New Marriott Rewards Category 2 hotels to book before August increase

This is the second in a series of posts listing Starwood and Marriott brand hotels increasing in points cost in the new Marriott Rewards program launching August 2018 for 6,800+ hotels worldwide. This article covers Marriott Rewards new Category 2 hotels at 12,500 points per night.

Starwood Hotels that were category 1 and rising to category 2 next month are currently 2,000 Starpoints (Fri-Sat) and 3,000 Starpoints (Sun-Thu). This is an equivalent change from 6,000 MR points (Fri-Sat) and 9,000 MR points (Sun-Thu) to 12,500 points. Weekend rates will more than double at 54 Starwood Hotels in August 2018.

5th night free awards are currently not available through SPG for category 1 hotels. A 5-night stay currently will cost 13,000 to 15,000 Starpoints (39,000-45,000 MR points). These hotels will be available in August 2018 for 5th Night Free Marriott Rewards category 2 stays at 50,000 points for 5 nights.

The other set of hotels rising in Marriott Rewards August 2018 recategorization are current Marriott Rewards category 1 hotels at 7,500 points per night. These hotels rise 5,000 points per night to 12,500 points. Marriott Rewards 5th Night Free is currently 30,000 points at these hotels and rises to 50,000 points in August 2018.

Marriott Rewards New Award Charts and Hotels to Book Before August Series

New Marriott Rewards category 2 hotels August 2018

1,284 new Marriott Rewards category 2 hotels at 12,500 points per reward night and 50,000 points for 5th Night Free.

660 hotels increase in points cost as new Marriott Rewards category 2 hotels..
16 Marriott hotels increase 5,000 points from current MR cat 1 (7,500 points) to new MR cat 2 (12,500 points).
54 Starwood Hotels hotels increase 6,500 points (Fri-Sat) or 3,500 points (Sun-Thu) from current SPG cat 1 (2,000/3,000 Starpoints) to new cat 2 (12,500).
469 Marriott hotels increase 2,500 points from current MR cat 2 (10,000 points) to new cat 2 (12,500 points).
121 hotels Starwood Hotels increase 3,500 points (Fri-Sat) or 500 points (Sun-Thu) from current SPG category 2 to new MR category 2 (12,500 points).
624 hotels decrease in points cost as new Marriott Rewards category 2 hotels.
546 hotels drop 2,500 points from current MR cat 3 (15,000 points) to new MR cat 2 (12,500 points).
55 hotels drop 7,500 points from current MR cat 4 (20,000 points) to new MR cat 2 (12,500 points).
22 Starwood hotels drop 8,500 points from current SPG cat 3 (21,000 points) to new MR cat 2 (12,500 points).
1Â Residence Inn Columbia Northwest/Harbison, Irmo, South Carolina drops 12,500 points from current MR Category 5 (25,000 points) to new MR cat 2 (12,500 points).

This article is focused on hotels going up in cost next month. These are hotels you should book in July 2018 if any of these destinations are in your travel plans. They will cost more points for reward nights in August.

16 Marriott hotels increase 5,000 points from current MR cat 1 (7,500 points) to new MR cat 2 (12,500 points).

54 Starwood Hotels hotels increase 6,500 points (Fri-Sat) or 3,500 points (Sun-Thu) from current SPG cat 1 (2,000/3,000 Starpoints) to new cat 2 (12,500).