Marriott International recently updated its cancellation policy for many of its properties across the Americas.
Under the new rule, guests must cancel reservations at least 48 hours before the scheduled arrival to avoid a cancellation fee. This replaces the previous common practice at many hotels of allowing penalty-free cancellations up to 24 hours before check-in.
The change applies to Marriott hotels across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America, with the exception of the Design Hotels brand. It also affects properties within the Starwood portfolio, which Marriott acquired and integrated into its network.
“Guests will now be required to cancel their room reservation by midnight 48 hours prior to arrival in order to avoid a fee,” said a Marriott International spokesperson.
Some individual hotels already operated with longer cancellation windows—48 or 72 hours—before the company-wide update. A few properties that kept a 72-hour policy will continue to do so, while others that previously used a 48-hour window have moved to a 72-hour requirement.
Marriott said the adjustment aims to reduce the number of last-minute cancellations that left hotels with unsold rooms, improving availability for travelers booking on short notice. Reservations made before June 15 remain subject to the prior terms, allowing those guests to cancel up to one day before arrival without penalty.
If you frequently make or modify reservations, check the specific cancellation policy listed for each hotel at the time of booking, since individual properties may maintain longer or more restrictive rules than the brand-wide standard.