Marriott Bonvoy eliminated its award charts, so they never tell you in advance how many points a free night at one of their hotels will cost. It costs whatever they say it does at the time you look. And they change prices all the time.
One of the advantages of this, from their perspective, is that they can debase their currency and members may not even realize it.
- When they published an award chart, changing prices meant changing the chart.
- They actually had to tell members they were doing it, or at least it was easily discoverable for anyone that looked.
- But without an award chart, they just change the price and don’t tell anybody.
- Members probably don’t notice until months or years later when they go to redeem their points.
- And if they do it slowly enough
boiling their members gradually, they may not notice at all.
St. Regis Bangkok
Chinese frequent flyer forums began picking up a 5% – 10% devaluation over the weekend, according to Loyalty Lobby who says he looked at “tax- and fee-inclusive pricing for Bangkok in September and” found that on average across 20 hotels Bonvoy points now only bought 0.56 per point worth of stays.
Digging in, it looks like the devaluation range is even greater: 2.4% – 15.6%, with most examples between 3% and 8% more expensive. Some examples of changes using data from Zaozao:
- The Athenee Bangkok: 32,000 -> 37,000
- London EDITION: 107,000 -> 115,000
- Ritz-Carlton Nanjing: 42,000 -> 45,000
- W Osaka: 55,000 -> 58,000
- Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: 124,000 -> 127,000
- New York EDITION: 109,000 -> 113,000
- Ritz-Carlton Maldives: 168,000 -> 176,000
- Le Méridien Etoile: 61,000 -> 64,000
- Courtyard Paris Porte de Versailles: 49,000 -> 52,000
Westin Austin
US Card Forum discussion began with a WeChat link and noted that while many 2026 prices had moved, some 2027 pricing had not yet repriced, suggesting some opportunity to “lock in” old pricing before the expected change fully rolled out. They laid out numerous examples of hotels all over seeing new, higher pricing.
Flyertea discussion found most increases of 1,000 – 5,000 points for “the whole year” and a global adjustment, not mere dynamic pricing. There is some suggestion that there are hotels with points prices up 25% but I’m not sure that’s correct.
Marriott Boca Raton
This is especially relevant around the 35,000; 50,000; and 85,000 free night certificate price points, where raising redemptions a few thousand points can matter a great deal. Marriott recently raised the amount of points you can top off a certificate from 15,000 to 25,000 but these changes will push some hotels even just about those limits. So while higher topoffs account for higher pricing, pushing hotels beyond the reach of the topoff limit means greater certificate breakage and therefore another mechanism to lower costs.
Bonvoy’d again…..
I don’t have a ton of Marriot points but I think their reward points are now akin to DL “Sky Pesos” (just for you 1990)
Marriott 60k xfers to airline miles haven’t yet been totally bonvoyed. Hotel redemptions are, however, largely bonvoid of value.
@D Fray — Gracias, amigo!
@Gene — Gonna have to stay at more Holiday Inn Express from now on…
Perfectly reasonable and expect all hotels and airlines to follow. Between SUBs, bonus categories and promotions there is huge points inflation. Then you have the balance sheet impact of having this liability so lowering the overall value helps. If you don’t like it don’t stay w them but if you take that approach you will quickly run out of options across all providers.
Use what you earn and don’t hoard them or try and save for “aspirational” properties. I keep my hotel points balances all at 250,000 or less which is enough for a nice stay but not so much I am subject to impact from ongoing increases.
The best Marriott redemption is now UA transfer, but I doubt the current transfer ratio/bonus would last much longer. If you have UA status or Chase UA card, IN award to Asia is not difficult to find at all and costs only 90K/85K.
Marriott needs to increase the value of the certificates.
With HYATT joining the fray raping their guests on award nights MARRIOTT DIDNT want to give up the title of the being the biggest rip off in the industry.Marriott is what Delta is to airlines
A giant Ponzi scheme run by criminals
@Retired Gambler: You don’t run out of options. The loyalty programs are making their money selling points to banks for loyalty cards, and the alternative provider is always a 2% cash back card.
Right now, I just put Marriott stays on my Marriott credit card, as the value compared to other cards has been “close enough”. I would never put a dime, even of Delta spend, on a Delta card. I used to not spend any money on United credit cards either but they’ve recently improved their mileage credits on United spend (on SOME of the cards) to make it more reasonable.
So points value DOES move people in the most important revenue segment: People stop using your credit card.
JUST SAY NO
Buy points at 0.5cpp for 4th nite free ihg redemptions.
Also offer a premium cc with a 100K af cert Intercontinental Hotel Group.
Thank you, @Christopher J Raehl, for sorta, kinda shutting-down @Retired Gambler’s ‘let the free market decide’ sane-washing of Marriott (and all these companies) corporate greed. These programs are going beyond mere devaluations. They’re spitefully treating guests/passengers with outright contempt. @Gene gets it. We may need to adopt the Nancy Reagan approach. Just say no. After all, she was the GOAT (allegedly.) And, before @Michael Mainello attempts to deport me for treason, buddy, it’s just a meme; get over it…
What’s known as “Dynamic” Pricing.
Defined as: a REVENUE strategy where businesses adjust prices in real time based on market demand, competitor data, and inventory levels. While it optimizes REVENUE and improves supply management, it often sparks CONSUMER FRUSTRATION when algorithms ARTIFICIALLY INFLATE costs during peak demand, commonly known as surge pricing.
But in reality, it’s just a way to offer less in exchange for loyalty. Like gambling, the house always wins when you factor in that Marriott allows resort and junk fees on award stays. Not only that, but their points per night are usually higher than Hilton, IHG, etc., in my experience.
I’m glad I have lifetime status at Marriott so I can concentrate on other programs for now.
@DaninMCI — No, it’s not just simply ‘dynamic’ pricing. You’re giving Marriott an alibi they don’t deserve. What just happened is much more calculated, greedy, and nefarious. It’s a systemic, global currency devaluation masked by the absence of an award chart. Name and shame!
I am just finishing up lunch but I did check one property, The Edition NY.
July 12, 84K points, $1218.
Using one of our Brilliant certificates gets us $1218 room for $350.
Then I checked the one in Paris, 28K, $189.
I do want to clarify about the one in Paris- it may not be the same date but there is was definitely a date with those numbers.
Without knowing the previous cash prices this looks like point inflation in step with cash inflation.
But I haven’t to get back to work.
@MM — Is your ‘primary objective’ to simply shill for corporations? Enjoy ‘work’!
1990- coming from the Hilton Shill, that is very rich.
https://frequentmiler.com/what-are-hotel-free-night-certificates-worth/
To quote:
“ Some are worth more than others. I’d say, ironically, Hilton’s FNC are some of the best, because the only cap is the Standard Room Award, otherwise, max them out 250K, etc.
Marriott and Hyatt are the most pathetic, namely because of the devaluations and the games that each brand plays to minimize your use of their certificates. Even the most ‘premium’ 85K certificate (now + 25K points) via Amex Brilliant is super lame; properties would purposely start room rates at 101K (now 111K) to avoid honoring those. ”
I notice rather than comment on my facts, you engaged in a knowingly false ad hominem attack.
How about addressing my data and how, and I quote you a $1218 for $350 with benefits is “pathetic” and “super lame.”
But you won’t address my data, will you?
1990-let’s dig a little deeper on you being a Hilton shill.
Again:
https://frequentmiler.com/what-are-hotel-free-night-certificates-worth/
“Then there’s IHG Premier’s ‘free night’ up to 40K, unlimited add-on; this one is not as generous as Hilton, but at least it’s somewhat ‘fair’ (basically worth $200ish, if used correctly.)”
Really, all those people including myself buy points for $200 just to get $200 back? That is pretty ridiculous.
Do you have any data points to back that up? HIX, the Big Island, 12/18, exactly 40K, $275. That HIX on the Magnificent Mile, truly awesome location, so much nearby, we love it 12/31, 41K, $316.
And in the same thread, I posted this:
“ In Holland, Michigan we have a huge local festival-Tulip Time. I have even seen it covered on national TV although most of the visitors come from Chicago, Indy, etc.
For the Tulyp Tapestry by Hilton for Mothers Day/Tulip Time it is 385k/$1087 a night.
The Courtyard is 59K/$726.
If Hilton had the same value for point $385k points would be worth $4737, but obviously the points are worth 23% as much as a Marriott point.”
So you think 385k point for a $1087 room is wonderful but 59K for a $726 room is, to use your words, “pathetic and super lame”.
I am sure you will come back with something that you are a victim, a straw man attack or ad hominem attack.
You certainly won’t address any of my data.