Jun 28, 2018, 12:52 pm
Last edit by: Oxon Flyer
Official announcement from Starwood Lurker V :
Maximize your points as our programs become one this August.
As you may already know, SPG®, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® will become one program this August. You’ll be able to redeem for free nights and unforgettable experiences at over 6,500 participating hotels across 29 brands.
Our Free Night Award Chart will be updated and give you more power to redeem your points. Even better: More hotels are moving down in redemption rates than up – so chances are that you’ll be able to redeem fewer points for free nights at the hotels you love.
Here are our top eight tips to help you maximize your points:
• Plan ahead. Explore the full list of hotel category changes and decide if you want to plan your trip before or after the updates take effect. Here are just a few examples of hotels that are moving to a lower category in August:
- REDEEM FREE NIGHTS FOR 10,000 FEWER POINTS
Hotel Talisa in Vail, Le Méridien Barcelona, W Punta de Mita, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka'anapali, The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, and Le Méridien San Francisco
- REDEEM FREE NIGHTS FOR 5,000 FEWER POINTS
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Renaissance Paris Republique Hotel, The St. Regis Princeville Resort, Courtyard New York Manhattan/Midtown East, Autograph Collection’s Hotel Punta Islita, and Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Napa Valley
See the complete new award chart here.
• Take advantage of future Category 8 hotels. Future Category 8 hotels will be available at Category 7 rates from August until 2019. Redeem now to save up to 20% and guarantee your rate even if the stay occurs after new rates take effect. Explore future category 8 hotels.
• Use Cash + Points. Stay for as little as $55 and 3,500 points at more hotels than ever. Your next vacation may be closer than you think. See the Cash + Points Chart.
• Stay five nights, pay for four. Get a complimentary night when you redeem four consecutive nights.
• Save more with PointSavers. Enjoy up to 20% off when you redeem points at top destinations. All 29 brands participate, all you have to do is enter the city, state or country along with your dates to find participating hotels. See the PointSavers Chart.
• Upgrade your stay. Use points to upgrade your room (think suite or a room with a picture-perfect view) during your stay.
• Enjoy Travel Packages. Travel Packages now include all SPG hotels. Until now, SPG Nights & Flights applied only to SPG Category 3 and 4 hotels. Starting in August, Marriott Rewards and SPG members can redeem points for airline miles and hotel stays at any of the 6,500 participating hotels. This offer continues to be one of the richest offers among travel loyalty programs.
• Get instant gratification. Instantly redeem points for cocktails, meals, spa treatments or anything else you can charge to your room at participating hotels. Each US$1 is valued at 250 points, so if you would like a spa treatment worth US$50, you would redeem 12,500 points.
Explore all the changes happening in August and read FAQs now by visiting members.marriott.com. In the meantime, please feel free to share your feedback and we’ll do our best to answer your questions.
Maximize your points as our programs become one this August.
As you may already know, SPG®, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® will become one program this August. You’ll be able to redeem for free nights and unforgettable experiences at over 6,500 participating hotels across 29 brands.
Our Free Night Award Chart will be updated and give you more power to redeem your points. Even better: More hotels are moving down in redemption rates than up – so chances are that you’ll be able to redeem fewer points for free nights at the hotels you love.
Here are our top eight tips to help you maximize your points:
• Plan ahead. Explore the full list of hotel category changes and decide if you want to plan your trip before or after the updates take effect. Here are just a few examples of hotels that are moving to a lower category in August:
- REDEEM FREE NIGHTS FOR 10,000 FEWER POINTS
Hotel Talisa in Vail, Le Méridien Barcelona, W Punta de Mita, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka'anapali, The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, and Le Méridien San Francisco
- REDEEM FREE NIGHTS FOR 5,000 FEWER POINTS
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Renaissance Paris Republique Hotel, The St. Regis Princeville Resort, Courtyard New York Manhattan/Midtown East, Autograph Collection’s Hotel Punta Islita, and Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Napa Valley
See the complete new award chart here.
• Take advantage of future Category 8 hotels. Future Category 8 hotels will be available at Category 7 rates from August until 2019. Redeem now to save up to 20% and guarantee your rate even if the stay occurs after new rates take effect. Explore future category 8 hotels.
• Use Cash + Points. Stay for as little as $55 and 3,500 points at more hotels than ever. Your next vacation may be closer than you think. See the Cash + Points Chart.
• Stay five nights, pay for four. Get a complimentary night when you redeem four consecutive nights.
• Save more with PointSavers. Enjoy up to 20% off when you redeem points at top destinations. All 29 brands participate, all you have to do is enter the city, state or country along with your dates to find participating hotels. See the PointSavers Chart.
• Upgrade your stay. Use points to upgrade your room (think suite or a room with a picture-perfect view) during your stay.
• Enjoy Travel Packages. Travel Packages now include all SPG hotels. Until now, SPG Nights & Flights applied only to SPG Category 3 and 4 hotels. Starting in August, Marriott Rewards and SPG members can redeem points for airline miles and hotel stays at any of the 6,500 participating hotels. This offer continues to be one of the richest offers among travel loyalty programs.
• Get instant gratification. Instantly redeem points for cocktails, meals, spa treatments or anything else you can charge to your room at participating hotels. Each US$1 is valued at 250 points, so if you would like a spa treatment worth US$50, you would redeem 12,500 points.
Explore all the changes happening in August and read FAQs now by visiting members.marriott.com. In the meantime, please feel free to share your feedback and we’ll do our best to answer your questions.
New Marriott Awards chart for SPG properties, published 28 June 2018
Jun 28, 2018, 10:54 am
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Jun 28, 2018, 10:54 am
#62
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
I would imagine there are; however, that information would be proprietary. But, personally, I can't fathom a hotel holding off any later than necessary. After all, they would be losing a much more valuable revenue stream in paid rate bookings.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC
[email protected]
Jun 28, 2018, 10:57 am
#63
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
Looks like Marriott is playing with the MVCI awards too. I do believe most MVCI properties currently start as a Cat 5 and depending on the number of "rooms" you want, you add on an extra 5K/upgrade/room. I've stayed a few times at the Imperial Palms next to the World Center Marriott. All the units are 3 bedrooms, so it would cost 35K+15K=50K/night. It seems a lot of the MVCI (but not all) are being moved to Cat 6 which will mean an increase of 15K/night. 
Outside of the TP award, MVCI awards have been one of the more hidden gems of the program. Just a few weeks ago I stayed (on award) at the Grand Chateau in Vegas. I recently stayed at the Aruba Grand Ocean and the St. Kitts Beach Club. I've loved being able to get a 2 or 3 bedroom without having to break the award points bank. But it seems this has not gone unnoticed by Marriott. 
And as for Orlando, it looks like the properties close to Disney have gone up, but those close to Universal (where I tend to go more than Disney) have actually gone down. ^
Outside of the TP award, MVCI awards have been one of the more hidden gems of the program. Just a few weeks ago I stayed (on award) at the Grand Chateau in Vegas. I recently stayed at the Aruba Grand Ocean and the St. Kitts Beach Club. I've loved being able to get a 2 or 3 bedroom without having to break the award points bank. But it seems this has not gone unnoticed by Marriott. And as for Orlando, it looks like the properties close to Disney have gone up, but those close to Universal (where I tend to go more than Disney) have actually gone down. ^
Jun 28, 2018, 11:00 am
#64
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 301
For instance, a cat 4 SPG gets paid 65.00 USD for each award night. I am sure those properties will be paid the same until early 2019, regardless of the new category the will be mapped into.
Jun 28, 2018, 11:12 am
#66
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,666
Looks like Marriott is playing with the MVCI awards too. I do believe most MVCI properties currently start as a Cat 5 and depending on the number of "rooms" you want, you add on an extra 5K/upgrade/room. I've stayed a few times at the Imperial Palms next to the World Center Marriott. All the units are 3 bedrooms, so it would cost 35K+15K=50K/night. It seems a lot of the MVCI (but not all) are being moved to Cat 6 which will mean an increase of 15K/night. Outside of the TP award, MVCI awards have been one of the more hidden gems of the program. Just a few weeks ago I stayed (on award) at the Grand Chateau in Vegas. I recently stayed at the Aruba Grand Ocean and the St. Kitts Beach Club. I've loved being able to get a 2 or 3 bedroom without having to break the award points bank. But it seems this has not gone unnoticed by Marriott.
And as for Orlando, it looks like the properties close to Disney have gone up, but those close to Universal (where I tend to go more than Disney) have actually gone down. ^
Outside of the TP award, MVCI awards have been one of the more hidden gems of the program. Just a few weeks ago I stayed (on award) at the Grand Chateau in Vegas. I recently stayed at the Aruba Grand Ocean and the St. Kitts Beach Club. I've loved being able to get a 2 or 3 bedroom without having to break the award points bank. But it seems this has not gone unnoticed by Marriott. And as for Orlando, it looks like the properties close to Disney have gone up, but those close to Universal (where I tend to go more than Disney) have actually gone down. ^
Jun 28, 2018, 11:14 am
#67
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 301
A member has an existing reservation at a hotel whose category is going down, how can they take advantage of the new, lower category pricing?
Members can cancel the reservation and rebook when the new category pricing is available. Keep in mind that members should always check the cancellation policy first.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC
[email protected]
Members can cancel the reservation and rebook when the new category pricing is available. Keep in mind that members should always check the cancellation policy first.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC
[email protected]
Jun 28, 2018, 11:15 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,005
Jun 28, 2018, 11:18 am
#69
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
There are actually two very nice FIs near Universal. Nothing fancy, but very good for FIs. One is on Vineland. I had a customer across the street and would stay there often. The other is bigger, newer and attracts more families so breakfast can be active.
Jun 28, 2018, 11:18 am
#70
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC
[email protected]
Jun 28, 2018, 11:21 am
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,005
My data above was for SPG properties only.
Orlando Marriotts fell 6.7%, netting a program-wide impact of about a 2.5% decrease.
Orlando Marriotts fell 6.7%, netting a program-wide impact of about a 2.5% decrease.
Jun 28, 2018, 11:21 am
#72
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
Existing Marriott "suite" properties have added "upgrade" certs to actually make an award reservation For example, I've stayed at the Imperial Palms MVCI property a few times and Marriott advertises it as a Cat 5 property, but since all rooms are 3 bedroom suites, an award there also requires 3 upgrade certs/night. So I wouldn't just "assume" there won't be a requirement for "upgrade" certs to also be required for award reservations.
Jun 28, 2018, 11:22 am
#73
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 301
Looks the same to me with an additional answer thrown in. What am I missing?
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC
[email protected]
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC
[email protected]
Being able to book now and then phone-in and adjust it later while keeping the same reservation is quite different than having to cancel and rebook.
Jun 28, 2018, 11:30 am
#74
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
It would also be in line with this FAQ:
If a member has a redemption stay already booked for a stay after these categories goes into effect, does this impact their reservation?
If a redemption stay is already booked for a date after these categories go into effect, it won't be impacted. But, if a critical modification is made (dates, room type, etc.) the booking cannot be honored & the member will be subject to the new category pricing.
But, I guess we shall see in due course.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts LLC
[email protected]
Jun 28, 2018, 11:32 am
#75
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: SkyMiles Gold, AA Plat, UA Gold
Posts: 92
The St. Regis Maldives has completely shut down their reservation system and a rep told me tons of people booking speculative bookings today. This is terrible. Really poor form to those out there making multiple bookings. Wish there was a way for Marriott/SPG to police this.