Reward Categories For Marriott/SPG Now Live

Marriott & SPG will combine on August 1st and up until now we’ve only been given a small sample of what to expect when it comes to the award categories each property will fall under. The full list is now live and can be viewed here. Marriott has shared the following statistics:

  • 52% of properties will move to a lower redemption rate
  • 31%  of properties will move to a higher redemption rate
  • 17% of properties will be priced the same

Looking at just those statistics can be misleading though, properties that are decreasing in price might only be marginally doing so whereas properties that are increasing in price might be dramatically doing so. Both programs also had a fairly big devaluation earlier this year as well. Another factor is that off season/peak season pricing will come into affect in 2019 as well. To me it’s not surprising that the numbers stack up so well now, I feel like the value proposition will be change with peak/off peak coming into play. The new award chart is as follows:

 

We also still don’t know for sure how floater certificates from Marriott Air + Travel packages will be treated. It’s worth also keeping in mind that it might make sense to book properties now before the prices change on August 1st for future travel if the hotel you’re looking at will be increasing in price. What I will say in Marriott’s favor is that they are being extremely transparent about these changes. The site lists the current price, future price and the net difference and it’s extremely easy to search and filter through the list.

What You Should Remember

  • Category 8 pricing doesn’t go into effect until 2019. This means you can book category 8 properties for category 7 pricing (60,000 points vs 85,000 points) until the end of the year. The new award category tab is sortable, so you can easily see a full list of category 8 properties.
  • Have plans? Check to see when is best to book. Some properties will be going up in price, you should book these before August 1st. Others will go down in price, book these after August 1st. Again it’s very easy to search for the propert you want to stay at and see the points difference.

Big Point Movers

Increase:

  • Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection, Greece. This increases from 45,000 points to 85,000 points when category 8 is introduced (+40,000)
  • Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Crete, Grece. Increase from 60,000 to 85,000 points when category 8 is introduced (+25,000)
  • The St. Regis Rome. Italy. Increase from 60,000 to 85,000 points when category 8 is introduced (+25,000)

Decrease:

  • Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Napa Valley. This decreases from 90,000 points to 60,000 points (-30,000 points)
  • The St. Regis San Francisco. This decreases from 90,000 points to 60,000 points (-30,000 points)
  • W Bali – Seminyak, Indonesia. This decreases from 90,000 points to 60,000 points (-30,000 points)
  • The St. Regis Astana, Kazakhstan. This decreases from 85,000 points to 60,000 points (-25,000 points)

Interesting Changes

  • Lots of Ritz-Carlton properties are going up in price by a lot

Share any changes you think are important and why and we will add them here.

 

 

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