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FAQ : Selecting Annual Choice Benefit

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Old Sep 16, 2018, 10:20 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Zorak
The link for selecting your benefit:
https://choice-benefit.marriott.com/

Can't remember whether/what you picked for your previous benefits? Click on "SEE YOUR PAST SELECTIONS >" on the above page, or direct link:
https://choice-benefit.marriott.com/en-us/history

Once you stay at least 50 eligible nights, you'll get to choose one of these Annual Choice Benefits:
  • Five Suite Night Awards™
  • The gift of Silver Elite status for a friend or family member
  • Five Elite Night Credits
  • $100 (USD) donation to UNICEF
  • 40% off your favorite hotel bed
Annual Choice Benefit: As described in section 4.3.c.vi, a Platinum Premier Elite Member who has achieved 75 Elite Night Credits annually is eligible to receive one additional benefit from the list of available benefits listed below: Platinum Premier Elite Annual Choice Benefit Options:

· Five (5) Suite Night Awards™
· 40% off bed
· $100 Charity Donation
· The gift of Gold Elite status for a friend or family member
· Five (5) Elite Night Credits
· One (1) Free Night Award

The list of Annual Choice Benefits is subject to change at any time. Once a Platinum Elite Member becomes eligible to receive the Annual Choice Benefit, he/she must choose his/her Annual Choice Benefit by visiting the following sites: For Marriott Rewards®: https://choice-benefit.marriott.com/en-us/marriott-rewards/; for SPG®: https://choice-benefit.marriott.com/en-us/starwood-preferred-guest/; for The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®: https://choice-benefit.marriott.com/en-us/ritz-carlton-rewards/ and selecting one of the Annual Choice Benefits. A selection must be made through one of the above methods and may not be made through Member Support. All Annual Choice Benefit selections are final and may not be changed after they are made. In the event that an eligible Platinum Elite member fails to select an Annual Choice Benefit by January 14 of the year following the applicable Qualifying Period, the Member will receive five (5) Suite Night Awards as his/her Annual Choice Benefit. One Free Night Awardi. The Free Night Award (up to 40,000 points) must be redeemed for a stay that occurs no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the additional benefit is selected (e.g., if the benefit is selected in 2019, the deadline for redemption is December 31, 2020).ii. The Free Night Award will be credited to the Platinum Premier Elite Member's account within two (2) weeks of the Platinum Premier Elite Member selecting this option as his/her Platinum Premier Elite Annual Choice Benefit. The Free Night Award can be redeemed at any available Participating Property for one (1) night, up to 40,000 points, for a standard room.iii. Members can use their Award while booking an eligible Award Redemption Stay on Marriott websites or they may call Member Support and mention they wish to use their Free Night Award. A Free Night Award is not transferable and may not be redeemed for cash or converted into points. Any unused Free Night Award will be forfeited. Free Night Award stay(s) and night(s) will count toward earning Elite membership status. Free Night Awards are combinable and may be added to existing paid or Free Night Award stays.iv. The Free Night Award includes all applicable taxes; however, the Platinum Premier Elite Member may be responsible for payment of additional mandatory resort fees at Participating Properties where resort fees are applicable.v. Free Night Award redemptions may be canceled pursuant to the standard guarantee and cancellation policies as described in Section 3.2.c.vi. An eligible Loyalty Program Member should check his/her Member account to confirm the expiration date of his/her Free Night Award.vii. Any Free Night Award(s) previously awarded to SPG Members as an Annual Choice Benefit which have not yet been redeemed have changed in value and are now valued up to 40,000 points and will have the same expiration date.

T&Cs:

50-Night Annual Choice Benefit Terms and Conditions

Members who qualify for an Annual Choice Benefit in 2019 are required to make their Annual Choice Benefit selection by 11:59 pm ET on January 15, 2020. If a qualified member does not make their selection by the deadline of 11:59 pm ET on January 15, 2020, they will receive Five Suite Night Awards as their 2019 Annual Choice Benefit.

All Annual Choice Benefit selections are final and may not be changed after they are made. Please note, the Annual Choice Benefit selection process requires double confirmation. Qualified members are required to click a second confirmation button before finalizing their choice.

A Marriott Bonvoy™ Platinum Elite member who has achieved fifty (50) eligible Elite Night Credits annually is eligible to receive one (1) benefit from the list of available benefits listed below.

Five Elite Night Credits

  1. Upon an eligible Platinum Elite Member selecting the Five Elite Night Credits as his/her Annual Choice Benefit, the Platinum Member will have his/her Member Account credited with five (5) bonus Elite Nights which count toward earning Elite status and Lifetime Elite status. Elite Nights and Elite membership status are subject to the Program Rules in section 4.2.b.
  2. The five (5) Elite Night Credits will be reflected in the member account within forty-eight (48) hours of the receipt of the confirmation of the Annual Choice Benefit selection.
  3. Elite Nights that are awarded to an eligible Platinum Elite or Titanium Elite member as the member's Annual Choice Benefit will be awarded in the Eligible Status Year for which the Elite Nights were earned, regardless of when the member selects the five Elite Night Credits as his or her Annual Choice Benefit. For the avoidance of doubt, the Eligible Calendar Year in which the Annual Choice Benefit is earned is the Eligible Calendar Year for which the Elite Nights will be credited toward earning Elite membership status.

40% off Bed: Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount from Marriott Retail Brands

  1. Upon the member’s selection of the Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount as his or her Annual Choice Benefit, he or she will receive a promotional code that can be redeemed for 40% off the full retail value valid on any of these mattresses and box springs:
    1. The Westin Heavenly® Bed
    2. The Marriott Bed
    3. The Ritz-Carlton Bed
    4. The W Hotels Bed
    5. The Sheraton Bed
    6. The St. Regis Bed
    7. The Courtyard Bed
    8. The JW Marriott Bed
    9. The Renaissance Bed
    10. The Luxury Collection Bed
    11. The Fairfield Bed
    12. The EDITION Hotel Bed
    13. The Gaylord Hotels Bed
  2. The Marriott Retail Brands Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount promotional code is nonrefundable and nontransferable.
  3. The promotional code cannot be duplicated or sold and there is no cash value. In the event Marriott Bonvoy suspects that the use or redemption of the promotional code was in error, fraudulent, illegal or in violation of these Marriott Retail Brands Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount terms and conditions or the Program Rules, Marriott Bonvoy reserves the right to withhold or deduct the promotional code or corresponding credit. The promotional code may be terminated or modified at any time and without any liability to Marriott Bonvoy. The promotional code will be used for its intended and lawful purpose and pursuant to these Marriott Brands Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount terms and conditions and the Program Rules. The promotional code is void where prohibited by law. The promotional code is for a single purchase only.
  4. The Marriott Retail Brands mattress and box spring 40% discount promotional code is not combinable with other offers. The Marriott brands mattress and box spring 40% discount promotional code is for a single use and is nontransferable. Only the member who elected the Marriott brands mattress and box spring 40% discount as his or her Annual Choice Benefit will be able to redeem the Marriott brands mattress and box spring 40% discount promotional code.To redeem the 40% discount off a mattress and box spring from any of the Company's Marriott Retail brands, call one of the numbers below based on your country of residence.
    • In the United States, call 800-311-0708, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET, and Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET.
    • In Europe and the Middle East, call 33 1 41 51 51 53 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CET.
    • In Asia Pacific, call 86 400 627 6876 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST
    • Have the promotional code and the member Account Number ready.
  5. Prior to shipping the applicable merchandise, the Company reserves the right to verify that the person who redeems the Marriott Retail Brands Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount promotional code is the member who earned the Annual Choice Benefit prior to shipping the applicable merchandise.
  6. Shipping is not included and varies by region. Bed frames are not included and are not subject to the Marriott-Branded Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount promotional code.
  7. The Marriott Retail Brands mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount promotional code is valid through December 31 of the year following the year in which the Annual Choice Benefit was earned.

Gift Elite Status

  1. A Platinum Elite member who has achieved fifty (50) eligible Elite Night Credits annually may gift Silver Elite status, and a Titanium Elite member who has achieved seventy-five (75) eligible Elite Night Credits annually may gift Gold Elite status.
  2. The Gift Elite status benefit may only be provided to a member who has not yet achieved Elite membership status within the current Eligible Status Year.
  3. The Account status of the member to whom an Elite status benefit is gifted will be upgraded within forty-eight (48) hours of the receipt of confirmation of the recipient’s selection. Such member will hold his or her Elite membership for a minimum of a full calendar year. For example, if a member is given the Silver Elite status benefit during the 2019 Eligible Status Year, the member will become a Silver Elite member for the remainder of 2019, all of 2020, and January and February of 2021. The Silver Elite Minimum Requirement must be achieved in the subsequent Eligible Calendar Year to remain a Silver Elite member during the calendar year following such subsequent Eligible Status Year or the member will be downgraded to the Member level on March 1 of the calendar year following such subsequent Eligible Status Year. In the above example, this means that in order for the member to continue having Silver Elite status after February 2021, the member must achieve the Silver Elite Minimum Requirement during the 2020 Eligible Status Year.
  4. Under no circumstances will Marriott Bonvoy provide membership details or personal member information of any members to the member providing the gifted status benefit or the recipient of the gifted status benefit in order to facilitate the gifted status benefit.
If the desired recipient of the gifted status benefit is not currently a member, the desired recipient must register on https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/createAccount/createAccountPage1.mi before the gifted status benefit can be provided.

US$100 Charity Donation: UNICEF US$100 Donation

  1. The US$100 donation from Marriott Bonvoy to U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Doing Business As ‘UNICEF USA,’ is not a tax-deductible contribution for the member who chooses this donation as his or her Annual Choice Benefit.
  2. Marriott Bonvoy cannot direct or otherwise guarantee how UNICEF USA or UNICEF will spend the US$100 donation.
  3. All funds are transferred to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, www.unicefusa.org.

Suite Night Awards

Suite Night Awards may be redeemed for advance confirmable upgrades for select, premium rooms or standard suites on a per-room, per-night basis, subject to availability and the applicable terms and conditions set forth below for Suite Night Awards:
  1. Suite Night Awards may be used only on Loyalty Program eligible paid stays (excluding Advance Purchase Rates) as well as Free Night Award stays and Cash & Points stays.
  2. A member may request to use his or her Suite Night Awards on marriottbonvoy.com or by calling Member Support.
  3. Suite Night Awards may only be used for standard suites or other premium rooms as designated by the Participating Property.
  4. Suite Night Award use is based upon availability of the requested suite or premium room. Checking for availability begins five (5) days before arrival. If availability is not confirmed five (5) days before arrival, availability is checked each day before arrival up to 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival. If at that time Suite Night Awards cannot be confirmed, the Suite Night Awards are credited back to the member’s account.
  5. Suite Night Awards may be used only when there are enough in the member’s account so that one is applied to every night of the reservation.
  6. One Suite Night Award is required per room per night.
  7. Suite Night Awards are required for each night of the stay, including any nights that may be designated “free,” such as the fifth night in a Fifth Night Free Award.
  8. Suite Night Awards may not be transferred or given as a gift or used as part of a multiple room reservation; however, a Member may use Suite Night Awards for additional single-room reservations on his/her own stay as long as the Member is present for the stay and the other reservations are under the Member's name.
  9. Members who book separate reservations for consecutive nights that precede or follow a reservation that has confirmed Suite Night Awards will be required to change rooms to the confirmed room type on any night(s) where a Suite Night Award is not used.
  10. If a Participating Property offers multiple room options for the Suite Night Award, once the suite/premium room option is selected, the selection may be changed until 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property the day before arrival so long as the Suite Night Award is unconfirmed. Confirmed Suite Night Awards may be canceled up to 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival only if the entire reservation is canceled.
  11. Suite Night Awards have requesting, booking, cancellation and modification policies that are in addition to — but completely separate from — the booking, cancellation and modification policies for the reservations on which they are used.
    1. Requests to use Suite Night Awards on a reservation may be made up to 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival.
    2. Requests to withdraw the use of unconfirmed Suite Night Awards may be made up to 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival.
    3. Confirmed Suite Night Awards may be canceled up to 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival only if the entire reservation is canceled.
    4. Once Suite Night Awards have been confirmed, the member must cancel the entire reservation to receive credit back for all Suite Night Awards. Cancellation of a confirmed Suite Night Award reservation after 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival will result in the forfeiture of all Suite Night Awards applied to the entire reservation.
    5. Suite Night Awards cannot be applied to a reservation once the reservation has been checked in to a Participating Property.
    6. If a member departs his or her reservation early, any unused Suite Night Awards confirmed for the stay will be forfeited.
    7. If a member extends his or her reservation and has enough Suite Night Awards to cover the extension, the member may use his or her Suite Night Awards based upon availability and at the Participating Property’s discretion.
  12. Not all hotels participate in Suite Night Awards. Suite Night Awards are not redeemable at the following brands (subject to change at any time; see Marriott Bonvoy Terms and Conditions for full details): The Ritz-Carlton®, Protea Hotels®, Aloft®, Element®, Design Hotels™, all-suite hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, EDITION®, Ritz-Carlton Reserve®, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Clubs® and Marriott Grand Residence Club properties. In addition, Suite Night Awards are not redeemable at select Participating Properties. Contact Member Support for individual hotel Suite Night Award participation.
  13. Suite Night Awards will be placed in the member's account within 48 hours of selecting 5 Suite Night Awards as his or her Annual Choice Benefit.

75-Night Annual Choice Benefit Terms and Conditions

Members who qualify for an Annual Choice Benefit in 2019 are required to make their Annual Choice Benefit selection by 11:59 pm ET on January 15, 2020. If a qualified member does not make their selection by the deadline of 11:59 pm ET on January 15, 2020, they will receive Five Suite Night Awards as their 2019 Annual Choice Benefit.

All Annual Choice Benefit selections are final and may not be changed after they are made. Please note, the Annual Choice Benefit selection process requires double confirmation. Qualified members are required to click a second confirmation button before finalizing their choice.

A Marriott Bonvoy™ Titanium Elite member who has achieved seventy-five (75) eligible Elite Night Credits annually is eligible to receive one (1) additional benefit from the list of available benefits listed below.

Five Elite Night Credits

  1. Upon an eligible Platinum Elite Member selecting the Five Elite Night Credits as his/her Annual Choice Benefit, the Platinum Member will have his/her Member Account credited with five (5) bonus Elite Nights which count toward earning Elite status and Lifetime Elite status. Elite Nights and Elite membership status are subject to the Program Rules in section 4.2.b.
  2. The five (5) Elite Night Credits will be reflected in the member account within forty-eight (48) hours of the receipt of the confirmation of the Annual Choice Benefit selection.
  3. Elite Nights that are awarded to an eligible Platinum Elite or Titanium Elite member as the member's Annual Choice Benefit will be awarded in the Eligible Status Year for which the Elite Nights were earned, regardless of when the member selects the five Elite Night Credits as his or her Annual Choice Benefit. For the avoidance of doubt, the Eligible Calendar Year in which the Annual Choice Benefit is earned is the Eligible Calendar Year for which the Elite Nights will be credited toward earning Elite membership status.

40% off Bed: Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount from Marriott Retail Brands

  1. Upon the member’s selection of the Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount as his or her Annual Choice Benefit, he or she will receive a promotional code that can be redeemed for 40% off the full retail value valid on any of these mattresses and box springs:
    1. The Westin Heavenly® Bed
    2. The Marriott Bed
    3. The Ritz-Carlton Bed
    4. The W Hotels Bed
    5. The Sheraton Bed
    6. The St. Regis Bed
    7. The Courtyard Bed
    8. The JW Marriott Bed
    9. The Renaissance Bed
    10. The Luxury Collection Bed
    11. The Fairfield Bed
    12. The EDITION Hotel Bed
    13. The Gaylord Hotels Bed
  2. The Marriott Retail Brands Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount promotional code is nonrefundable and nontransferable.
  3. The promotional code cannot be duplicated or sold and there is no cash value. In the event Marriott Bonvoy suspects that the use or redemption of the promotional code was in error, fraudulent, illegal or in violation of these Marriott Retail Brands Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount terms and conditions or the Program Rules, Marriott Bonvoy reserves the right to withhold or deduct the promotional code or corresponding credit. The promotional code may be terminated or modified at any time and without any liability to Marriott Bonvoy. The promotional code will be used for its intended and lawful purpose and pursuant to these Marriott Brands Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount terms and conditions and the Program Rules. The promotional code is void where prohibited by law. The promotional code is for a single purchase only.
  4. The Marriott Retail Brands mattress and box spring 40% discount promotional code is not combinable with other offers. The Marriott brands mattress and box spring 40% discount promotional code is for a single use and is nontransferable. Only the member who elected the Marriott brands mattress and box spring 40% discount as his or her Annual Choice Benefit will be able to redeem the Marriott brands mattress and box spring 40% discount promotional code.To redeem the 40% discount off a mattress and box spring from any of the Company's Marriott Retail brands, call one of the numbers below based on your country of residence.
    • In the United States, call 800-311-0708, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET, and Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET.
    • In Europe and the Middle East, call 33 1 41 51 51 53 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CET.
    • In Asia Pacific, call 86 400 627 6876 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST
    • Have the promotional code and the member Account Number ready.
  5. Prior to shipping the applicable merchandise, the Company reserves the right to verify that the person who redeems the Marriott Retail Brands Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount promotional code is the member who earned the Annual Choice Benefit prior to shipping the applicable merchandise.
  6. Shipping is not included and varies by region. Bed frames are not included and are not subject to the Marriott-Branded Mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount promotional code.
  7. The Marriott Retail Brands mattress and Box Spring 40% Discount promotional code is valid through December 31 of the year following the year in which the Annual Choice Benefit was earned.

Gift Elite Status

  1. A Platinum Elite member who has achieved fifty (50) eligible Elite Night Credits annually may gift Gold Elite status, and a Titanium Elite member who has achieved seventy-five (75) eligible Elite Night Credits annually may gift Gold Elite status.
  2. The Gift Elite status benefit may only be provided to a member who has not yet achieved Elite membership status within the current Eligible Status Year.
  3. The Account status of the member to whom an Elite status benefit is gifted will be upgraded within forty-eight (48) hours of the receipt of confirmation of the recipient’s selection. Such member will hold his or her Elite membership for a minimum of a full calendar year. For example, if a member is given the Gold Elite status benefit during the 2019 Eligible Status Year, the member will become a Gold Elite member for the remainder of 2019, all of 2020, and January and February of 2021. The Gold Elite Minimum Requirement must be achieved in the subsequent Eligible Calendar Year to remain a Gold Elite member during the calendar year following such subsequent Eligible Status Year or the member will be downgraded to the Member level on March 1 of the calendar year following such subsequent Eligible Status Year. In the above example, this means that in order for the member to continue having Gold Elite status after February 2021, the member must achieve the Gold Elite Minimum Requirement during the 2020 Eligible Status Year.
  4. Under no circumstances will Marriott Bonvoy provide membership details or personal member information of any members to the member providing the gifted status benefit or the recipient of the gifted status benefit in order to facilitate the gifted status benefit.
  5. If the desired recipient of the gifted status benefit is not currently a member, the desired recipient must register at https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/createAccount/createAccountPage1.mi before the gifted status benefit can be provided.

US$100 Charity Donation: UNICEF US$100 Donation

  1. The US$100 donation from Marriott Bonvoy to U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Doing Business As ‘UNICEF USA,’ is not a tax-deductible contribution for the member who chooses this donation as his or her Annual Choice Benefit.
  2. Marriott Bonvoy cannot direct or otherwise guarantee how UNICEF USA or UNICEF will spend the US$100 donation.
  3. All funds are transferred to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, www.unicefusa.org.

Suite Night Awards

Suite Night Awards may be redeemed for advance confirmable upgrades for select, premium rooms or standard suites on a per-room, per-night basis, subject to availability and the applicable terms and conditions set forth below for Suite Night Awards:
  1. Suite Night Awards may be used only on Loyalty Program eligible paid stays (excluding Advance Purchase Rates) as well as Free Night Award stays and Cash & Points stays.
  2. A member may request to use his or her Suite Night Awards on marriottbonvoy.com or by calling Member Support.
  3. Suite Night Awards may only be used for standard suites or other premium rooms as designated by the Participating Property.
  4. Suite Night Award use is based upon availability of the requested suite or premium room. Checking for availability begins five (5) days before arrival. If availability is not confirmed five (5) days before arrival, availability is checked each day before arrival up to 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival. If at that time Suite Night Awards cannot be confirmed, the Suite Night Awards are credited back to the member’s account.
  5. Suite Night Awards may be used only when there are enough in the member’s account so that one is applied to every night of the reservation.
  6. One Suite Night Award is required per room per night.
  7. Suite Night Awards are required for each night of the stay, including any nights that may be designated “free,” such as the fifth night in a Fifth Night Free Award.
  8. Suite Night Awards may not be transferred or given as a gift or used as part of a multiple room reservation; however, a Member may use Suite Night Awards for additional single-room reservations on his/her own stay as long as the Member is present for the stay and the other reservations are under the Member's name.
  9. Members who book separate reservations for consecutive nights that precede or follow a reservation that has confirmed Suite Night Awards will be required to change rooms to the confirmed room type on any night(s) where a Suite Night Award is not used.
  10. If a Participating Property offers multiple room options for the Suite Night Award, once the suite/premium room option is selected, the selection may be changed until 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property the day before arrival so long as the Suite Night Award is unconfirmed. Confirmed Suite Night Awards may be canceled up to 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival only if the entire reservation is canceled.
  11. Suite Night Awards have requesting, booking, cancellation and modification policies that are in addition to — but completely separate from — the booking, cancellation and modification policies for the reservations on which they are used.
    1. Requests to use Suite Night Awards on a reservation may be made up to 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival.
    2. Requests to withdraw the use of unconfirmed Suite Night Awards may be made up to 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival.
    3. Confirmed Suite Night Awards may be canceled up to 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival only if the entire reservation is canceled.
    4. Once Suite Night Awards have been confirmed, the member must cancel the entire reservation to receive credit back for all Suite Night Awards. Cancellation of a confirmed Suite Night Award reservation after 2 p.m. local time of the Participating Property one (1) day prior to arrival will result in the forfeiture of all Suite Night Awards applied to the entire reservation.
    5. Suite Night Awards cannot be applied to a reservation once the reservation has been checked in to a Participating Property.
    6. If a member departs his or her reservation early, any unused Suite Night Awards confirmed for the stay will be forfeited.
    7. If a member extends his or her reservation and has enough Suite Night Awards to cover the extension, the member may use his or her Suite Night Awards based upon availability and at the Participating Property’s discretion.
  12. Not all hotels participate in Suite Night Awards. Suite Night Awards are not redeemable at the following brands (subject to change at any time; see Marriott Bonvoy Terms and Conditions for full details): The Ritz-Carlton®, Protea Hotels®, Aloft®, Element®, Design Hotels™, all-suite hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, EDITION®, Ritz-Carlton Reserve®, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Clubs® and Marriott Grand Residence Club properties. In addition, Suite Night Awards are not redeemable at select Participating Properties. Contact Member Support for individual hotel Suite Night Award participation.
  13. Suite Night Awards will be placed in the member's account within 48 hours of selecting 5 Suite Night Awards as his or her Annual Choice Benefit.

One Free Night Award

  1. The Free Night Award (up to 40,000 points) must be redeemed for a stay that occurs no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the additional benefit is selected (e.g., if the benefit is earned in 2019, the deadline for redemption is December 31, 2020).
  2. The Free Night Award will be credited to the Titanium Elite member's account within two (2) weeks of the member selecting this option as his or her Annual Choice Benefit. The Free Night Award can be redeemed at any available Participating Property for one (1) night, up to 40,000 points, for a standard room. Members can use their award while booking an eligible Award Redemption Stay on Marriott websites or they may call Member Support and mention they wish to use their Free Night Award. A Free Night Award is not transferable and may not be redeemed for cash or converted into points. Any unused Free Night Award will be forfeited. Free Night Award stay(s) and night(s) will count toward earning Elite membership status. Free Night Awards are combinable and may be added to existing paid or Free Night Award stays.
  3. The Free Night Award includes all applicable taxes; however, the Titanium Elite member may be responsible for payment of additional mandatory resort fees at Participating Properties where resort fees are applicable.
  4. Free Night Award redemptions may be canceled pursuant to the standard guarantee and cancellation policies as described in Section 3.2.c.
  5. An eligible Marriott Bonvoy member should check his or her member account to confirm the expiration date of his or her Free Night Award.
  6. For legacy SPG® members, any Free Night Award(s) previously awarded as an Annual Choice Benefit that have not yet been redeemed are now valued up to 40,000 points and will have the same expiration date.
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FAQ : Selecting Annual Choice Benefit

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Old Aug 10, 2020, 8:01 pm
  #1186  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,900
Originally Posted by myperks
Considering you already said ambassador don’t mean much in another thread (true to some extent), I think you know the answer to this question.
It wouldn't hurt to get her opinion.
lsquare is online now  
Old Aug 10, 2020, 8:13 pm
  #1187  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Originally Posted by lsquare
That's interesting because I recalled reading several blogs that mentioned there were only two choices after hitting 75 nights; Gift gold status or 40K free night award.

What would you do? 5 EQN or 40K free night award?
FNA for sure based on my (former) travels. I only used SNAs in Europe and Australia. Most of my travels were in Asia and Hawaii (I have a long standing relationship with Sheraton Waikiki so I don’t need to use SNAs there).
lsquare likes this.
margarita girl is offline  
Old Aug 10, 2020, 9:10 pm
  #1188  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,209
Originally Posted by lsquare
That's interesting because I recalled reading several blogs that mentioned there were only two choices after hitting 75 nights; Gift gold status or 40K free night award.

What would you do? 5 EQN or 40K free night award?
They undoubtedly meant two *additional* choices at 75 compared to the choices at 50.

Quite why anyone would think that gifting Gold has some value I don't know. The difference in stay experience for the receiver would be negligible and if they don't stay enough to qualify for Gold anyway they won't build up a material number of points to get many redemption nights. More likely to disappoint the receiver than delight them IMO.
SPN Lifer and lsquare like this.
ftrichard is offline  
Old Aug 10, 2020, 9:31 pm
  #1189  
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,926
Originally Posted by lsquare
It wouldn't hurt to get her opinion.
Opinions are going to be based on personal preferences and travel patterns. If you are primarily staying in areas with good elite recognition and upgrades already, the SNAs aren't worth much and the only real choices are the FNA, or the 5 EQN, which even if they are worthless for Ambassador, they count towards lifetime totals. Given how much of a goal/motivation you've said that is for you, it seems to me the question to ask is what cash value do you ascribe to a 40k award, and would you pay that for a 5 EQN mattress run that you don't have to check-in to?
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Zorak is offline  
Old Aug 10, 2020, 9:37 pm
  #1190  
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In two recent years I have taken the 40K-point Free Night Award, and made good use of it. This year I will wait until December to decide, so as to better estimate the likelihood of needing or wanting to redeem one sometime in 2021.

If my contemplated 2021 travel schedule (to expensive parts of the U.S.) appears doubtful or minimal, I may just settle for the 5 Elite Nights, to bring Lifetime Platinum Elite that much closer.
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Old Aug 10, 2020, 10:12 pm
  #1191  
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Originally Posted by Zorak
Opinions are going to be based on personal preferences and travel patterns. If you are primarily staying in areas with good elite recognition and upgrades already, the SNAs aren't worth much and the only real choices are the FNA, or the 5 EQN, which even if they are worthless for Ambassador, they count towards lifetime totals. Given how much of a goal/motivation you've said that is for you, it seems to me the question to ask is what cash value do you ascribe to a 40k award, and would you pay that for a 5 EQN mattress run that you don't have to check-in to?
Originally Posted by SPN Lifer
In two recent years I have taken the 40K-point Free Night Award, and made good use of it. This year I will wait until December to decide, so as to better estimate the likelihood of needing or wanting to redeem one sometime in 2021.

If my contemplated 2021 travel schedule (to expensive parts of the U.S.) appears doubtful or minimal, I may just settle for the 5 Elite Nights, to bring Lifetime Platinum Elite that much closer.
Given the low cash rates at the moment, I'm leaning towards the 5 EQNs. However, since it's mentioned that I have until the end of the year to decide, I'll just wait and see then. I like getting and reading opinions though.
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Old Aug 10, 2020, 10:27 pm
  #1192  
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
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Originally Posted by lsquare
Given the low cash rates at the moment, I'm leaning towards the 5 EQNs. However, since it's mentioned that I have until the end of the year to decide, I'll just wait and see then. I like getting and reading opinions though.
barring a situation where you could use the SNAs or FNA immediately, there's no rush, and who knows what could change in the travel landscape between now and December. Just remember to make a choice before they automatically pick SNAs for you...
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Old Aug 11, 2020, 1:19 am
  #1193  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
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Originally Posted by Zorak
barring a situation where you could use the SNAs or FNA immediately, there's no rush, and who knows what could change in the travel landscape between now and December. Just remember to make a choice before they automatically pick SNAs for you...
The FNA award posts instantly while the SNAs require overnight processing.

James
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Flying for Fun is offline  
Old Aug 17, 2020, 7:12 pm
  #1194  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: YVR
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Has anyone had any success with extending last year's 40k certificate, which Marriott so generously extended til Jan 31, 2021 only?
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Old Aug 28, 2020, 10:45 am
  #1195  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Originally Posted by goodeats21
I just had my new bed delivered...though I went with a JW bed instead of Westin.

Was a bit of a pain to get the discount code. I had to get my ambassador involved, but it finally came through.

The code is 40% off regular price...and I have seen frequent sales with 30% off...so effectively it is an additional 10% off.
Ordering process was painless. Delivery service was fine...though a bit expensive.

One week in and I am sleeping good...

Let me know if you have any specific questions.
Thank you. I didn't realize this wouldn't stack and they offer 30% off sales anyway. For only 10% off + shipping, i'll stick with SNAs.
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TravelinSperry is offline  
Old Aug 28, 2020, 1:05 pm
  #1196  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
Both the FNA and SNA’s are valid through to Jan of 2022, regardless of when claimed, correct?
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Old Aug 28, 2020, 4:38 pm
  #1197  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
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Originally Posted by pazza2000
Both the FNA and SNA’s are valid through to Jan of 2022, regardless of when claimed, correct?
Slightly mixed dates there. The Jan 2022 date in your mind is associated with the expiration of your 2021 status (that's to say you get approximately an extra month elite status "free"). The expiration date for the FNA and SNAs that are claimed (regardless of when claimed as you state) for reaching the 50 and 75-night qualification thresholds during 2020 will be valid until end December 2021. Unless, of course, something changes in the meantime and they also get extended validity.
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Old Aug 29, 2020, 4:07 am
  #1198  
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Italy
Programs: Accor Gold, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond , Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,484
Originally Posted by pentiumvi
Has anyone had any success with extending last year's 40k certificate, which Marriott so generously extended til Jan 31, 2021 only?
Yesterday I got in touch with the Italian CC because my free night certificate disappeared after have cancelled a reservation on December 2020 (placed on June 2020)

they weren’t able to fix the issue and I have been credited 40 k points to make a new reservation on March 2021.

for what I understood from the Italian CC, they are having so many problem with the free night certificates (the customers cannot often apply) that they prefer to credit 40 k points instead

i don’t know if it is only the Italian CC solution ...or it happens everywhere
Dav77 is offline  
Old Sep 22, 2020, 1:05 am
  #1199  
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All of us newly minted Platinum and Titanium Elite members now have less than four months until 14 January 2021 to make our Annual Choice Benefit selection, or be defaulted to the 5 Suite Night Awards.

Although time is ticking, my 2021 travel plans still remain uncertain. I am torn between the Free Night Award available to me as a Titanium, and 5 Elite Nights.
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Old Sep 22, 2020, 4:15 am
  #1200  
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Originally Posted by SPN Lifer
All of us newly minted Platinum and Titanium Elite members now have less than four months until 14 January 2021 to make our Annual Choice Benefit selection, or be defaulted to the 5 Suite Night Awards.

Although time is ticking, my 2021 travel plans still remain uncertain. I am torn between the Free Night Award available to me as a Titanium, and 5 Elite Nights.
I've been thinking about this for a while now. With cash rates this low, I don't think I'll get any decent value from the FNA. I'm like 90% sure I'll go with the 5 EQNs.
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