Marriott Bonvoy Increases Award Prices Significantly

Marriott Bonvoy has implemented a significant increase in award prices across a wide range of its global hotel properties, impacting the redemption value of loyalty points. This devaluation, observed over the past weekend, has led to award costs rising by an estimated 5% to 10% according to Chinese award booking sites and hotel pricing trackers. The loyalty program, which transitioned to a dynamic pricing model in 2022, has seen its highest award prices increase by an average of nearly 13% in just over a year, based on an analysis of popular properties.

The most substantial point increases are concentrated at Marriott's luxury brands, including St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, Edition, and Luxury Collection properties. For instance, The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad now requires 160,000 points per night, up from 142,000 points last year. Similarly, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has seen its highest nightly award rate climb to 220,000 points from 198,000 points. A particularly sharp rise was noted at the Mystique Santorini, a Luxury Collection property, which now demands 172,000 points per night, a 36.5% increase from its previous rate of 126,000 points.

These price hikes also affect the usability of Marriott's free night certificates. Several properties that were previously attainable with 35,000, 50,000, or 85,000-point certificates now exceed these redemption thresholds, making them inaccessible for certificate holders. The lack of a published award chart for Marriott Bonvoy points exacerbates the frustration for loyal members, as it obscures the timing and extent of these devaluations, making it difficult to plan award stays effectively.