When does Marriott announce their program changes?
Jan 2, 2015 | 3:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 344
When does Marriott announce their program changes?
Do they typically announce changes, hotel category ups etc. this month?
Jan 3, 2015 | 5:14 pm
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 74,092
To answer the question in your OP, no they do not announce the changes in January. They do announce them around the same time each year & when they do there's a very long thread re: the changes 
Cheers.
Cheers.
Jan 4, 2015 | 7:34 am
#3
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 74,092
A simple search would have brought up the threads from last year & previous years & you would have seen the general time frame that the announcements & implementation of them occur.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Last edited by bdschobel; Jan 6, 2015 at 6:22 pm Reason: Removed snarky quotes
Jan 4, 2015 | 9:28 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LA
Posts: 1,281
Did a "simple search" before asking here. A (simple) search for "changes to marriott rewards program" brought no results, hence the thread to ask a (fairly simple) question for those who have followed the program for years on end. Maybe I should have tried a search for "tip envelopes", that might have brought me to "changes to marriott rewards program" 
Anyway, to help answer your question, it varies, but the Marriott Concierge usually posts something in Late February to Early March each year. I did a "quick search" that took about 5 seconds and yielded these results for you.
Marriott Rewards Hotel Category Changes - Early March 2014
Marriott Rewards Hotel Category Changes - Mid February 2013
Marriott Rewards Hotel Category Changes - Late February 2012
So based upon the past three years, it was anywhere from mid February to early March.
Happy New Years
Jan 6, 2015 | 6:24 pm
#5
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I removed all the snarkiness from this thread, which didn't leave much! Wow.
Bruce
Moderator
Bruce
Moderator
Jan 9, 2015 | 4:53 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 344
the Marriott Concierge usually posts something in Late February to Early March each year. I did a "quick search" that took about 5 seconds and yielded these results for you.
Marriott Rewards Hotel Category Changes - Early March 2014
Marriott Rewards Hotel Category Changes - Mid February 2013
Marriott Rewards Hotel Category Changes - Late February 2012
Marriott Rewards Hotel Category Changes - Early March 2014
Marriott Rewards Hotel Category Changes - Mid February 2013
Marriott Rewards Hotel Category Changes - Late February 2012
). I was actually asking more about program changes than hotel ups/category changes. By program changes I meant if they will discontinue executive lounges or make them more restrictive, if they will add a diamond/1k type elite above platinum, if they will discontinue rollover nights/rewarding events, if they will change requirements for lifetime or do away with it altogether etc. etc.Are those program changes not actually an annual thing? Are they announced when "hotel category changes" are announced? That was what I was initially wondering (and do still wonder if people in the know happen to know)
Jan 9, 2015 | 5:27 am
#7
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They can -- and do -- appear whenever Marriott feels like announcing them, with no discernible pattern or schedule.
Bruce
Bruce
Jan 9, 2015 | 5:40 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA USA
Posts: 2,195
I wouldn't wait for the changes if you are planning on spending your miles this year. Last year although Marriott gave us plenty of notice many of the "high demand" hotels simply blacked out a majority of their availability until the changes went into effect and then reopened it up. That basically killed any "warning" Marriott gave.
Jan 9, 2015 | 8:04 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 344
OK, yeah that was my main question and I was under the wrong impression that it was just done once a year. They could then for example, without any notice, decide to do away with free lounge access. It's not like their category changes where they do it once a year around a certain time. Got it, thanks.
Jan 9, 2015 | 8:05 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 344
I wouldn't wait for the changes if you are planning on spending your miles this year. Last year although Marriott gave us plenty of notice many of the "high demand" hotels simply blacked out a majority of their availability until the changes went into effect and then reopened it up. That basically killed any "warning" Marriott gave.
. It really was all the other perks and benefits that make Marriott the best hotel program that I was wondering about, but I understand it better now.
Jan 9, 2015 | 5:30 pm
#11
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
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While I'm sure they could make significant changes to the program rules without prior notice to members, I do believe that they have normally given fairly significant warnings in the past. And I would guess they would continue to do that in the future.