More Than Points

If you’re a Marriott Rewards member, you may have recently received an email titled "Introducing No Blackout Dates" with a link to this promotion.  In mid-September, we posted an article referencing a leaked Marriott promotion that was the precursor to this promotion. It looks like most of the original promotion items are true, but there are a few additional changes which actually makes this bad news for Marriott Rewards members.  Before you get all excited about new benefits like, "Redeem 4 nights and get the 5th night free!" and "Enjoy a 50% Platinum Elite Bonus" take a behind the scenes look at what they have done to the points required for stays.

TABLE 1: Changes in Required Points (Each cell represents the INCREASE or DECREASE in points required, NOT the total points)

CATEGORY	1 night	2 nights	3 nights	4 nights	5 nights	6 nights	7 nights
1	0	1000	2500	5000	0	2500	12500
2	0	1000	3000	5000	-3000	0	15000
3	0	2000	4000	8000	-3000	2000	23000
4	0	2000	5000	10000	-3000	5000	35000
5	0	4000	10000	20000	5000	20000	60000
6	0	5000	12000	25000	10000	30000	80000
7	0	5000	15000	30000	10000	35000	95000

As an example, you will now need 25,000 more points to stay 4 nights at a Category 6 hotel at an increase of 26% over the original required points of 95,000 points for a total of 120,000 points!  To stay 7 nights at a Category 7 hotel will require an additional 95000 points - that’s an increase in required points of over 63%!!!

Looks like Marriott is going the airline route and devaluing their points as well.  Shame on Marriott for trying to pull a fast one.  MTP advises you to use those reward points this year if you can help it because on January 15th 2009, they will be worth a lot less.

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All that gold is not glitter.