Sheraton Grand Dubai (Review)
Marriott Bonvoy is depositing Elite Night Credits (ENC) to members based on their status earned in 2020. This is similar to what they did last year. ENCs will be credited into members’ accounts in February 2021. Click here to read the official words.
Here’s what each membership level will receive:
| Status Earned in 2020 | Additional Elite Nights |
| Normal | 0 |
| Silver | 5 |
| Gold | 13 |
| Platinum | 25 |
| Titanium | 38 |
| Ambassador | 50 |
But what’s the point?
Marriott has extended your current status through Feb 2022. What is the point of these Elite Night Credits then?
Unlike Hyatt and Hilton, Marriott only has 2 key milestones, which they call Annual Choice Benefit.
Here’s what you get to choose from upon reaching each milestone:
50 Nights (Choose 1)
Add five Elite Night Credits to your 2021 total.
Save 40% on a bed from your favorite hotel brand.
Gift Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status to a family member, friend, or colleague.
US$100 Charity Donation to WE.
Get five Suite Night Awards™ to redeem for upgrades to suites and premium rooms.
75 Nights (Choose 1)
Add five Elite Night Credits to your 2021 total.
Save 40% on a bed from your favorite hotel brand.
Gift Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status to a family member, friend, or colleague.
US$100 Charity Donation to WE.
Get five Suite Night Awards™ to redeem for upgrades to suites and premium rooms.
One Free Night Award worth up to 40,000 points.
Gift Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status to a family member, friend, or colleague.
To me, only the 40,000 points Free Night Award (worth $400) upon reaching 75 nights is interesting.
If you are not already a Platinum member, these Elite Night Credits should make it a little easier to reach that status.
If you are a Titanium member like me, it would be a little easier to go for the Ambassador status, especially since Marriott has lowered the required spending to US$14,000 (from US$20,000).
Is this a good ‘deal’?
Hyatt and Hilton announced that 2021 status requirements will be cut in half. Marriott’s method is a little different but is more or less the same.
With Marriott, your best Annual Choice Benefits upon reaching 75 nights are 5 Suite Night Awards and 1 free night worth $400. Here’s what you get upon reaching the 70 nights milestone with Hyatt and Hilton:
Hyatt
– 4 club lounge passes (up to 28 nights/4 stays)
– USD 100 credit
– Free night in a Category 4 hotel (worth $300)
– 4 suite upgrades (up to 28 nights/4 stays)
– Free night in a Category 7 hotel (worth $600)
– 10,000 points (worth $200)
Hilton
– 70,000 points (worth $490)
If you are not going for Platinum status, the 75-nights milestone, or Ambassador status, there is nothing interesting here. Marriott Silver and Gold statuses are not worth your time and effort.
This ‘deal’ is underwhelming but expected. Marriott Bonvoy is not the most rewarding hotel loyalty program out there and nothing has changed. BUT, to me, they have the best collection of hotels.
Upcoming offers
Offer 1
Marriott will be launching its next global promotion on 16 Feb 2021 and it will run all the way till 27 Apr 2021. Yes, that is over one month from now! ☹️
In this promotion, members will receive double points and double elite nights for stays that are two nights or longer.
I will write a separate article when registration is open.
Offer 2
From now till 21 Feb 2021, off-peak award nights will go at a 10% discount till 30 Sep 2021. There are very little hotels worth redeeming your Marriott points for and this offer doesn’t change much.
Bottom line
After my current stay at Sheraton Grand Dubai, I am planning to spend all my nights (till end of Feb) in Hyatt properties. Globalist status, triple points, double elite nights and multiple milestones are making World of Hyatt the hottest hotel loyalty program at the moment.
As I do not find the Ambassador status worth the effort, I may only aim for the 75-nights ‘milestone’ with Marriott Bonvoy this year.
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