Originally Posted by
fastflyer
This goes to the heart of my concerns about the ambiguous upcoming devaluation.
I use my Bonvoy points at the $600-$1000 properties, of which there are many (and apparently the number is growing). This includes many city properties both in large North American metros and Europe, plus many resort properties.
These have been redeemable for many years at the (Category 7) 60k nightly level, give or take (sometimes 70k, sometimes even 50k). Some resorts are Category 8 (85k) but I am focused here on the Category 7 redemption properties. I would say this accounts for 2/3 of my redemptions and most of the justification for the Bonvoy Amex and my 100k+ annual spend.
With 2022 pricing now regularly at 1000/ night for so many properties, what does this mean to the redemption value for Category 7 properties? I would like Marriott to address this specific segment of the Bonvoy stakeholder population.
Properties with high levels of service are consequently costlier to operate, even in the most basic sense. They're larger, have more facilities, offer more services, and require more staff. Think about how you'd react if you booked a vacation to a Ritz Carlton and found that there was no room service available, breakfast was grab-bags of plastic-wrapped fruit and granola, pool was drained, fitness center locked, concierge vacant, etc. Not a good look for the upper tier of the brand catering to guests recently released from Covid jail with money to burn.
In the current labor situation and with international borders re-opening for leisure, I'm not at all surprised to see Marriott testing these price levels so far out in advance.