Marriott has rolled out some rather significant changes to the Bonvoy guest loyalty program Terms and Conditions today, which address several issues.
There has been a change in participating hotels, benefits at W hotels that are part of the MGM collection, what happens to points during a divorce, limited blackout dates, Nightly Upgrade Awards, and Guaranteed Lounge Access.
You can access Marriott here.
READ MORE: Marriott Bonvoy Rate & Bonus Points Offers
Non-participating hotels:
- The following properties do not participate in the Loyalty Program:
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, except as noted above
The following partner properties:
Bulgari Hotels and Resorts – all locations
The following property has been removed from the list: Hotel Ritz-London, London, UK. However, it doesn’t come up on the Marriott rate search.
W Hotels
W Hotels that are part of MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy (see 1.2.a.xxxvii) participate in the Loyalty Program in a unique capacity as expressly identified in their separate terms of service(“MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy Terms”).
To complicate matters, a W hotel is soon to open in Las Vegas (a Delano reflag). However, this “new” property is part of the MGM Collection, so guests won’t receive the usual Bonvoy elite benefits.
Divorce:
iii. Divorce. In the event of a Member’s adjudicated divorce proceedings the Company allows unredeemed Points to be transferred from one Member’s Account to another Member’s account as ordered by a court. To request such a transfer, at least one party to the divorce proceedings must provide to the Company (1) both party’s Member numbers, (2) bona fide copies of a valid divorce decree, divorce order, divorce agreement, other similar court-approved legal document (“Divorce Order”) which expressly states that one Member has been ordered to transfer Points to the other Member, and (3) valid contact information, including an email address and phone number, for each Member. Company reserves the right to request further information or documentation from either or both Members. Upon Company’s receipt and review of the Divorce Order and other requested information, Company may elect to transfer Points as ordered by a court in the Divorce Order. Company may refuse to make the transfer should, in the Company’s discretion, there appears to be an indication of fraud or other misrepresentation. Unless the Divorce Order states otherwise, Company will use the date of the Divorce Order to calculate the number of Points to be transferred. Awards, hotel stays, Elite Membership Status, Lifetime Membership Status, and related benefits, including, without limitation, Elite Night Credit(s), are not transferrable and will not be transferred irrespective of any language in the Divorce Order to the contrary.
Marriott has dramatically changed the terms of this part of the program rules.
Limited Blackout Dates:
Remember that Marriott claims that there are no blackout dates, but this only means in Marriottspeak that there are no chain-mandated dates, but individual hotels can have some, and then there is a list of properties that can act as they wish:
- JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn® Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ
- Marriott Vacation Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club, Sheraton Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club – all properties
- Vistana Residence Network – all properties
- Rome Marriott Grand Hotel Flora, Rome, Italy
- Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Hawaii
- Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott – Maui, Hawaii
- Hotel Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda, Italy
- Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
One property, North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort in the Seychelles, was removed from this list.
Stay for 5, Pay for 4 Offer
Also, if a Member applies Premium Room Redemption Awards or Nightly Upgrade Awards, they are required to apply these for every night of the stay, even the free night(s).
You cannot apply Nightly Upgrade Awards only for a part of the stay.
GUARANTEED LOUNGE ACCESS
Previously: Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin (Resorts included) No alternative offered when Lounge is closed
Updated: Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin (Resorts included) No alternative offered when Lounge is closed or property does not have a lounge
I guess that this means that more Sheraton and Westin hotels will rip apart their executive lounges, now that Marriott doesn’t require them to have it.
Nightly Upgrade Awards:
(5) Nightly Upgrade Award use is based upon availability of the requested suite or Premium Room. Checking for availability begins as early as five (5) days before arrival (effective December 2024, for all brands except for EDITION, the Ritz-Carlton, and the St. Regis where fulfillment will begin at three (3) days prior to arrival). Availability is checked each day before arrival up until around 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival.
There is a significant change here, as the clearing with all brands began only 3 days before, and in the future most brands start 5 and only EDITION, the Ritz-Carlton, and the St. Regis stay at 3.
(7) Nightly Upgrade Awards are required for each night of the stay including any nights that may be designated “free”. This includes the Stay for 5, Pay for 4 Offer described in Section 3.3.d. where a Nightly Upgrade Award is required for every night of the stay, even the free night(s).
You cannot partially upgrade a stay using Nightly Upgrade Awards.
A member can only change their requested room pool(s) prior to approval or denial of the Nightly Upgrade Award.
You cannot cancel a request if it has already been approved.
Conclusion
Oh well. There are quite a few changes to the Bonvoy T&Cs this time, nothing too significant, but noninsignificant either.
I wish Marriott could reduce these T&Cs by 80% (it shouldn’t be impossible) to make them easier to understand.
