Marriott Bonvoy in 2018 introduced Annual Choice Benefit-options for members that reach 50 and 75 nights in a calendar year, and there is always some confusion among the members about what to choose and when.
As 2021 is soon ending, it would be the right time to make your Annual Choice Benefit decision for 50 and 75 nights.
You can access Marriott here and the page for choosing Choice-benefit here.
READ MORE: Marriott Bonvoy Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions
You must make your 2021 choice by January 7, 2022. If a member doesn’t make a choice, Marriott will choose the Suite Night Awards as a default option (not necessarily the best).
50 Nights Options
- Add five Elite Night Credits to your 2021 total.
- Save 40% on a bed from your favorite hotel brand.
- Gift Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status to a family member, friend or colleague.
- Support the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund: Donate US$100 to the fund and support the organization’s important work.
- Support children through UNICEF: Donate US$100 to UNICEF’s work, including the global equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
- Support World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Donate US$100 to WWF and support the organization’s work to help people and nature thrive.
- Get five Suite Night Awards™ to redeem for upgrades to suites and premium rooms.
The five Elite Nights Credits option is useful if it helps you to reach 75 (or 100) nights. Otherwise, there is very little value (they count towards the lifetime). Note that even if you make the 2021 choice in 2022, the elite nights are added to your 2021 tally.
75 Nights Options
- One Free Night Award worth up to 40,000 points.
- Gift Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status to a family member, friend or colleague.
Five Elite Nights Credits are worthwhile if you wouldn’t otherwise reach 100 nights, AND your eligible spend is 14,000 USD (reduced from $20K for 2021 only) or higher. You would then be granted an Ambassador status. The nights’ count towards the status earned in 2021, even if you make the 2022 choice in 2021. The nights do count towards your lifetime nights count.
My 50 Nights Choice
My 75 Nights Choice
Award Posting
Both Suite Night Awards and the Free Night Award certificates were instantaneously posted to my account.
Conclusion
There really aren’t that many worthwhile options that you could choose from. It is essentially either 5 Elite Nights or Suite Night Awards at 50 nights, and Free Night Award capped at 40,000 points, or Suite Nights Awards at 75 nights.
I value Free Night Award at 75 nights more than the five Suite Nights Award, but others may choose otherwise.
Not sure what to think of the fact that Marriott is not sending out communication to members about their Annual Choice Benefit options and prompting them to choose one? I guess that they hope you forget and then deposit the Suite Night Awards to all eligible members by default.
Annual Choice Benefit Terms & Conditions:
Annual Choice Benefit Frequently Asked Questions:
