BETHESDA, Md. — For the first time since Marriott International acquired Starwood Hotels and Resorts in 2016, the company’s rewards programs — Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) — now operate under one set of unified benefits and one currency. As a result, members can now combine their separate program accounts into one at marriott.com or spg.com.
Together, the unified programs allow members to earn, on average, 20-per-cent more points per dollar spent and have their Elite status recognized consistently at every hotel. When members combine their accounts, their points balances will also combine, ending the need to transfer points between programs.
“We merged the incredible earning and redeeming power of Marriott Rewards with the phenomenal Elite benefits of SPG to create one of the richest travel-loyalty programs with the most extraordinary global portfolio of hotels — from overwater bungalows, to mountainside ski resorts, to iconic urban landmarks,” says David Flueck, SVP, Global Loyalty, Marriott International.
Under the unified programs, members now earn Silver-Elite status after just 10 nights annually, Gold-Elite status after just 25 nights, Platinum-Elite status after 50 nights and Platinum-Premier-Elite status after 75 nights. All Platinum-Premier members surpassing 100 nights and $20,000 annual spend will enjoy the highest level of personalized service — the popular ambassador program — along with all the other benefits in that tier. Members who have achieved Lifetime status will continue to have their status recognized under the new Lifetime-Elite tiers that will apply across the unified programs.
The unified programs also introduce a new Free-Night-Award chart for redemptions across the entire loyalty portfolio. Nearly 70 per cent of hotels now require the same or fewer points for a free stay than before.
Additional new benefits include:
- Points earned for food and beverage, spa and other qualifying incidentals charged to their folio
- No blackout dates for points redemptions on hotels throughout the loyalty portfolio
- Exclusive member-only rates and free Wi-Fi when booking though any of Marriott’s digital and mobile channels
