Covid Marriott

COVID-19: Marriott Bonvoy

To the point In response to COVID-19, Marriott Bonvoy has adjusted its terms and conditions for hotel reservations and the loyalty program.

Article updated on 26/10/2020

Measures taken by Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy has taken several actions under COVID-19. In particular on:

  • cancellations or modifications of reservations
  • various aspects of the loyalty program
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Actions for the Marriott Bonvoy program

Extension of the validity of free night certificates or travel packages

There are new features if you have them:

These certificates have had their expiration date extended to August 01, 2021. The changes will appear in the Marriott Bonvoy account as of December 11, 2020.

However, certificates that expired prior to 2020 (and have already been extended to January 31, 2021) will not have their expiration date extended.

This applies, for example, to those who had already negotiated with Marriott Bonvoy to extend a certificate expiring in 2019 by one year.

Thank you Prince of Travel for the information.

Marriott Bonvoy status

On April 08, 2020, Marriott Bonvoy announced a 12-month extension of the status earned in 2019 by its members for the entire year of 2021.

So the status you currently have, which was supposed to expire in February 2021, will now expire in February 2022.

However, you will still need to pass the 50-night mark (Platinum) and 75-night mark (Titanium) to gain access to the benefit selection. For example, here is the selection offered to those who spend at least 50 nights per year at Marriott hotels:

  • Five free upgrades to a suite (Suite Night Awards™)
  • Silver Elite status gift
  • 40% off your favourite mattress
  • five Elite Night Credits
  • a $100 charity donation

Marriott Bonvoy has not yet announced whether these levels will be lower (it is likely that the program will run a promotion as we have seen in the past: 1 night done = 2 nights status)

Pause for points expiration

Marriott Bonvoy points expire when no activity (accumulation or use of points) has occurred on the account for 24 months.

Here, Marriott Bonvoy is pausing this expiration until the end of July 2021.

After this date, the expiration will resume: that is to say that on July 01, 2021, the accounts that have not seen any activity since July 01, 2019 will see their points expire.

It only takes one transaction to keep your account active such as making purchases on the Marriott BonvoyTM American ExpressMD Card or transferring Membership Rewards points from one of the 6 cards in the program such as the excellent American Express CobaltTM Card.

Or book a hotel room with your points!

Extension of the validity period of the upgrade certificates

SuiteNight Awards certificates that were set to expire on December 31, 2020 will be extended by one year to December 31, 2021.

50% bonus elite nights

Besides, Marriott Bonvoy members who have achieved elite status in 2019 will receive an Elite Nights credits equal to 50% of the elite tier earned in 2019:

2019 Status Elite Nights bonus
Silver Elite 5 Elite Nights
Gold Elite 13 Elite Nights
Platinum Elite 25 Elite Nights
Titanium Elite 38 Elite Nights
Ambassador Elite 50 Elite Nights

These elite nights will be deposited into your account by the end of July.

We would like to see Marriott Bonvoy make an additional gesture, as Hilton Honors did by deferring Elite nights accrued in 2020 to 2021.

Personally, as of December 31, 2019, I was a Titanium Elite Member in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Then between January 1 and March 20, 2020, I got 57 nights:

To which Marriott Bonvoy has added 38 Elite Nights as a gift for being, in 2019, a Titanium member. A total of 95 nights.

Like many Marriott Bonvoy members in my situation, I would have preferred to have my 42 nights stayed during the first 3 months of 2020 carried over to 2021 in order to count towards 2022 status!

Cancellations

Existing reservations

For guests with reservations made on or after July 6, 2020, for arrival dates up to and including December 30, 2020, changes and cancellations are allowed free of charge up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled arrival date. Reservations made with prepaid rates and other limited exclusions* will be subject to the rules corresponding to the rate communicated at the time of reservation.

Any modification of an existing reservation will be made according to availability and will be subject to possible price differences.

New bookings

For guests making new reservations for arrival dates on or after December 31, 2020, the cancellation policies of the applicable hotels in effect at the time of booking will apply.

Any changes to the reservation will be made according to availability and will be subject to any price differences.

Conditions are available here.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien is an expert in Canada and France about Loyalty programs, Credit cards and Travel. He is the Founding President of Milesopedia.

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