Confidential | Annual Rewards & SPG Category Changes Available
Marriott continues to operate the three loyalty programs – Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and SPG – independently. Throughout 2018, efforts will begin to harmonize these programs, making them more similar and providing enhanced benefits for members by extending some of the best elements of each loyalty program. In addition, as we progress toward the end-state of having a single, unified platform, we will announce changes across the programs that will enable cost savings and synergies for hotels.
In the meantime, the Loyalty team is ready to announce the annual category changes for all three programs. While the programs will continue to run with their own methodologies in 2018, we have aligned the timing and communication of these changes to help ensure a consistent member experience.
We completed this year’s review and are moving 18% of hotels up and 6% of hotels down a category level, across all three programs globally. Earlier today, we announced which hotels are changing categories as part of the annual review. The changes are effective for all redemption reservations booked on or after March 6, 2018.
Marriott Rewards & Ritz Carlton Rewards
As a reminder, hotel categories are based on each hotel’s overall average reimbursement rate (total reimbursement revenue received divided by total redeemed nights). Hotel category changes impact the points required by members to redeem at hotels, but do not impact Marriott Rewards annual blended reimbursement rate or reimbursement policy.
Marriott Rewards is also reviewing the ICD allotments for hotels. Hotels may appeal their ICD allotments at any time during the year.
Key dates are as follows:
- February 8, 2018: Hotel and Member Notification
- HPP contacts received an email with their Category/Tier, number of ICDs, and Cash + Points information
- Members informed through MRInsiders.com (Marriott Rewards Social Media channel)
- February 12, 2018: Hotels to be reminded of Marriott Rewards 2018 Category Changes via Weekly Update
- Listing of hotels moving a category and FAQs posted on MGS
- March 6, 2018: High Performance Pricing (HPP) screens to be updated to reflect ICD changes for 2018
- Please note: ICD changes available to use were reset to four (4) in January 2018
- Hotel Category changes and Cash + Points reimbursement rates updated across all reservation touch points
Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG)
As a reminder, a hotel’s Starpoint Category and Reimbursement Level are both based on the hotel’s prior, full-year historical ADR plus a regional growth rate or the current year’s budgeted ADR if the hotel was not SPG for the full prior year. Hotel Starpoint Categories reflect the number of Starpoints required by members to redeem for a Free Night Award in a standard room at SPG hotels. Reimbursement levels correspond to the base compensation a hotel receives for that award night.
Key dates are as follows:
- January 19, 2018: Starpoint Category and Reimbursement Level Notification Email sent to hotels
- January 25, 2018: Hotel “Respond By” date for any questions on category or level
- February 2, 2018: Final categories and levels are set
- February 8, 2018: Member web page of category changes launched
- February 9, 2018: Hotel “Respond By” date for Category 5, 6, or 7 hotels to submit Peak/High Seasons
- March 6, 2018: Changes go into effect
If you have questions, contact your Hotel Coordinator at spg.hotel.support@starwoodhotels.com.
For more information and answers to some frequently asked questions, please visit MGS.
