Marriott Plans to Improve Suite Night Awards
Marriott’s Suite Night Awards are one of the choices Marriott Bonvoy members have when achieving 50 Qualifying Nights annually and again when achieving 75 Qualifying Nights annually. A Suite Night Award is a one-night confirmable upgrade to a standard suite or select premium room, depending on the hotel’s availability.
Using these Suite Night Awards is often challenging and apparently Marriott is looking for ways to improve that. The proposed changes that were first reported by View from the Wing and Doctor of Credit, include Marriott Bonvoy paying hotels more to confirm upgrades, making more upgrade room categories available, including more hotel brands, and extending the window for clearing upgrades. The information comes from an internal memo.
New Name
First, which is not really an improvement, Suite Night Awards are expected to get a new name in the fourth quarter of 2023. Suite Night Awards were part of the SPG program and were carried over to Marriott after the merger.
More Brands
Then, starting in the the first quarter of 2024, Suite Night Awards will be applicable at more brands. Currently you can’t use them at The Ritz-Carlton, The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, EDITION, Protea Hotels, Aloft, Element, Design Hotels all-Suite Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club properties and Vistana properties. But the The Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, Protea, Aloft and Element will become eligible.
More Room Types
Another way that Marriott plans to improve Suite Night Awards is by making additional room types available for upgrades at currently participating brands. This should in theory make it easier to get confirmed for an upgrade.
Longer Window
Marriott is also considering changing the current window to fulfill upgrades. Currently, once you request to use your Suite Night Awards for a stay, Marriott checks the upgrade availability starting five days prior to arrival and will keep checking every day until 2:00 PM local hotel time, one day prior to arrival. Later this year they will make a decision on whether this window will be expended.
Paid Upgrades
Marriott is “exploring options for members to be able to purchase a confirmed upgrade before arrival through new digital upsell placements and merchandising across the Marriott Bonvoy app and website.”
Better Compensation for Hotels
Last but not least, hotels will get paid more by Marriott when members successfully redeem a Suite Night Award. The payments is “designed to help offset estimated incremental housekeeping costs associated with these upgrades.”
