Marriott Announces Hotel Category Changes for 2020
Marriott has announced the list of hotels that will change categories in 2020. This list is usually published annually and it makes adjustments for select properties by moving them in higher or lower categories.
Well this year’s list is huge. A total of 2185 hotels are changing categories and most of them are getting more expensive. That is about 30% of the total hotel portfolio.
- 7% of hotels (499) are decreasing in price
- 23% of hotels (1,686) are increasing in price
If you’re wondering how these changes affect your 35K points certificates, here are the numbers:
- 216 hotels move from Category 5 to 6
- 15 hotels move from Category 6 to 5
And for 50K certificates:
- 95 hotels move from Category 6 to 7
- 9 hotels move from Category 7 to 6
These annual hotel category changes will take effect March 4, 2020. If your favorite hotel is moving to a higher category, you can save points by booking at the current redemption rate before the changes go into effect. If it’s moving to a lower category, you might want to wait until the changes take effect. You can see the full list here.
Conclusion
These changes are brutal and by far the worst we have seen from Marriott Bonvoy. Another devaluation of Marriott points, in what is now a theme of this re-branded loyalty program.
Take a look at the list and see how it affects you if you are planning any Marriott stays this year. Let us know in the comments.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the old king of travel rewards cards. Right now
bonus_miles_full
Learn more about this card and its features!
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
I averaged 125+ nights every year for the last 19 years and in 2020, I have ZERO nights with Marriott. Yeah, put a fork in it….loyalty is dead.
[…] Hat Tip: Miles to Memories […]
The Powers That Ought Not Be clearly don’t comprehend the reality that for 90% of people, there was no “economic recovery” from 2008 to present.
Non-stop credit card and loyalty program devaluations send a TERRIBLE message that a customer’s business is most definitely *NOT* appreciated. If they keep pushing, they’re going to make “brand loyalty” a thing of the past. And ultimately, it will be these large conglomerates that find themselves downsizing like the rest of us.
A smart move would be INCREASING benefits/rewards to stand out and gain market share.
Marriott loyalty is now dead for me. Having a tough time justifying the credit cards now, even with the free night certificate.
There is now only one hotel out of 7 on Koh Samui you can book with your 35k certificate instead of the previous three. There goes my Marriott redemption in Thailand in 2021!
I’m just gonna put this out there: that Four Points in Dhaka, Bangladesh put us in the presidential suite as a platinum member. That room was INSANE. I’d go back to Bangladesh just for that hotel, especially now that the category is going from 4 to 3.
Also, that Sheraton in Djibouti is a piece of junk and should be a category -3. Hasn’t had a paint job in YEARS. Glad it’s downgrading, but 4 is wayyyy too high.
The one I see as a huge change that will affect people is losing the ability to redeem the 35k certs for the Marriott Budapest right along the river.
Glad I booked the Renaissance Dubai yesterday for our stop in July, since it’s going up.
I noticed that the “dogs” got lowered rather than refresh. I am having a hard time with the number of Courtyards and Fairfield’s being increased. On the upper end I have been using points/cash more often than not