Marriott Rewards devalues its reward chart

It is clearly the season for devaluing hotel programmes.

We have just seen Priority Club undertake one form of devaluation, when it moved from a brand-by-brand points table to a points table based more on average room rate. This led to increases in properties in big cities – ie the places you will probably be travelling – offset by drops in places where cash rates and overall demand are lower.

At least Priority Club could claim that, in terms of hotel numbers, the same number had gone up as had gone down.

Marriott Rewards has gone for a far blunter instrument.

At present, Marriott has 8 categories, requiring 7,500 to 40,000 points each. From 16th May, there will be a new 9th category, costing 45,000 points per night. Some Category 8 hotels will move up a level to form Category 9.

More painfully, though, is that 36% of Marriott properties are moving up a category. Only 1% are going down. This is an effective increase of 5,000 points per night for most hotels.

The Marriott MegaBonus promotion – the current version of which I outlined here – takes a massive hit. This was already poor, in that your free night could only be used at a Category 1-4 hotel.

Now, Category 4 shrinks by a whopping 370 hotels. This is 370 fewer places to use your MegaBonus free night, and frankly there were few decent properties in Categories 1-4 in the first place.

The only upside is that you can still book until 15th May at the current rates, and you can book a year ahead. Given that you can cancel without penalty if your plans change, there is nothing to lose by making speculative bookings now if you are sitting on a Marriott points mountain.

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

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 22nd October 2024, the bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased to up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points, worth 80,000 Avios. You will receive 8 points per £1 spent for the first three months, on up to £10,000 of spending. Click here to read our full card review. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 22nd October 2024, the bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased to up to 40,000 Membership Rewards points, worth 40,000 Avios. You will receive 4 points per £1 spent for the first three months, on up to £10,000 of spending. The card is FREE for your first year. Click here to read our full card review. Click here to apply.

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.)