On my flight last night from DCA to ORD, I was sitting next a GM at a FS Marriott in Downtown Chicago. We got to talking about Marriott Rewards and he told me there are some major changes to the Marriott Rewards program that will be announced in the next couple of weeks. He said the "New" (his words) Marriott Rewards program will set the standard for the industry. He said was not allowed to discuss the details until the news release next month, but he did say I should book any saver awards as soon as possible as the saver awards will be disappearing very soon. He also said the number of nights needed to qualify for elite levels will be changing as well and a new level above platinum will be added. He also said the benefits will be changing as well, but he could not offer details as to what the changes were.

Sorry I can't offer more. Wish the flight would have been longer so I could have gotten more out of him.

Marriott has already announced an increase in the points need for stay anytime awards starting next month, so that is nothing new. I would be surprised if Marriott did away with standard award stays, because they can use those to fill the hotels during non-peak times. A level above Platinum already exists, its called Platinum Premier. So what other changes could be coming?

RIP...

I never received my 2007 membership material (probably not sent inasmuch as I'm a LT Plat and that material normally accompanies new MR ID cards which are not sent to LTs. (I particularly wanted a 2007 Plat Elite Guide to take with me as substantiation for Plat benefits that are being witheld

I was motivated to do so by another thread addressing upgrades (or lack of same)..

I don't know if there's any connection in this case, but the other day via Customer Contract on marriott.com I attempted to get the 2007 MR Booklets and the 2007 Platinum Elite Guide.

I received a reply to the effect that "we don't have any more 2007 MR Award brochures.

I replied asking them to simply send the 2007 Platinum Elite Guide but didn't get an acknowledgement.

Seems to be awfully premature for them to run out of membership materials.

Marriott is already a terrible program for elilte recognition and benefit and lack of international location.

I wonder where else can they change?

Good god, I can see it now. Let me predict the marketing doublespeak.

"We are pleased to announce exciting new changes while making necessary minor adjustments to the exisiting program in order to fully accomodate the large number of members who participate in the world's largest hotel loyalty rewards program..."

Please, please, please let this be a bad rumor.

Another level? I was over 200 nights last year. This could be interesting.

Hard to see how Marriott Rewards could get less rewarding (but I am sure it is possible). Might be a good motivation to spend more time at SPG

I'm hoping for the best, but I'm keeping that Hilton and that SPG number handy, just in case. I'm an optimist, but I have to admit that recent developments with MR haven't exactly been encouraging to me.

If its true that one perk (pointsavers) are going away, my hope would be that perhaps they might throw us a bone (like free high speed for elites at FS properties) like many of us have been requesting.

I'm a pessimist, so here's my prediction:

Silver - 25 nights
Gold - 75 nights
PLT - 100 nights
Super PLT - 150 nights

25-50% increased amounts to the # of points needed across each level.

But, yes, there will be a bone/perk or 2 thrown in which will be heavily trumpeted, like free high speed or breakfast for Gold and above.

I think Marriott may have been too gererous with the points in the past few years (bonuses, added % based on levels, credit cards, night credits, etc) and now its time to reign it in.

Please let me be wrong! Hopefully the rumor is just that.

I personally could see total alienation of all golds and most current Platinums if Marriott does move to these levels.

With HHonors requiring 28 stays/60 nights for top tier Diamond and SPG requiring 25 stays/50 nights for top tier Platinum, Marriott would cease to have any type of competitive program at these levels. A free breakfast or HSIA (total value of less than $15) would just not cut it in my book.

As it is, Marriott Rewards at its current levels requires nearly THREE TIMES the nights of the other two programs (assuming single night stays).

The past benefits of loyalty to Marriott were consistency in product, greater scope of hotel coverage and recognition of elite status. Well the consistency in product appears to be on the decline (do like those new beds though!), Hilton has really come up to challenge Marriott in overall brand presence, especially in the US, and recognition of elite status seems to be fading fast.

Throwing me a breakfast (free already for all at Residence Inns and Fairfield, and at full service Marriotts, isn't that what the Concierge Lounge is for?) or HSIA (free at Courtyards, SpringHill, TownePlace and Fairfield now for all anyway) while greatly increasing the required nights for top tier (or even second level) would make their program practically undesirable for me.

The only thing that comes to mind right now that could be a benefit would be a total Platinum override of blackouts and restrictions on awards. Any raising of point levels would, in turn, negate that. (Bad enough that the Stay Anytime seems to be becoming more and more the norm.)

However, raising the requirements to meet Platinum and Gold standards would almost certainly push me from Plat to Gold, in which case Hilton suddenly looks much more attractive. (And considering that I was treated so much better by Hilton with no status on my last award stay than I was by Marriott as a Plat on the last two award stays, Hilton is looking much more palatable at this moment as it is.)

Of course, each individuals travel patterns are unique and if large scale changes are coming to the program, we'll all have to evaluate whether Marriott remains the hotel chain of choice. For me, the way things stand now, they are losing ground to the pack and any further decline in the program may cause many to question the feasablilty of remaining loyal to Marriott.

The Marriott Rewards program is already the worst that comes to elite recognition, tangible upgrades (read suites), and free nights. I don't see how they could further water down the programs sans ending it altogether.

In general, all of the recent changes to marriott seem to me like they are attempting to get rid of the "Cheap Elites" - those who stay in $65 fairfield inns in rural areas and reap the benefits from doing that with promos, etc.

They have definitely put an increased focus on trying to get more profit out of the customer by raising pt redemption levels, keeping rates high (CYs at $180 without even conditioner in the bathroom??), and trying to stop us from using discounts (delete those corp codes - or we'll be mad at FT)....

If there is a major change, I don't think very many of us will expect it to be a change towards helping us consumers get more value from our $$. It will just be another way for Marriott to capitalize on currently high demand for hotel rooms, and be able to gain a higher ROI.

as a top tier in all four majors, well until May 1 when I was downgraded to gold at Hh... and I'll get that back soon enough with the rolling tier.. I do hope that a level above plat comes into existance.. premier plat blah.. if its not published its not a level that I recognize.. I always have a problem what to do after 75 nights.. usually for me since there is not any elite to chase, I will strictly play the bonus game at the end of the year.. who has the best promo is where I go.. until I requalify though, i go for the chain where I need elite stay credit..

as for the reward increase, it would not surprise me at all..

I already booked my Marriott award reservations. To lock in point levels do I need to redeem the awards as well or can I hold off on that?

wonderful, can't wait for the announcement.

While I only joined the program in late 2005, I have been extremely loyal to Marriott (maybe too loyal) with my 150 nights/year. I've been happy overall with the program. While I don't get suites all the time, when I have specifically requested them (especially on vacation), I have gotten them. The devaluation, disingenuous Stay "Anytime" awards/point hikes, and overly restrictive BB/PP/Gift Card policies are having an effect. I agree wholeheartedly with flyerwife's well-articulated argument in the "Marriott Concierge - Lack of Availability" thread.

The recent changes have already made me seriously consider hedging with another program (either Hilton or SPG), if they announce even more changes, that might just be the tipping point for me.