Marriott replaces Suite Night Awards with Nightly Upgrade Awards

Those who have elite status with Marriott are entitled to certain benefits, including room upgrades when available, free breakfast and more. Members with higher-end Marriott Bonvoy status get even better perks, including the ability to select an Annual Choice Benefit such as Elite Night Credits, gifting status to a friend or five Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUAs).

In the past, these were known as Suite Night Awards (SUAs), but as of Jan. 11, 2024, their name — and the ways in which they can be redeemed — have changed. Let’s take a look at what’s been updated and how members can qualify for NUAs.

Marriott changes Nightly Upgrade Awards

Prior to 2024, Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUAs) were known as Suite Upgrade Awards (SUAs). Available to those who qualify for either Annual Choice Benefits or Earned Choice Awards, members would receive five certificates valid for one night each. These certificates could be used to guarantee an upgrade to a suite for bookings that they’d made.

Now, NUAs have taken the place of SUAs. While much about these certificates remains the same, there are some distinct differences.

• Upgrades will be confirmed up to three days prior to arrival rather than five.
• Upgrades aren’t limited to suites; instead, they can be used for premium room types such as higher floors, balconies or ocean views.
• Five new Marriott brands are eligible for upgrades, including Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, Aloft, Element, and Protea.

Who gets an Annual Choice Benefit?

Not everyone is eligible to select Annual Choice Benefits. However, there are a few different ways to qualify for this perk.

First, members with at least 50 Elite Night Credits for the year are entitled to make an Annual Choice Benefit selection. They’re able to make a second selection when they hit 75 nights per year.

Those who hold the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (terms apply, rates & fees) are also eligible to select the Brilliant Earned Choice Award after spending $60,000 on the card in a calendar year (limited to one per calendar year). The Earned Choice Award includes the option for five NUAs.

It can be difficult to earn enough Elite Night Credits to qualify for an Annual Choice Award, but credit cards can help get you most of the way there.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant grants cardholders 25 Elite Night Credits per year. It also awards you Platinum elite status, which is one of the most generous among credit cards offering hotel elite status. The card has a $650 annual fee.

While the Elite Night Credits you receive from co-branded Marriott credit cards don’t usually stack, there is one exception to this: The 15 annual Elite Night Credits offered by the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
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The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

(terms apply) can be combined with the credits offered by the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. This gets you to 40 Elite Night Credits per year without ever stepping foot in a Marriott hotel.

Final verdict

Marriott has replaced its Suite Night Awards with Nightly Upgrade Awards, allowing members to apply their benefits to more room types and more hotel brands.

However, with this change comes a reduction in timing for confirmed upgrades; previously, rooms were upgraded starting up to five days in advance. These new awards only clear beginning three days in advance.

Those who are looking to earn Nightly Upgrade Awards will either need to earn 50 Elite Night Credits per year with Marriott or spend big bucks with their eligible co-branded Marriott credit card.

^{For rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card please visit this page.}