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Update 7/2/2024: Marriott has thankfully reversed course. The Fairfield in Copenhagen will now earn 10 base points per dollar spent and 1 Elite Night Credit per night stayed.
A keen-eyed observer might notice Marriott is offering much lower rewards for Europe's first Fairfield hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. This is an unusual circumstance but makes us wonder if we will see further changes to member rewards at future Fairfield hotels in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa — or if this might spread across the globe.
What's happening with the lower points and elite night earning rates at the first Fairfield property in Europe? Let's take a look.
New Marriott Fairfield Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark
Marriott will open its first Fairfield hotel in Europe on March 4, 2024. The Fairfield Copenhagen is a dual-brand hotel, combining Fairfield with Residence Inn. The hotel is managed by Core Hospitality, a Scandinavian hotel operator. Previously, Fairfield Inn & Suites properties were only found in the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific.
In celebration of the grand opening, Bonvoy members can stay at the hotel with a 30% discount between the date of opening and April 30, 2024. Use promotional code NEW when booking.
Change to Fairfield Rewards Earnings
This is getting remarkably stupid @MarriottBonvoy.
As of this morning, certain Fairfield by Marriott properties only earn half the standard number of points and elite nights 🙄
But you wouldn't know unless you analyzed the 32,760-word terms and conditions to notice the change. pic.twitter.com/wBQrp5W3bf
— JT Genter (@JTGenter) December 20, 2023
Traditionally, Marriott Bonvoy members have earned 10 points per $1 spent at Fairfield hotels. However, Fairfield Copenhagen is breaking tradition. Deep in the Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions, two changes are provided for the first Fairfield hotel in Europe:
- Bonvoy members earn 5 points per $1 spent.
- Members earn one Elite Night Credit for every two nights at the hotel.
These changes put the Fairfield Copenhagen Hotel rewards at the same level as Protea, CityExpress, and Four Points Express properties. This is following the devaluation of rewards at Protea hotels earlier this year.
Our Take
The question we have is whether future Fairfield hotels in Europe will have the same rewards as the Fairfield Copenhagen or whether this is a one-off. The mitigated rewards could be due to the hotel's status as a dual-brand property. Or perhaps the contract with Core Hospitality stipulated lower rewards for Bonvoy members.
It's also important to note that members earn 1 Elite Night Credit every two nights stayed at the hotel, not half a credit per night. Thus, staying an odd number of days will lose out on a potential Elite Night Credit. That matters if you're chasing elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. Will other Fairfield properties follow these reduced earning rates? Will it spread to other continents in the future? Only time will tell, but this is a bad precedent.
What do you think about the rewards change at Fairfield Copenhagen? Do you think future Fairfield hotels in Europe will have lower rewards?
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