Marriott Bonvoy has already extended any status from 2020 all the way through till February 2022, but today they announced a further host of initiatives for 2021. This will make elite status easier to earn and retain, accelerate points accruals, and provide lower-cost award redemptions.ย
50% elite night credit for 2021
In June last year, Marriott awarded a bonus credit equal to 50% of the elite nights required for your 2019 tier. This year they’re doing the same, based on your 2020 tier:
- Silver members get five bonus elite nights
- Gold members get 13 bonus elite nights
- Platinum members get 25 bonus elite nights
- Titanium members get 38 bonus elite nights
- Ambassador members get 50 bonus elite nights
It’s a shame we don’t have those cobrand cards the Americans have, which let them earn a ridiculous 30 elite nights per year, but oh well.ย
Marriott Ambassador spending threshold reduced by 30%
Normally, Marriott Ambassador status requires 100 elite nights and US$20,000 in qualifying spending per calendar year. For 2021, the night requirement is the same, but the spending requirement is being cut by 30% to US$14,000.
Double points and elite nights from February to April 2021
Marriott Bonvoy’s next global promotion will run from 16 February to 27 April 2021, with registration opening in February. Registered members will earn double points plus double elite nights for stays of two nights or more, starting with the first stay. Stays must have at least one paid night to count towards the promotion.
The two night minimum will be annoying for those doing staycations, but at least all hotels globally are participating.ย
As a reminder, only base points are doubled (not the elite bonuses). Here’s how many points you can expect to earn, depending on tier:
| Points per US$1 | ||||
| Tier | Regular | Elite Bonus | Promo | Total |
| Base | 10 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| Silver | 10 | 1 | 10 | 21 |
| Gold | 10 | 2.5 | 10 | 22.5 |
| Platinum | 10 | 5 | 10 | 25 |
| Titanium & Ambassador | 10 | 7.5 | 10 | 27.5 |
| At Element, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites, members earn a base rate of 5 points per US$1 | ||||
10% discount for off-peak redemptions
Marriott Bonvoy will be reducing off-peak redemption rates by 10% for all properties around the world. This applies for reservations made by 21 February 2021, with stays up till 30 September 2021.ย
Here’s how much awards will cost after the 10% discount.
| Category | Off-Peakย | Standard | Peakย |
| 1 | 7,500 | 10,000 | |
| 2 | 12,500 | 15,000 | |
| 3 | 17,500 | 20,000 | |
| 4 | 25,000 | 30,000ย | |
| 5 | 35,000 | 40,000 | |
| 6 | 50,000 | 60,000 | |
| 7 | 60,000 | 70,000 | |
| 8 | 85,000 | 100,000 |
In case you were wondering, this stacks with Marriott Bonvoy’s usual 5th night free offer. There’s no need to enter any special promo code; the reduced rate will reflect automatically when searching.
Obviously, the higher the category, the more points you save. While it’s mighty tempting to book the St Regis Maldives or Al Maha Resort, you’re basically taking a gamble on travel opening up (although it is aย refundableย gamble, so why not).ย
Conclusion
This is a solid set of enhancements from Marriott Bonvoy, although it’s still going to be very hard for people in countries without domestic markets (i.e us) to retain status in 2021, should borders not open up.ย I just can’t see a Platinum member doing 25 nights in Singapore, or even 13 (during the 2X elite night period).ย
I’ll do up a separate post on the double points/double elite nights promotion once the registration link goes live.
Do you think this will stack with the marriott status match? Plat requires 15 nights in 90 days, if can stack this means only need to stay for 8 butt-in-hotel nights if counted as double nights
I was about to ask the same thing too. Just started my Marriott status match, and I’m into my second night now, with about 70 days to go. The double night count from Feb is a little too late, but would indeed come in handy. Wld Aaron be able to advise? Thanks a million!
There’s a difference between elite night credits and required nights to maintain status.
You may be credited double elite nights, but the number of nights required to maintaining status very much remains the same.
Ok got it. Thanks for the info.
Does anyone know if the elite night credits are based on the status according to the number of nights accumulated for 2020, or is it a continuation of the status extension from 2019? i.e. if i was Plat member in 2019, (extended through 2020) but have only 30 elite nights for 2020, does that give an elite night credit of 25 or 13….