Marriott expands all-inclusive portfolio with 7 new Barbados resorts
In early August, Marriott announced it was stepping into the all-inclusive space by "launching an all-inclusive platform" for some of its more upscale and luxury brands such as Ritz-Carlton, Luxury Collection, Marriott Hotels, W Hotels, Autograph Collection and even Westin Hotels and Delta by Marriott.
Prior to this announcement, Marriott had exactly 7,100 open properties, with only one, the Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal, in Costa Rica, being all-inclusive.
But Marriott is already moving quickly to expand that number.
On Friday, Marriott publicized the acquisition of Elegant Hotels Group, which owns and operates seven luxury hotels with 588 rooms on the Caribbean island of Barbados. Six of the seven properties are located on the so-called Platinum Coast — the western edge of the island known for its beautiful white-sand beaches. And almost all of the hotels are all-inclusive, with two being adults-only properties.
Investments like this will better position Marriott to compete with upscale Hilton-branded all-inclusives (like the Hilton La Romana in the Dominican Republic, available from 45,000 points per night; and the adults-only, Hilton Playa del Carmen, available from 56,000 points per night) and Hyatt's Ziva and Zilara properties.
In addition to jockeying with Hilton for travelers seeking an all-inclusive experience, Marriott hopes to appeal to an array of different demographics by offering all-inclusive selections from its distinct brands. Marriott specifically said W Hotels would cater to adults, while Marriott properties would be more family-focused.
According to a previous statement from Marriott International, the all-inclusive resorts will offer "amenities, [options] and experiences for all ages" and customized depending on the brand.
Adults, for example, may have access to all-inclusive amenities such as fitness and spa facilities; 24-hour room service; and unlimited premium beverage programs, among others. Family-oriented resorts, on the other hand, may bundle water sports and activities, and access to children's and teen clubs.
With the news in August, Marriott kicked off its all-inclusive platform with the announcement of five new-build, all-inclusive properties. The first is a 650-room Autograph Collection resort expected to open in 2022 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The other four properties are going to be located in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico and will be part of a "flagship, all-inclusive destination" called NIA.
The 220-acre project will include a 240-room Ritz-Carlton resort and a 400-room Westin Hotels resort (both expected to open in 2023), followed by a 300-room Autograph Collection resort and a 500-room Marriott Hotels resort, both of which are slated to open in 2025.
The five properties are expected to cost Marriott around $800 million to build and will add 2,000 rooms to Marriott's portfolio. That's a drop in the bucket compared to the 1,345,906 rooms currently in Marriott's hotel portfolio, but it's surely just the beginning of many more to come.
We reached out to Marriott to see if they could share details about the pricing of any of these properties and if Marriott planned to convert existing properties. Their spokesperson stated that they plan to make the hotels within the Elegant Hotels Group available for Marriott points earning and redemptions in mid-2020, but didn't have any specifics to share about pricing or the new-build properties.
Regardless, more options are always a good thing for travelers. And the acquisition of Elegant Hotels Group means travelers won't have to wait for the 2022 opening of the new resort in Punta Cana to use Marriott points for an all-inclusive stay.
While it’s too soon to say how much these properties will cost, we can look to Marriott's one existing all-inclusive, the Westin Golf Resort & Spa in Costa Rica, for guidance. That's a Category 8 property available from 85,000 points per night. And, according to the statement, Marriott Bonvoy members will continue to have the "option to earn and redeem points" at these properties and have been promised a "convenient, pay-one-price concept.”
We can only hope that means these properties won't charge resort fees.
Additional reporting by Meghan Hunter.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.