I’ve never realized that Marriott Bonvoy has a set of ‘supplemental’ terms and conditions and that benefits are completely different at all-inclusive properties. In typical Marriott fashion they’re complicated, because they do not apply to all all-inclusives. Instead these ‘special’ terms apply to new all-inclusives that are not part of a legacy brand, and not to Westins and Marriotts et al that happen to be all-inclusive.
Why not have a simple, unified “All-Inclusive By Marriott” brand instead of spreading them out across brands and creating inconsistency within those brands? Contracts are complicated and Marriott doesn’t operate – let alone own – so many of their hotels, and because they’re trying to maximize rooms under their brands rather than consistency or simplicity for customers.
However these new all-inclusives participate in a “unique capacity” and actually,
- Offer points on taxes paid (huh?) as well as “service charges, gratuities, and/or fees related to other incidentals charged to the room” in “certain limited cases” although the terms are silent as to what those limited cases actually are. It seems as though resort fees on paid stays should earn points.
- No resort fees on award redemption! This is the biggest pain point for Marriott awards in my view, and the terms say these fees are specifically included when spending points for stand-alone all-inclusives. This should be the case for all redemptions (as it is with Hilton, Hyatt) but it’s a start and makes redemptions for all-inclusives that much nicer.
At All-Inclusive Resorts, the Points redeemed for an Award Redemption Stay cover the cost of the all-inclusive package which includes, but is not limited to, the standard room (with existing bedding), room tax, service charge, resort fee, and standard food and beverage, for up to two people.
- There’s no breakfast benefit (which makes sense at an all-inclusive) and no amenity choice. Instead elites receive 1000 points at check-in. Nicer would be a credit for any premium restaurants or upcharges as an option.
- Unique benefits also are offered including a weekly cocktail party for Platinums and higher; up to a 20% discount on incidental expenses, including premium alcohol; complimentary access to “exclusive areas” (club lounges, I’d assume); and 25-minute massage for Ambassadors.
I found it especially interesting that there’s a distinguished benefit for Ambassador members only on-property, something I’d think Marriott would drive towards more broadly since there really aren’t many distinguishing characteristics of their most-exclusive level which requires not just 100 nights a year but also $20,000 in spend.
Oddly, though, free internet is not listed as a benefit at all-inclusives, though I’m not familiar enough to know whether any charge for ‘premium’ internet.
I had my first stay at a Royalton property in Cancun last month- did enjoy a great one-bedroom suite upgrade to their exclusive tower with butler service and added benefits. No resort fee (a rarity, as you write) for the resort and earned points on my whole bill total.
Ah Marriott, because of course…..
Imagine you’re in a relationship and your significant other says something that one can’t un-say. You know what I mean. And, no matter what your significant other subsequently says or does, the relationship will never be the same. And, you realize the relationship needs to end.
That’s what has happened to so many people in their relationships with the hotels. The hotels have / add some nice features . . . but it doesn’t really put the relationship back on loving terms. If you go back, you’ll just reenter the cycle of abuse.
Marriott not branding the all-inclusive resorts as Marriott Vacation Club or simply the new brand Marriott All-Inclusive is arguably the worst decision the company had made in a long time. It will be a case study example in marketing and brand development.
About the “exclusive areas” benefit – I guess this is only for All-Inclusives? I’m thinking about the Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho (Luxury Collection) where the club lounge is no longer offered to Marriott elites. Not that I’m an ambassador, or going to be any time soon anyway.
I really miss that hotel and lounge. I kind of worry my coworkers and I might have ruined the lounge benefit for everyone though, oops.
@DrewT: Yes, Bonvoy terms were updated to remove lounge access at Luxury Collection if there’s a lounge. The lounge access still, however, applies at Westin — if a Westin has a lounge. Of course, the problem is increasingly newly built or newly flagged hotels at brands with the lounge benefit don’t have a lounge.
But the All-Inclusive by Marriott “supplemental” terms seem to suggest lounge access is guaranteed if there’s some sort of lounge or club. There are some anecdotal reports of access too.
@FNT Delta Diamond: I could be mistaken, but my understanding is the terms never actually stated elites got lounge access at luxury collection hotels. Doesn’t really matter, either way, Bonvoy’d!