Ever wondered if you're 12th in line for that suite upgrade or quietly at the top of the pile? Marriott is about to take the mystery away. Following its Member Day promotions, the hotel giant has started rolling out a Complimentary Upgrade List feature inside the Marriott app, letting Bonvoy Gold members and above see their real position in the upgrade queue before they even arrive at the property.
The feature is currently in beta at a small handful of hotels, but Marriott plans to extend it to more than 250 properties across the United States and Canada by November. Eligible guests will be able to check their spot in the line ahead of check-in — a level of transparency frequent travellers have been asking for. Open questions remain: how the lists will behave at busy hotels during peak periods, how Nightly Upgrade Awards will be slotted in, and whether the system will work like airline upgrade lists, with elite tier determining priority.
There's news for lounge fans too. Marriott is launching a refreshed lounge concept called the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge, debuting in February 2027 at 100 premium hotels across Asia-Pacific, with another 220 hotels in Greater China following in early 2027. The new lounges promise upgraded food and drink programmes, dedicated staff on-site during peak hours, and locally inspired menu offerings. Members will be able to filter for participating hotels in the app and on Marriott.com, where lounge hours and property details will be listed — useful when deciding between two otherwise similar hotels in a city like Tokyo, Singapore or Bangkok.
Why does this matter to you? If you hold (or chase) Bonvoy Gold status or higher, the upgrade list takes some of the guesswork out of check-in day. Knowing your queue position lets you manage expectations — or adjust plans if the list looks hopeless at a packed resort. And the new lounge standard is a signal Marriott is investing in the elite benefits side of the programme rather than chipping away at it, at least in Asia-Pacific. The catch: neither change has wide coverage yet, so temper expectations on your next trip and check whether your specific hotel is in the rollout.
