Overview
- Owners representing roughly 1,000 U.S. Marriott hotels sent a letter Tuesday to CEO Anthony Capuano and Chairman David Marriott demanding higher award-night reimbursement and clearer Bonvoy accounting.
- They say Marriott has increasingly sold Bonvoy points through partners such as card issuers and corporate deals, which issues points without a hotel stay and shifts the cash cost of redemptions onto franchised properties.
- Reporting cites a very low base reimbursement for many award nights—reported as roughly $20 per night—and loyalty-related fees collected by Marriott rising from $410 million in 2019 to $716 million in 2025.
- Owners warn that if reimbursements do not improve they may cut spending on upkeep and staffing, limit award availability, or curb elite benefits, actions that would reduce member value or push Marriott to raise award prices.
- The dispute is unresolved; Marriott says it has increased compensation for high-demand nights and shared some Bonvoy financials, but owners are seeking broader reform that could change how hotel loyalty revenue is split.