at a premium and shamelessly tell you it's an enhancement or a new benefit.l based on customer feedback.
I have heard that they would also waive the 100 nights requirement for the AMB status if you exceed the required spend amount by a significant margin
Yes
Except for a 4pm departure, breakfast in a full service marriott, and a $10 food and beverage credit (which hasn't been raised in a decade), there isnt much else you get from Bonvoy. Not sure why a spouse would really care. Unless you are paying for a conference, who is runniing $40k a year through bonvoy?
The restart of personal ambassadors has been a big positive compared to pre-COVID. Pre-COVID, my ambassador was of zero value and I was ready to abandon Marriott. My current ambassador saved the relationship. I don't ask for or expect much, but the result has always been substantially better. If I related the dollar value of what's given, you'd say I was either lying or crazy. Separately, in terms of CPP, my award stays are on...
The restart of personal ambassadors has been a big positive compared to pre-COVID. Pre-COVID, my ambassador was of zero value and I was ready to abandon Marriott. My current ambassador saved the relationship. I don't ask for or expect much, but the result has always been substantially better. If I related the dollar value of what's given, you'd say I was either lying or crazy. Separately, in terms of CPP, my award stays are on par with what people expect out of Hyatt.
People who spend $40K+ a year on hotel rooms are less likely to have a significant other…
The perfect gift for my mistress!
does your mistress reside at your home address?
Is it a mistress if she's a gf that lives in the same house as you and your wife and there's an open understsanding that the relationship exist and you accidentally got her pregnant years back?
@JPlat
That's not a mistress.
That's called a nanny.
Hm. A "plus one" to me is a romantic companion. High revenue Marriott Ambassadors have difficulty finding someone because of their busy travel schedule. Unfortunately this perk is not going to create the warm fuzzy feelings that I thought it would from the name alone.