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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 Sep 1, 2018, 2:31 pm
  #211  
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite, United Premier Silver, National Executive Elite
Posts: 151
Originally Posted by BlindPilot
I have combined 75 SPG/MR after merging the accounts (status showing as Platinum Premier). But annual choice is saying that I am not eligible. What am I missing?

We’re sorry.

You're not yet eligible to choose an Annual Choice Benefit. Once you stay at least 50 eligible nights in a qualifying period, you'll get to choose one of these Annual Choice Benefits:
Same issue for me. I'm thinking/hoping it's because I just merged today? I might try again end of next week and if not, I'll call.
mciampa is offline  
Old Sep 2, 2018, 1:31 am
  #212  
phb
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: MME
Posts: 5,813
Originally Posted by RobOnLI


I don't mind you disagreeing but it's still the PROPERTY sets the rules of which rooms are SNA eligible. This is NOT done by corporate. I agree with you that the SNAs are issued by corporate but, again, the PROPERTY sets the room types available at that particular hotel for the SNAs. Lots of people complaining in this thread about which rooms appear for SNA use on a particular property and think that Marriott is screwing them. They aren't. The property potentially is but it's the property that set which rooms can be upgraded to.

-RM
No, Marriott issue the SNAs and permit the properties to not honour the terminology ('Suite'). The issue lies with corporate who set the rules, not with the properties who adhere to them. You have it backwards, the rules are corporate, not property.

interestingly there are jurisdictions where the current situation is clearly contrary to law, such as the UK. Advertising Standards legislation does not allow the small print to contradict the headline advertised product. If you call it a suite award, that has to be delivered. Once Marriott realises this it will no doubt either correct the award terminology or the rules regarding SNAs.
phb is online now  
Old Sep 2, 2018, 7:34 am
  #213  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Originally Posted by phb
No, Marriott issue the SNAs and permit the properties to not honour the terminology ('Suite'). The issue lies with corporate who set the rules, not with the properties who adhere to them. You have it backwards, the rules are corporate, not property.

interestingly there are jurisdictions where the current situation is clearly contrary to law, such as the UK. Advertising Standards legislation does not allow the small print to contradict the headline advertised product. If you call it a suite award, that has to be delivered. Once Marriott realises this it will no doubt either correct the award terminology or the rules regarding SNAs.
As I believe it was explained back when SNAs started with SPG, the property defines what goes into the SNA pools and the system (corporate defined rules) determines when to apply the SNAs. There is no user visibility of what's available in any given pool/property. No one has the ability to override the system to apply SNAs. So it's pretty much a black box operation. Many Plats have reported having their SNA denied but still offered an upgrade at check in. My guess is the FDC is much more capable to rearrange future bookings to clear up a room for the duration of your stay and they have a larger inventory to work with (entire hotel?).

Many have reported great success using SNAs and some have reported repeated failures. I do believe a lot has to do with when and where you are planning on using the SNAs. Many have suggested they should move to granting the upgrades at time of booking instead of maybe five days out. I can see people wanting to make plans based upon being upgraded and it's tough to start making travel places five days out and there's to guarantee even if it's approved it will be there when you arrive. Looking at this from a higher level it can appear to be a magic trick of misdirection to get us to jump through hoops for a mystical upgrade that we will most likely get anyways.
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Old Sep 2, 2018, 9:20 am
  #214  
 
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What is the 'better' choice between the SNA and free nights?
I have the option to select the 75 nights benefit. I already picked the 10 SNA for the 50 nights pre-merger. I was thinking between the 5 SNA or the free nights. Looks like the free night is for any room up to 40,000 pts.

I have a trip planned for Dec/Jan of this year, we are going to Spain/Portugal, staying 5 nights at the Westin Palace Madrid during Dec 24-Dec 29, and Cotton House Barcelona Dec 29 to Jan 5th.
What are the chances of the SNA clearing for those nights?
If I can get a suite upgrade for those, then I would pick the 5 SNA, giving me 15. Otherwise, a free night at a 40,000 level hotel is pretty sweet?

I am a Lifetime Platinum Premier Elite, if that impacts on the decision. What would you pick if you were in my boat?
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Old Sep 2, 2018, 9:34 am
  #215  
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Originally Posted by Commie
What is the 'better' choice between the SNA and free nights?
I have the option to select the 75 nights benefit. I already picked the 10 SNA for the 50 nights pre-merger. I was thinking between the 5 SNA or the free nights. Looks like the free night is for any room up to 40,000 pts.

I have a trip planned for Dec/Jan of this year, we are going to Spain/Portugal, staying 5 nights at the Westin Palace Madrid during Dec 24-Dec 29, and Cotton House Barcelona Dec 29 to Jan 5th.
What are the chances of the SNA clearing for those nights?
If I can get a suite upgrade for those, then I would pick the 5 SNA, giving me 15. Otherwise, a free night at a 40,000 level hotel is pretty sweet?

I am a Lifetime Platinum Premier Elite, if that impacts on the decision. What would you pick if you were in my boat?
Westin Palace Madrid. 470 total rooms including 51 suites, assume maybe half of suites or less qualify as standard suites eligible for SNAs. Not great odds at any time of year (5%).

Cotton House Barcelona. 83 total rooms including only 5 suites, assume maybe 2 junior suites qualify as standard suites eligible for SNAs. Terrible odds at any time of year (2.4%).

Odds are even worse over any holiday period when hotel likely to be sold out/high occupancy and more guests paying for suites.

I would assume your SNAs won’t clear for the holidays even if you’re a Plat Premier with Ambassador.

SNAs only give you a 5 day head start on Plat guests who only get upgraded on arrival, based on availability; SNAs aren’t miracle upgrade certificates that create suites out of thin air. Hotels that are sold out don’t upgrade anyone. Hotels with few standard suites don’t upgrade as often as hotels with more suites. The Christmas and New Year’s holiday week is one of the highest occupancy weeks for almost all hotels in the non-Arabic world.

I’d stil select SNAs as the Choice Benefit, but I’d use them more wisely. You still can apply them for the above hotel stays, of course—just don’t expect them to come through! If they don’t, then you’ll still have them available through all of 2019 for hotel stays more likely to allow you the upgrades.
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Old Sep 2, 2018, 9:53 am
  #216  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
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Originally Posted by whimike
Well, I have 74 nights total. Chose the 10 SNA pre-merge of the accounts. When I click on the "View Gift" for my 50 nights choice benefit it goes to the "choice-benefit.marriott.com/en-us/starwood-preferred-guest/" page, and then gives me an error:
"Oops - It looks like something went wrong with your request. Please try again or reach out to Member Support with any questions."

Perhaps error because I already chose my 50 night gift, albeit before account merge pre-8/18. I will see what happens when I get to 75 nights in a few days.
My account now shows 77 nights and I now have the item on the website that says:

"You earned Benefits of Choice for staying 50 nights and 75 nights."

When I click on "view gifts", it gives me the same error as I received before reaching 75 nights:

"Oops - It looks like something went wrong with your request. Please try again or reach out to Member Support with any questions."

Has anybody else run into this issue?
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Old Sep 2, 2018, 9:54 am
  #217  
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Originally Posted by whimike
My account now shows 77 nights and I now have the item on the website that says:

"You earned Benefits of Choice for staying 50 nights and 75 nights."

When I click on "view gifts", it gives me the same error as I received before reaching 75 nights:

"Oops - It looks like something went wrong with your request. Please try again or reach out to Member Support with any questions."

Has anybody else run into this issue?
Yep. Me, too. I’ve asked my Ambassador to try and sort it for me. But I’m sure it will take the Marriott IT to get sorted before she can get me a proper answer and solution. I’ll update here if I learn anything. Please do the same!
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Old Sep 2, 2018, 9:57 am
  #218  
 
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Originally Posted by bhrubin


Yep. Me, too. I’ve asked my Ambassador to try and sort it for me. But I’m sure it will take the Marriott IT to get sorted before she can get me a proper answer and solution. I’ll update here if I learn anything. Please do the same!
Will do, thanks!
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Old Sep 2, 2018, 10:29 am
  #219  
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Still at 57 nights. Still no response on missing stays since August 18th. Still no response on inability to select an annual Choice benefit. Spouse has 12 years as Plat, lifetime Plat Premier and have opened 3 tickets since August 18 on these items with no response other than auto email.
Have 5 stays booked over next 45 days. Ritz, Sheraton, Marriott.... why should we keep them? This has been a very disappointing 2 weeks with Marriott.
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Old Sep 2, 2018, 10:53 am
  #220  
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Originally Posted by VickiSoCal
Still at 57 nights. Still no response on missing stays since August 18th. Still no response on inability to select an annual Choice benefit. Spouse has 12 years as Plat, lifetime Plat Premier and have opened 3 tickets since August 18 on these items with no response other than auto email.
Have 5 stays booked over next 45 days. Ritz, Sheraton, Marriott.... why should we keep them? This has been a very disappointing 2 weeks with Marriott.
Depending on how soon your stays might be, I’m not sure I’d be too concerned. My current stay here at the StR SF is as wonderful as ever despite them sharing a few stories of their own issues with the Marriott IT glitches. The stays you’ve had eventually will post even if takes a lot longer than it should.

FWIW, my Ambassador hasn’t been able to get me answers yet about my new Choice Benefit for the 75 nights...which still error out when I try to select them. I know it will get sorted eventually. So I’ll just be patient.

The RC stay you have won’t be a factor since they don’t accept SNAs, anyway. And many of the legacy Marriott properties still haven’t switched on their ability to handle SNAs anyway. But you still qualify for complimentary Plat upgrades if available on arrival.

If you don’t keep your reservations, what others would you book that are either as nice or will provide any comparable elite recognition? Only Hyatt has a shot, and it doesn’t have many properties that can compete with RC. If you are too concerned, you can shift your Marriott and Sheraton stays, I suppose—but I don’t think it will be that different of an actual stay experience despite the IT elite issues we’re discussing.
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Old Sep 2, 2018, 3:16 pm
  #221  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: QDF
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Data point - I was able to select 5 SNAs with 38 BiB nights + 33 bonus nights.
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Old Sep 2, 2018, 8:36 pm
  #222  
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I guess I’m one of the lucky ones. I was Plat in both programs before combining and I’m still Plat now. I have 56 elite night credits YTD yet I’m getting the “not eligible until you complete 50 nights” message.

Marriott is trying to teach me a lesson I guess.
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Old Sep 2, 2018, 10:30 pm
  #223  
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: NC
Programs: AA, Marriott/SPG, AMEX
Posts: 272
Annual Choice Benefit concerning 50/75-A few questions

DH's account (like a lot of others) was stuck in a holding pattern for days. When the change over happened he was at 74 MR days/stays with a 3 day stay missing/pending. That stay, kind of, showed up. I was able to select his ACB benefit for his 50 qualification but not yet his 75+ (stays, which now reflects in his Marriott account stay count but not on his activity page). Any info on when this will reflect in his account and I can select the next level? Not a pressing issue but we will be doing a London/Amsterdam trip in October that is business with some personal time thrown in at the end and it would be nice to have an upgrade, which leads to my next question...

Since DH did not need 5 nights for status, I chose the Suite Night Upgrades. Any idea how this will effect upgrades, in general, with the Marriott program?

Should we wait to use this benefit until we do our Berlin/Prague/Vienna/Budapest trip in March? I know this is a personal choice but with the given info which do you think we will receive the most value on? The March trip is for our anniversary, October is business with a little fun at the end.

Thanks for any info or help!
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Old Sep 3, 2018, 11:03 am
  #224  
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FWIW, my Ambassador told me today that the website for Choice Benefit is currently down. They are hoping to have it up within the week.

So patience will be key this week.
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Old Sep 3, 2018, 11:20 am
  #225  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: New York
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Posts: 778
Originally Posted by bhrubin
FWIW, my Ambassador told me today that the website for Choice Benefit is currently down. They are hoping to have it up within the week.

So patience will be key this week.
Only this week?

When the choice was between 10 SNAs and one free Cat 1-5 award night, I believe the SNAs were an easy choice. At 5 SNAs to one free 40K night, the choice is less obvious. Your insight helped me decide on the SNAs for the 75-night benefit. Also, my wife and I have several 35K free night credit card awards, two 50K credit card awards and a couple of travel packages, all of which may no longer be extendable as in the past.
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