Wednesday, March 14 is the last day to book Marriott Rewards hotel nights at the lower hotel category level before 526 hotels increase by 5,000 points per night tomorrow, Thursday, March 15, 2012. The list of hotels with a reward category changes are on this Marriott Hotels issued PDF. The Marriott Rewards list of hotels is organized by hotel reward category and hotel brand. 3% of hotels are decreasing by one category (100 hotels) and 15% are increasing by one category (526 hotels).
Marriott Concierge message posted on FlyerTalk February 27, 2012 states hotel reservations must be booked before Thursday March 15 to get the lower category rate before the increases. Members who have reservations for hotel stays dropping in category on March 15 can receive a points rebate.
We have the list of new hotel categories for 2012 for you, which are effective for all reservations made after March 15, 2012.
Based upon your feedback in years past, we are releasing the full list of changes for 2012 (categories 1-8). You’ll find each hotel moving downward or upward by one category level within this PDF. To give you a sense of the impact of these changes with respect to the overall portfolio of brands and properties, 3% of hotels are decreasing by one category (100 hotels) and 15% are increasing by one category (526 hotels).
Again, these changes will go in to effect starting Thursday, March 15, 2012 so any reservations made prior to March 15 will be honored at the current category. If you have an existing redemption reservation at a hotel that is decreasing in category, you may call Marriott Rewards® Customer Support at 801-468-4000 to adjust the reservation after March 15.
Thanks and safe travels!
Andy & the Marriott Rewards team
I published tables of the Marriott Rewards hotel list of category changes organized by geographic location in a series of posts on the 2012 Marriott Rewards hotel category shifts for category 4 to 8. A large part of the increases are actually in Category 2 and 3 going up and I didn’t get around to organizing those changes by location.
Burn Marriott MegaBonus Free Nights before 96 hotels rise to Category 5 on March 15 (February 29, 2012).
Marriott Rewards – 138 Category 5-8 hotels moving up on March 15, 2012. (February 27, 2012).
Marriott Rewards hotels dropping category on March 15, 2012 (February 27, 2012).
Marriott Rewards Category Changes March 15, 2012 (February 27, 2012)
Rewards booked March 14 still qualify for lower category rate.
This may be a good time to redeem free night certificates and points.
Marriott Rewards – MegaBonus 2012 February 1 – April 30, 2012. Earn one free night every two stays valid for Category 1-4 hotels; maximum two free nights. Select Marriott Rewards members received targeted offers for three free night maximum and 25,000 to 50,000 points after 15 to 25 nights. LT post Jan 7, 2012.
