Marriott Rewards is making some positive changes to the program. Here are the details…
1. Points Advance-You can book a trip using your Marriott Rewards points, even before you have enough points in your account to cover the cost of that trip. You have until fourteen days prior to arrival to earn the points and finalize the reservation. Note, I have already been doing this with my Marriott Rewards account and I even posted it about it back in January of this past year. I guess Marriott Rewards is now deciding to formalize this benefit.
2. Points Sharing-You can now transfer up to 50,000 points a year to friends and family. This benefit is available between any two accounts in good standing whether sending or receiving points.
Also, in lieu of the 50,000 point transfer above, one time per year and only at the time of a Reward Redemption, you can exceed the 50,000 point transfer maximum into the Rewards Program account of a friend or family member in order to qualify for a specific Reward. Only the necessary number of Points needed to redeem the specified Reward, rounded to the nearest 1,000 Points, may be transferred — no more and no less.
The authorization to transfer Points must be initiated by the member with the Points to be transferred. You execute the transfer by calling Rewards Program Guest Services at 1-801-468-4000 (Marriott Rewards Program) or 1-866-922-6882 (The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Program).
The account holder requesting the transfer must provide the Marriott Rewards account number of the Points recipient at the time of the Point transfer request.
3. Cash + Points- You were able to use Cash + Points before the program changes, but with the changes come some new Cash + Points redemption requirements.
Here are the Marriott Cash + Points Redemption Requirements…
And here are the Ritz Cash + Points Redemption Requirements…
4. Redemption Stay Credit– Starting Nov. 1, 2015, you can earn Elite night credit on redemption stays paid for with points. (or points + cash redemptions)