Marriott Bonvoy Devalues Room Upgrade Benefit for Elite Members

Marriott Bonvoy members, say “goodbye” to the promise of being upgraded to the best-available room when you arrive at a hotel.

Marriott has quietly removed this perk from its elite benefits description, quietly devaluing the upgrades it offers to members with Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite status. To be clear, elite guests can still receive room upgrades, but the promise of which upgrades they’ll receive has gone away.

Let’s examine the changes so elite members know what to expect at check-in.

Marriott Bonvoy’s Previous Upgrade Terms

Previously, Marriott Bonvoy promised upgrades to the “best available room” for Bonvoy elite members when they arrived at the hotel, based on availability. This benefit applied to the duration of the guest’s stay, including suites, rooms with better views, and even rooms on the executive floor, if the hotel has one.

Section 4.3.c of Marriott’s terms and conditions previously said this for Platinum Elite members:

Complimentary Enhanced Room Upgrade for Platinum Elite Members. Platinum Elite Members and above receive a complimentary upgrade to the best available room, subject to availability upon arrival, for the entire length of stay. Complimentary upgrade includes suites, rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities or rooms on Executive Floors.

-Previous elite upgrade benefit

The description of benefits for Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite members said they enjoyed the same perk.

That meant members could be upgraded to the best room available when they arrived at check-in, even if they hadn’t used a Nightly Upgrade Award to guarantee an upgrade. However, the internet is ripe with stories of hotels playing games with elite benefits, such as blocking all rooms to say upgrades weren’t available.

The New Upgrade Terms for Marriott Bonvoy Elite Members

Now, Marriott has updated its terms to promise less, using vague language:

Complimentary Enhanced Room Upgrade for Platinum Elite Members. Platinum Elite Members and above receive a complimentary upgrade, subject to availability upon arrival, for the entire length of stay. Complimentary upgrade includes suites, rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities or rooms on Executive Floors. At The Ritz-Carlton, rooms with direct Club access are excluded. The Complimentary Enhanced Room Upgrade for Platinum Elite Members and above is available at all Participating Brands except at StudioRes, Limited Sonder Properties, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Sheraton Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club, The Phoenician Residences, a Luxury Collection Residence Club, Scottsdale, and Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

-The new terms as of May 18, 2025

Language about “the best available room” is gone, and exceptions are made for several Marriott hotel brands. Thus, hotels can choose to provide upgrades to premium suites — or they may not. There’s no official policy for elite members on what types of rooms they’re eligible for, regardless of the number and type of rooms available while they’re checking.

This negative change comes after Marriott made 2 positive changes for elite members recently, giving them more time to select their elite benefits each year and upgrade awards clearing further in advance at some hotel brands.

Final Thoughts

It’s disappointing that Marriott is no longer offering upgrades to the best room available at check-in, even for its Ambassador Elite members who must spend $23,000 annually with the chain to qualify. Given the history of hotels refusing upgrades even when the promise of upgrades to suites and “best available” rooms, even when this was listed in the terms, it’s hard to speculate on what this change will feel like in practice. However, customers should still receive an upgrade of some sort, if one is available at check-in. It just might not be as nice a room now as it was last week.