Marriott Rewards 2012 Hotel Category Changes
Feb 27, 2012, 9:16 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
Definitely. There are several cat 5 properties in big cities which represented good redemption values that are moving up to category 6 (i.e. the last remaining cat 5 central Boston property (Courtyard Tremont), the Courtyard in San Francisco, the Ren in Hong Kong, etc.).
It's also getting harder to use the Cat 4 certs from the Megabonus promotions. One of the great redemption opportunities, the Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown, is now moving to Cat 5.
It's also getting harder to use the Cat 4 certs from the Megabonus promotions. One of the great redemption opportunities, the Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown, is now moving to Cat 5.
I already have a bit of trouble finding good redemptions for the 1-4 certs that they give during the megabonus, and this looks like it will make it a bit harder. Springhills are, by and large, the way to go on those, I'm finding.
Feb 27, 2012, 9:23 am
#17
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,437
huge devaluation. All of the Cat4 gems are going up in category. I shall list the blows to elites once again:
- removed EEO (no advance notice)
- will soon remove 135k/$1k (almost no advance notice - we had to come up with it)
- removed a/i packages (no advance notice)
- removed US Air FF programs (received advance notice I believe - AA is the big loser here)
- same old promos(while other chains come up with great promos)
- downgraded property(Cat 4 to Cat 5) with no advanced notice(JW MI)
- Huge devaluation now(advance notice but does it matter at this stage)
Lets see what the next improvement will be. To be honest I have not seen any real improvement for the last 2 years, despite their competitors to be showing REAL improvements.
- removed EEO (no advance notice)
- will soon remove 135k/$1k (almost no advance notice - we had to come up with it)
- removed a/i packages (no advance notice)
- removed US Air FF programs (received advance notice I believe - AA is the big loser here)
- same old promos(while other chains come up with great promos)
- downgraded property(Cat 4 to Cat 5) with no advanced notice(JW MI)
- Huge devaluation now(advance notice but does it matter at this stage)
Lets see what the next improvement will be. To be honest I have not seen any real improvement for the last 2 years, despite their competitors to be showing REAL improvements.
Last edited by libuser; Feb 27, 2012 at 9:29 am
Feb 27, 2012, 9:35 am
#18
Company Representative - Marriott Concierge
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,083
@Old Hickory, that's correct.
And for anyone interested in a full directory, check out this PDF which includes the changes effective March 15, 2012.
After March 15, a dynamic directory of 2012 hotel categories will be available online (currently showing 2011 hotel categories). Just select a hotel category from the dropdown menu in the top right corner.
And for anyone interested in a full directory, check out this PDF which includes the changes effective March 15, 2012.
After March 15, a dynamic directory of 2012 hotel categories will be available online (currently showing 2011 hotel categories). Just select a hotel category from the dropdown menu in the top right corner.
Feb 27, 2012, 9:50 am
#19
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
Definitely thanks to Marriott for providing the complete list this year. It is appreciated (even if we would prefer more hotels to drop in cat level rather than rise. 
).
).
Feb 27, 2012, 9:55 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NH, USA
Programs: AA PLAT (2.8MM), DL Diamond, UA*S, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTE, Hilton DIAMOND, IHG PLT
Posts: 770
Marriott Hong Kong SkyCity is going up to Category 5... that stinks!
Feb 27, 2012, 10:06 am
#21
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NJ USA
Programs: AA PLAT 2MM, MR TITANIUM 2M, HH DIA, Hyatt EXP, BW DIA, IC AMB, IHG PLAT, UA GLD
Posts: 1,086
London Marriott Hotel Kensington moves from 6 to 7 so we will still have one cat 7 that's pretty much central.
Feb 27, 2012, 11:16 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Monterey, California
Programs: Affiliated with all, participate in some
Posts: 2,188
The four high category hotels in Aruba dropping one category are already listed under the lower categories. The three cat 8 properties are currently listed as Category 7 and the Renaissance currently shows as a category 5.
What is up with that?
These hotels were listed as category risers in 2011 when the three hotels went from 7 to 8, but apparently they had already dropped back one category since March 2011.
What is up with that?
These hotels were listed as category risers in 2011 when the three hotels went from 7 to 8, but apparently they had already dropped back one category since March 2011.
Feb 27, 2012, 11:23 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,097
This year hotel category change is more like a devaluation of points and e-certs from Megabonus don't worth as much as before.
Feb 27, 2012, 11:32 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Premier Gold, Marriott Platinum, *Wood Gold, National Exec.
Posts: 51
I didn't count out the exact number but looks like we lost about 80+ cat 4 properties and picked up 12? I can't see how that's anything but a large devaluation of this program and the cat 4 cert.
I noticed 3 different cat 4's that I've used certs at are now going to 5's. At this point the cat 4 cert is virtually worthless to me. I will no longer attempt to earn the cat 4 certs during promotions.
Marriott, how about making these certs transferable so they maintain some level of value?
I noticed 3 different cat 4's that I've used certs at are now going to 5's. At this point the cat 4 cert is virtually worthless to me. I will no longer attempt to earn the cat 4 certs during promotions.
Marriott, how about making these certs transferable so they maintain some level of value?
Feb 27, 2012, 11:40 am
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
Marriott Concierge:
I cannot find the following hotel on the new lists as either moving up or down, or in the portfolio past 3/15/12 -
(Soon to be Renaissance?) Hotel Ambassadeur Juan les Pins
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/trav...l-ambassadeur/
Is it to remain a Category 7?
I cannot find the following hotel on the new lists as either moving up or down, or in the portfolio past 3/15/12 -
(Soon to be Renaissance?) Hotel Ambassadeur Juan les Pins
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/trav...l-ambassadeur/
Is it to remain a Category 7?
Feb 27, 2012, 11:43 am
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
Yes, this is a Major devaluation, there is no question about that.
Compare this list to the one that SPG put out and you will see why I believe that this is a severe and unwarranted devaluation when compared to other hotel chains.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...es-2012-a.html
https://lacek.hs.llnwd.net/e1/starwo...hanges2012.pdf
Compare this list to the one that SPG put out and you will see why I believe that this is a severe and unwarranted devaluation when compared to other hotel chains.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...es-2012-a.html
https://lacek.hs.llnwd.net/e1/starwo...hanges2012.pdf
Feb 27, 2012, 11:59 am
#27
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700
huge devaluation. All of the Cat4 gems are going up in category. I shall list the blows to elites once again:
- removed EEO (no advance notice)
- will soon remove 135k/$1k (almost no advance notice - we had to come up with it)
- removed a/i packages (no advance notice)
- removed US Air FF programs (received advance notice I believe - AA is the big loser here)
- same old promos(while other chains come up with great promos)
- downgraded property(Cat 4 to Cat 5) with no advanced notice(JW MI)
- Huge devaluation now(advance notice but does it matter at this stage)
Lets see what the next improvement will be. To be honest I have not seen any real improvement for the last 2 years, despite their competitors to be showing REAL improvements.
- removed EEO (no advance notice)
- will soon remove 135k/$1k (almost no advance notice - we had to come up with it)
- removed a/i packages (no advance notice)
- removed US Air FF programs (received advance notice I believe - AA is the big loser here)
- same old promos(while other chains come up with great promos)
- downgraded property(Cat 4 to Cat 5) with no advanced notice(JW MI)
- Huge devaluation now(advance notice but does it matter at this stage)
Lets see what the next improvement will be. To be honest I have not seen any real improvement for the last 2 years, despite their competitors to be showing REAL improvements.
Feb 27, 2012, 12:14 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 5,037
The four high category hotels in Aruba dropping one category are already listed under the lower categories. The three cat 8 properties are currently listed as Category 7 and the Renaissance currently shows as a category 5.
What is up with that?
These hotels were listed as category risers in 2011 when the three hotels went from 7 to 8, but apparently they had already dropped back one category since March 2011.
What is up with that?
These hotels were listed as category risers in 2011 when the three hotels went from 7 to 8, but apparently they had already dropped back one category since March 2011.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...y-changes.html
Feb 27, 2012, 12:49 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Hotel Guru
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, UA Gold
Posts: 1,456
It is rather ironic that the Atlanta Marriott Marquis moves up a category when Host Hotels (owner of the hotel and once called Host Marriott and a part of the chain?!) says Atlanta was the only major US hotel market to go south last year in both RevPar and Occupancy. The article appeared two or three days ago in USA Today...
Feb 27, 2012, 1:18 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 269
Where do you find the category rating when looking at the hotels on the Marriott website?