In late 2023, Marriott Bonvoy announced plans to replace Suite Night Awards with Nightly Upgrade Awards. There’s now an update, as this is being implemented effective immediately, and the changes are a mixed bag…
In this post:
Details of Marriott’s new Nightly Upgrade Awards
With Marriott Bonvoy’s Choice Benefits program, Platinum members and above who earn at least 50 elite nights in a calendar year can select Suite Night Awards as a perk (Titanium members can also select these at 75 elite nights).
As of January 11, 2024, Marriott Bonvoy is replacing Suite Night Awards with Nightly Upgrade Awards, and the changes are both positive and negative. Here’s everything that’s changing:
- Nightly Upgrade Awards are the new name of Suite Night Awards, to better align with the benefit, and each is valid for a one-night confirmable upgrade to a premium room or suite
- Nightly Upgrade Awards have been expanded to five additional brands where Suite Night Awards weren’t available, including Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, Aloft, Element, and Protea
- Nearly 20% more premium rooms and suites are available for upgrades across all participating brands, with features like oceanfront rooms, balconies, and extra space
- While Suite Night Awards cleared up to five days in advance, Nightly Upgrade Awards only clear up to three days in advance
Let me emphasize that these changes are specifically for when you’re using a confirmed upgrade “instrument.” The complimentary space available suite upgrade policy for select elite tiers continues to apply as before.
Marriott describes the implementation of this as being a phased system update, so it might be several days (or even weeks) before you consistently see this new branding. However, you should start to see upgrades now available at the new eligible brands, plus expanded upgrade options at existing brands.
While it’s not part of the announcement to Marriott Bonvoy members, I’d note that several months ago, Marriott revealed some interesting details to hotel owners regarding these changes. The company stated that it is improving paid upgrade options in advance, and is also improving compensation when these Nightly Upgrade Awards are redeemed. Previously hotels were reportedly only compensated if occupancy was above a certain level, while with the new program, they’ll be compensated regardless of occupancy level.
My take on the new Nightly Upgrade Awards
Suffice it to say that these changes are significant, and are a mixed bag. Here’s my take:
- I’m really happy to see these upgrade awards finally be valid at Ritz-Carlton and EDITION properties, since I value upgrades the most at luxury properties
- The decreased upgrade window from five days to three days is a real bummer, since it creates even less certainty when it comes to securing an upgrade; this even further differentiates Hyatt’s awesome Suite Upgrade Awards
- On the surface, I appreciate the accuracy of renaming Suite Night Awards as Nightly Upgrade Awards, since they could previously be used for premium rooms or suites, so Suite Night Awards wasn’t really an accurate descriptor
- While having access to 20% more rooms with these upgrade instruments sounds exciting, I suspect that a vast majority of that additional inventory is premium rooms rather than suites, and in some cases even pretty mild upgrades
- With Marriott reportedly planning on selling more upgrades as of this year, we’ll have to see how that plays out, and how it impacts complimentary upgrades
Out of curiosity, I just tested out the new Nightly Upgrade Award options at two Ritz-Carlton properties. At the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles, I was disappointed to see that there was an upgrade option to a single room type, which was simply a larger guest room.
Fortunately that doesn’t seem to be a consistent pattern, because I also looked at the Nightly Upgrade Award options at the Ritz-Carlton New York NoMad, where a request could be made for several room types, including a couple of types of suites.
I’d of course love some more data points from OMAAT readers. For properties that are new to Nightly Upgrade Awards, what kind of room types are you seeing? For properties that previously were eligible for these upgrades, have you noticed any changes in inventory?
Bottom line
Marriott Bonvoy has introduced Nightly Upgrade Awards as of early 2024, which replaces Suite Night Awards. The good news is that they’re valid at five additional brands, including Ritz-Carlton and EDITION, and premium room inventory has also reportedly increased by 20%. The bad news is that Nightly Upgrade Awards only clear at most three days in advance, rather than five days in advance.
With Nightly Upgrade Awards having now been introduced, hopefully we can get lots of data points regarding the implementation of these. I’d love some firsthand reports of what kind of upgrade options you’re noticing at brands that weren’t previously eligible for these upgrades, and also what changes you’ve noticed to upgrades at existing brands.
What do you make of Marriott’s new Nightly Upgrade Awards?
Disappointed that new nightly awards don’t get you to upgrade to a club room at the ritz! Wish that were the case.
As a Lifetime Titanium Elite member, I rarely get a decent upgrade although it is a published perk for that level. Marriott's customer service has slipped substantially over the past several years. With 984 nights, I expect better service.
My problem with SNAs is that I never seem to be able to apply them when I have two rooms on a single reservation and just want to upgrade one room, which is often the case when traveling with my family. If you don't have enough for every room for all nights, it's not listed as an option. Seems dumb.
Agree that the renaming was needed. At many properties before they had various upgrades available that were not suites.
For the Platinum 50 nights perk, does that mean if you have 40 nights from the personal and business cards, you only need 10 more nights to get a Nightly Upgrade Award?
If I have booking at the Ritz in the regular Club room , and I use my night upgrade award to upgrade in a suite, do I keep access to club lounge (since all the suite on the upgrade list dont mention "club access")? I paid for it in principal in my original booking. Thanks.
Ritz Carlton is very guarded about Club access. The likely answer is that the upgraded room you chose will be exactly as it was stated at the time you selected it. That is, if it did not state the Club was included, it's not. Period. In similar fashion, for those with the Chase Ritz Carlton card, the three Club upgrades only work on standard room bookings and not suite bookings. It's a matter of "take...
Ritz Carlton is very guarded about Club access. The likely answer is that the upgraded room you chose will be exactly as it was stated at the time you selected it. That is, if it did not state the Club was included, it's not. Period. In similar fashion, for those with the Chase Ritz Carlton card, the three Club upgrades only work on standard room bookings and not suite bookings. It's a matter of "take your pick." If you pick the Club, don't expect a suite upgrade (if Titanium or up).
That hasn't been my experience at all. I've booked a base room using points, was offered an paid upgrade online to a Jr. suite that included club access and jumped on it. When I checked in, I asked to be further upgraded to an executive suite and was given a complimentary upgrade. I've also booked a base room with club access and again was upgraded to a suite and still maintained the club access. So...
That hasn't been my experience at all. I've booked a base room using points, was offered an paid upgrade online to a Jr. suite that included club access and jumped on it. When I checked in, I asked to be further upgraded to an executive suite and was given a complimentary upgrade. I've also booked a base room with club access and again was upgraded to a suite and still maintained the club access. So this "take your pick" hasn't applied in my situations. I feel that if you book a room with club access then apply a cert that clears, you'll keep the club access as the only thing you are upgrading is your room type.
Jordan, you selected an upgrade that expressly included the Club. Vincent selected an upgrade that did not expressly include the Club.
Wouldv'e hoped the elite breakfast benefit for Platinum members and higher would extend to Edition/Ritz brands. This is almost the main reason for actively looking for St Regis properties over the other luxury brands.
Under SPG, I consistently got great value from both automatic and confirmed upgrades, while every year since the Marriott acquisition has been just a little less worse, with a dramatic drop-off about 2 years ago or so. In 2023, every single SNA I attempted to book wasn't able to be honored, so I didn't end up redeeming a single one. As a lifetime platinum, I'm just going to be a free agent now, /shrug
I just completed all my hotel planning for the next 6 months which is about 50 nights. Not a single Marriott this year vs 85% last year mainly from the terrible benefits of the last 18 months by Marriott. It's mostly Hilton now but they're hanging by a thread too. I'm finding I'm better and better off booking through csr portal
Marriott overpromised and underdelivered? Shocking
In fact, Marriott needs to take tier-status-based upgrades out of the hands of the properties and use the Hilton system for them as well. In spite of having been Ambassador or Titanium, properties were consistently unwilling to grant a tier-status-based upgrade . . . but I could PAY for an upgrade. On more than one occasion, a manager stated, "we're not simply going to give you a suite." After years of this, I left Marriott's hamster wheel.
I feel like maybe you aren't putting their feet to the fire. I've definitely been declined for an upgrade at check in, even though suites were being sold for the duration of my stay. I would ask politely if I could be upgraded due to my Titanium status and wasn't granted an upgrade. Later in the day, I would speak with someone else at the front desk, express my dissatisfaction and would firmly ask to...
I feel like maybe you aren't putting their feet to the fire. I've definitely been declined for an upgrade at check in, even though suites were being sold for the duration of my stay. I would ask politely if I could be upgraded due to my Titanium status and wasn't granted an upgrade. Later in the day, I would speak with someone else at the front desk, express my dissatisfaction and would firmly ask to be moved into a suite. I would get an apology and would be issued keys to my new room.
I don't want to have to hold anyone's feet to the fire -- no matter how politely -- to get the benefits that are published. I appreciate that some people do, but I feel like that should actually make an effort to take care of the best customers. Crazy, I know.
For St Regis NY, I can still only request to go up from my standard "Superior" room to a "Deluxe" room. No suites as options even though they are available. For Reykjavik Edition, still shows they are not eligible to be used or none are available, even though almost all room types are available.
Glad I picked the 40k FNA for my 75-night choice benefit
Years back, I had a confirmed PAID suite at that St. Regis. I called the day prior to check everything. They said I had a standard room. The Ambassador team confirmed I had a suite. Ultimately, the confirmation details were forwarded to the on-duty manager. In the end, the manager said their system was assigning me a standard room BUT I WOULD BE CHARGED THE SUITE ROOM RATE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE RESERVATION STATED. Adios Marriott.
Marriott needs to take SNA assignments out of the hands of the properties and adopt the automatic upgrade assignments that Hilton now does. There's nothing to stop a tight-fisted property owner from saying "while suite inventory exists, none *available for upgrade* exists."
For context, at three days prior to check-in, hotels begin blocking specific reservations against specific rooms. The move from five days to three days essentially eliminates any pre-blocking priority SNAs had. So, this is a major devaluation.