Status extension
 

What are the thoughts on the chances of a status extension being offered to all Bonvoy member through another year due to the extensive lock down and disruption to travel we are experiencing now outside of China?

I also wish the same.

Though I'm not greatly impressed with Cathay's response to this situation overall (though they're in a no-win situation), I do think their approach to elites is really great.

For each month February, March, and April they are crediting your Marco Polo account with a fixed number of elite qualifying miles depending on your status level rather than just extending the status for another year. I think this is a great system and quite fair. The equivalent for Marriott would be to credit your account with, say, four or five nights a month for Platinums or seven or eight nights for Titaniums as long as this goes on and you're in a qualifying geographical zone which they've already defined with the cancellation waiver policy. No need to give an extra free year for everyone with all the uncertainty that's going on.

It's a super-tough situation for hotels, airlines and related industries; I sympathize for those who work in these areas. I saw another thread on FT that mentioned Emirates is asking employees to take unpaid leaves of absence.

For the elites, I personally think the simplest thing to do is extend status to end of 2021. But if there's a need to modify this (and realistically, there is …) then I would suggest extending status to end of Q2 2021 with a challenge that you have to make at least 50% status by that point to keep things alive. In Bonvoy terms, this means that between 1 Jan 2021 and 30 June 2021, you need to hit 25 nights to keep your Platinum status alive to end of 2021.

That said, it's hard to launch any kind of program modification right now. Covid-19 is only starting to explode outside of China; it's going to get worse before it gets better. How long will this take? That will vary on a country-by-country basis. I suspect it will be unrealistic to launch program modifications until Q3 or even Q4 2020.

Marriott could post in our accounts elite-qualifying-nights that match the number of nights we spent in effected zones in 2019. I have had a couple of trips canceled to Seattle for March-April due to the situation there. I had a leisure trip in Asia last year. The one for this year now stand canceled. Seattle+Asia combined, I have already lost 10 nights this year.

Marriott IT?

It's still a go for me for my London (LHR)-Paris-Amsterdam (AMS) trip in 13 days from now. Taking Eurostar and Thalys between cities. Looks like I'll spend most of time inside hotels. Except when necessary (food runs, necessities). But I'll play it "by ear" sorta. If less crowds outside overall in these places, I'll go out often. Generally, I will avoid crowds, if at all possible.

Wipes and frequent hand washing are my usual things on past trips. Bringing extra anti-CoVID "insurance" this time around. A P100 half mask, spare N95s, hand sanitizers and gloves. Safety glasses and a portable UV lamp, to sterilize stuff, clothes, etc is under consideration to bring.

Overkill perhaps? :D

Currently, if you're traveling TO or FROM certain geographical areas, before March 31, you can cancel without penalty.

https://marriott-re-2019ncovc.com

I've modified my non-essential travel... so for leisure travel I'm staying domestic (USA). I realize Covid-19 is here too - and risks of catching it just as high... but worry isn't catching it as much as being quarantined abroad for 14 days. Much prefer quarantine in US, if it must occur.

Meanwhile due to COVID-19 - rates have plummeted. Picking up bargains galore in March on hotels. Haven't seen rates this low since Great Recession ($100 in San Francisco, e.g.). Airfare hasn't dropped as much domestically although I'm picking up decent fares (same as fares you'd get months out - only I'm booking 1-2 weeks out). Also grabbing restaurant reservations at prime hours at hot-spots which are usually impossible or very tough to get.

So assuming COVID-19 doesn't "get me", this may turn out to be an opportune time to travel.

Marriott Statement on COVID-19 on Website
 

It looks like Marriott Corporate has put out an official statement on COVID-19

https://marriott-re-2019ncovc.com/

Travel Information: COVID-19 Update


We are closely monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization’s statements regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and following guidelines from these agencies and the local health departments.
The wellbeing of our guests and associates is of paramount importance. We are waiving cancellation fees for hotel stays through March 31, 2020 for guests traveling to or from the following locations:

• Asia Pacific: Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea
• Europe: Italy

For the most updated information, please refer to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or your local health authority.
March 3, 2020

The problem is not getting infected - you have a small chance of that. (really - just look at the numbers) The problem is the general overreaction by gov’t & corps.

I cancelled a 2-day trip for business from SIN to BKK to avoid a possible 14 days in quarantine in Thailand. So I stay in SIN a few days longer. As there are no waivers in either directions, probably my employer will just suck up the costs of the unflown tix (200€)

The second time the expiration date for free cancellations has moved. Doubtless it will move again over the next few weeks to incorporate stays in April.

Latest statement on cancellation waivers from Marriott

[QUOTE]
We are waiving cancellation fees for hotel stays through March 31, 2020 for guests traveling to or from the following locations:· Asia Pacific: Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea
· Europe: Italy
[ENDQUOTE]

The URL looks like a phishing link, gj Marriott.

I'm sure many will appreciate the waiver though.

It's real. Go to marriott.com directly and the link at the top of the page takes you to the link OP posted.

Good of them to do the right thing.

cheers!