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As of March 29, 2022, Marriott Bonvoy hotel categories will disappear. The points charged will now vary according to a dynamic fee schedule.
Until now, hotels of the Marriott Bonvoy program were splitted into 8 categories, themselves subdivided into 3 rates (off peak, standard, peak).
A free hotel night could therefore cost between 5,000 points (category 1 hotel – off peak reate) and 100,000 points (category 8 hotel – peak rate).
From now on, as of March 29, 2022Marriott Bonvoy will no longer display hotel categories or seasonal rates. It is the introduction of a dynamic pricing model.
And this is VERY bad news, which can be described as a devaluation of the program. Indeed, hotel point rates will closely follow cash rates.
Here are examples of Marriott Bonvoy hotels to book before tomorrow to avoid a point increase.
Still, there could be some beneficial surprises on the traveler’s side. Starting tomorrow, it is possible that a hotel already booked in points will cost less. It may be worth checking, because you never know!
The 8 categories and 3 rates will now be replaced by the flexible point redemption rates.
From March through December 2022, Marriott Bonvoy assures that you can expect almost all hotels to require the same number of points to redeem as before. A hotel that was charging 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points may be able to charge 31,000 points, or 38,000 points during peak periods.
Except that as of March 29, there will be 200 hotels that will require more points. Increases will range from 5,000 points to 30,000 points.
In Canada, for example, there will only be the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver which will cost up to 10,000 points more in points.
For popular destinations like the Maldives, these hotels will increase by up to 20,000 points per night:
For the rest, these 200 hotels are very popular and represent places where the demand is very high.
Take for example this hotel in the Maldives that has been getting a lot of press for being a category 5 hotel available from as little as 30,000 points per night up to 40,000 points.
According to the 200 hotel chart above, he will have a 20,000 point increase. Therefore, the points per night requested will now be between 30,000 points and 60,000 points.
Here, in this example, we have 4 hôtels of categories 5-6-7-8.
Of course, we can find situations where this type of change will be positive.
But this type of situation is not likely to occur often, unless you visit a destination in the off-season.
What will happen in 2023? It’s nebulous, but it’s certain that these scales will be inconsistant and not what we once knew.
Starting at the end of April 2022, it will now be possible to combine the free night certificate with points (up to 15,000 points). The date is not yet known.
This certificate + points combination is great news for Marriott Bonvoy credit card holders.
Until now, it was only possible to use a certificate for a free hotel night with a maximum value of 35,000 points. So you were able to use it in category 1 to category 5 hotels (except in peak season for this category):
From now on, it will be possible to use a Free Night Award (35,000 points) and to add points up to a total value of 50,000 points (i.e. up to 15,000 points more).
This is also good news for members with a Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status who opt for an annual benefit of one free night for hotels up to 40,000 points in value. With this change, they will be able to use up to 15,000 points to get a free night up to a total value of 55,000 points.
Marriott Bonvoy has extended the current Elite status of all its members through February 2023.
Marriott Bonvoy had already extended the 2019 and 2020 Elite Status to February 2022.
This is good news for those who had not stayed at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel this year. Their status is self-renewing as of 2019. However, it is a shame for those who worked hard this year to maintain their Elite status. Let’s hope Marriott Bonvoy does like this year (offering Elite Night Credits counting for lifetime status).
For Ambassador Elite members, Marriott had reduced the spending threshold this year from $20,000 to $14,000. As of January 1, 2022, it will revert to $20,000 and the 100 annual qualifying night requirement will remain in place.
Marriott Bonvoy confirms that the points expiration is now December 31, 2022.
However, if your account has been inactive for at least 24 months on that date, your points will expire.
Suite Night Awards are extended to June 30, 2022.
Previously, they had been extended until December 31, 2021.
Again, there will be an extension.
If you had a free night award that would have expired between January 03, 2022 and June 29, 2022, the new expiration date will be June 30, 2022.
A free night award is earned through promotions, a choice of member benefits or with a Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card.
Based on numerous recent testimonials from members of our Facebook group, Marriott Bonvoy’s customer service department flatly refuses to extend them past June 30, 2022.
Once again, the adageearnearn & burn” makes sense: if you have Marriott Bonvoy points and a stay planned in the next year, use your points by March 28, 2022 to lock in your reservation!
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