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.

It started with an update to the Marriott website which was inadvertently placed on their rewards page.  Someone posted the update to the FlyerTalk forums:

Marriott Rewards has announced enhancements to the program beginning January 15, 2009.

• No blackout dates on points redemptions for standard rooms
• Increase of Platinum member elite bonus from 30% to 50%
• 4th night free on a 3 night hotel redemption using points

90 minutes later, the update was removed from the Marriott website and within 30 minutes of the removal a post was made to the same thread:

"Earlier today, information about possible changes to the Marriott Rewards program was mistakenly published on Marriott.com.

Based upon your feedback regarding blackout dates and capacity controls, we are evaluating potential program enhancements. We have nothing to announce at this time. We’re sorry for any confusion this might have caused and we’ll be sure to provide advanced notice of any future changes.

Marriott Concierge Team"

If this program is eventually implemented, it would be a huge contrast to the negative trend in airline point programs and a bright spot in an otherwise terrible environment for travelers.  Higher ticket prices, increased airline fees, and the "cost reduction" changes to frequent flyer programs may be having a detrimental effect on hotel profitability.  As prices increase and the economy continues to implode, clients, companies, and travelers will naturally look for ways to cut expenses.  Unfortunately for us, airlines have a lock on travel (we’re a captive audience), but travelers have more flexibility in moving to lower cost lodging, even if it means losing out on points.  It would be smart for hotel chains to look at the big picture and be proactive about targeting and retaining their best customers.  Kudos to Marriott for looking ahead.  Hopefully they execute…

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At MTP we stress that points are just the icing on the cake, not the cake itself.  These days there is not much to look forward to when traveling. Spend your time on the road wisely so you have more time with family and loved ones - that’s the cake.

There’s not much to say other than register especially if you’re already staying at a Marriott hotel between July 1st and August 31st, 2008.  You’ll earn 10,000 Marriott Rewards points for every third paid stay you make at Marriott.

Term and Conditions:

• Marriott Rewards members who register for this promotion will earn 10,000 bonus points every third paid stay, when their first paid stay and subsequent paid stays are made between July 1 and August 31, 2008, at a participating Marriott property – up to a maximum 30,000 points.
• Registration is required.
• Registration ends June 30, 2008.
• This offer is not transferable.
• Nights spent while redeeming an award are not eligible for credit.
• A stay is defined as consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, regardless of check-in/check-out activity.
• Only one room per hotel is counted towards a member’s nights or stay.
• Members electing to earn miles are not eligible for this promotion.
• All Marriott Rewards program terms and conditions apply.
• Visit MarriottRewards.com, call 1-888-MARRIOTT, or call your local Marriott Rewards Guest Services office for complete details.

I don’t know why Marriott and other hotels do not automatically sign up frequent travelers for these promotions.  Just imagine what a nice surprise it would be to see bonus points on your point statements without having to go through the tedious process of registering every quarter for the special promotion.  Perhaps they are testing to see if you still care.

Not to be outdone by Hyatt, it looks like Marriott Platinum Elite members are eligible for a special one-year complimentary membership to Clear.

Off the Website:

The Clear Card allows you to access a fast lane through airport security at 17 major airports nationwide. As the number of participating airports grows, so does the value of Clear. The first time you breeze through security without the unpredictable, long lines, you’ll marvel at the time you save.

Enrollment in Clear is easy and, for Marriott Platinum Rewards members, complimentary. Start the process online by clicking join now on the left, then bring two forms of government-issued I.D. to any Clear enrollment station, where an attendant will confirm your I.D.s, capture iris and fingerprint images, and take your photograph.

After that, we’ll mail you your card and you’ll be free and clear, ready to speed through airport security, whether you’re on your way to your next Marriott stay, or anywhere else.

While it is not accepted everywhere, it appears to be rolling out to more and more airports each month.

Airports Accepting the Clear card:

• Albany (ALB)
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG)
• Denver (DEN)
• Indianapolis (IND)
• Jacksonville (JAX)*
• New York JFK Terminals 1, 4 and 7 (JFK)
• New York LaGuardia Central Terminal (LGA)
• Newark Terminal B2 (EWR)
• Little Rock (LIT)
• Oakland (OAK)
• Orlando (MCO)
• Reno-Tahoe (RNO)*
• San Francisco (SFO)
• San José (SJC)
• Washington Dulles (IAD)
• Washington Reagan (DCA)
• Westchester (HPN)

Just enter “Marriott” followed immediately by your Marriott Rewards number in the discount field on the payment information page at the end of the enrollment process and receive your complimentary first year of membership.

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Less time in a security line can only be a good thing.

We all need More Than Points to keep our sanity, but maximize points while you have to be away from your family by signing up for Marriott’s Spring Megabonus Promotion.

Rewards differ based various (unknown) factors. As a Platinum member, my reward promotion was:

Stay and Earn

Receive 5,000 Marriott Rewards MegaBonus points for every other paid stay you make, beginning with your second stay – up to a total of 25,000 points.

A co-worker with Gold status received:

Stay and Earn

Receive 30,000 Marriott Rewards MegaBonus points when you stay a total of 20 paid nights at Marriott, then an additional 20,000 points when you stay a total of 25 paid nights – up to a total of 50,000 points.

Looks like the Gold member got the better deal than me!

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Promotion runs from February 15th through May 15th so don’t forget to sign up and maximize your point earnings. Stay warm.