Marriott halves elite nights and points at Protea Hotels
Editor's Note
Marriott Bonvoy accruals at Protea Hotels, one of Marriott's lesser-known brands primarily found in Africa, are about to get significantly devalued.
If you're checking out of a Protea property on or after March 1, you'll earn just 5 points per dollar spent (instead of 10 points per dollar) and 1 elite night for every 2 nights stayed. This news was communicated to some Marriott Bonvoy members via email Wednesday.
Here's what you need to know.
Point earnings get halved
Marriott Bonvoy rewards its members with 10 points per dollar at most brands. The following brands earn fewer points per Marriott.
Brands that earn 2.5 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on qualifying charges:
- Marriott Executive Apartments.
Brands that earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on qualifying charges:
- Element.
- Homes & Villas by Marriott International.
- Residence Inn.
- TownePlace Suites.
- Protea Hotels (for stays with a checkout on or after March 1).
Related: Your complete guide to Marriott hotel brands
Reduced elite night earning
As mentioned, you'll earn just 1 elite night for every 2 nights you stay at Protea properties starting next month. Marriott has confirmed to TPG that it will not credit half an elite night for odd-numbered stays. This means a 1-night stay won't earn elite night credit and a 3-night stay will earn just 1 elite night.
This change will make it harder for frequent Protea guests to earn Marriott elite status. For example, to earn Titanium Elite status exclusively at Protea-branded hotels, which requires 75 elite nights in a calendar year, you'll have to stay 150 nights. Of course, you can also earn elite nights with a Marriott cobranded credit card, and it's unlikely North American-based Bonvoy customers would solely stay at Protea hotels.
Regardless, this is an unfavorable update for Marriott elite-status chasers, and we hope it does not roll out to other brands in the Marriott portfolio.
Related: Register now to earn double Marriott elite nights and bonus points on all paid stays
Bottom line
You'll earn half the points for Protea stays checking out on or after March 1.
More concerning, Marriott will award just 1 elite night for every 2 nights you stay at this brand. While Marriott hasn't applied this framework to its other brands that earn less than 10 points per dollar, it sets a worrisome precedent.