Marriott’s New Model May Please Worth Vacationers—However Possibly Not the Standing-Obsessed

Marriott Worldwide’s (MAR) latest model is anticipated to supply a few of its least expensive rooms. That ought to please some vacationers—although not those who obsess about standing.

Marriott tells potential company on the StudioRes model, its thirty second, to “unpack your baggage and get comfy.” One wrinkle: It will not supply loyalty members any elite nights for staying there, in contrast to with all its different manufacturers.

Though StudioRes, which the corporate calls “a new-build, midscale prolonged keep” model, is a part of Marriott’s Bonvoy loyalty program, “members don’t earn Elite Evening Credit (ENCs) for stays,” the chain says. ENCs assist Bonvoy members earn elite standing, which include growing advantages at every stage that may embrace bonus factors, later checkouts, and room upgrades.

Some journey watchers have observed. “To see no elite nights in any respect for a Marriott model… huh?!?” wrote Ben Schlappig of journey website One Mile at a Time. “Like, not even 1 / 4 of an elite evening, or one tenth of an elite evening?!”

The corporate didn’t reply to Investopedia’s request for remark.

Bonvoy Members to Earn 4x Factors for StudioRes Stays, Beneath Marriott’s Norm

Bonvoy members will earn 4 factors, which might be spent to guide free rooms, per $1 spent at StudioRes properties. Some travel-industry consultants have mentioned that that stage is under the corporate’s norm.

“Stays at most manufacturers earn at the very least 5x factors, and stays at most full service manufacturers earn 10x factors,” Schlappig mentioned. “Bonvoy members will not earn elite bonuses on these 4x factors, so even elite members will not earn extra factors per greenback than that.”

In line with Marriott’s web site, a StudioRes property might be opening in Fort Myers, Fla., in June, however isn’t accessible for bookings but. StudioRes “closed 2024 with 35 properties (4,037 complete rooms) within the pipeline, anticipating its first opening later this yr,” Marriott mentioned.

Bonvoy—a nod to the French phrase “bon voyage,” which implies “good journey,”—had practically 228 million members at year-end, the corporate mentioned in its fourth-quarter earnings report final month.