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If you've earned Marriott Bonvoy points through a credit card, stayed at properties, or both, you've likely wondered whether the value of those points is getting better or worse. Marriott award pricing history tells an important story about how redemption costs have evolved—and what it means for your future bookings.
Marriott Bonvoy (the loyalty program after the 2019 merger of Marriott Rewards, SPG, and Ritz-Carlton rewards) has adjusted award pricing multiple times since its restructuring. The most significant changes occurred during major program updates and, notably, following broader travel industry patterns during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Category devaluations are the primary mechanism. Rather than a single, program-wide point increase, Marriott has periodically shifted individual properties into different award categories, meaning some properties now require more points than they did previously. This affects both free night awards (where you book a property using points) and standard room redemptions.
Several factors influence award pricing adjustments across hospitality programs:
How award pricing changes matter depends entirely on your situation:
| Profile | Typical Impact |
|---|---|
| Heavy business travelers redeeming at premium city properties | More noticeable effect; category increases affect frequent redemptions |
| Leisure travelers visiting select resorts seasonally | May feel less impact if they target stable properties or off-peak periods |
| Credit card churners focused on free night certificates | Different equation; free night awards work differently than point redemptions |
| Long-term point savers | Historical devaluations reduce future purchasing power; newer earners don't notice |
Marriott publishes official award charts showing category assignments for each property. You can compare current pricing against archived versions (often available through the Wayback Machine or loyalty blogs) to see how specific properties have shifted.
Award pricing also varies by:
Program devaluations happen across the loyalty industry. What matters is whether the earning rate keeps pace with pricing. If you earn points faster through credit card spend or stays, a category increase might offset itself. If you earn slowly, devaluations reduce your effective return.
The right question isn't "Has Marriott devalued?" (it has, in certain categories, at certain times). The right question for your situation is: "Does the earning potential still match the redemption value I care about?"—and that answer depends on which properties you actually want to book and how you earn points.
