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

[dioxide45]

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[mas]

For those also interested in the travel packages, I’ve found references on other sites that explain the current five night package is available to every Marriott Rewards account, not just timeshare customers. It’s not on the Marriott website but if you call they will apparently offer it to you. I hope this continues past Aug, as seven nights is just too much.

You may...or may not be able to purchase the 5 night pkg. Apparently many people have been able to purchase this special travel pkg without owning a MVC timeshare. Officially the rules say you have to own an MVC timeshare in order to purchase the travel pkg. I have purchased several under my wife MR account. However, the first time I tried to purchase one using my account, for some reason my MR account didn't show that I own an MVC timeshare and the CSR wasn't/couldn't allow me to purchase the 5 night pkg until they fixed my MR account to reflect the fact that I did own MVC timeshares. YMMV.

 

[okwiater]

Just noticed that the WDW Swan and Dolphin are going up from 36K to 50K points per night. This is a huge increase, coming right on the heels of the March Dolphin increase from 30K to 36K. If you have any trips coming up and want to stay on Disney property rather than at SVV or SVR, you should make those reservations soon!

 

[blondietink]

Just noticed that the WDW Swan and Dolphin are going up from 36K to 50K points per night. This is a huge increase, coming right on the heels of the March Dolphin increase from 30K to 36K. If you have any trips coming up and want to stay on Disney property rather than at SVV or SVR, you should make those reservations soon!

Wow, that outrageous for those hotels. We stayed at the Swan once on points and they gave us the smallest room possible ... queen size bed and a single pullout couch for 4 people. It was an awful stay. they claimed they didn't have anything bigger. The room we had at Pop Century was bigger.

 

[controller1]

Just noticed that the WDW Swan and Dolphin are going up from 36K to 50K points per night. This is a huge increase, coming right on the heels of the March Dolphin increase from 30K to 36K. If you have any trips coming up and want to stay on Disney property rather than at SVV or SVR, you should make those reservations soon!

Wow, that outrageous for those hotels. We stayed at the Swan once on points and they gave us the smallest room possible ... queen size bed and a single pullout couch for 4 people. It was an awful stay. they claimed they didn't have anything bigger. The room we had at Pop Century was bigger.

I understand that the assignment of an awards category for Marriott is much different than it has been for Starwood which used ADR (Average Daily Rate). Marriott assigns a higher category to properties which have a higher level of award redemptions.

 

[okwiater]

I understand that the assignment of an awards category for Marriott is much different than it has been for Starwood which used ADR (Average Daily Rate). Marriott assigns a higher category to properties which have a higher level of award redemptions.

That's actually a smart way to do it. Use points values to drive demand up or down. Worse for the program members, though.

 

[VacationForever]

@controller1 and @okwiater You both lost me there. Are we talking about hotel properties with hotel points?

 

[okwiater]

@controller1 and @okwiater You both lost me there. Are we talking about hotel properties with hotel points?

Yes. This is for hotel points redemptions under the new Marriott rewards program.

 

[VacationForever]

Yes. This is for hotel points redemptions under the new Marriott rewards program.

So...
"I understand that the assignment of an awards category for Marriott is much different than it has been for Starwood which used ADR (Average Daily Rate). Marriott assigns a higher category to properties which have a higher level of award redemptions."

How is it different between the 2? Price should "generally" translate to category level... I know it is not always true.

 

[okwiater]

So...
"I understand that the assignment of an awards category for Marriott is much different than it has been for Starwood which used ADR (Average Daily Rate). Marriott assigns a higher category to properties which have a higher level of award redemptions."

How is it different between the 2? Price should "generally" translate to category level... I know it is not always true.

In SPG’s case, a hotel with relatively low average cash rates but high volume of reward redemptions would receive a low category assignment. Under Marriott, the category assignment would be higher since they place less weight on average room rates and more weight on redemption volume.

 

[VacationForever]

In SPG’s case, a hotel with relatively low average cash rates but high volume of reward redemptions would receive a low category assignment. Under Marriott, the category assignment would be higher since they place less weight on average room rates and more weight on redemption volume.

Is this documented or reported somewhere?

 

[SueDonJ]

Is this documented or reported somewhere?

I don't think you'll find anything that says how many redemption stays occurred at a specific property during a specific time frame, no, but Marriott has always included a statement in their various FAQ's about how they determine property categories. For example, in this one:

How many points do I need for a free stay?
Hotel categories determine the number of Marriott Rewards points necessary to redeem for a free night. For instance a category 1 hotel requires 7,500 points while a category 4 hotel requires 20,000 points. Marriott Rewards has 9 hotel categories and Ritz-Carlton Rewards has 5 hotel tiers which are determined by prior year redemption volume at each hotel and are not determined by brand, rate, amenities, location, or services offered. A hotel’s category can change based on the number of redemption nights at that property in the prior year. Marriott Rewards makes an effort to minimize these changes to maintain stability across the portfolio of properties.

 

[VacationForever]

I don't think you'll find anything that says how many redemption stays occurred at a specific property during a specific time frame, no, but Marriott has always included a statement in their various FAQ's about how they determine property categories. For example, in this one:

Thank you. I think the words do indicate that Marriott categories are based on redemption volume. I personally find it hard to believe. If many people redeem at Residence Inn, wouldn't that make that Residence Inn a Cat 9? Just saying...

 

[SueDonJ]

Thank you. I think the words do indicate that Marriott categories are based on redemption volume. I personally find it hard to believe. If many people redeem at Residence Inn, wouldn't that make that Residence Inn a Cat 9? Just saying...

That's why Marriott says they "make an effort to minimize these changes," because they have some leeway to not throw things completely out of whack. But reading Flyertalk whenever the categories are updated will give you an idea of how closely some MR members track these changes, trying to anticipate the point where a certain property will go up or down and planning future stays accordingly.

 

[SueDonJ]

FYI, a couple new threads on the Marriott forum:
- Official changes to Marriott Rewards program effective 8/18/18
- Post-8/18/18 Marriott Rewards changes / Website and App mistakes and glitches

Please feel free to join in.

 

[DeniseM]

Thanks for keeping Starwood/Vistana folks in the loop, Sue!

 

[duke]

VERY POSITVE NEWS FROM Marriott re Travel Packages.....
https://onemileatatime.com/marriott-travel-packages-refunds/

 

[duke]

Credit to: One Mile At A Time

Existing Travel Package certificates can be redeemed starting today
Initially Marriott said that you wouldn’t be able to redeem existing Travel Package certificates until September 18, 2018. This one month period where you couldn’t redeem was supposedly due to potential issues Marriott was worried they’d have with their new technology.

As it turns out that isn’t an issue and they’ve completed the testing necessary. As a result you’ll be able to redeem existing Travel Package certificates starting today.

Some members can get partial refunds on Travel Packages
Members who booked a Category 6, Category 8, or Tier 1-3 Travel Package can receive a one-time exchange for a package one category lower.

The reason this is being done for these categories is because in all cases you’d get the same value if you had booked a hotel that’s one category lower, so as a gesture of goodwill Marriott will refund 30,000 points per certificate for those who request it.

This one-time exchange can be requested by contacting Marriott at this link, and selecting the “packages – deals” topic.

You actually have until these certificates expire in order to exchange them, and once you do, the certificates will once again be valid for a year, so you can potentially make that work in your favor.

Trade existing certificates for points
With Marriott Travel Packages you’ve always been able to exchange your certificate for a set number of points, and this will continue to be possible for existing certificates issued prior to August 18, at the same rates as before.

Category 1-5 certificates can be traded for 45,000 points, and higher level certificates can be traded for 45,000 points plus the difference in cost between certificates.

 

[NJDave]

Trade existing certificates for points
With Marriott Travel Packages you’ve always been able to exchange your certificate for a set number of points, and this will continue to be possible for existing certificates issued prior to August 18, at the same rates as before.

Category 1-5 certificates can be traded for 45,000 points, and higher level certificates can be traded for 45,000 points plus the difference in cost between certificates.

The 45,000 points appears to be for a 7 night package category 1-5 certificate. Does anyone know what the rate is / was for a 5 night package.

 

[jtp1947]

I used the link provided to contact Marriott and the response was it was not possible to book a travel package until the blackout date was over September 18 and even then, there would not be a refund of points for a downgraded travel package. I now notice that there is not a drop down box for packages and deals. Anyone successful with downgrade and refunded points? Probably not enough agents are aware of the partial points refunds for a downgraded certificate.