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Marriott Bonvoy® updated its terms and is changing the way it awards Elite Night Credits (ENCs) at select regional and lower-cost brands. This is a good update for frequent travelers who rely on short stays and were missing out on credits. The update shifts away from a previous system that required two nights to earn even a single credit. This meant that many overnight stays effectively provided no progress toward elite qualification. Not anymore as these stays will now earn 0.5 nights credit per night.
Under the new structure, members earn 0.5 ENCs per night at participating brands like City Express, Four Points Flex, Protea Hotels, and Series by Marriott. A one-night stay now earns half a credit, two nights equate to a full credit, and so on. The change does not alter how points are earned as those are still based on nightly rates; bonus earnings also remain intact. This change simply ensures short stays contribute toward elite thresholds rather than being ignored.
This partial-credit model represents an incremental, but noteworthy improvement for business travelers and road warriors who frequently hop between cities and rely on one- or two-night visits. It also adds another layer of complexity to Marriott’s varied elite night-earning rules, which can differ widely across its portfolio.
Anthony’s Take: While not big news for many, the update signals a more flexible approach to elite qualification and could set the stage for future changes across additional brands. The best news is for members aiming to reach higher status tiers through a series of brief trips as the new system now makes those nights count.
(Image Credits: Marriott.)
(H/T: Loyalty Lobby.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
