New Marriott Rewards Property Categories and Travel Package Requirements effective Aug '18

[Steve Fatula]

Same number as the seven night packages. It is on the PDF that is linked in the first post in this thread.

I called the MVCI Presidential line (not MR) and call got answered immediately, had 5 night package arranged < 5 minutes total.

 

[dansimms]

Curious to see what our various MVCI Villas are categorized as ? Are they in this chart ? I couldn’t find them. I know they are separate companies, but we will still be affected

 

[Steve Fatula]

Curious to see what our various MVCI Villas are categorized as ? Are they in this chart ? I couldn’t find them. I know they are separate companies, but we will still be affected

They are all on this page:

https://points-redemption.marriott.com/category-change

 

[Superchief]

Curious to see what our various MVCI Villas are categorized as ? Are they in this chart ? I couldn’t find them. I know they are separate companies, but we will still be affected

Most MVC properties went up 10-20k per night. Those that didn't go up were primarily resorts with lockoff, so I expect the point requirements are for the studio. If you review the chart, there is a significant increase for all of the hotels/resorts in prime vacation destinations. Some doubled in point requirements.

 

[Perrygirl]

I may be posting this on the wrong thread I’m sorry. But I am very unhappy about the change. I would like to help in some way. If Marriott adapted to Westin type of points we would be fine but on one and few nights stay Marriott required twice to 3 times the points. That’s why I use my SPG AMEX and almost never my Chase Marriott card. It takes me 3 months with SPGs current system for a lovely Westin in New Orleans for example yet 6 months of spending to get just an ok Marriott hotel. This isn’t good for all of us. How can we get Marriott to adapt to SPG ways.

 

[Steve A]

Got my 7 night level 9 and 120,000 AA ff miles. Will make my reservations for London for next May before the end of the month.

I’m guessing the SPG AMEX will not be useful beginning in August. If so, I’ll drop it and the Marriott Chase card. What are other folks doing?

 

[Jwerking]

I called the MVCI Presidential line (not MR) and call got answered immediately, had 5 night package arranged < 5 minutes total.

Can we also call MVCI to arrange the 7 night travel packages ???

Will MVCI do the hotel reservations and attach the hotel certificates?? Sure would be LESS waiting on the phone lines.

 

[Jwerking]

Most MVC properties went up 10-20k per night. Those that didn't go up were primarily resorts with lockoff, so I expect the point requirements are for the studio. If you review the chart, there is a significant increase for all of the hotels/resorts in prime vacation destinations. Some doubled in point requirements.

Just out of curiosity, I did a search of availability of MCVI properties and generally nothing showed up for a 7 day search at several key properties. So this is likely not going to be a viable option. As I recall, this is also true at most of Marriott's Executive Apts - no availabilty for 7 night stays even at the 11 mo window. It is like the timeshare exchange lottery except there is no ongoing search.

 

[WBP]

I may be posting this on the wrong thread I’m sorry. But I am very unhappy about the change. I would like to help in some way. If Marriott adapted to Westin type of points we would be fine but on one and few nights stay Marriott required twice to 3 times the points. That’s why I use my SPG AMEX and almost never my Chase Marriott card. It takes me 3 months with SPGs current system for a lovely Westin in New Orleans for example yet 6 months of spending to get just an ok Marriott hotel. This isn’t good for all of us. How can we get Marriott to adapt to SPG ways.

I render your desire to get Marriott Rewards to adopt SPG ways, hopeless, for the following reasons:

David Flueck, the Senior Vice President of Global Loyalty (inclusive of Marriott Rewards) is a Starwood Guy, who is rumored to have (previously) been one of the architects of the once wonderful Starwood Preferred Guest program.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-flueck-107a249

David Flueck is identified as one of the architects of Marriott's new brand loyalty program.

If you haven't watched this, I would encourage you to spend 45 minutes watching this:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2095479260466710

 

[Steve Fatula]

Can we also call MVCI to arrange the 7 night travel packages ???

Will MVCI do the hotel reservations and attach the hotel certificates?? Sure would be LESS waiting on the phone lines.

No idea, call and try, would be worth it if they can. I figured since the 5 day packages are MVCI only, surely they might handle them and they did. Assuming you have the VIP line, which requires executive ownership level in MVCI and above. If they can at least arrange the certificate and airline miles, that's half the battle from reading some other posts.

 

[Steve A]

Booked London for next May for 8 nights using 7 night cert and points. Had enough ff points to fly business over and regular cabin on the way back. Staying at the Park Lane, our favorite.

 

[BocaBoy]

I don't think Marriott has said or confirmed how they will map existing certificates that people have in their accounts. So it is anybody's guess.

I don't have a source document to refer you to, but Marriott did say early on (don't recall where, but probably in one of the interviews or Q&A's) that they would map based on points requirements, so I assume that is still the case. And it does make sense, in part because they are merging Starwood and Marriott hotels into the same system and in part because it preserves most closely the value of the certificate. It may be that what I saw was for the one-time certificates (from promotions and credit cards), but the principle would seem to be the same.

 

[dioxide45]

Most MVC properties went up 10-20k per night. Those that didn't go up were primarily resorts with lockoff, so I expect the point requirements are for the studio. If you review the chart, there is a significant increase for all of the hotels/resorts in prime vacation destinations. Some doubled in point requirements.

I wonder if the old points numbers are based on IF the properties only had hotel/studio units. Where perhaps the new points numbers are based on the actual smallest unit. Take Cypress Harbour for example, it was 35,000 previously and now 50,000. Grande Vista was 35,000 and is still 35,000. I take that to think that they were basing the old Cypress Harbour points on a hotel size room, but you would have had to add two upgrade certs at 5,000 each to go up to the 2BR units that they have. Now the requirement is more in line with with a Grande Vista 2BR unit when you upgrade with points. Do we know if upgrades are still 5,000 or are they now 7,500 points?

 

[kds4]

I wonder if the old points numbers are based on IF the properties only had hotel/studio units. Where perhaps the new points numbers are based on the actual smallest unit. Take Cypress Harbour for example, it was 35,000 previously and now 50,000. Grande Vista was 35,000 and is still 35,000. I take that to think that they were basing the old Cypress Harbour points on a hotel size room, but you would have had to add two upgrade certs at 5,000 each to go up to the 2BR units that they have. Now the requirement is more in line with with a Grande Vista 2BR unit when you upgrade with points. Do we know if upgrades are still 5,000 or are they now 7,500 points?

If they are 7,500, that would seem to map. 35k for an MGV Studio, 42,500 for an MGV 1BR, and 50k for an MGV 2BR versus 50k for a Cypress Harbour 2BR (being the only unit type they have). That would make more 'sense', than keeping it at 5k per upgrade step (which would create a 5k point 'gap' between a 2BR at MGV (45k) versus Cypress Harbour (50k).

 

[NboroGirl]

Things I learned while booking my (first ever) travel package, which was a 5-night package:

1) Do NOT call the number (800-321-7396) posted on the marriot.com/rewards website to redeem your points for a 5-night package. Even though it says to redeem points for one of the (7-day) travel packages shown, that doesn't seem to work. The only option that was even CLOSE to that was booking a hotel stay with points. When I told that person what I wanted, she gave me "the correct" phone number (800-847-8262) to call. Don't call that one either. When I called it, I got someone with Vistana who had no clue what I was trying to do, so I gave up and called MVC's Owner Services number (800-845-4226) and that's who I should have called in the first place.

They have historically allowed you to move up or down in categories via taking or refunding the point difference that the package would have cost if you had purchased it in the first place.

We can only assume they will continue to allow this in the future.

1) I was told no, you cannot use points to upgrade your certificate. If you buy a travel package for a category 6 hotel, you can not use points or dollars to stay at a higher category hotel with your hotel certificates. You can only use points to upgrade to a better room. You can use the certificates to stay at a lower category room (no refunding of points). When I questioned her about this further, she said she had never heard of that (using more points or refunding points) and stated "That's Marriot Rewards, so you'd need to check with them."

3) The hotel certificates do not need to be used in conjunction with the miles (which I already knew) but they have to be used all at once. No using a night here and a couple of nights somewhere else.

Anything else? Just that the certificates expire one year from when you order them. Already knew that, too. I was told my United miles should be in my account in about 3 days.

 

[VacationForever]

Things I learned while booking my (first ever) travel package, which was a 5-night package:

1) I was told no, you cannot use points to upgrade your certificate. If you buy a travel package for a category 6 hotel, you can not use points or dollars to stay at a higher category hotel with your hotel certificates. You can only use points to upgrade to a better room. You can use the certificates to stay at a lower category room (no refunding of points). When I questioned her about this further, she said she had never heard of that (using more points or refunding points) and stated "That's Marriot Rewards, so you'd need to check with them."

Anything else? Just that the certificates expire one year from when you order them. Already knew that, too.

I can tell you that up to this point, you CAN alter the category of the 5-night or 7-night hotel awards by having the points be adjusted. Marriott Rewards desk has done that for me half a dozen times or so. They also have been extending the expiration dates. I do not know post August 2018 whether they will change their practice.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I can tell you that up to this point, you CAN alter the category of the 5-night or 7-night hotel awards by having the points be adjusted. Marriott Rewards desk has done that for me half a dozen times or so. They also have been extending the expiration dates. I do not know post August 2018 whether they will change their practice.

But she called MVCI as I had suggested above. Most likely, MVCI is not familiar with the ins and outs of those types of details. They can arrange them and very easily and quickly, probably that's it. For buying them only, it's way faster than all the reports of slow MR calls!

 

[Superchief]

I originally redeemed a 5 night travel package at the lowest category level (1-5) two years ago. I upgraded to Cat 9 and extended the exp date last October when I thought that my Ocean Pointe exchange was going to be cancelled (planned to use it at Singer Island Marriott Resort). I recall that the amount of points required for the upgrade were a lot more than I thought they would be because the way they allocate the hotel portion points in a travel package. I ended up not needing the Cat 9, so I called MR Rewards dept today to downgrade to a Cat 7. Although my call was initially sent (after 25 minute hold) to reservations, I was transferred to MR Rewards (after another 15 minute hold). Fortunately, the agent was very knowledgeable and helpful and was able to process the transaction and attach the certificate to my reservation.

I was surprised to receive 60K points for the downgrade because I was expecting 40k (10k per night for 4 nights difference). The Marriott 'book value' of my cat 9 5-night Cert. was 105k points, and my cat 7 is now 45k points.

I would be reluctant to expect Marriott to return many points for any unused hotel portions of these travel packages due to the low 'book value' assigned to them.

 

[Jerrygomi]

For what it's worth, here's a long article by the PointsGuy on Marriott packages:https://thepointsguy.com/guide/analyzing-terrible-new-marriott-hotel-air-packages/

 

[dioxide45]

I originally redeemed a 5 night travel package at the lowest category level (1-5) two years ago. I upgraded to Cat 9 and extended the exp date last October when I thought that my Ocean Pointe exchange was going to be cancelled (planned to use it at Singer Island Marriott Resort). I recall that the amount of points required for the upgrade were a lot more than I thought they would be because the way they allocate the hotel portion points in a travel package. I ended up not needing the Cat 9, so I called MR Rewards dept today to downgrade to a Cat 7. Although my call was initially sent (after 25 minute hold) to reservations, I was transferred to MR Rewards (after another 15 minute hold). Fortunately, the agent was very knowledgeable and helpful and was able to process the transaction and attach the certificate to my reservation.

I was surprised to receive 60K points for the downgrade because I was expecting 40k (10k per night for 4 nights difference). The Marriott 'book value' of my cat 9 5-night Cert. was 105k points, and my cat 7 is now 45k points.

I would be reluctant to expect Marriott to return many points for any unused hotel portions of these travel packages due to the low 'book value' assigned to them.

The additional points to upgrade or downgrade isn't based on 5x (or even 4) the number of points difference on a regular points per night redemption. It is based on the cost difference between the the package you are moving from and then to.

 

[klpca]

I originally redeemed a 5 night travel package at the lowest category level (1-5) two years ago. I upgraded to Cat 9 and extended the exp date last October when I thought that my Ocean Pointe exchange was going to be cancelled (planned to use it at Singer Island Marriott Resort). I recall that the amount of points required for the upgrade were a lot more than I thought they would be because the way they allocate the hotel portion points in a travel package. I ended up not needing the Cat 9, so I called MR Rewards dept today to downgrade to a Cat 7. Although my call was initially sent (after 25 minute hold) to reservations, I was transferred to MR Rewards (after another 15 minute hold). Fortunately, the agent was very knowledgeable and helpful and was able to process the transaction and attach the certificate to my reservation.

I was surprised to receive 60K points for the downgrade because I was expecting 40k (10k per night for 4 nights difference). The Marriott 'book value' of my cat 9 5-night Cert. was 105k points, and my cat 7 is now 45k points.

I would be reluctant to expect Marriott to return many points for any unused hotel portions of these travel packages due to the low 'book value' assigned to them.

Did your certificate get extended again or did it retain the original expiration date?

 

[dioxide45]

Did your certificate get extended again or did it retain the original expiration date?

When you upgrade or extend a certificate, they really cancel the original and reissue a new one. The new certificate will be valid for a year from that date.

 

[Superchief]

Did your certificate get extended again or did it retain the original expiration date?

I had extended it a few weeks ago, so I didn't need to extend again because my reservation is within the time frame needed.

 

[icydog]

Clear this up for me please. I thought we could not use our travel packages at a Vacation Club property?

 

[dioxide45]

Clear this up for me please. I thought we could not use our travel packages at a Vacation Club property?

The only rule, that is rarely enforced, is that you can't use points you get from converting your timeshare week to point to book back in to a MVC timeshare property.