Marriott Bonvoy to Give Advance Notice of Negative Program Changes for Members in China

Marriott Bonvoy has updated its terms and conditions to add a new section with special terms applicable to members with Chinese citizenship residing in mainland China. Under section 9.15.a, the company commits to providing prior notice in a reasonable manner if adjustments to loyalty program benefits, amenities, offers, or awards are likely to have a material adverse impact on members' core rights and interests. This change is driven by local consumer protections in China. However, it is limited geographically and does not apply to the global membership base. The update is vague regarding the amount of advance notice required and what constitutes a 'material adverse impact.' Notably, dynamic award pricing changes, which are the most frequent form of devaluation for Marriott, are not covered as they reflect market conditions rather than program rule changes