Comments on: Estimating the Value of Marriott Rewards Points http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/estimating-value-of-marriott-rewards-points/ Find the best credit card for you! Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Marc http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/estimating-value-of-marriott-rewards-points/comment-page-1/#comment-18167 Marc Sun, 04 Dec 2011 03:20:25 +0000 http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/?p=308#comment-18167 John, thanks for your questions and concerns. So firstly, the annual fee of a card technically doesn't impact the value of the points earned. In fact, remember its possible to earn Marriott hotel points without having a Marriott credit card at all. Where the annual fee does come into play is in the calculation (and subsequent ranking) of the credit cards in the PIQ ranking engine. The formula is basic: Value of Card = Value of rewards earned - annual and other card fees - any interest payments. Regarding the change in the # of points required for the specific hotel you mention, I did quickly shoot over to the <a onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackPageview','/b-ext/nonaff/fr-marriott-pts-val/to-marriott-pts-chart/sec-comment/l-txt']);" href="http://www.marriott.com/rewards/pointsGridPopUp.mi?awardType=Standard" rel="nofollow">Marriott website's reward chart</a> to make sure it's the same as the data in this post, and there don't seem to be any changes. It's possible that the specific hotel you reference has somehow moved up from Category 1 to Category 4. In general though, I don't see any new information here which would lead me to believe Marriott points need to be re-valued. Again, thanks for taking the time to read PIQ and for your question:) John, thanks for your questions and concerns. So firstly, the annual fee of a card technically doesn’t impact the value of the points earned. In fact, remember its possible to earn Marriott hotel points without having a Marriott credit card at all. Where the annual fee does come into play is in the calculation (and subsequent ranking) of the credit cards in the PIQ ranking engine. The formula is basic: Value of Card = Value of rewards earned – annual and other card fees – any interest payments.

Regarding the change in the # of points required for the specific hotel you mention, I did quickly shoot over to the Marriott website’s reward chart to make sure it’s the same as the data in this post, and there don’t seem to be any changes. It’s possible that the specific hotel you reference has somehow moved up from Category 1 to Category 4.

In general though, I don’t see any new information here which would lead me to believe Marriott points need to be re-valued. Again, thanks for taking the time to read PIQ and for your question:)

]]> By: John http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/estimating-value-of-marriott-rewards-points/comment-page-1/#comment-18151 John Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:27:14 +0000 http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/?p=308#comment-18151 It seems like not only has Marriott Rewards increased the card annual fee by 50% from $30.00 to $45.00 but also tripled the amount of points needed for an hotel stay. For example, the Fairfield Inn & Suites at Mt Laurel in NJ was 7500 points per night last year, but is now 20,000 points for one night stay. This surely make the point value in $ decrease drastically. It seems like not only has Marriott Rewards increased the card annual fee by 50% from $30.00 to $45.00 but also tripled the amount of points needed for an hotel stay. For example, the Fairfield Inn & Suites at Mt Laurel in NJ was 7500 points per night last year, but is now 20,000 points for one night stay. This surely make the point value in $ decrease drastically.

]]> By: admin http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/estimating-value-of-marriott-rewards-points/comment-page-1/#comment-16246 admin Sun, 09 Oct 2011 09:24:00 +0000 http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/?p=308#comment-16246 Gabe, thanks for your question. Spending 50K points for a coffee maker valued at $220 would be a bad move, effectively valuing your Marriott Rewards at only $0.0044 per point, almost exactly half the value you could get if you applied these same points towards hotel stays. Spend cash for the coffee maker. Gabe, thanks for your question. Spending 50K points for a coffee maker valued at $220 would be a bad move, effectively valuing your Marriott Rewards at only $0.0044 per point, almost exactly half the value you could get if you applied these same points towards hotel stays. Spend cash for the coffee maker.

]]> By: Gabe http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/estimating-value-of-marriott-rewards-points/comment-page-1/#comment-16186 Gabe Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:48:43 +0000 http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/?p=308#comment-16186 I am debating buying a coffe maker with 50,000 points that sells for around $220. based on your analysis of the point value it seems like I should simply buy the coffe maker outright and save my 50,000 points for a 3 - 5 night hotel stay with point savers. Does it make sense to buy the coffee maker with cash instead? I am debating buying a coffe maker with 50,000 points that sells for around $220. based on your analysis of the point value it seems like I should simply buy the coffe maker outright and save my 50,000 points for a 3 – 5 night hotel stay with point savers. Does it make sense to buy the coffee maker with cash instead?

]]> By: admin http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/estimating-value-of-marriott-rewards-points/comment-page-1/#comment-16064 admin Mon, 26 Sep 2011 05:08:26 +0000 http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/?p=308#comment-16064 Well, based on our own estimates, I'd say 5,000 Marriott points could be valued at ~$44.00. The value will vary, though, on many factors, including the level/quality of hotel you book, the type of package, etc. Well, based on our own estimates, I’d say 5,000 Marriott points could be valued at ~$44.00. The value will vary, though, on many factors, including the level/quality of hotel you book, the type of package, etc.

]]> By: Dennis Jenkins http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/estimating-value-of-marriott-rewards-points/comment-page-1/#comment-16060 Dennis Jenkins Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:07:38 +0000 http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/?p=308#comment-16060 What is the value for 5,000 award point for hotel stays? Thanks! What is the value for 5,000 award point for hotel stays?

Thanks!

]]> By: » What is the Value of Hotel Points? Loyalty Traveler: Hotel Value for Frequent Guests http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/estimating-value-of-marriott-rewards-points/comment-page-1/#comment-480 » What is the Value of Hotel Points? Loyalty Traveler: Hotel Value for Frequent Guests Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:35:46 +0000 http://www.plasticiq.com/blog/?p=308#comment-480 [...] P. Ling in the Uptake.com travel industry blog cited several hotel points valuation analyses in this statement “If you think it’s too simplistic to peg each Hilton HHonors point at $0.0025 just because a donation of 10,000 Hilton HHonors points results in a $25 cash donation, I agree. So read this and this. The study for Starwood is here and the one for Marriott is here.” [...] [...] P. Ling in the Uptake.com travel industry blog cited several hotel points valuation analyses in this statement “If you think it’s too simplistic to peg each Hilton HHonors point at $0.0025 just because a donation of 10,000 Hilton HHonors points results in a $25 cash donation, I agree. So read this and this. The study for Starwood is here and the one for Marriott is here.” [...]

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