Make a Green Choice (MAGC) “Plant a Tree” Option for Legacy SPG Hotels
This information will be communicated to hotels via the Jan. 6 Weekly Update.
Franchise Management Companies of Legacy SPG hotels| Make a Green Choice (MAGC), is the guest-facing sustainability and loyalty program that enables guests who are Marriott Bonvoy members and are staying at least two nights* to forgo housekeeping services and reduce our environmental footprint.
MAGC “Plant a Tree” Option for Legacy SPG Hotels
To further strengthen Marriott’s sustainability goals and deliver upon guest preferences, all Legacy SPG hotels in the U.S. and Canada, that are also participating MAGC hotels* will be required to offer the “Plant a Tree” sustainability option in addition to the 250 Marriott Bonvoy points offering for each day a member forgoes housekeeping. Members will now be able to select either the option to collect points, or the option to plant a tree.
We partner with The Arbor Day Foundation for hotels in the U.S., as well as WEARTH for hotels in Canada, to facilitate the “Plant a Tree” option for participating MAGC hotels. Hotels will receive a Land-It tasklist to complete steps for set up in order to implement the required plant a tree option for all hotels that participate in the MAGC program.
Based on the success of two pilots in the U.S. and Canada, hotels have been able to increase take rates, guest participation and strengthen their sustainability efforts. As a redemption option, the plant a tree option is now the more cost-effective option for hotels: 250 Marriott Bonvoy points = $1.37; one tree = $1.25 | 500 Marriott Bonvoy points = $2.74; one tree = $2.00 (USD).
Sunset $5 Food & Beverage Voucher
To align all of our MAGC hotels across North America under one unified program; the Legacy Starwood $5 Voucher will be retired with the launch of the Plant a Tree option. Hotels are encouraged to use their remaining stock of vouchers until Feb. 28, 2020 when any remaining vouchers should be recycled. Hotels are encouraged to use the 8-week launch time to deplete existing stock to minimize any unnecessary cost. As of Feb. 28, 2020, the Make a Green Choice BSA will be adjusted to reflect this new program change. Any vouchers distributed after Feb. 28, 2020 may result in loss of points.
Next Steps
The new Make a Green Choice program enhancements and automation for participating hotels will be communicated to hotels in the Jan. 6 Weekly Update, and included in the Land-It tasklist for hotels. These changes are required and hotels should take action to review the steps for the Plant a Tree option prior to go live.
To help prepare properties for the Make a Green Choice program updates, we recommend the following actions:
- Review all program details found on the Make a Green Choice MGS page
- Review and decide if your hotel(s) would like to participate in the program.
- Direct your hotel(s) to opt into the program using the Land-It tasklist pushed to hotels and complete all point and tree tasks to launch the MAGC program with the new sustainability option.
- Hotels already participating in MAGC will use the Land-It tasklist to complete the “Plant a Tree” items.
- Participating hotels will go live February 28, 2020.
- Ensure all stakeholders are engaged; including but not limited to: iT, Market Leadership, Accounting, and Operations.
Should you have questions, email AskOps@marriott.com.
* The following brands have a branded approved program and may participate in the program: W Hotels, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Le Meridien, Luxury Collection, Westin, Autograph Collection, Renaissance, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Courtyard, Four Points by Sheraton, Springhill Suites, Fairfield Inn, Aloft, Residence Inn, Element, Moxy and AC Hotels.
