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Marriott has announced a set of generous promotions to entice members into maintaining their Elite status or achieving a higher tier. Marriott 2021 Elite Status promotions include 50% boost in Elite Night Credits, Double Points and Double Elite Nights, discount on off-peak redemptions, and more. Coming on the heels of the status extension from 2020, these enhancements will help members maintain their Elite Status until Feb 2023!
- 50% Boost in Elite night Credits:
Just as they did in 2020, Marriott will deposit 50% of the Elite Night Credits into members’ accounts based on their 2020 Elite status tier. This is what you can expect in your account, sometime in February;
-
- Silver Elite – 5 Elite Nights
- Gold Elite – 13 Elite Nights
- Platinum Elite – 25 Elite Nights
- Titanium Elite – 38 Elite Nights
- Ambassador Elite – 50 Elite Nights
These Elite night boosts will stack nicely with the Elite Nights earned with Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. Members can earn a total of 30 nights through US Marriott Bonvoy credit cards (by combining 15 elite nights each, with personal and business cards). Note that this generous perk does not apply to Canadian co-branded Marriott Bonvoy cards, a maximum of 15 Elite Nights can be earned with Marriott Bonvoy Amex Cards in Canada.
- Earn 2X Points and Elite Night Credits:
As part of Marriott’s next global promotion, from February 16 through April 27, 2021, members will earn double points and double elite night credits for stays of two nights or more. Double Elite Night Credits, combined with the 50% Elite Night Boost, should make it relatively easy for most members to maintain their status, or even meet the requirements for a higher tier.
For example, a current platinum member that holds US Marriott credits cards (personal and business), will get a total of 55 Elite Nights without a single stay! If they choose their Annual Benefit of 5 additional Elite Night Credits, at 60 nights they are just 15 away from being a Titanium Elite member. With double elite night credits on offer, those 15 nights will take as little as 8 paid nights. Or a single stay of 8 nights, one paid and 7 award nights. Wow.
- Reduced off-peak redemption by 10%:
For future reservations through September 30, 2021 booked between January 11, 2021 and February 21, 2021, Marriott will reduce off-peak redemption rates globally by 10%. With 10% discount, a Cat-1 property will be available for as little as 4500 points, and Cat-8 property for 63,000 points. The redemption chart, with 10% discount looks like this;
- Reduced spend for Ambassador Elite Status:
Last but not least, Marriott will reduce the $20,000 spend threshold for attaining Ambassador Elite status by 30% for 2021. Members trying to retain or achieve Ambassador status, will need to spend only $14,000 in 2021, to keep the status until Feb 2023.
Note that these renewed 2021 requirements are in addition to the promotions from 2020;
- Extended Free Night Awards originally set to expire in 2020 through August 1, 2021
- Extended Suite Night Awards earned in 2019 as part of the 50- and 75-night annual choice benefit that were to expire the end of 2020 through December 31, 2021
- Paused points expiration through August 1, 2021
This should come as welcome news for all Marriott members, who can now plan and execute their Elite Status strategy with enough time on hand. Happy Elite-ing!
