Greg and Nick brainstorm ways to enhance the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. They argue for fixing the free breakfast benefit for Platinum Elites, making nightly upgrades available from booking, and removing the limitations on free night certificate top-offs. They also express frustration with the resort fees on free night stays. The discussion highlights the need for clarity and reliability within Marriott's offerings to boost customer loyalty and satisfaction.
Streamlining the breakfast benefit for Platinum Elite members would improve satisfaction by eliminating confusion and standardizing offerings across all hotels.
Allowing nightly upgrade awards to be confirmed at booking would empower members to plan confidently, enhancing their loyalty experience with greater clarity.
Deep dives
Fixing the Breakfast Benefit
Enhancing the elite breakfast benefit is essential for improving the Marriott Bonvoy program. Currently, the process for receiving complimentary breakfast for platinum elite members is convoluted and confusing, often requiring guests to navigate a lengthy document to determine eligibility. The benefits vary widely by hotel brand, with some properties offering a mere $10 credit instead of a full breakfast, leading to frustration even among loyal customers who frequently engage with the program. Streamlining and standardizing the breakfast offerings across all hotels would eliminate ambiguity and create a more satisfying experience for guests.
Upgrades Should Be Clear from Booking
Allowing nightly upgrade awards to be confirmed at the time of booking would greatly enhance the loyalty experience for Marriott Bonvoy members. Currently, upgrades can only be considered three to five days before a stay, leaving guests uncertain and unable to make informed travel plans. This inconsistency can be frustrating, especially for dedicated loyalty members who have earned these benefits through consistent patronage. A system similar to Hyatt's, which confirms upgrades at booking, would provide clarity and assurance, empowering members to plan confidently.
Removing the Top-Up Limit
Removing the 15,000 point limit on topping up free night certificates would significantly improve their usability within the Marriott Bonvoy program. The ability to add points to a certificate is welcomed, but the cap creates obstacles, often leaving guests just short of redeeming their desired stays. This limitation feels particularly frustrating when relevant properties require only marginally more points than the certificate allows. By adopting a more flexible approach similar to other hotel chains, Marriott could enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, making their rewards program more appealing.
In today's podcast episode Greg and Nick will talk about the things they wish Marriott would add to their program to make it a really great program. They argue these things shouldn't even have to cost Marriott that much to implement.
(05:00) - Clear Nightly Upgrade Awards from the time of booking
(08:21) - Remove the 15K limit on free night certificate top-offs
(11:11) - Waive resort fees on free night stays
Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.
Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode