There was big news today with respect to the loyalty programs of Marriott Rewards, Ritz Carlton Rewards and Starwood. The main piece being that Marriott will introduce one set of unified benefits across all three loyalty programs in August of this year. Some highlights of the changes coming are as follows…
1. Members will be able to combine their separate Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and SPG accounts into a single account. The Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) names will remain under the new set of unified benefits until a new program name is introduced in 2019. Until then, the loyalty currency will be called “points”.
2. Guests will have the ability to book stays at any of the properties on Marriott.com, SPG.com and the Marriott and SPG apps.
3. Elite status requirements and perks will become uniform in all of the programs.
4. A single points currency will be introduced. Since currently 1 SPG point equals 3 Marriott points, in August, SPG members will see their point balances triple. However, note that SPG will also be making corresponding changes to the number of points required for redemptions..
5. The number of points you earn on stays will become uniform in all of the programs. SPG, Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards members will earn ten points for every dollar spent at most brands.
6. My favorite-Chase and American Express will offer new co-branded credit cards later this year. On May 3, Chase will launch the new Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card, and in August, American Express will introduce the new Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Luxury Card. Yippee!
If you want more detail about all of the changes coming our way, you can read about the news here.