Review the 2017 Marriott Rewards category changes, and maximize your points
Feb 9, 2017, 7:09 am
#1
Company Representative - Marriott Concierge
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,083
Review the 2017 Marriott Rewards category changes, and maximize your points
On March 7, 2017, 23% of our hotels and resorts will change category. This year, 60% will move up and 40% will move down. You can explore the preliminary list of changes here and plan how to maximize your Marriott Rewards® points. Then decide if you’d like to redeem your points prior to or after the changes take place on March 7, 2017.
Don’t forget to link your accounts and transfer points to redeem at hotels and resorts that participate in the SPG® program. You can check out the SPG category changes here.
Remember, categories are always subject to change and adjustments may be made at any time. We strive to provide you with the latest, most accurate information.
Once again, you can view the list of changes here.
Best regards,
Marriott Concierge
Don’t forget to link your accounts and transfer points to redeem at hotels and resorts that participate in the SPG® program. You can check out the SPG category changes here.
Remember, categories are always subject to change and adjustments may be made at any time. We strive to provide you with the latest, most accurate information.
Once again, you can view the list of changes here.
Best regards,
Marriott Concierge
Feb 9, 2017, 7:17 am
#2
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
Thanks for the advanced warning. I'm sure it will be helpful for those deciding on whether to pull the plug on a reservation or not.
Feb 9, 2017, 7:32 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PEK & MKE
Programs: Amex-gold, Hainan-gold, Mrt-LT Titanium
Posts: 1,352
Thanks for both of these, & the moves up & down.
Interesting changes in Asia.
Interesting changes in Asia.
Feb 9, 2017, 8:52 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR to SEA
Posts: 2,534
Renaissance Heathrow dropping to category 5 seems nice
Jw Marriott Kuala Lumpur going to category 3 from 5 a few years ago
Too many US changes to keep track
Jw Marriott Kuala Lumpur going to category 3 from 5 a few years ago
Too many US changes to keep track
Feb 9, 2017, 8:54 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 625
No category 10 added this year again, so that can be a win in itself. As usual, the moves from category 5 to 6 impact us the most. The toughest one for us is the San Jose Marriott Costa Rica - it always seemed to me to be undervalued at a category 5, but it's moving up to a 6. Curacao Renaissance moving from a 5 to a 6, as well as Courtyard Bali at Nua Dusa, were on our 18-24 month travel schedule also. I may have to suck it up and shift the category 5 travel certificates to cat 6, as we can't hit all in the next 13 months!
Feb 9, 2017, 9:06 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
Gaylord National dropping to a cat 5. I like that!
I appreciate this info for sure. We are locking in a lot of award stays the next few weeks.
I appreciate this info for sure. We are locking in a lot of award stays the next few weeks.
Feb 9, 2017, 9:14 am
#7
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
I think most here weren't expecting new categories or sweeping "changes" to the program now. The blood bath will occur later this year when we get the announcement for the new "combined" SPG/Marriott program. 
Feb 9, 2017, 9:32 am
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
JW Bogota moving from 5 to 6. This was IMO one of the very best Cat 5s out there. I have a cert I may try to burn prior to the change.
Feb 9, 2017, 10:23 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,720
^^^
For me the biggest loss is RC Lake Tahoe 4->5 as this bumps it out of the Chase free nights range.
No shocker that Africa, Russia, Venezuela and Middle East are dropping, tourists are not exactly flocking to use their points there.
By contrast the 4->5 bump for mediocre Westin Kyoto simply demonstrates high demand due to lack of competition. Ditto for Sheraton Delfina and Petaluma.
On the plus side, nice to see Westin Copley Plaza drop 6->5 and a couple of New Orleans properties are also down.
For me the biggest loss is RC Lake Tahoe 4->5 as this bumps it out of the Chase free nights range.
No shocker that Africa, Russia, Venezuela and Middle East are dropping, tourists are not exactly flocking to use their points there.
By contrast the 4->5 bump for mediocre Westin Kyoto simply demonstrates high demand due to lack of competition. Ditto for Sheraton Delfina and Petaluma.
On the plus side, nice to see Westin Copley Plaza drop 6->5 and a couple of New Orleans properties are also down.
Feb 9, 2017, 11:41 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Moreno Valley, CA/Kyotango, Japan
Programs: Marriott, KrisFlyer, VA Elevate, and others
Posts: 41
It feels like most of California is out of the 1-5 range by this point. Rats.
Feb 9, 2017, 12:51 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Residence Inn LAX/El Sedundo moves from 5->6, out of cert range.
Bummer to lose airport properties. Always have been a good use of certs when staging for flights / overnights. However, IIRC, there would still be one LAX cat 5 left.
BTW - Hate the list comes out in alphabetical order for USA properties. Very hard to evaluate for specific locations.
Bummer to lose airport properties. Always have been a good use of certs when staging for flights / overnights. However, IIRC, there would still be one LAX cat 5 left.
BTW - Hate the list comes out in alphabetical order for USA properties. Very hard to evaluate for specific locations.
Feb 9, 2017, 1:32 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 625
Craziest stat of the day:
Since the 2010 category changes (the oldest I have tracked), over 3,550 hotels have changed category. One hotel has risen SIX category levels since that period in time! In 2010, it dropped from a category 2 to a category one. In 2017, it will have reached its highest level, as a category 7 hotel. This special hotel? The Fairfield Inn Aiken!
(3 hotels have risen 5 categories - Springhill Suites Charleston North, FF Inn State College, and Courtyard Nashville Downtown)
Since the 2010 category changes (the oldest I have tracked), over 3,550 hotels have changed category. One hotel has risen SIX category levels since that period in time! In 2010, it dropped from a category 2 to a category one. In 2017, it will have reached its highest level, as a category 7 hotel. This special hotel? The Fairfield Inn Aiken!
(3 hotels have risen 5 categories - Springhill Suites Charleston North, FF Inn State College, and Courtyard Nashville Downtown)
Feb 9, 2017, 1:55 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Chennai
Programs: Aeroplan, Marriott LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 209
Residence inn Pitt Northshore is skyrocketting...always full on football weekends...no wonder it goes up but cat 7....
Feb 9, 2017, 2:35 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Center changes to cat 3? This could potentially make the other Marriott/Starwood hotels in Shanghai downtown area uncompetitive when it comes to points redemption.
Feb 9, 2017, 2:44 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,107
Agree. It was that for a few years & went up last year or the year before.
Cheers.