Final call: 201 Marriott hotels adjusting their award prices this Wednesday

A few weeks back, Marriott Bonvoy revealed its list of hotels experiencing award category changes for the upcoming year. Typically, this period can be quite tense for award travelers as they watch their favorite hotel redemptions become more expensive, but this year’s adjustments from Marriott are surprisingly gentle, likely due to the pandemic.

Despite only 3% of Marriott's extensive portfolio of over 7,500 hotels changing categories (with most actually seeing a decrease in award price), there are still 51 properties that will see their prices rise starting March 3.

For context, just before the pandemic really took hold last year, Marriott adjusted the categories of more than 2,000 properties—predominantly upward. This year's changes are far less significant, but now is the perfect moment to review your travel plans for the year ahead and secure a hotel that’s increasing in award price as soon as possible if it’s on your list.

You can view the complete list of changes here, but we’ll highlight a few key points to keep in mind.

• W Aspen moving up from Category 7 to Category 8 (this hotel has previously held an 8 rating and is reverting back)
• Aloft and Residence Inn Ocean Beach, Maryland shifting from Category 5 to Category 6
• Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort advancing from Category 5 to Category 6
• SpringHill Suites Hilton Head Island rising from Category 4 to Category 5
• Courtyard Aruba Resort upgrading from Category 4 to Category 5
• Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mexico City elevating from Category 6 to Category 7
• Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort dropping from Category 6 to Category 5
• Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa advancing from Category 5 to Category 6
• The Langley, a Luxury Collection Hotel moving up from Category 6 to Category 7

Be particularly mindful if one of the properties you’re interested in is rising beyond the range of the Marriott 35k or 50k certificates that are available with various Marriott credit cards, as you’ll want to secure those bookings before the increases on March 3, if possible.

Key takeaway

Overall, this year’s annual categorization of Marriott properties is quite mild, but it’s still worth checking before the changes take effect this week.

If you have a reservation at a property that will decrease in award cost on March 3, it might be wise to wait until then to book, or consider rebooking your stay at the lower price afterward. However, if you’re set on a place like the W Aspen, it’s advisable to finalize your booking for the next year before March 3 to avoid higher award prices.