Marriott Bonvoy, here are the annual choice benefits for 2024
Until I used Marriott Bonvoy as "plan B" of my stays around the world, giving preference [...]
Marriott
As long as I used Marriott Bonvoy as "plan B" of my sojourns around the world, giving preference to Hilton Honors I never really appreciated the benefits to be a true elite user of the world's largest hotel chain's loyalty program.
In this article:
Why Gold status, the one offered free of charge to holders of American Express Platinum is definitely less important than Hilton's, However, when I first scaled up by moving to Platinum Elite and then to Titanium Elite I realized that in some respects Bonvoy is better than Honors.
One of the advantages, when upgrading to Platinum and beyond, are precisely the Annual Choice Benefit. That is, benefits that are given away to users when they cross the 50- and 75-night milestones.
Although it is only mid-March, as you can see I am well on my way to renewing my Titanium status again this year. Needless to say. I have been betting heavily on the hotels in this chain these weeks precisely to maximize the promotion giving away qualifying double nights taken in early February.
To those who say "Matteo eh but who knows how much you spent for 50 nights in a Marriott" I respond with the image above. Since the beginning of the year I have spent, at the current exchange rate, 2800€, or about 100€ per night stayed, but thanks to the current promotion, it generated me also 21 free qualifying nights in my account, nights that also apply in counting Lifetime status. To have a comparison last year I had reached this point at the end of July.
What are Choice Benefits
I choice benefits Are options that are triggered upon reaching Platinum status (50 nights) and Titanim status (75 nights). Each user can choose his or her favorite prize from the following:
- 5 Room Upgrade. Indicates the ability to request room upgrades, up to one-night suite, usable up to five days prior to check-in
- 5 Elite Night Credits, That is, having 5 qualifying nights
- Giving away Silver status
- 1000$ discount on the purchase of a mattress
- Choose who to donate 100$ to between a hospital, Unicef and WWF
If you touch 75 nights, you will be entitled to an additional choice from the same options plus two possibilities:
- Gifting Gold status
- One night free prize
The choice is final, that is, you cannot change your mind for the whole year. The following year you will be able, if you requalify, to change your award. The decision must be made from the moment you get the opportunity to choose, and on January 7 of each year, if you do not choose, you lose forever.
My preferences among the choice benefits
My choice in 2023 ended up on 5 guaranteed upgrades and 1 free award night. The reason is that SNAs, or whatever NUAs are called now, if you don't use them by the end of the following year you lose them. I ended up with two stays at the end of 2023 in which I was refused to use the upgrades and so at the end of the year I had 4 left over, a waste.
I therefore believe that I will make the same choices this year. It's just too bad that qualifying nights cannot be selected and used at the user's choice. It would be nice to use them on an as-needed basis, it would simplify the status hunt in no small way.
