Most Marriott hotels aren't bookable through Amex FHR for 2021 stays: Here's why I'm not worried

The American Express' Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) program is popular for (eligible) cardholders who want elite-type perks on hotel bookings. Currently, you can book Amex FHR stays through mid-October 2021. However, TPG reader Max recently noticed that Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Miami are only bookable through the FHR program for stays through Dec. 31, 2020. I took a closer look and found the issue is much broader than Miami -- but also likely to be resolved soon. Here's what I discovered.

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Which hotels are affected?

You can typically book select Marriott Bonvoy properties in the Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, Edition, W, JW Marriott and Westin brands through Amex's FHR program. But, out of the Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resorts currently bookable through Amex's FHR program for 2020 stays, I found almost none bookable for 2021.

To determine how widespread this problem is, I started going through a list of about 200 Marriott properties typically bookable through the FHR program. I searched for 62 properties in 2020 and 2021. I stopped because I'd only found one property bookable in 2021 – The Ritz-Carlton Denver.

Interestingly, this property doesn't list an experience credit when you search for a 2021 stay. But, when searching for 2020, the FHR website lists the experience credit as "USD$100 Property credit to be used during your stay".

In most cases, Marriott Bonvoy properties bookable through FHR for 2020 stays don't appear when searching for 2021 stays. For example, here's an Amex FHR search for a stay in Dec. 2020:

And, here's an Amex FHR search for a stay in Jan. 2021:

Likewise, if I navigate to the FHR page for most Marriott Bonvoy properties and search for a stay in 2021, I get a message saying, "No results were found for your search criteria, please try again."

So, something strange is certainly going on. Popular Marriott Bonvoy hotels that are currently bookable through FHR for stays in 2020 but not for stays in 2021 include:

• The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch (Colorado)
• The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest (Hungary)
• The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun (Mexico)
• The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui (Hawaii)
• The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal (Canada)
• The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park (New York)
• The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes (Florida)
• The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach (Florida)
• The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands)
• Hotel Arts Barcelona (Spain)
• The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort (Florida)
• The St. Regis New York (New York)
• The St. Regis Washington D.C. (District of Columbia)
• The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki (Hawaii)
• The Barcelona Edition (Spain)
• The Miami Beach Edition (Florida)
• The New York Edition (New York)
• The West Hollywood Edition (California)
• W South Beach (Florida)

Some non-Marriott Bonvoy hotels also appear in 2020 searches but not 2021. Still, compared to the number of Marriott hotels that aren't currently bookable for 2021 stays, the number of other properties also not bookable for 2021 is minimal.

Related: How to maximize benefits with the Amex Platinum Card

What does this mean?

I mentioned that some FHR properties aren't currently bookable for 2021 stays to several other TPG staffers. Multiple noted that contract negotiations often cause some FHR properties to be temporarily unavailable for stays in a new year. But, the issue this year is much more wide-spread -- and much more focused on Marriott Bonvoy hotels -- than I remember in previous years.

I reached out to both Marriott Bonvoy and American Express with questions for this article. Amex didn't provide a statement, but a Marriott Bonvoy spokesperson noted:

We are working with American Express to make our properties available for booking on Fine Hotels & Resorts in 2021.

The response from Marriott makes me believe that the disappearance of most Marriott Bonvoy properties from Amex FHR searches for 2021 stays is temporary. However, until the properties become bookable through FHR for 2021 stays, nothing is certain.

So, if you plan to stay at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel in 2021 that is bookable for 2020 stays through Amex FHR, I'd recommend making a refundable reservation directly with Marriott. Then, as your stay approaches, you can periodically check whether the property is bookable for your dates through Amex FHR at a price that justifies rebooking.

It would certainly be a loss if Marriott Bonvoy properties aren't bookable for FHR stays after the end of 2020. Sure, most FHR perks are also provided as a perk of Marriott Platinum Elite status. And now that you can get 30 elite nights from Marriott Bonvoy cards, Platinum Elite status is much easier to earn. But, the experience credit provides incremental value that you won't get as an elite perk.

Related: Why this is the year to push for higher Marriott Bonvoy elite status

Bottom line

The American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program provides valuable elite-like perks to The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and Amex Centurion cardholders at select hotels and resorts (enrollment required). I've personally found the program incredibly valuable when staying with hotels I don't have upper-tier elite status with. After all, FHR perks include complimentary breakfast, a space-available room upgrade, an experience credit worth at least $100 and guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout. One time, I even maximized these perks to get $160 of food and drink included on a $153 Fine Hotels & Resorts stay.

The information for the Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Hopefully, Amex and Marriott get things sorted out soon so travelers can book their favorite Marriott Bonvoy properties through FHR for 2021 stays.