Ah, the coveted Marriott Suite Night Awards (SNAs)! If you're a loyal Marriott Bonvoy member, you've likely heard of these, perhaps even have some in your account, and are wondering how to best leverage them for that sweet, sweet upgrade. It's a fantastic perk, but understanding the nuances is key to maximizing their value. So, let's dive deep into how these work, step by step, and unlock the potential for a more luxurious stay!
Understanding Marriott Suite Night Awards: Your Key to Upgraded Stays
Imagine stepping into a spacious suite with a separate living area, perhaps a stunning view, or even an extra bathroom – all without paying the premium price. That's the dream the Marriott Suite Night Awards (now officially called Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUAs), but often still referred to as SNAs by seasoned travelers) promise. These are confirmable upgrade certificates that high-tier Marriott Bonvoy elite members can earn and use to request a better room or a standard suite in advance of their stay.
It's not a guaranteed upgrade, but it significantly increases your chances of snagging one before you even arrive at the hotel, which is a huge advantage over hoping for a complimentary upgrade at check-in based purely on your elite status.
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| How Do Marriott Suite Night Awards Work |
How Do You Even Get These Magical Awards?
Before we get into using them, let's clarify how you acquire these valuable assets:
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Elite Status Annual Choice Benefit: This is the primary way. When you achieve Platinum Elite status (50 elite night credits in a calendar year) or Titanium Elite status (75 elite night credits in a calendar year), you get to choose an Annual Choice Benefit. Five Nightly Upgrade Awards are one of the most popular choices at both levels.
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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Spending $60,000 USD in eligible purchases on this card within a calendar year can also earn you an additional five Nightly Upgrade Awards as an Earned Choice Award.
Important Note: If you don't make your Annual Choice Benefit selection by January 7th of the year following the year you earned it, Marriott will default to awarding you five Nightly Upgrade Awards. While this is a nice "fallback," it's always best to actively choose the benefit that best suits your travel needs.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Using Marriott Suite Night Awards (NUAs)
Now that you've got your SNAs (or NUAs!), let's walk through the process of applying them to your bookings.
Step 1: Are You Ready to Elevate Your Stay? Check Your Eligibility and Awards!
Before you even think about applying an SNA, let's make sure everything is aligned. This is crucial to avoid disappointment!
QuickTip: Stop and think when you learn something new.
Sub-heading 1.1: Confirm You Have Enough Awards
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Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account. This is your command center for all things Marriott.
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Navigate to your "Overview" or "Earned Rewards" section. Here, you'll see how many Nightly Upgrade Awards you have available and their expiration dates. Remember, each award is valid for one night. So, if you have a 3-night stay, you'll need 3 SNAs to cover the entire duration.
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Check the Expiration Date: SNAs typically expire on December 31st of the year following the year they were earned. Don't let them go to waste!
Sub-heading 1.2: Book an Eligible Reservation
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Eligible Stay Types: SNAs can be applied to:
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Eligible Paid Stays
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Award Redemption Stays (using points or Free Night Awards)
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Cash & Points Stays
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Participating Hotels: Not all Marriott brands or individual properties participate in the Nightly Upgrade Awards program. Generally, brands like Ritz-Carlton Reserve, The Ritz-Carlton Club, Marriott Executive Apartments, All-Inclusive Resorts, Design Hotels (some), and Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy are excluded. The system will tell you if a property is ineligible when you try to apply the award.
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Full Stay Coverage: You must have enough SNAs to cover every night of your stay. You cannot use them for a partial duration of a booking. If you have a 5-night stay but only 3 SNAs, you won't be able to apply them.
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Pro Tip for Shorter Award Balances: If you're short on SNAs for a longer stay, consider booking two separate, consecutive reservations (e.g., a 3-night reservation where you apply SNAs and a 2-night reservation for the remainder) and then, at check-in, politely ask the front desk if they can keep you in the same upgraded room for the entire duration. This isn't guaranteed but often works.
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Step 2: Ready to Request? Applying Your Suite Night Awards
Once your eligible reservation is booked and you've confirmed your SNA balance, it's time to make your request.
Sub-heading 2.1: Accessing the Upgrade Request Option
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On Marriott.com:
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Log in and go to "My Trips."
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Find the reservation you want to apply the SNAs to.
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Click on "View/Modify" or expand the reservation details.
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Look for the "Start Upgrade Request" or "Request Upgrade" option. It's usually prominently displayed if the reservation is eligible.
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Via the Marriott Bonvoy App:
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Open the app and navigate to your active reservations.
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Select the specific reservation.
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Tap the "bell icon" (or similar upgrade request icon) in the top-right corner.
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Follow the prompts to "Request Nightly Upgrade Award(s)."
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Sub-heading 2.2: Selecting Your Desired Room Types
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Choose Wisely: The system will display a list of premium rooms and standard suites available for upgrade at that specific property.
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Prioritize Your Preferences: You can typically select multiple room types. It's often recommended to select all the options you would be happy with, from the best possible suite down to a premium room you'd still appreciate. This increases your chances of a successful upgrade. If you only select the top-tier suite and it's unavailable, the system won't automatically try for a lower-tier option unless you've specifically selected it.
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Submit Your Request: Once you've made your selections, click "Submit Upgrade Request." You'll usually receive an email confirming your request has been received.
Step 3: The Waiting Game: How Marriott Processes Your Request
This is where the magic (or sometimes, the disappointment) happens. Marriott uses an automated system to process SNA requests, not a human at the front desk.
Sub-heading 3.1: When the System Kicks In
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Five Days Out (Most Brands): For most Marriott brands, the system will start checking for upgrade availability five days prior to your arrival date.
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Three Days Out (Luxury Brands): For EDITION, The Ritz-Carlton, and St. Regis properties, the check begins three days prior to arrival.
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Daily Checks: If an upgrade isn't confirmed on the first check, the system will continue to re-check daily until approximately 2:00 PM local hotel time the day before your arrival.
Sub-heading 3.2: Notification of Success or Denial
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Email Confirmation: You will receive an email notification either way – if your upgrade is confirmed or if it's denied. This is a key difference from standard elite status upgrades, which are often only confirmed at check-in.
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Award Return: If your request is not confirmed by 2:00 PM the day before arrival, your Nightly Upgrade Awards will automatically be returned to your account for future use. This means you haven't lost them!
Sub-heading 3.3: Factors Influencing Success Rates
While there's no guarantee, several factors can influence the success of your SNA request:
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Hotel Occupancy: Your chances are significantly higher during off-peak seasons or at hotels with lower occupancy.
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Number of Suites/Premium Rooms: Properties with a higher ratio of suites to standard rooms naturally offer better odds.
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Length of Stay: Shorter stays can sometimes have a higher success rate, as it's easier for the hotel to accommodate a suite for a night or two than for a full week.
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Specific Suite/Room Availability: Even if a hotel has suites, if they're all booked or reserved, your SNA won't clear.
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Demand for SNAs: At popular properties or during peak times, many elite members might be vying for upgrades with their SNAs, making it more competitive.
Step 4: Flexibility is Your Friend: Modifying or Cancelling Your Request
Life happens, and plans change. Marriott understands this.
Sub-heading 4.1: Modifying Unconfirmed Requests
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Before 2:00 PM Local Time (Day Before Arrival): If your Nightly Upgrade Award request hasn't been confirmed yet, you can modify your room type selections or withdraw your request entirely. This can be done through the "My Trips" section on the website or the Marriott Bonvoy app.
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Why Modify? Perhaps you realize a particular suite isn't as appealing as you thought, or you want to add more room types to increase your odds.
Sub-heading 4.2: Cancelling Confirmed Requests
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Full Reservation Cancellation: A confirmed Nightly Upgrade Award can only be canceled if you cancel the entire reservation.
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Timing is Key: If you cancel the entire reservation before 2:00 PM local hotel time the day before arrival, your confirmed SNA(s) will be returned to your account.
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Forfeiture: If you cancel your reservation after 2:00 PM local hotel time the day before arrival, and your SNA was confirmed, the award(s) will not be returned to your account.
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Early Departure: If you depart a reservation early, any unused SNAs confirmed for the remaining nights will be forfeited.
FAQs: How to Maximize Your Marriott Suite Night Awards
Here are 10 common questions about Marriott Suite Night Awards (NUAs), with quick answers to help you navigate this valuable perk:
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How to Earn Marriott Suite Night Awards?
You earn them as an Annual Choice Benefit when you achieve Platinum Elite (50 nights) or Titanium Elite (75 nights) status, or as an Earned Choice Award with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card after $60,000 in annual spend.
How to Check My Marriott Suite Night Award Balance?
Log into your Marriott Bonvoy account on the website or app and navigate to your "Overview" or "Earned Rewards" section.
How to Apply Marriott Suite Night Awards to a Reservation?
After booking an eligible reservation, go to your "My Trips" on Marriott.com or the Marriott Bonvoy app, find your reservation, and click "Start Upgrade Request" to select desired room types.
How to Increase My Chances of a Successful Suite Night Award Upgrade?
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Book during off-peak times.
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Select multiple room type preferences (including premium rooms, not just suites).
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Apply your awards as soon as your reservation is made.
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Choose properties with a higher suite inventory.
How to Know if My Suite Night Award Request Was Confirmed?
Marriott will send you an email notification confirming or denying your upgrade request.
QuickTip: Look for contrasts — they reveal insights.
How to Cancel an Unconfirmed Suite Night Award Request?
You can cancel or modify your unconfirmed SNA request online via "My Trips" or the app up until 2:00 PM local hotel time the day before arrival.
How to Cancel a Confirmed Suite Night Award?
A confirmed SNA can only be canceled if you cancel the entire reservation before 2:00 PM local hotel time the day before arrival. Otherwise, it will be forfeited.
How to Use Suite Night Awards for Part of My Stay?
You cannot use SNAs for only a portion of your stay; they must cover every night of the reservation. If you're short on awards, consider splitting your booking into two separate reservations.
How to Know Which Hotels Participate in Suite Night Awards?
When you go to apply the awards to a reservation, the system will indicate if the property is eligible or if there are no upgrade options available. Certain brands like Ritz-Carlton Reserve and All-Inclusive Resorts generally do not participate.
How to Use Suite Night Awards for Multiple Rooms?
You can use Nightly Upgrade Awards for multiple rooms if each room is reserved in your name, one room is for your own stay, and you are present for the duration of the stay.
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