In “Let’s Make a Deal,” Monty Hall offered three door choices to win the brand new car. Not picking the right door actually proposed a probability theorem coined “The Monty Hall Problem.” I am offering Bonvoy Members a better answer than increasing your odds to 66% by switching doors – I am giving you the right door to open to increase the probability of getting Marriott Suite Night Awards (SNA) on the first try.
What are Marriott Suite Night Awards?
Achieve 50 (and, later 75) Marriott Bonvoy Elite Night Credits (ENC) in a calendar 12 month period to potentially choose the coveted, and equally dreaded, annual choice benefit of five Suite Night Awards (SNA).
According to Marriott Bonvoy, “A Suite Night Award is a one-night confirmable upgrade to a standard suite or select premium room, depending on the hotel’s availability of those rooms.” Wait? It says Suite Night Award – an upgrade may not be a suite.
Yes, an upgrade using an SNA may be a better view room, higher floor, or anything else defined as a select premium room. Your SNAs are deposited into your account, and are redeemable until December 31st of the year following the year in which they were earned.
Did you know you can book a Marriott Hotel through a luxury travel agency and still get Bonvoy points, PLUS the added VIP Perks? Take a look at the Marriott STARS and Luminous programs to see what you have been missing.
The Bonvoy member drives the Suite Night Awards selection
Make a reservation (cash or points), and applying the SNA to your reservation immediately reveals the options available for the confirmed upgrade. If you only want a suite, then choose only the suite options offered for the property. The choices offered are automated, as well as the decision on approval or denial of the requested SNA.
The individual hotel property is only indirectly related in this process – the higher their occupancy, the less chance a suite is offered and/or approved.
If you do not see suite options in the SNA request, the hotel is already at anticipated high occupancy, and the suites are unavailable.
SNA denial is a common complaint in the Bonvoy community. There are plenty of anecdotal success stories with SNAs, but the contrarians maintain SNAs are not granted, or are only granted outside the United States. Remember, SNAs are approved or denied based on an algorithm that predicts occupancy. The location and participating brands do not factor into the equation.
The only subjective factor is the number of suites or premium rooms originally allocated by the property for potential upgrades.
Picking the Right Door
I decided to skip the “Monty Hall” math problem and win on the first try. I won on the first try at five different hotels – all in a group of the most highly redeemed Marriott properties worldwide.
My experiment crossed four brands of Marriott Bonvoy, and I submitted my twenty-three (23) SNAs at off peak season (JW Marriott Essex House New York and London Marriott Hotel County Hall), and standard season (JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi, Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort).
Why not submit during the busiest season? I wanted my SNAs to be approved.
23 SNA NIGHTS APPROVED
Note: All reservations in this article were reserved with cash, but the awarding of SNAs is not influenced by choice of payment — cash or Marriott Bonvoy points.
An indirect benefit of combining points and SNAs was explained by Ambassador level Bonvoy member, Gene Salvatore.
“I am possibly unlike many other members, I only apply SNA’s against points reservations,” Salvatore shared. This tends to make SNA approval even better as rooms available for points stays are generally basic rooms.”
Salvatore was approved for 15 SNAs in 2021, and he rationed his SNA submissions. “I don’t use SNAs for paid stays when I am traveling for work,” Salvatore explained. “I save all SNA usage for leisure travel with my wife.”
When are SNAs granted? Marriott notifies you of a decision on your SNA request five or less days before arrival.
Tip #1. If possible, wait to submit your SNA request until five days prior to arrival. you can view the chances your SNA may be approved by looking at suite inventory (lots of suite choices left) on marriott.com. Remember, though, seeing a suite for sale does not guarantee a suite is available for an SNA.
Tip#2. IF GAINING APPROVAL ON AN SNA IS IMPORTANT TO YOU, LOOK AT MORE THAN ONE PROPERTY, AND PIVOT – WITH YOUR SNAS – IF YOU ARE TURNED DOWN ON YOUR FIRST CHOICE PROPERTY. Be mindful of both the hotel and SNA cancellation policies when pivoting.
Many desired properties have 24-72 hour cancellation policies that make this tip of pivoting possible.
TIP #3. CHECK THE NUMBER OF SUITES BUILT IN THE HOTEL COMPARED TO OVERALL ROOM INVENTORY — whether checking for an SNA or upgrade at check-in. Use This Tool to Help YOu. IF THERE ARE ONLY FIVE SUITES IN A 500 ACCOMMODATION HOTEL (A SUITE TO TOTAL ROOMS RATIO OF 1%), CHANCES ARE slim to none. TRY TO PICK A PROPERTY WITH AT LEAST A 15% SUITE-TO-TOTAL ROOMS RATIO. AS WELL, COMBINE THE RATIO WITH A HOTEL THAT HAS AT LEAST 10 SUITES TO BETTER YOUR ODDS.
TIP #4. If your planning allows, avoid redeeming an SNA during the property’s busiest season.
TIP #5. REMEMBER, THOUGH, BEING TURNED DOWN FOR AN SNA DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN BEING TURNED DOWN IN PERSON FOR AN UPGRADE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AT CHECK-IN.
What would have happened if any of my SNA requests were denied?
(Tip #2) I would have reviewed the cancellation policy for the hotel, when originally booked, and I might have booked an alternate choice hotel – if gaining the SNA was important for my stay. SNAs are returned to your account if the entire reservation is canceled (again, watching for the cancellation terms).
If you want to keep all your options open, according to Marriott Bonvoy, “Requests to withdraw the use of unconfirmed Suite Night Awards may be made up to 2:00 PM hotel time one day prior to arrival.”
I did not have to cancel SNAs or hotel bookings at any of the properties, because I got the prize, opened the right door every time on the first try.
JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
The first door I opened was to a 785 square foot King Bed Junior Suite with a balcony at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa. I originally booked a King Bed, Deluxe Room at an average rate of $321.50 per night for Jan. 8-Jan. 10. This JW property houses 74 suites – delivering a suites-to-rooms ratio of 16.5%.
I opened the door correctly and landed a $572 per night Junior Suite.
The JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa offers a good 16.5% suites to total rooms ratio; the other, similar properties in Cancun are not eligible for SNAs.
JW Marriott Essex House New York
Does the amount of nights influence the success of an SNA being granted? The more nights you submit for your SNAs, the chances of the suite being available for multiple nights might drop. Four out of my five SNA submissions were for five nights. See Tip#1 above.
I reserved five nights at the highly popular JW Marriott Essex House New York, Jan. 14-Jan. 19. I reserved an Essex Room, one king bed at $531.60 per night. The Marriott algorithm offered me two choices – an Essex Suite, One Bedroom Suite, or a Junior Suite.
I chose both options and landed in a 500 square foot Essex Junior Suite, upgraded from a 330 square foot standard accommodation. This JW Marriott landmark hotel in Manhattan has 117 suites in a property with 426 total accommodations, a suites to rooms ratio of 27%.
Other Manhattan Bonvoy properties to consider in similar categories (ranked on suites ratio):
- St. Regis New York, with a 39% suites to total rooms ratio and 67 total suites
- The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, with a 38% suites to total rooms ratio and 29 total “specialty” suites
- Courtyard New York Manhattan/Midtown East, with a 32% suites to total rooms ratio and 104 total suites
- Le Méridien New York, Central Park, with a 17.5% suites to total rooms ratio and 42 total suites
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort
On a roll with five nights, I next tried the highly prized Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort at a nightly rate of $338.40 for a Resort 1 King-Adults Only, Guest Room, Atrium View. I looked at the suite to total rooms ratio and struck gold – 268 suites out of 555 total rooms, a 48% suites to total rooms ratio.
I felt confident at that point and skipped the many less desirable SNA upgrade options thrown at me; I chose the Ocean Front 1 Bedroom Suite and the Ocean Suite 1 Bedroom.
Score! I received my SNA approval for an oceanfront suite – doubling the size of my originally booked standard room, as well as fronting the majestic Atlantic Ocean.
The Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort offers an amazing 48% suites to total rooms ratio; the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino follows far behind at 5.5%, and the remaining top tier properties do not accept SNAs.
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi
My next stop offered me an SNA opportunity at the far away, exotic The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi. I reserved a St. Regis room for $330 per evening in a spacious 592 square foot luxury room with balcony for the period Jan. 26-Jan. 31. The 63 suite ratio of 17% offered a good chance of a major step up at this highly regarded middle-eastern hotel destination.
The magic spices of the area must have been working; SNA approved for the 1 King Bed, Sea View, Premium 1 Bedroom Suite at ~1,400 square feet, and priced at $1,103 per night for the sumptuous suite.
Other Abu Dhabi Bonvoy properties to consider in similar categories (ranked on suites ratio):
- The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, with a 19.4% suites to total rooms ratio and 55 total suites
- Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi, with a 9.7% suites to total rooms ratio and 10 total suites
Marriott London County Hall
Crossing the pond, I sought out the wildly popular Marriott London County Hall for another five night jaunt – Jan. 27-Feb. 1. I reserved a standard 1 King Bed, Deluxe Guest room at $314 nightly. The wizard behind the curtain upgraded me at County Hall to a Balcony Suite, Suite, 1 King, Big Ben & Thames view with MClub access, priced at $891 per evening. The low suite to total rooms ratio was 6.3%.
Other London Bonvoy properties to consider for Suite Night Awards in similar categories (ranked on suites ratio):
- London Marriott Hotel Park Lane, with a 18.4% suites to total rooms ratio and 28 total suites
- St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, with a 18.4% suites to total rooms ratio and 38 total suites
- JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, with a 17.6% suites to total rooms ratio and 74 total suites
- St. Ermin’s Hotel, Autograph Collection, with a 12.4% suites to total rooms ratio and 41 total suites
- Sheraton Grand London Park Lane, with a 9.8% suites to total rooms ratio and 30 total suites
As a reminder, not all brands participate in SNAs.
According to Marriott Bonvoy, those brands that opted out include: The Ritz-Carlton, The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, EDITION, Protea Hotels, Aloft, Element, Design Hotels™, all-Suite Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club properties and Vistana properties. In addition, Suite Night Awards are not redeemable at select Participating Properties.
David Small has a love affair with travel, and he “sees the world” through the eyes of his wife and children when they accompany him to destinations in the States and abroad. He is a Marriott Bonvoy enthusiast who enjoys every brand offered – rewarded by the richness of each experience and the people involved at each property.
Small runs a national media company, and he previously managed airline points loyalty programs for Sprint — in partnership with United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airlines and Midwest Express.
Great post! It’s the best article on how to redeem the elusive suite night awards. How did you determine the suite to room ratio?
Thanks! You will need to track down the total number of rooms and suites to do the calculation. It can be tricky for some hotels since they don’t always share that information in an easy to find place. We have created a tool that does the calculation for you, its in testing so let us know if it worked for you. You can find it here – or just search Suite Night Award Tool on the website and it will pull up.
What would you do if the hotel won’t confirm SNA award until 2PM the day of arrival? I thought they are supposed to confirm five days before but my check in is on Saturday, almost four more days until.
Hi Mike, Marriott Suite Night Awards can be confirmed up to 5 days prior to arrival. So you may not find out until the day before the reservation which makes it difficult to plan if you really need the suite or larger room. Book the room you need and the SNA will be a bonus for the stay. Good Luck on getting your approved!
Why wait to request til 5 days out? Expectations that more room choices will be offered?
No real reason to wait that I can think of, you can request at the time of making your reservation which is what I do. The SNA request will not be granted earlier then 5 nights prior if at all.