Have you ever dreamt of stepping into a luxurious suite, enjoying extra space, and feeling truly pampered during your hotel stays? If you're a Marriott Bonvoy enthusiast, then Nightly Upgrade Awards (formerly known as Suite Night Awards or SNAs) are your ticket to making that dream a reality! These highly coveted perks offer the chance to confirm an upgrade to a premium room or suite in advance of your arrival, elevating your travel experience significantly. But how exactly do you get your hands on them? This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of earning and utilizing Marriott's Nightly Upgrade Awards.
Unlocking the Door to Luxury: Your Guide to Earning Marriott Nightly Upgrade Awards
Nightly Upgrade Awards are not something you can simply purchase. They are an exclusive benefit for loyal Marriott Bonvoy members who achieve certain elite status tiers. Think of them as a reward for your dedication to the Marriott brand.
Step 1: Are You Ready to Elevate Your Stays? Understand the Foundation of Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status
Before we dive into earning Nightly Upgrade Awards, let's ensure you're familiar with the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program and its elite status tiers. Nightly Upgrade Awards are directly tied to achieving specific levels of elite status.
What is Marriott Bonvoy?
Marriott Bonvoy is Marriott's award-winning loyalty program, offering members a wide range of benefits, including earning points on stays, exclusive member rates, and, most importantly for our topic, elite status.
The Elite Status Ladder:
Marriott Bonvoy has several elite status tiers, each with increasing benefits:
Member: The base level, earned upon joining.
Silver Elite: Achieved with 10 qualifying nights per year. Offers modest benefits like a 10% point bonus and priority late checkout.
Gold Elite: Achieved with 25 qualifying nights per year. Adds a 25% point bonus, 2 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability), and enhanced room upgrades (no suites).
Platinum Elite: This is your first major gateway to Nightly Upgrade Awards! Achieved with 50 qualifying nights per year. Offers a 50% point bonus, 4 p.m. guaranteed late checkout, a welcome gift choice (points, breakfast, or amenity), and enhanced room upgrades, including select suites, based on availability.
Titanium Elite: Your second opportunity for Nightly Upgrade Awards! Achieved with 75 qualifying nights per year. Offers a 75% point bonus, all Platinum benefits, and an additional Annual Choice Benefit.
Ambassador Elite: The highest tier, achieved with 100 qualifying nights and $23,000 USD in qualifying spend per year. Offers all Titanium benefits, plus a dedicated Ambassador and Your24 (flexible check-in/checkout times).
Nightly Upgrade Awards are exclusively offered as an Annual Choice Benefit for Platinum Elite (50 nights) and Titanium Elite (75 nights) members.
Step 2: Hitting the Nightly Milestones – Accumulating Elite Night Credits
To earn Nightly Upgrade Awards, your primary focus will be on accumulating "Elite Night Credits." These credits represent the number of nights you've stayed at Marriott properties within a calendar year.
Methods for Earning Elite Night Credits:
Qualifying Stays at Marriott Properties:
This is the most straightforward method. Every night you pay for and stay at a Marriott Bonvoy participating hotel counts as one Elite Night Credit. Ensure your reservation is a "qualifying rate" (most standard rates are, but some discounted or third-party bookings may not be).
Tip: Always book directly through Marriott.com, the Marriott Bonvoy app, or Marriott's reservation line to ensure your stays count towards elite status. Third-party online travel agencies (OTAs) often book non-qualifying rates.
Marriott Bonvoy Co-Branded Credit Cards:
Many Marriott Bonvoy credit cards offer a significant boost to your Elite Night Credits each year, making it much easier to reach status.
Example (US-based cards):
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase often provides 15 Elite Night Credits annually.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card typically offers 25 Elite Night Credits annually and even grants automatic Platinum Elite status!
Different regions (like India with the HDFC Bank Credit Card) will have their own co-branded cards with varying benefits, so check what's available in your country. These cards can give you a substantial head start.
Marriott Bonvoy Promotions:
Keep an eye out for Marriott Bonvoy promotions throughout the year. Marriott frequently offers double elite night promotions, allowing you to earn two elite night credits for every qualifying night stayed. These can significantly accelerate your path to status.
Sign up for Marriott Bonvoy email updates to be notified of these lucrative offers.
Meeting Spend Thresholds (on some credit cards):
Some Marriott co-branded credit cards also offer additional Elite Night Credits or Free Night Awards when you meet specific spending thresholds within a calendar year. Review the terms and conditions of your specific card for these benefits.
Tracking Your Progress:
You can easily track your Elite Night Credits by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account on Marriott.com or through the Marriott Bonvoy app. Your current elite status and progress towards the next tier will be clearly displayed.
Step 3: Making the Smart Choice – Selecting Nightly Upgrade Awards as Your Annual Choice Benefit
Once you achieve 50 or 75 Elite Night Credits in a calendar year, you become eligible to select an Annual Choice Benefit. This is where you choose your Nightly Upgrade Awards.
The Annual Choice Benefit Window:
When you hit 50 qualifying nights, you'll receive an email notification from Marriott Bonvoy prompting you to select your first Annual Choice Benefit.
If you reach 75 qualifying nights, you'll get another notification to select your second Annual Choice Benefit.
You typically have until January 31st of the following year to make your selection. If you don't make a selection by the deadline, Marriott will automatically default your choice to Nightly Upgrade Awards.
Choosing Your Benefit:
Log In: Go to Marriott.com and log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Navigate to Annual Choice Benefits: Look for a section related to "Annual Choice Benefits" or "Elite Benefits." This is usually found under "My Account" or "Member Benefits."
Review Options: You'll see a list of available benefits. For 50 nights, the options typically include:
Five Nightly Upgrade Awards (this is what you want!)
$1,000 USD off a Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques bed
Gift Silver Elite status to a friend or family member
$100 USD charity donation
Five Elite Night Credits For 75 nights, the options include all of the above, plus:
A Free Night Award (up to 40,000 points)
Gift Gold Elite status to a friend or family member
Select Nightly Upgrade Awards: Carefully select the option for "Five Nightly Upgrade Awards." Confirm your selection.
Confirmation and Expiration:
Once selected, the Nightly Upgrade Awards will be credited to your account.
They typically expire on December 31st of the year following the year in which they were earned. For example, if you earn them in 2025, they will expire on December 31, 2026. Plan your usage accordingly!
Step 4: Mastering the Application – Using Your Nightly Upgrade Awards
Earning the awards is one thing; successfully applying them is another. Here's how to use your hard-earned Nightly Upgrade Awards effectively.
Eligibility and Requirements:
Eligible Reservations: Nightly Upgrade Awards can be used on eligible paid stays, Award Redemption Stays (points bookings), and Cash & Points stays.
Full Stay Coverage: You must have enough Nightly Upgrade Awards to cover every night of your reservation. For example, a 3-night stay requires 3 Nightly Upgrade Awards. You cannot use them for only a portion of your stay.
Participating Properties: Not all Marriott brands or individual properties participate in Nightly Upgrade Awards. While most do, some exclusions exist (e.g., some Ritz-Carlton properties may not participate).
Brands where NUAs can be used: Marriott has expanded the brands where Nightly Upgrade Awards can be used, including Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, Aloft, Element, and Protea hotels.
Applying Your Awards:
Book Your Reservation: First, make a Marriott Bonvoy-eligible reservation directly through Marriott.com or the Marriott Bonvoy app.
Access Your Reservation:
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Go to "My Trips" or "My Reservations."
Find the reservation you wish to upgrade and click on "View/Modify" or "Details."
Start Upgrade Request:
If the hotel and reservation are eligible, you will see an option to "Start Upgrade Request" or "Use Nightly Upgrade Awards." Click on this link.
Select Your Desired Room Types:
You will be presented with a list of premium rooms and suites that are potentially available for upgrade at that specific property. The options vary greatly by hotel.
Crucial Tip: Select multiple room options! The system states, "The more rooms you select, the more likely you are to be upgraded." Don't just pick the most expensive suite; include other desirable options like a larger room with a better view, or a junior suite.
Some hotels may offer true suites, while others might offer slightly larger rooms with a "premium" designation. Choose carefully based on what you value.
Submit Your Request: After making your selections, click "Submit Upgrade Request."
The Confirmation Process – A Waiting Game:
Automated Checks: Marriott's system begins checking for availability five days prior to your arrival for most brands. For EDITION, Ritz-Carlton, and St. Regis, the system starts checking three days prior.
Daily Re-checks: If an upgrade isn't immediately confirmed, the system will continue to check daily until approximately 2:00 PM (hotel local time) on the day before your arrival.
Email Notifications: You will receive email notifications throughout this process:
Confirmation that your request has been submitted.
Updates on whether your upgrade has been confirmed or denied.
If Confirmed: Congratulations! You'll receive an email confirming your upgraded room type.
If Denied: If no eligible upgrade is available by the 2:00 PM deadline the day before arrival, your Nightly Upgrade Awards will be credited back to your account (provided they haven't expired). You will then stay in your originally booked room.
Key Considerations for Success:
Book in Advance: While the system checks close to arrival, applying your awards as soon as your reservation is confirmed gives the system more time to process.
Off-Peak Travel: You generally have a better chance of success during off-peak seasons or at hotels with lower occupancy.
Property Type: Some properties are more generous with upgrades than others. Smaller, boutique hotels might have fewer suites, while larger resorts might have more options.
Don't Rely Solely on SNAs: Nightly Upgrade Awards are a chance at an upgrade, not a guarantee. Always book a room type you'd be happy with, even if the upgrade doesn't clear.
Check the Marriott App: Sometimes, you might see available upgrades in the app even before receiving an email.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about Marriott Nightly Upgrade Awards, with quick answers:
How to earn Nightly Upgrade Awards?
You earn Nightly Upgrade Awards by achieving Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status (50 qualifying nights per year) or Titanium Elite status (75 qualifying nights per year), and then selecting them as an Annual Choice Benefit.
How to apply Nightly Upgrade Awards to a reservation?
After booking an eligible reservation directly with Marriott, log in to your account, find the reservation under "My Trips," and select the option to "Start Upgrade Request" or "Use Nightly Upgrade Awards."
How to check the status of my Nightly Upgrade Award request?
Marriott will send you email notifications regarding the status of your request. You can also check the status by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account and viewing your reservation details.
How to increase my chances of a Nightly Upgrade Award being confirmed?
Select multiple eligible room and suite options when applying, book during off-peak seasons, and apply your awards as soon as your reservation is confirmed.
How to know if a specific hotel accepts Nightly Upgrade Awards?
When you go to apply the awards to a reservation for a specific hotel, the option to "Start Upgrade Request" will appear if the property participates and your reservation is eligible. If the option doesn't appear, the hotel or rate may not be eligible.
How to cancel an unconfirmed Nightly Upgrade Award request?
You can typically withdraw an unconfirmed request up to 2:00 PM (hotel local time) on the day before arrival via your Marriott Bonvoy account online or by contacting Marriott customer service.
How to tell if a reservation is eligible for Nightly Upgrade Awards?
Eligible reservations include paid stays, Award Redemption Stays (points bookings), and Cash & Points stays booked directly with Marriott Bonvoy. Non-qualifying rates or third-party bookings are generally not eligible.
How to use Nightly Upgrade Awards for multiple rooms?
Nightly Upgrade Awards can be used for more than one room as long as each room is reserved in your name, one room is for your own stay, and you are present for the duration of the stay. Each room requires its own Nightly Upgrade Award per night.
How to know when Nightly Upgrade Awards expire?
Nightly Upgrade Awards expire on December 31st of the year following the year in which they were earned. For example, awards earned in 2025 will expire on December 31, 2026.
How to contact Marriott Bonvoy customer service for Nightly Upgrade Award issues?
You can contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Support through the numbers listed on Marriott's website or via their online chat support for assistance with Nightly Upgrade Awards.
