With the imminent merger of the Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest programs, American Express is revising the conversion rate for transferring American Express Membership Rewards credit card points into the new combined hotel loyalty scheme.
The revamped rates kick in from August, and will see 3 AMEX Membership Rewards points equate to 2 Marriott Points.
There will no longer be the option to convert American Express Membership Rewards into SPG Starpoints, as the SPG scheme will be absorbed into Marriott’s new uber-loyalty program
However, as Australian Business Traveller has previously reported, your existing balance of Starpoints will be tripled (so that one Starpoint will become 3 Marriott Points) and the new scheme’s airline frequent flyer conversion rates from Marriott Points will sit at 3:1.
Direct conversions from AMEX Membership Rewards to airline frequent flyer programs or transfers to other hotel partners such as Hilton Honors are not impacted by this change.
This applies to many popular cards like the American Express Explorer credit card, the AMEX Platinum Charge Card, the AMEX Platinum Business Card and others, which are all attached to Membership Rewards.
It also covers cardholders enrolled in the Ascent Premium, Ascent, Business Ascent, Spirit, Gateway and David Jones tiers of Membership Rewards.
American Express has confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that it has begun notifying cardholders of the change, and will update its Membership Rewards website on the day the new rate takes effect.
More AusBT coverage on the Marriott + Starwood merger:
