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Update 7/6/18: The most expensive, off the award chart all-suite SPG properties will actually be bookable for 60k Marriott Rewards in August. Read New Marriott Award Category Assignments & Strategy Moving Forward for further info.
In August of this year, SPG and Marriott are merging their loyalty programs. All SPG points will be converted to Marriott points at a rate of 1:3.
- Read all about how these changes will affect both SPG and Marriott members in regards to the new elite status qualifications and benefits, earning points from hotel stays, and redeeming points for hotel stays in What August 2018 Holds For Marriott/SPG: Part I.
- If you’re more interested in earning points through credit card spend, the new Marriott credit cards, and redeeming points as airline miles, read What August 2018 Holds For Marriott/SPG: Part II
Thanks to a new award chart that’s being phased in over time, there will be a five month period of time at the end of the year when you can book the most expensive, highest award category SPG properties for a massive 10k to 15k SPG point discount (30k to 45k Marriott Rewards discount).
Big Opportunity this Fall & Winter
The award chart that kicks in as of August has eight categories total, but only seven will apply through the rest of the year. In 2019, category 8 pricing will kick in, along with two other tiers of pricing in each category for off-peak and peak travel times.
In general, Marriott award nights are getting more expensive compared to their current award chart. The following is the cost of one night, starting at 7,500 points for a Category 1 and topping off at 45,000 points for a Category 9. That’s no bueno.
But SPG award nights, compared to their current award chart, seem to be getting cheaper. Below I have converted the current cost of SPG points to Marriott points (1:3) to make comparisons easier.
| Category 1 | 6,000 to 9,000 points |
| Category 2 | 9,000 to 12,000 points |
| Category 3 | 21,000 points |
| Category 4 | 30,000 points |
| Category 5 | 36,000 to 48,000 points |
| Category 6 | 60,00 to 75,000 points |
| Category 7 | 90,000 to 105,000 points |
I said seem because we won’t really know if the top tier SPG properties are cheaper until we see what SPG hotels are assigned to what categories under the new system* and how off-peak and peak pricing change things in 2019. In the meantime, however–the meantime being August through December of this year–the highest an SPG or Marriott hotel room will be priced is 60,000 Marriott Rewards (equivalent of 20k SPG points). 2019 will see the introduction of an eighth award category as well as “Peak Pricing”, which will undoubtedly increase award prices, but during that August through December window you have the opportunity to save BIG on Category 7 SPG properties that cost at least 90k and up to 105k Marriott points now (30k to 35k SPG points).
Note that SPG also has some all-suite properties that price higher than their “highest” award category. Those properties, sadly, will not cost 60k Marriott points come August, as confirmed by View from the Wing.
Let’s take a look at which amazing properties you can book for way less points this August through December!
*Marriott published a preview of how some SPG hotels will be categorized come August.
Gorgeous Category 7 SPG Hotels
Here you will find a list of all current Category 7 SPG properties. Below are specific examples, and for those who’s future category has been announced I’ve included how the pricing will shift in 2019.
The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice
- How much it costs now: 35k SPG/115kk Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in August – December ’18: 60k Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in January 2019 & onwards: not assigned as category yet but likely 85k minimum and 100k maximum Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs now: 30k SPG/90k Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in August – December ’18: 60k Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in January 2019 & onwards: 85k minimum and 100k maximum Marriott Rewards
St Regis New York in Manhattan
- How much it costs now: 30k SPG/90k Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in August – December ’18: 60k Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in January 2019 & onwards: 85k minimum and 100k maximum Marriott Rewards
Prince de Galles, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris
- How much it costs now: 30k SPG/90k Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in August – December ’18: 60k Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in January 2019 & onwards: 85k minimum and 100k maximum Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs now: 30k SPG/90k Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in August – December ’18: 60k Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in January 2019 & onwards: not assigned a category yet
Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Mykonos
- How much it costs now: 30k SPG/90k Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in August – December ’18: 60k Marriott Rewards
- How much it costs in January 2019 & onwards: not assigned a category yet
What’s the best experience you’ve had in a Category 7 SPG hotel?
Don’t Forget Fifth Night Free
You get the fifth night free on award bookings at SPG and Marriott hotels. That means from August through December, a five night stay in a Category 7 SPG hotel costs just 80k SPG points/240k Marriott Rewards, or 16k SPG points/48k Marriott Rewards per night.
That is nearly half off!
Bottom Line
Book those aspirational Category 7 SPG properties that otherwise would be too many points between August and December of 2018 for 10k to 15k less SPG points a night (30k to 45k less Marriott Rewards a night).
Are you going to take advantage of this awesome transition period before 2019’s Category 8 and Peak Pricing hit? Which property will you redeem for?
BONUS
Want a boost of Marriott points to tack on additional night or two at one of these top tier SPG properties? The new Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase comes with 100,000 Marriott Rewards after spending $5,000 within three months of opening it. It will earn 2x Marriott points on everyday purchases, so with at least 110k points from meeting the minimum spend, you’ll have enough for at least one extra night in a future Category 7 (60k/night) hotel. Another 10k points ($5k in everyday spend) and you’d have enough for two extra nights at a Category 7. If you already have enough points to book the first couple nights, the third and fourth nights earned via $10k in spend on your new Marriott card will in fact earn you a fifth night since all five night award bookings get the fifth night free!
Just getting started in the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card for you to start with.
With a bonus of 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months, 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel℠ and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!
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what about St. Regis Bora Bora or Maldives resorts?
Nope, those will not be bookable for 60k Marriott Rewards/night come August. They fall in the category of all-suite properties that currently price higher than the existing SPG award chart that I referenced above.
At the time my response was to the best of my knowledge, but now we know more and thankfully I was wrong! You will indeed be able to book the St. Regis Bora Bora, St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, W Maldvies (and other all-suite properties) this way, for 60k points/night come August.