Marriott Bonvoy has quietly raised award prices across its nearly 10,000-property network by approximately 5% or more per night, with no advance notice to members (per AwardWallet).
What's changing
Marriott's dynamic pricing system now reflects higher nightly costs across the board. In Scottsdale, Arizona, the AC Hotel Old Town at 38,000 points per night translates to roughly 0.50 cents per point, well below the 0.93 cents per point average for AwardWallet users. The luxury segment has also risen: the Phoenician now costs 67,000 points against $437.99 cash, yielding 0.65 cents per point. These increases affect properties across the entire portfolio, with many properties now costing measurably more than they did weeks ago (per AwardWallet).
Who this hits
Everyone redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points faces higher nightly costs. Members holding Free Night Certificates are particularly vulnerable: Marriott's recent introduction of point-based "top-offs" to extend expired certificates now forces members to burn additional Bonvoy points to reach properties that were previously accessible at lower rates. Long-term point hoarders absorb the largest impact, as deferred redemptions now cost significantly more than they would have weeks ago.
What to do
There is no action before the change; it is already effective as of July 9, 2026. Existing reservations are honored at their booked rate. Going forward, consider using Bonvoy points more regularly rather than deferring large redemptions, since point inflation will likely continue.