Marriott makes some underwhelming and odd Bonvoy tweaks – but you might save a few points

Marriott Bonvoy made a couple of announcements today which sound like a big deal but actually aren’t. 

I’m not entirely sure what they are thinking.  There is a good idea hiding here somewhere, but the execution is bodged.  No-one is losing out, but not many people are going to benefit either.

There were three parts to the announcement:

July redemption bookings will be off-peak, except when they are not

Marriott Bonvoy has switched the majority of its hotels to off-peak pricing for July stays booked with Marriott Bonvoy points.

On the face of it, I like this idea.  However:

you’re unlikely to be doing many July hotel stays anyway – it would have been better if it had run into August

only 5,500 of the 7,000+ Marriott hotels are showing off-peak reward pricing in July, and many of the most attractive will be amongst the 1,500 which are still at standard rates – it should have been compulsory for ALL hotels

you have to book before 30th June, which gives you no flexibility for booking a last minute break if restrictions are lifted – I would have allowed it for last minute bookings too

hotel pricing will be at rock bottom for a few months, so even at off-peak pricing it may be a better deal to use cash

Here is Marriott Bonvoy reward price chart by category, for reference:

The new St Regis in Venice, pictured below, IS on the list of hotels included.  The same goes for the Hotels Arts Barcelona pictured below.

You could save an average of 30% if you booked a stay at the off-peak rate which would usually have been at peak rates.  However, many hotels are not included in this offer, hotels may be offering reduced facilities and amenities and prices will be low anyway.

You are getting additional elite night credits

The second part of the announcement relates to elite night credits.

All Marriott Bonvoy members are getting elite night credits equivalent to 50% of the status they earned in 2019.

This means that if you were Platinum Elite in 2019 but only did enough nights to earn Gold Elite for 2020, you will receive 13 elite night credits.

The full list is (this is based on the status you earned in 2019 for 2020):

• Ambassador Elite – 50 elite night credits
• Titanium Elite – 38 elite night credits
• Platinum Elite – 25 elite night credits
• Gold Elite – 13 elite night credits
• Silver Elite – 5 elite night credits

The things is ….. Marriott has already extended your elite status by 12 months.  For most people, these these additional nights don’t get you anything.

This is only useful if you were planning to aim for a higher tier for 2021 than you have in 2020.  For example, a Platinum Elite member in 2020 is guaranteed Platinum Elite status for 2021 regardless.  However, with 25 elite night credits in the bag, the member may now decide to push for Titanium Elite instead.

It will also help some people trigger the additional benefits unlocked for hitting 50 and 75 nights in a year.  At 50 nights, for example, you can choose from either five Suite Night Awards, five elite night credits, free Silver Elite status for a friend or a $100 UNICEF donation.

To the extent that the offer may encourage some Bonvoy members to move business to Marriott, when the guaranteed extension may be encouraging them to shift stays elsewhere for the rest of 2020, it is not a bad idea.  For the majority of Marriott Bonvoy members, however, it doesn’t get them anything.

The additional elite night credits will be deposited by the end of July.

Remember that the Marriott Bonvoy Amex comes with 15 elite night credits

If these additional nights have got you thinking that you MIGHT want to push for a higher status level for next year, don’t forget the Marriott Bonvoy American Express credit card.

If you get the card, you will receive 15 free elite night credits each year.

Add these 15 credits to the additional credits that Marriott is about to give you and there may be an opportunity to push for higher status.

Let’s assume that you were Gold Elite last year and earned it again for 2020.  You have already been rolled over to Gold for 2021. However …. Marriott is now giving you 13 elite night credits.  If you got the Marriott Bonvoy American Express, you’d receive a further 15 nights.  This gets you to 28.  Platinum Elite only requires 50 nights and this may not be out of reach depending on your travel schedule for the Autumn.

Our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card is here and you can apply here.

Ambassador Elite members can gift Platinum Elite to a friend

This is a genuine improvement, albeit one that only benefits a few people.

If you have Ambassador Elite status, you will now be able to make a one-off gift of Platinum Elite status to a friend.

For clarity ….

Marriott Bonvoy has done a good job so far of looking after its elite members.

We’ve seen status extensions, we’ve seen the pausing of points expiration and we’ve seen the extension of any Suite Night Awards or Free Night Awards held by top tier members.

I don’t want to knock the effort that Marriott has put in.  I just think that this latest announcement is more likely to frustrate and confuse rather than lead to increased loyalty.

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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.)