Marriott has updated the Terms and Conditions governing its Bonvoy guest loyalty program on January 1, 2022. However, their website states that the last modification would have been done in December 2021 (not correct).
The most recent changes are how many awards can a program member gift to a third party, and changes to Ambassador qualifying spend.
You can access Marriott Bonvoy T&Cs here.
READ MORE: Marriott Bonvoy Rate & Bonus Points Offers
Transferring Awards
Previously
3.1.c. Awards are valid only for use by the individual designated on the Award and are not transferable, although, if requested at the time of issuance, an Award may be issued to a third party. Third party transfers or transfers to non-Members are limited to twenty (20) Awards in a calendar year on a single Membership Account. In the event an Award is given to a third party in accordance with the prior sentence, neither the Member nor the third party will earn any Points/Miles, Elite Night Credit, Qualifying Nights, or Qualifying Stays in connection with such Award. At check-in, the guest using the Award may be required to show valid identification and provide a credit card to the Participating Property for incidental charges.
Now
3.1.c. Awards are valid only for use by the individual designated on the Award and are not transferable, although, if requested at the time of issuance, an Award may be issued to a third party. Third party transfers or transfers to non-Members are limited to five (5) Awards in a calendar year on a single Membership Account. In the event an Award is given to a third party in accordance with the prior sentence, neither the Member nor the third party will earn any Points/Miles, Elite Night Credit, Qualifying Nights, or Qualifying Stays in connection with such Award. At check-in, the guest using the Award may be required to show valid identification and provide a credit card to the Participating Property for incidental charges.
Marriott reduced the number of awards that a Bonvoy member can issue to another member or a non-member from 20 to 5 in a calendar year.
Ambassador Requirement
Marriott Bonvoy – Ambassador Elite: 100 Qualifying Nights and $20,000 US Dollars in annual qualifying spend based on Qualifying Charges earned on completed Stays alone in a Qualifying Period.
The Ambassador spend requirement is back to $20,000.
Homes & Villas
Effective January 1, 2022, Qualifying Charges on completed Stays in a Qualifying Period at Homes & Villas by Marriott International will be applied to the Ambassador Elite annual qualifying spend (as described in 4.3.e).
Homes & Villas spend is now Ambassador qualifying per what we already reported.
Conclusion
Not sure what is the reason for lowering the number of awards that a member can gift from 20 to 5?
This greatly affects members who earn many points and prefer issuing awards to others. Remember that there is a cap of 100,000 points that members can transfer out of their account.
There is absolutely no reason to qualify for the Ambassador tier, considering the lackluster benefits.
Marriott should also correctly identify the latest date when these T&Cs were updated on its website.
