Marriott Bonvoy has raised the ceiling on some high-end resort redemptions. What used to value at most 120,000 factors now prices as much as 150,000 factors per night time, which represents a rise of 25%.

It seems that the unofficial cap has been lifted at many different properties, too, as we’ve seen current modifications to the utmost variety of factors required for an evening from what it had beforehand been because the program shifted to dynamic pricing final yr.

These modifications come with none warning or discover, which is unlucky for anybody who will now must pay extra for a redemption, however not shocking as a result of nature of dynamic pricing.

Adjustments to Excessive-Finish Marriott Lodges

For the previous yr, redemptions at Marriott’s top-tier resorts have had a “comfortable cap” of 120,000 factors per night time. As a degree of reference, previous to dynamic pricing kicking in on March 30, 2022, essentially the most we’d see for a resort keep on a peak night time was 100,000 factors.

In different phrases, in a yr, there was a 50% enhance from the earlier most variety of factors required to remain per night time at among the model’s greatest properties, and as much as a 25% enhance within the very current previous.

The leap to 150,000 factors per night time is just at among the model’s most unique properties in among the most unique locations. One must look no additional than the Maldives to seek out these costs. 

For instance, a keep at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands can value as much as 150,000 factors per night time throughout peak season.

Searching for a keep on the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli throughout peak season? Anticipate to fork over 150,000 factors per night time, or 600,000 factors for a five-night keep (benefiting from the Fifth Evening Free profit).

Different iconic St. Regis properties, such because the St. Regis New York or the St. Regis Bora Bora, vary from 84,000–126,000 factors per night time over the following yr. 

One other fan-favourite property, Al Maha Desert Resort Dubai, maxes out at 126,000 factors, up from its earlier ceiling of 120,000 factors, which seems to be a recurring theme.

It’s price noting that many different properties have seen jumps of higher than 50% because the transfer to dynamic pricing, regardless that they don’t strategy the higher ranges of Marriott’s pricing. 

For instance, The Bodrum EDITION had a most value of 100,000 factors per night time for the previous yr; nonetheless, now it’s doable to seek out nights at 106,000 factors.

For what it’s price, previous to dynamic pricing, you could possibly discover off-peak nights at this property for simply 50,000 factors per night time.

For sure, it, together with many different extremely sought-after resorts, have elevated considerably previously yr, and there’s no indication that that is the final enhance we’ll see.

A “Type of” Devaluation

Whereas a rise to the price of a redemption could be considered a devaluation, it’s a little bit of a special story in the case of applications that use dynamic pricing. In contrast to fixed-pricing fashions, which have a set variety of factors for a specific flight or resort keep, dynamic pricing fashions ebb and stream in accordance with demand and no matter different metrics the applications want to implement.

Throughout instances of peak demand, count on the worth to rise considerably, and through instances of low demand, count on to get a greater deal. 

As for Marriott Bonvoy, we’ve seen a “comfortable cap” of 120,000 factors over the previous yr on the program’s most fascinating properties. Now, it seems that the bar has been lifted to 150,000 factors per night time at some properties.

Equally, different properties have seen will increase to the utmost value, which unofficially seems to be 126,000 factors per night time at first look, whereas others have seen the ceiling lifted to greater than what it has been for the final yr.

With this in thoughts, we are able to consider this transfer as not essentially a change to this system itself, since that is simply dynamic pricing rearing its head. Quite, it’s simply the newest iteration of Marriott leaning into dynamic pricing, and it’s solely doable that we’ll see this ceiling lifted once more sooner or later.

In a way, we haven’t but seen unfettered dynamic pricing come to this system, and a minimum of for now there seems to be an unofficial cap of 150,000 factors per night time. That doesn’t imply that we received’t see totally dynamic pricing sooner or later – it simply implies that it’s not fairly right here but.

After all, this doesn’t take away from the truth that you’ll now must pay extra for a similar property, and in that sense, it’s a devaluation. Should you’ve been holding out on a February journey to the Maldives, count on to pay round 25% greater than what it beforehand would have value.

One of many worst components of dynamic pricing fashions is that modifications typically come with none prior warning or bulletins, and the chances of costs shifting downwards reasonably than upwards are remarkably low. As members of the loyalty program, we’re topic to the whims of whomever is implementing these modifications, and there isn’t actually any recourse.

Certainly, we’ve seen comparable strikes occur within the current previous with different main loyalty applications. 

On the airline aspect, Alaska Mileage Plan‘s modifications to award charts in December 2022 left the door broad open for unannounced devaluations when “Ranging from” language appeared on the brand new charts. That is precisely what occurred once we noticed sudden jumps in pricing on Japan Airways First Class and enterprise class redemptions.

Likewise, the most effective candy spots within the recreation, reserving ANA First Class with Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership, was just lately devalued in a single day, regardless that it’s nonetheless aggressive with different applications.

On the resort aspect, recall that Hilton Honors had an identical “comfortable devaluation” one yr in the past when it raised the higher restrict of redemptions. Since each applications not use award charts, this transfer from Marriott Bonvoy is actually the identical as what Hilton Honors did.

Within the coming days, World of Hyatt will shift numerous properties up in classes, and regardless that it nonetheless makes use of mounted pricing, some properties will value greater than they used to (or much less, in some circumstances). 

All of this goes to indicate that the acquainted adage of incomes and burning has by no means been extra true. Hoarding factors could be fairly dangerous, as you’re by no means assured to get the identical worth tomorrow as you’ll be able to as we speak.

That’s to not say that there nonetheless isn’t worth to be present in Marriott Bonvoy and different loyalty applications; nonetheless, with so many switching over to dynamic pricing fashions, you’ll must be extra strategic together with your redemptions.

Conclusion

For the final yr, we’ve seen a “comfortable cap” of 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors for stays at its most fascinating properties. Now, it seems that the higher restrict has been raised to 150,000 factors, which is a rise of 25% from earlier than.

There has additionally been a rise to the variety of factors required at many different properties, which varies relying on the situation. A lot of Marriott Bonvoy’s different top-tier properties now value as much as 126,000 factors per night time, up from the earlier most of 120,000.

With the continued implementation of dynamic pricing, this might not be the final time the bar is raised on this program. As at all times, you’ll wish to go searching your vacation spot for the very best deal, and it’s at all times higher to “earn and burn” your factors reasonably than stockpiling them for the longer term.