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Both SPG and Marriott have announced a slew of changes to the categories of their properties. This year’s changes impact 276 SPG properties, and a stifling number of Marriott properties: over 1,300 are changing category. Although Marriott now owns Starwood, the changes to SPG hotels are relatively benign with roughly the same number of properties going up as going down in category.
The Marriott change, on the other hand, is more of a devaluation, with four times as many properties going up as going down in category. The changes don’t kick in until March 6, 2018, and you have until then to book at lower rates — or if you happen to have booked a property at a higher rate and it drops, you can call to be rebooked at the lower rate.
Here are some properties we'd suggest booking prior to the March 6th deadline.
Changes To SPG Hotels
Most of the negative changes (where a hotel is going up in category) are happening in the US. In total 91 properties in the US are changing category with 42 increasing and 49 dropping. Some of the highlights of the change include:
- The Westin Charlotte, which goes from category 4 to 5, will now set you back 12,000 to 16,000 Starpoints for a night
- The Aloft New York LaGuardia Airport also jumps from a category 4 to a category 5 hotel and will now cost 12,000 to 16,000 Starpoints for a night
- Fortunately, the W in New York and the W in Miami are both dropping a category from a 6 to 5.
In the rest of the world, the changes follow a similar pattern with an almost even spread of properties moving up and down. Highlights of the changes in the rest of the world include:
- Africa and the Middle East Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel moves from a category 5 to 6 and will now cost 20,000 to 25,000 Starpoints per night
- In Dubai, the Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa is dropping from a 6 to a 5 and will now cost 12,000 to 16,000 Starpoints for a night
- In Japan, the St. Regis Osaka moves up from a category 6 to 7, now priced at 30,000 to 35,000 Starpoints per night.
Changes To Marriott Rewards
The situation with Marriott is different with over 1,300 hotels changing category. Although the changes are significant, they mainly affect mid-tier properties in the US. Highlights of the changes in the US include:
- The Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance moves from a category 8 to a category 9, and will now cost up to 45,000 points per night
- The JW Marriott Washington, DC also moves from an 8 to a 9
- The Los Angeles Airport Marriott drops from a 7 to a category 6 property, and will now cost up to 30,000 points per night
- The Atlanta Marriott Suites Midtown also drops from a 7 to a 6
Changes in the rest of the world tend to mirror changes in the US, with most properties affected being in mid-tier categories. Highlights include:
- The Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa moves from a category 7 to an 8, and will now cost 40,000 points
- The St. Ermin's Hotel, Autograph Collection in London is now a category 9 hotel pricing at up to 45,000 points per night
- L'Hermitage Gantois, Autograph Collection in Nice France, drops from a category 7 to a 6, and will cost 30,000 points per night
- The Venezuela Marriott Hotel Playa Grande drops from a category 5 to 4, and will now cost up to 20,000 points per night
Our Take
While these changes affect a large number of properties, overall it is not too bad, especially on the SPG side. The reevaluation could have been much worse with many more properties seeing their categories hiked. Luckily with the changes coming into effect on March 6, 2018, there is still plenty of time to organize your travel and make sure you get the best value. If your hotel is going up then book ASAP, on the other hand, if it is going down then you should wait. How do you think the changes will affect your stay choices in the coming months?
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I hope Marriott will not devalue in the near future the “Hotel +Air package”.
Once the two programs merge, SPG properties that cost:
10k points will cost 35k points and 40k points
12k points and above will cost 40k-45k points
I wouldn’t assume anything yet. Marriott doesn’t want to anger SPG loyalists.
I doubt that the 45K cap will survive. There are some really high-end SPG hotels that would end up 50% cheaper under that scenario.
Marriott are probably more worried about SPG loyalists continuing to pay to stay – i.e. elite benefits is key. Crushing the Marriott side of the equation with a reward chart devaluation might not worry them so much. They already outrageously category creep…
Agreed on the cap change — I wonder how they’re going to do it — or if they’re going to create a new “tier” like system, like they’ve done with Ritz.
Yep, I’m zero-ing my balance
I have burned all my Marriott points so this devaluation does not affect me.
I have a feeling that the Marriott & Starwood merger is the main driver for these big devaluations.
I really wish Starwood wasn’t sold in the first place.
See a few properties I stayed at are going up. Knew I got them at a steal when I did. Just got to keep looking for value.
Thanks for the reminder. I try to repeat the mantra to spend points and miles and hopefully never spend cash except when there is an exceptional deal.
Can you use your marriott free night certificate on spg hotels now? sorry newb question.
No, you cannot.
Used up all of my points before the devaluation.
That is unfortunate. Still a ton of value in both programs. Not really a devaluation. Yes, big changes, but category shifts happen every year.
I doubt that many of us are going to the Marriott in Venezuela at present.
Not happy about the increase in points for Marriott. However just recently they waved the credit card – Marriott Rewards Visa annual fee for the first year and are offering 75,000 Bonus Points. It used to be 80,000 points with a fee. You can also use Marriott points for gift cards to Starbucks, Home Depot, Petsmart etc.
Please please please don’t ever use Marriott points for gift cards. PLEASE. A Horrible value for the points.
agreed, some great values could still be booked with points. I just came back from booking the autograph collection at Kona for 45000/night. Cash rate starts at $1100+ per night…….. Glad I had points!
great. some new options!!
I hope this is the end of the big changes. I definitely think SPG has the better of the two brands, though. Love that the SPG’s “can be” trendy, yet the Marriott’s have always been sort of predictable in the locations that I have stayed. Was shocked by the Marriott in Detroit. Really amazing historic building and absolutely GORGEOUS!
With economy and touristic and business destinations changing these moving up and down categories is quite normal.
Would be nice if any one can post a google maps about updated locations in separate category.
A tremendous amount of effort for something short-lived. Unless someone can easily/quickly script this I think it’d be a significantly wasted effort, no?
I know that I’ve read now several times that hotels look at changing levels and amounts around this time of year.
I see all these changes now and most are not bad at all. It just the passing of the years and things increase. The price of bread, milk, chips, beer, etc will all go up and so will miles and points. We all love when prices to go down but that is not how it works over the years.
I will earn based on what I’m planning to use and will hopefully have enough to use for my trip. That is why I plan so far in advance.
But what you are missing is that the earning opportunities are not increasing. At least with bread and milk price increases, some of that arguably is offset by increased earnings/wages over the years.
This is the important point – earning rate vs redemption rate. If they are are increasing proportionally then it is not really a devaluation. Has anyone done such a comparison? I guess earning rate per dollar is constant so it is a matter of room rate cost increases vs the redemption rates.
No surprise to see the W New York drop. It was clearly the worst “W” in Manhattan in terms of room size, service, etc. so could hardly remain on par with the better Ws such as Union Square
It appeared nice when I went to an event there a few years ago, but I guess that was ‘window dressing’ since I had no need to stay there and experience room size, service and amenities.
The good thing is if you are going to stay at a starwood hotel you can find out if it is cheaper or more expensive after march 6 which means book before march 6 or after
Yeah! It’s good they give you warning so you can plan.
The moves from Cat. 5 to Cat. 6 will particularly hurt!
I typically only go after lower category redemptions. I find you get the highest value for your points with those. Doesn’t look like this will effect me too much. This is just how it rolls with hotels doing redemptions based on category.
Is there a list on good or even great award-hotels?
check out our master list of sweet spots: https://awardwallet.com/blog/award-program-sweet-spots/ — we’re also publishing a piece on properties to book before the prices change shortly.
They have to take back all those free NFL points somehow.
Haha.
That’s exactly what I was thinking! Really can’t blame them though for limiting some of the exposure created with that trivia promo.
Fortunately, I already spent all my points before the devaluation 🙂
Beginning of the end of the beloved Starwood program. More devaluation coming for sure
Another reason to start spending – not hoarding – your FFM!
I will have to rethink my Chase card renewal since the free night category 5 e-cert becomes harder for me to use.
A 5-star property in the US does not even come close to a 5-star property elsewhere, especially in Asia. It is sad to see these being valued the same.
I guess that’s why Marriott was so generous with free points… now the payback time for them.
exactly what i was thinking!
I have a feeling that main principle in loyalty game – burn points or miles as soon as you can
I’m happy as long as the St. Regis Mauritius is not impacted
Wish they would make that Cat 1-5 certificate easier to use (or upgrade it to 1-6) – always such a challenge and no it appears way less San Diego area properties to choose from.
So excited about the Dubai property. It’s like a sign that I should visit the city again!
The Dubai property does look like a decent deal, and it is certainly a city well worth visiting.
Looks like I need to goose myself into some trip planning!
“Not too bad”? 1300 Marriott properties changing? ???
But look at how they’re shifting.
The economy is doing well, and prices are up so we have to expect an increase in markets where things are doing well — but it isn’t like we’re seeing 3 category jumps across the board.
SPG’s definitely not bad. Marriott, though..
Time to book some speculative trips night by night!
This is great info – thanks for sharing!
I do like that points are now combined, but I have a really hard time utilizing the annual free night with the Marriott credit card.
The Dolphin going up at Disney…no surprise unfortunately.
Glad I just used most of my Marriott points before this change.
Me too! Last year I finally figured out that hoarding points is not a great idea. I’ve been trimming off points when I see great deals regularly and plan to continue!
I agree it is Not that tragic in a moment when wherever I look I see devaluations.
Yes, one must wonder where the bottom is.
Thanks for the updates.