Here are 10 new Marriott Bonvoy hotels you’ll want to visit in 2024

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• BJ says:

  3 Jan3 January 04:48

  Fairfield competes with Hampton and HIX. Since I mostly see hotels as little more than a place to wash, sleep and have a simple breakfast I’m happy to see new openings in this sector. The problem is that rates in this sector in key cities have increased to the point that they no longer make sense compared to better brands whchh are often not much more expensive or sometimes even cheaper.

  • E says:

    3 Jan3 January 07:51

    Worth mentioning that at the Fairfield in Denmark you’ll only get a Bonvoy qualifying night for every two nights that you stay, not the usual one qualifying night per night of stay. This appears a new direction for Bonvoy with Fairfields that are new openings outside the US.

    • BJ says:

      3 Jan3 January 08:11

      Hadn’t heard of that. Others will probably follow.

      • Magic Mike says:

        3 Jan3 January 08:33

        The half EQN rule also applies to Protea Hotels (South Africa) and City Express (LATAM). Expect more to follow…

    • jacoblass says:

      3 Jan3 January 22:31

      It’s important to note that the new Fairfield in Denmark has a different Marriott Bonvoy qualifying night policy than most properties. Guests will only earn one qualifying night for every two nights stayed, rather than the typical one-to-one ratio. This appears to be a new trend for Bonvoy with Fairfield openings outside the US, so it’s worth considering if you’re deciding where to stay and how quickly you want to earn rewards.

  • flyforfun says:

    3 Jan3 January 08:00

    Yes, I’m of the same mind. If I’m paying to go somewhere, I’m going to be out sightseeing and exploring local restaurants. It’s good to have a back up if you can’t get out or if the weather is bad, but when people spend ££££ per night and stay only overnight in the room, I don’t see the value or enjoyment. A conference hotel I stayed in recently had a MPW restaurant in it that was not good and we only ate there as we were brain dead from the day. We didn’t get to use the spa, pool or gym as there activities organised for most of the day and night.

    As long as the room is clean, the bed comfortable , good A/C or heating as relevant with a decent breakfast option I’m normally fine. And proximity to sights and transport. Premier Inn or the newer Travelodges work fine in the UK. They may not be instragramable moments, but I’m happy not to bombard my friends and family with hotel pics!

• TimM says:

  3 Jan3 January 06:19

  Chain hotels are for wimps.

  • Gordon says:

    3 Jan3 January 07:05

    I travel for leisure, although I do stay in chain hotels, I also stay in small off the beaten track boutique hotels, as I think you get a more personal service especially in Asia.
    So I am 50% Wimp!

  • BBbetter says:

    3 Jan3 January 08:05

    Try asking for a late checkout at an independent (for no additional payment). Unless you are white and well dressed or you know the manager / owner personally or you speak the local tongue, nothing will happen.
    Chain hotels are a great social leveller. You can be wearing shorts or be a black or Asian and all it matters is your status in their system.

    • BJ says:

      3 Jan3 January 08:23

      Would be curious to hear feedback from HFPers on the extent kf any sort of discrimination tbey’ve experienced at independent hotels and guesthouses. Unfortunately discrimination is only the tip of the iceberg, underlying it I suspect hostility and attitude are common place, the latter even in chain hotels.

      • Gordon says:

        3 Jan3 January 08:45

        No problems for me at any hotel chain or independent property, and I’ve stayed at many!

      • meta says:

        3 Jan3 January 09:42

        I’ve experienced more discrimination at chain hotels than in independents!

    • JDB says:

      3 Jan3 January 08:45

      The suggestion that independent hotels discriminate or profile people in this manner any more than chains is quite bizarre. It’s also not entirely surprising that if you make an effort to speak a local language, staff might be better disposed towards a guest. As for clothing, I think you will find that the luxury end of chains will take that into account; if the guest can’t be bothered to dress appropriately, why should they make the effort? People here often complain about not getting upgrades to which they believe they are entitled and can see online availability. I’m sure there are good reasons.

      Cattle have numbers, and if anyone wants to rely upon a number to get preferred treatment, thereby dehumanising the process, you can’t necessarily expect the best.

      • Niall says:

        3 Jan3 January 09:01

        It’s really not bizarre JDB. The suggestion is obviously that chain hotels and their loyalty systems offers a slightly more fixed system which allows hotels to discriminate based on number of stays / spend etc instead of leaving it entirely to the discretion of staff who might have unconscious bias. Therefore taking human judgement/bias out of the process may be good thing.

      • BJ says:

        3 Jan3 January 09:14

        I do not believe it is at all bizarre. There have been a number of high profile cases of hotels discrimating against same sex coupkes in the UK that have ebded up in court. To the best of my recollection those I read about were all independent hotels not chain hotels. I am nit saying it does not happen at chain hotels but I believe it less likely due to company policy. It is not at bizarre toexpect issues relating to attitude and hostility to arise from time to time at both chain hotels and independent hotels, this is merely a reflection of prejudices and unacceptable behaviour that is all to common in British and other societies. To deny this one would both need to have never experiebced it and to have their head buried in the sand. While I personally have nit, to my knowledge, been discriminated against by either an independent or a chain hotel, I have been on the receing end of a hostile attitude in chain hotels too frequently and it is not pleasant. Numbers are going to make no difference to anything, I’m just curious if others encounter discrimination or hostility.

    • TimM says:

      3 Jan3 January 11:00

      BBbetter, you can always book one night more than you need. I find it works out cheaper than dealing with the front office if you need a late check-out. Plus the chambermaid is not lingering outside your room like a vulture waiting for you leave and for the tip. I have often done this.

      • BBbetter says:

        3 Jan3 January 12:24

        I am fine with paying an extra night if needed. But there’s a difference in attitude and behaviour in how the message is conveyed by the staff.

        JDB is also missing the point. I am not complaining of upgrades or unreasonable late checkouts not given BEFORE reaching the hotel. I am talking of the attitude and respect of the front desk staff when you reach the hotel. Often the owners are nice people, but they dont invest in training the staff to treat everyone with respect. Chains do a better job on that front. The option for customer to escalate by multiple ways forces staff to behave well.

  • memesweeper says:

    3 Jan3 January 13:00

    Chain hotels are a very mixed bag, just like independents.

    A Travelodge sign on the door saves me a lot of research. No thanks.

    My thus-far one-and-only St Regis experience has made me want to try the brand again.

• Matt says:

  3 Jan3 January 07:33

  Is there any Intel on whether Marriott Bonvoy are doing a soft landing this year?

  I’m currently Titanium but didn’t do enough nights last year to re-qualify for either Titanium or Platinum, so I’m hoping there’s a soft landing to retain the free breakfast benefit for another year.

  • BJ says:

    3 Jan3 January 08:31

    Yes, you’ll get the tier below your 2023 elite status through 28/2/25.

    • Matt says:

      3 Jan3 January 08:39

      Thanks

  • Rob says:

    3 Jan3 January 09:08

    Back in Octoberish, they announced online there would be a soft landing. The page was pulled after 24 hours.

    • BJ says:

      3 Jan3 January 09:17

      Does this mean they’re not honouring it?

    • Pangolin says:

      3 Jan3 January 18:09

      The Soft Landing page is back now:

      “In January 2024, all Members will have their 2023 loyalty activity evaluated as follows:
      Members who achieved their existing Elite status again in 2023 will have their current status renewed through February 2025.
      Members who did not re-achieve their existing Elite status in 2023 will be offered one tier below their current status through February 2025. Members will see their new status in March 2024 and can enjoy their existing status through February 2024.
      Members who achieved a higher Elite status during 2023 already have a status expiration date of February 2025.”

• Oliver says:

  3 Jan3 January 07:36

  The St Regis Belgrade is set to open in October 2024 and is looking rather impressive.

• BJ says:

  3 Jan3 January 07:38

  Expand… 🙂

  (Currently braving an independent hotel for a few days respite…but not from chain hotels)

  • BJ says:

    3 Jan3 January 07:41

    That was @Tim. Why do these replies sometimes go to the end as new comments?

    • TimM says:

      3 Jan3 January 11:10

      Well, BJ, hotel chains were a U.S.A. innovation to make travelling salespeople, and other business travellers, feel more comfortable when away from home. You essentially got the same experience no matter where you were. Unless you are insecure, ignorant, incurably unadventurous or just a thicko, there is never any reason to stay in a chain hotel. What is the point of travelling if you just stay in a bland, globally-managed and designed hotel? None.

      Experience!

      • Harry T says:

        3 Jan3 January 11:51

        People who use the word “never” tend to be the real thickish in my experience 😜

        • Harry T says:

          3 Jan3 January 11:52

          Thickos*

          Apple autocorrect has a vendetta against my vocabulary 🙂

      • TGLoyalty says:

        3 Jan3 January 11:58

        Are you talking about certain brands within the programmes or the programmes themselves

        Because there’s plenty of diversity in the Bonvoy programme (ans you can see in this list( and yes even within the brands hotels can be widely different. Personally I pick the hotel I like the look of most not necessarily which programme it’s in but something like wanting 4pm checkout will sway me to Bonvoy or FHR bookings etc

        An extra night as suggested above is only if I need a late night checkout.

      • BBbetter says:

        3 Jan3 January 12:17

        For many, the ‘experience’ is the destination, not the hotel room. It makes sense for some aspects of travel to be predictable so that you have a better ‘experience’ in what you visit and eat.
        Am sure TimM takes the boat to Thailand because he thinks flying is unadventurous. What is the point of traveling if you are going to be visiting the same airport and flying the same aircraft?

        • TGLoyalty says:

          3 Jan3 January 13:04

          This too. You just know when you’re getting back after a long hard day exploring everything *should* be okay if not they’ll do their best to make it okay.

          That’s absolutely not always the case with independents, the staff are sometimes powerless and the only person that can fix it isn’t around etc

          But in most cases chain or indi it’s all about DYOR and YMMV

        • TimM says:

          3 Jan3 January 15:22

          I have sailed to Thailand, though I did fly there once from Hong Kong too. That flight was memorable for the announcement that there should be no lying down in the aisles. As soon as the seatbelt signs were off, the aisles were full of people lying down. I imagine you only get this in economy.

      • Ken says:

        3 Jan3 January 14:34

        Working is not travelling.

        What’s wrong with a chain when you are getting to a hotel at 7pm , need to park your car, do a bit of work, get a good kip and leave early the next morning?

        • TGLoyalty says:

          4 Jan4 January 23:03

          Absolutely nothing!

• SP says:

  3 Jan3 January 08:00

  In Florence (Italy) a W is under construction in Piazza dell’Unita. No idea when it will be opening.

• Nick says:

  3 Jan3 January 08:49

  I hate the Moxy underbed lighting! Really don’t see why they insist on it being a permanent setting with no option to turn it off.

• Kowalski says:

  3 Jan3 January 08:56

  The St Regis in London was on the headforpoints list of 10 Bonvoy hotels you’ll want to visit last year. Looks like a copy and paste.

  Sadly I’ll be surprised if it does open this year!

  • Rhys says:

    3 Jan3 January 09:11

    Good spot 🙂

    • Kowalski says:

      3 Jan3 January 13:51

      Keep it handy to use again on the 2025 list!

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