Marriott Bonvoy 2018 introduced Annual Choice Benefit options for members that reach 50 and 75 nights in a calendar year (from all sources).
You can choose after reaching 50 or 75 nights, and there is no reason to wait for an email invitation from Marriott. Marriott has now extended the deadline to make the choice through February 1, 2025, from previously communicated January 7.
You can access Marriott here and the page for choosing Choice-benefit here.
READ MORE: Marriott Bonvoy Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions
You must make your 2024 choice by February 1, 2025. If a member doesn’t choose, Marriott will deposit Nightly Upgrade Awards, which is the default option (not necessarily the best).
50 nights Choice Benefit (choose one):
- Select Nightly Upgrade Awards (five) to redeem for upgrades to select premium rooms or standard suites on your next adventure.
- Choose Your Favorite Mattress and save US$1,000 on your purchase of a bed from Marriott Bonvoy® retail brands.
- Gift Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status to a family member or friend.
- Support the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund by donating US$100 to champion the next generation of diverse leaders in hospitality.
- Support the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) by donating US$100 for children’s aid worldwide.
- Support World Wildlife Fund (WWF) by donating US$100 to their global conservation work.
- Add Elite Night Credits (five) to get you closer to higher Elite status and enhanced benefits in 2024.
The Five Elite Night Credits option is useful if it helps you reach 75 (or 100) nights. Otherwise, it has very little value (they do count towards the lifetime). Note that even if you make the 2024 choice in 2025, the elite nights are added to your 2024 count.
Silver status has no meaningful benefits, and $1,000 off your favorite bed is not helpful for most.
Nightly Upgrade Awards can be worthwhile if you stay at full-service hotels and get them confirmed for meaningful upgrades (that you would not have otherwise received). They can also be applied for EDITION and Ritz-Carlton brands that were previously excluded and where upgrade benefits don’t apply at the Platinum level.
Donating one of the three partners is the only option that costs Marriott cash.
75 nights Choice Benefit (choose one):
- Select Nightly Upgrade Awards (five) to redeem for upgrades to select premium rooms or standard suites on your next adventure.
- Choose Your Favorite Mattress and save US$1,000 on your purchase of a bed from Marriott Bonvoy® retail brands.
- Support the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund by donating US$100 to champion the next generation of diverse leaders in hospitality.
- Support the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) by donating US$100 for children’s aid worldwide.
- Support World Wildlife Fund (WWF) by donating US$100 to their global conservation work.
- Add Elite Night Credits (five) to get you closer to higher Elite status and enhanced benefits in 2024.
- Select a Free Night Award with a value of up to 40,000 points to redeem for a stay on us.
- Gift Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status to a family member or friend.
Five Elite Nights Credits are worthwhile if you wouldn’t otherwise reach 100 nights and your eligible spend is $23,000 or higher to get Ambassador status. Again, the nights count towards the level earned in 2024, even if you make the 2024 choice in 2025. The nights do count towards your lifetime nights count.
Bedding discounts and Gold status are not helpful for most. However, donating to one of the charity partners would be a nice gesture.
Five Nightly Upgrade Awards is again an option with the same caveats. My preferred choice at the 75-night level is the free night award, capped at 40,000 points.
When to make a choice?
You should not make the 50-night choice before knowing the total number of nights you will consume in 2024. If you end up the year with 70 to 74 nights, the best 50-night choice is 5 Elite Night Credits because:
- You get Titanium status (unless you already have a legacy lifetime one)
- You get another Choice Benefit-option
The Nightly Upgrade Awards and the Free Night Award certificate are deposited into your account immediately after choosing. There is a warning that it can take up to two weeks, but the process is usually instantaneous.
Conclusion
People are often misguided and believe that Elite Night Credits apply for the membership year when the choice is made, which is incorrect. They apply to the year they were earned. The credits earned in 2024 will only count towards the status in 2024, even if the actual choice is made in 2025.
The free night award must be used by the end of the following year when it was earned. Again, earned, not when the choice was made. (A reader noted that if you choose the free night year in the following year when it was earned, it is valid for the year it was chosen + 1.)
The elite night options are only useful if they allow you to reach the 75 (Titanium) or 100 (Ambassador) night level, the latter of which requires a minimum of $23,000 in eligible spending. The nights also count towards the lifetime status requirement.
Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUA) can be helpful for some. I have found them to be most useful at luxury properties (think of brands such as Luxury Collection or St. Regis) and would instead choose something else at 75 nights (free night award!). They are valid until the end of next year when earned (not when selected). All SNAs earned in 2024 are valid until December 31, 2025.
The free night award at the 75-nights level is my preferred choice. However, the options at the 50 nights level are not great.
Frequently Asked Questions by Marriott:
Where can I find a complete description of the Annual Choice Benefit?
For descriptions of each Annual Choice Benefit option, see Marriott Bonvoy® Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions.
Who is eligible for the 50-Night and 75-Night Annual Choice Benefits?
The 50-Night Annual Choice Benefit is only valid for Marriott Bonvoy® Members who earn 50 Elite Night Credits in a calendar year. The 75-Night Annual Choice Benefit is only valid for Marriott Bonvoy® Members who earn 75 Elite Night Credits in a calendar year.
How will I know I am eligible to select my Annual Choice Benefit?
Within 48 hours after achieving the required Elite Night Credits, you will receive an email congratulating you on your milestone and directing you to the Annual Choice Benefit website to choose your benefit.
How do I choose my Annual Choice Benefit?
The window to choose your 2024 Annual Choice Benefit closes at 11:59 p.m. ET Eastern Time (US) on February 1, 2025. If you did not make a selection for either or both 50-Night and 75-Night selections by this deadline, you will automatically receive five (5) Nightly Upgrade Awards per omitted selection.
You can make your selection through the Annual Choice Benefit website or once you’ve logged into your Marriott Bonvoy® Account online; see How Do I Select My Annual Choice Benefit?
- If you are eligible for either or both 50-Night/75-Night Annual Choice Benefit selections, you will be required to make both selections at the same time.
- All Annual Choice Benefit selections are final and may not be changed.
- All Annual Choice Benefits must be selected by February 1st of the year following qualification.
What happens if I forget to choose my Annual Choice Benefit by the deadline?
If you fail to select your 50-Night or 75-Night Annual Choice Benefit by the deadline of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (US) on February 1st of the year following qualification, you will receive a default selection of five (5) Nightly Upgrade Awards per omitted selection.Important: All Annual Choice Benefit Default Selections are final and cannot be changed
How do the Nightly Upgrade Awards work?
For more details on Nightly Upgrade Awards, see our article What is a Nightly Upgrade Award?Nightly Upgrade Awards are valid through December 31 of the year following the year in which they are earned. For example, Nightly Upgrade Awards earned in 2024 will expire on December 31, 2025.
What year do the five Elite Night Credits count for?
The five Elite Night Credits count for the year in which the Annual Choice Benefit was earned, regardless of when the Member makes the Annual Choice Benefit selection.
For example, if you qualify for an Annual Choice Benefit in 2024 and selects Elite Night Credits on January 2, 2025 the Elite Nights will be added to your 2024 total.
How do I view my promotional code for $1,000 USD off my purchase of a bed from any Marriott Bonvoy® retail brand?
If you have any questions or concerns while redeeming a promotional code for your Annual Choice Benefit, contact the issuer of the promotional code direct at +1 (800) 311 0708. Please note that the promotional code is not combinable with any other offers. Only one $1000 USD promotional code may be used per transaction. Shipping is not included.
Marriott Bonvoy® is not responsible for any issues regarding redemption of promotional codes that are issued in connection with Annual Choice Benefit.
Additional Information
For Elite Benefit Details, see our website. If you need further assistance, click here to locate a phone number closest to your location.
