Marriott's Dynamic Pricing Unveiled: How to Score the Best Deals

Hi Bonvoyagers!

This week, I’m pulling back the curtain on Marriott’s dynamic pricing. Whether you realize it or not, this pricing strategy affects every booking you make with Marriott.

Prices can swing by up to 90%, significantly impacting your travel budget. Booking a room can feel a lot like rolling the dice in Vegas!

What is Dynamic Pricing?

On March 29th, 2022, Marriott introduced dynamic pricing. This means that the cost in cash and points for every Marriott property can (and usually does) change every day.

Why did Marriott do this?

In the hotel industry, this is called yield management. Computer algorithms adjust room prices based on demand, season, and booking trends to maximize revenue. Marriott didn’t invent this, the airline industry pioneered it in the 1980’s. Love it or hate it, dynamic pricing is here to stay.

How much does Dynamic Pricing impact you?

The short answer is a lot. To see how much dynamic pricing can impact all of us, I looked at all 507 Marriott Luxury properties, comparing week-over-week room rates for cash and points. Here’s what I found:

Marriott’s Dynamic Pricing: How Much Do Prices Really Change?

Let’s walk through the chart above together. Each dot represents a hotel. The placement shows the average % change in their rates week over week.

• Blue dots: Points

• Orange dots: Cash

• Purple dots: Cash Per Point

If a dot is on the left (WORSE), the rate went up ⬆ this week compared to last week. If it’s on the right (BETTER), the rate went down ⬇️ this week compared to last week.

As an example, I’ve highlighted the St. Regis Punta Mita in the same chart below. This week, the cash rate increased from $1,086/night to $1,278/night. That’s an 18% increase in one week!

Dynamic Pricing impacts point values the most

When looking at cash vs. point redemptions, Dynamic Pricing impacts your point redemptions most significantly. To understand why, let’s stick with the St. Regis Punta Mita example.

While the cash price went up 18% this week, the Cash Per Point value also improved by 25%. See the chart below.

In fact, you can book the St. Regis Punta Mita for 1.13¢ per point in March 2025, up from 0.90¢ last week. This is a fantastic deal considering the Marriott Bonvoy average point value is 0.71¢.

Cash per Point: A bad week for booking

If you zoom in on the chart, you’ll also notice how most of the Cash Per Point (purple) dots are WORSE this week. They are to the left of the 0% line. In fact, a whopping 85% of Cash Per Point redemption values declined this week.

To put it bluntly, this week is bad for booking with points if you want to maximize your Cash Per Point redemption value.

Why is this week so bad for Bonvoy Point redemptions?

It’s hard to say - it could be a surge in demand as summer officially kicks off, but there’s no way to know. If you are looking to use points, be extra vigilant in finding the best deals above the 0.71 cents per point Marriott average.

How do you get the best deals?

To get the best deals, you can take a few approaches:

1. Book refundable room rates and check for changes often. You can do this for cash and points rates often with no penalty up to a few days before your check-in date.

2. Book the same room for cash AND points. Because pricing is dynamic for cash and points independently, you can book 2 reservations for the same room using cash, and then book for points. Watch the rates over time and cancel the one that is least favorable (or rebook at a lower rate when you spot it).

3. Stay tuned to BonvoyGeek. Each week I’ll post the best luxury deals based on the weekly rate changes. I’ll do the data crunching so you can maximize your cash and points.

What are the best deals this week?

It wouldn’t be a BonvoyGeek post if I didn’t share the best deals I spotted this week. Without further adieu, the best Marriott Bonvoy point values I found:

The St. Regis Punta Mita, Mexico - 1.13¢ per point (25% more value) 
As I highlighted above, the 4.6-star The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Punta de Mita, Mexico, offers a compelling point value of 1.13¢ per point, up 25% vs. last week. With an average 105,000 points/night, you can get exceptional value in March 2025. Warm weather and clear skies make it a perfect time to enjoy the resort's private beaches and luxurious amenities. This is one of my favorite Marriott properties and it looks like they’ve recently remodeled and refreshed many of the resort’s amenities and rooms!

W Verbier, Verbier, Switzerland - 0.93¢ per point (28% more value) 
The 4.5-star W Verbier in Verbier, Switzerland, offers an impressive point value of 0.93¢ per point, up 28% vs. last week. With an average 103,000 points/night, you can get exceptional value in March and April 2025. Enjoy excellent skiing conditions and lively après-ski culture, making it an ideal winter sports destination.

The St. Regis Red Sea, Saudi Arabia - 1.18¢ per point (20% more value) The new, 5-star The St. Regis Red Sea Resort in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, offers an impressive point value of 1.18¢ per point, up 20% vs. last week. With an average 140,000 points/night, you can get exceptional value in December 2024 and January 2025. Ideal for escaping winter's chill, enjoy warm weather and crystal-clear waters perfect for diving and snorkeling.

Salterra, Turks & Caicos - 1.05¢ per point (7% more value) 
The Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Turks & Caicos, offers an impressive point value of 1.05¢ per point, up 7% vs. last week. With an average 132,000 points/night, you can get exceptional value in February 2025. With warm weather and fewer tourists, it's a perfect time to enjoy the stunning beaches and clear waters of the Caribbean.

If you’re looking for cash deals this week, I also found some fantastic ones:

Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastian, Spain - $242/night (25% better) 
The 4.8-star Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel in San Sebastian, Spain, offers an incredible deal at $242 per night, which is 25% lower than the best rate last week. This luxury hotel offers the best rates in January 2025. I’ve stayed at this property and it’s an incredible venue in the charming city of San Sebastian with beautiful beaches, phenomenal restaurants, and a vibrant culture.

The Madrid EDITION, Madrid - $358/night (18% better) 
The 4.6-star The Madrid EDITION in Madrid, Spain, offers an incredible deal at $358 per night, which is 18% lower than the best rate last week. This luxury hotel offers the best rates in August 2024. Located in the heart of Madrid, it's perfect for exploring the city's rich history and vibrant nightlife.

Augustine, Prague - $318/night (17% lower) The 4.8-star Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Prague, Czech Republic, offers an incredible deal at $318 per night, which is 17% lower than the best rate last week. This luxury hotel offers the best rates in July 2024. Nestled in the historic center, it's a great spot to explore Prague's medieval charm and stunning architecture.

I hope this helps guide your next stay with Marriott and maximize your Bonvoy points!

Bon Voyage!

Matt aka BonvoyGeek