Marriott Bonvoy members have been familiar with the Suite Night Awards as Annual Choice Benefits, which allowed them to select five Suite Night Awards as their 50-night Choice Benefit until early 2024. However, Marriott recently made changes to these Suite Night Awards and converted them into Nightly Upgrade Awards. In this article, we will explore what these Nightly Upgrade Awards are and how to use them.
Nightly Upgrade Awards, formerly known as Suite Night Awards, allow Marriott Bonvoy members to confirm an upgrade to a standard suite or premium room before their stay at most Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resorts. The specific room types available for upgrade with Nightly Upgrade Awards are determined by each participating hotel or resort and can include suites or premium rooms with better views, balconies, patios, or additional space.
To use Nightly Upgrade Awards, members must apply one award per night of their stay. For example, if you have a five-night stay, you will need to use five Nightly Upgrade Awards. It is important to note that Nightly Upgrade Awards can only be applied to existing reservations for which you have paid an eligible Marriott Bonvoy rate or redeemed Marriott points, including points-and-cash rates.
Members can request to use Nightly Upgrade Awards until 2 p.m. the day before check-in. However, it is essential to understand that even if you submit your request months in advance, it will only be considered three days before check-in, unlike the previous five-day window for Suite Night Awards. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that your request will be approved.
There are certain properties where Nightly Upgrade Awards cannot be used, as stated in the Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions. These properties include Ritz-Carlton Reserve, The Ritz-Carlton Club, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Design Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, All-Inclusive Resorts, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Sheraton Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club, and The Phoenician Residences, a Luxury Collection Residence Club, Scottsdale. However, Nightly Upgrade Awards can now be used at brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, Edition Hotels, Aloft, Element, and Protea Hotels.
TPG Director of Content Nick Ewen found a variety of room choices available for Nightly Upgrade Awards at previously excluded brands. He discovered options for full suites at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes; Element Miami Brickell; The New York Edition; and Aloft Chicago Mag Mile. At Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Cape Town in South Africa, he could request bi-level lofts with his Nightly Upgrade Awards.
To earn Nightly Upgrade Awards, members must reach 50 and 75 elite night credits within a calendar year. Additionally, Nightly Upgrade Awards can be earned as an Earned Choice Award by spending at least $60,000 on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card in a calendar year. These three milestones default to Nightly Upgrade Awards, but members can choose a different option if preferred.
Previously, five Suite Night Awards were available at these milestones for the 2023 calendar year. However, these Suite Night Awards were converted to Nightly Upgrade Awards around January 11, 2024. Any previous requests to use Suite Night Awards before the transition to Nightly Upgrade Awards will still be honored and approved based on availability. However, the new three-day window for confirming these requests will now apply.
To check the number of Nightly Upgrade Awards you have and their expiration dates, log in to your Marriott Bonvoy online account and click on your name in the upper right-hand corner. Select “Overview” from the dropdown menu, and you will be taken to your default account homepage. Scroll down to the “Watch your rewards add up” section, and you will see Nightly Upgrade Awards listed if you have any in your account. Click “View Awards” under your Nightly Upgrade Awards to check the expiration dates. Nightly Upgrade Awards expire on December 31 of the year following the one in which you earned them.
To use Nightly Upgrade Awards, go to “My Trips” on your Marriott Bonvoy account when logged in. Expand your reservation if needed by clicking “Details” and then click “View/Modify” next to the stay for which you want to use Nightly Upgrade Awards. Scroll down and check if a section states “Take an upgrade. You’ve earned it.” If so, click “Start Upgrade Request” to see the room upgrades available. The available room types for Nightly Upgrade Awards vary by property. Select the desired room type and click “Submit Upgrade Request.” You will receive a confirmation message, and an email titled “We Received Your Nightly Upgrade Awards Request.”
You can also use the Marriott Bonvoy app to request an upgrade. Pull up your existing reservation, tap the bell icon at the top right, and tap “Request Upgrade.” Review the room options and click “Submit” to confirm the request.
After requesting an upgrade, the hotel’s system will automatically check for upgrade availability three days before your arrival and continue checking daily until 2 p.m. one day before check-in. If your upgrade is not confirmed by 2 p.m. on the day before check-in, Marriott Bonvoy will cancel your request and return the Nightly Upgrade Award(s) to your account. You can cancel an unconfirmed Nightly Upgrade Award and return it to your account until 2 p.m. on the day before check-in. However, if a Nightly Upgrade Award is confirmed, you can only cancel it by canceling the entire stay. Nightly Upgrade Awards will not be returned if you cancel your stay later than 2 p.m. on the day before check-in. To cancel an unconfirmed Nightly Upgrade Award, go to “My Trips” in your Marriott Bonvoy account and click “Modify Request” under the note stating “Your Nightly Upgrade Award request is pending.”
In conclusion, Marriott Bonvoy members now have Nightly Upgrade Awards instead of Suite Night Awards as their Annual Choice Benefits. These awards allow members to confirm an upgrade to a standard suite or premium room before their stay at most Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resorts. While there are certain restrictions and considerations, members can use Nightly Upgrade Awards for eligible reservations and request upgrades within a specific timeframe. By understanding how to earn and use Nightly Upgrade Awards, members can make the most of their Marriott Bonvoy membership and enhance their hotel stays.