Marriott Bonvoy suspended brand standards and Elite Member Benefit Guarantees in March 2020, and the suspension was extended several times and expired on December 31, 2020.
Marriott Bonvoy Elite Guarantees are again in place from today (January 11, 2021). Hotels need to offer breakfast and lounge alternatives (or bonus points) and welcome amenities (see the full list below).
You can access Marriott’s page for Elite Member Benefit Guarantees here.
READ MORE: Marriott Bonvou Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions
Here’s the announcement from Marriott:
We are reinstating the elite guarantee compensation which had been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.
Please note that based on day-to-day business conditions at individual hotels and/or government regulations, properties may offer a breakfast alternative when lounges and restaurants are closed such as grab and go or credit for food and beverage purchases on property.
As always, the Lounge and Welcome Gift elite benefit depends on brand and geographic regions.
This change takes effect today, January 11, 2021.
Here’s what you need to do to collect the compensation:
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium & Ambassador members are eligible for cash compensation per Welcome Gift-guarantee in a case of property failure.
Benefit Guarantees:
What happened with the guarantees in 2020:
UPDATE: Marriott Suspends Brand Standards & Elite Benefit Guarantees Through July 5, 2020
Marriott Extends Elite Benefit Guarantee Suspensions Through December 31, 2020
Conclusion
I am glad that these guarantees are back because some not so good properties have played fast and loose with them.
Personally, I could have exercised the amenity guarantee several times this past fall and collected several 100 notes in the process.
1,000 bonus points per room doesn’t make up for taking away elite breakfasts and lounges. I can see some hotels just giving the points and charging for breakfast/drinks and making money
How can you reinstate benefits that you repeatedly refused to officially suspend ?
Being retired and with over 1.7 million points we looked forward to travelling prior to Covid. At the time I was Titanium but with no travelling I have been downgraded to a useless Gold.
We enjoyed the lounge and complimentary breakfast with Titanium, a major reason in our hotel selection.
Now however with lounges closed as well as restaurants, museums are having reduced hours, capacity and limited room service (cleaning) the joy of pleasure travel for us is over.
Most importantly is the fact that at our age our health is a major consideration. Regardless of the offer of additional points or elite days, it is just not worth the risk. Besides having to be masked is not pleasurable. Foreign travel is a simple forget it. Imagine being quarantined abroad.
When we feel that we can travel safely and comfortably again we shall do so having saved additional funds to spend on the upgrades we desire.
@bizjournals-OTkxMDMxMTozOjdqR0FUUEU2bUFR:disqus WOW. How on Earth did you accumulate that many points??
I’d recommend you use these point in South East Asia or Asia in general instead of North America and Europe.
Lounges are still open there
Appears Marriott has lost a significant number of elite clients if theyre reinstating this during an active pandemic. It will now be enjoyable watching the properties FAIL TO COMPLY
What do you do when a hotel refuses to comply after being reminded of it — “I didn’t know anything about that” he said … so I sent an email of the policy and got the reply that they had already given me the 1000 points and breakfast so they were covered! (Breakfast was given because the concierge lounge was closed). Advice?