Has the Starwood to Marriott conversion ratio been leaked?

I thought I’d drop this in during the afternoon as something to think about ….

This morning a Mandarin-speaking reader, who I know fairly well via previous emails, sent me a document which has been doing the rounds on Chinese frequent flyer sites today.

It appears to be an internal briefing document of some sort relating to the Starwood Preferred Guest transition details.  It is in Mandarin so I haven’t posted it.

The key takeaway of this document is that allegedly the conversion ratio from Starwood Preferred Guest points to Marriott Rewards points will be 1:3.

If correct, this is fair.  Not hugely generous, but fair.  After all my own valuations, which I mention on here occasionally, are 0.5p per Marriott Rewards points and 1.5p per Starwood Preferred Guest point.

If confirmed, it could have been a lot worse.  Marriott clearly isn’t out to stiff SPG members from Day 1.

The other takeaway is that status matching will be available, perhaps immediately, from Starwood to the equivalent Marriott level.  Starwood Gold would get you Marriott Gold which means lounge access and (in the lounge) breakfast.

This makes American Express Platinum (my review) very interesting for Marriott stayers.   That card comes with free Starwood Gold status which would match to Marriott Rewards Gold.  It also comes with a bonus of 30,000 American Express Membership Rewards points which would turn, via SPG, into 45,000 Marriott Rewards points.

The Starwood Preferred Guest American Express (my review) would be worth 30,000 Marriott Rewards points as a sign-up bonus (ie 10,000 SPG).

This is only speculation of course and I may be proved totally wrong tomorrow.  Let’s see.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2024)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.  We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (40,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. 

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)