Brutal: Marriott’s dynamic award pricing starts on 29 March; some hotels increasing by 30,000 points

Marriott Bonvoy has announced the effective date of its “Flexible Point Redemptions” and also the properties that will see an increase in the number of “maximum” points required for award stays.

Key points to note

• Flexible Point Redemptions will take effect gradually from 29 to 30 March 2022.
• Properties will have a minimum and maximum range of points for award redemptions (e.g. 70,000 to 130,000 points)
• Nightly redemption rates will move more closely in line with hotel rates and availability.
• Any bookings made before 29 March will not be affected by this change.
• About 200 properties will see maximum points requirement higher than the current rates. This increment ranges from 5,000 to 30,000 points.
• Minimum points required for each property will remain the same for now. However, we have to wait and see how easy/difficult it will be to find dates with the minimum rates.
• From 2023, properties can have award pricing outside the min/max range.

Marriott hotels that will cost more points

As mentioned above, about 200 properties will see an increase in the maximum number of points required for award redemptions.

This is bad news, especially for members looking to redeem their Marriott Bonvoy points in fantastic sweet spots.

Notable properties that are affected

Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points at these properties currently offer fantastic value. Sadly, it will probably be difficult to find reasonable award rates after 29 March 2022.

While this list includes just 3% of Marriott Bonvoy’s family of properties, they include almost 100% of truly aspirational properties in the loyalty program, in my view.

• 20,000 points: Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort, Dubai
• 20,000 points: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives
• 20,000 points: Le Meridien Maldives
• 20,000 points: HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO
• 20,000 points: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay
• 20,000 points: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
• 20,000 points: The Gritti Palace, Venice
• 20,000 points: The St. Regis Bora Bora
• 20,000 points: The St. Regis New York
• 5,000 points: The Westin Desaru

Full list of affected properties:

Marriott-International_Flexible-Point-Redemptions-200-hotels-list

Is this a devaluation?

It is a clear devaluation in my view. From 29 March, my Marriott points will be worth less than they are today.

With the lack of an award chart and hotel categories, it will be harder to use your Marriott points for sweet spots.

I will be accessing how the new dynamic award pricing is implemented and will be updating my valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points in the next month or so. I will probably devalue it from 0.7 cents (USD) to 0.6 cents per point, a 14% devaluation.

Bottom line

While we prepare ourselves for the previously-announced dynamic award pricing, it is even more painful to hear about the increase in the maximum amount of points required at some great properties.

On top of that, it is awful to learn that next year, Marriott Bonvoy properties will be able to price award rates outside the range that will be in place this year.

As if that’s not enough, members will continue to earn Marriott points at the same rate as they do today.

This is a proper devaluation of Marriott Bonvoy points. Definitely use them before 29 March 2022 if you can.