SPG & Marriott 2018 Category Changes Now In Effect

Update 03/06/18: When I checked properties earlier this morning the new prices hadn’t loaded. The new prices have now loaded though for anybody wanting to book under the new rates.

SPG and Marriott have announced the properties that will be changing award category for 2018. These changes go into effect on March 6th, 2018. If you book before that date, you’ll see the current pricing and booking after it you’ll receive the new pricing. This means if you have any upcoming trips, it’s worth seeing if a property will go up and down a category and then booking accordingly (e.g if it’s going up a category then book now, if it’s going down a category then book after the 6th).

Marriott Changes

Direct link to announcement

  • 276 properties ar
  • 74% will stay the same, 21% will move up and 5% will move down

For a lot of people the biggest change for Marriott is when a property moves from a category 5 to category 6, as this means the annual free night certificate from the Chase Marriott card will no longer work. There are 100+ properties that fall into this change (category 5 to category six)

SPG Changes

Direct link to announcement

  • 276 properties are changing category
  • 83% will stay the same, 8% will move up and 9% will move down

Our Verdict

SPG seems to have an even split of properties moving up/down, whereas Marriott is a heavy devaluation. As mentioned Marriott is making a lot of properties that were category 5, category 6. Feel free to share the properties that will have the biggest hit for you personally in the comments.
    William Charles
  • On March 6, 2018, 20:43

View Comments (23)

  • I'm seeing a Marriott award booking I made ahead of time now showing the increased points cost. That's annoying.

  • There are still a bunch of hotels that haven't been updated. Looks like it's rolling out in waves.

  • Well. Starwood properties that Category 4 and above will probably become Marriott Category 8 and 9 when the two programs merge. So this is still relatively minor until the two programs merge. Then we’ll see a true devaluation.

  • For once, these category changes actually benefited me. One of the hotels I was about to book in China just moved down and got cheaper.

  • I think this is an important piece of info to add from the fine print:

    Additionally, beginning February 11th, to closer align with Marriott’s booking policies, SPG will adjust its booking window. New reservations at SPG hotels (paid + redemption) will only be available for 350 days in advance (vs. up to 550 days). Existing reservations beyond 350 days, will not be affected and can be viewed or modified on spg.com or by contacting the SPG customer contact center.

  • Very disappointed with the changes in my local Marriott. The King Kamehameha Kona Besch hotel is now category 7. This is the second worst Marriott in Hawaii and is now in the same category as the worst one in Hawaii. There are now 3 category 8 hotels in Maui. The Marriott Resort Maui the residence inn Maui and courtyard Kahului airport. No idea what they’re thinking but lumping these together even though they’re now close to being comparable is just going to confuse people. And they can’t even use the reason that it’s because it’s Hawaii. If that was the case all their hotels would be category 8 and 9 because it’s Hawaii.

  • I'm just back from Barbados, 4 nights through chase and 1 night through the mega-bonus. Got upgraded to a suite, which was nice. It's not overwater bungalow, it's a cat 5, but it was nice to get to, easy access to transport, decent flights via jetblue... I'd do it again. Except I'll never be able to...

  • What would have thought with 1000 points for answering a trivia question every week they would charge more for their hotels?

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