As the hotel mega-giant, Marriott Bonvoy stands out in the competitive hospitality landscape with a travel-friendly loyalty program that offers valuable points, reasonable redemptions and exceptional elite perks.Marriott Bonvoy members can earn points for hotel stays in various ways, including eligible room rates, dining at hotel restaurants and utilizing hotel services. Additionally, members can earn points by transferring credit card points into their Marriott Bonvoy account or through cobranded credit cards designed to help you earn points.Today, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about Marriott Bonvoy.
Launched in 2018 as a rebranding of the previous Marriott Rewards program, Marriott Bonvoy is free to join and allows members to earn points on stays at Marriott hotels and various other outlets. Members can also earn points through the loyalty program’s cobranded credit cards.Members can redeem points for various rewards, including free hotel nights, room upgrades and unique experiences through the Moments program for activities and excursions. The program features a tiered elite status system (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador) based on qualifying nights (and qualifying spend in the case of Ambassador Elite) you earn. Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy elite status include room upgrades, late checkout and access to lounges.
Marriott Bonvoy uses a dynamic pricing model for award nights, meaning the points required for free nights can fluctuate based on demand for certain properties. However, the program often features competitive redemption rates and valuable promotions, making it a favorite among savvy travelers.I’ve been an Ambassador Elite member with Marriott Bonvoy since 2019. I’ve earned and redeemed over 5,000,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and have discovered how to maximize rewards by timing bookings strategically and leveraging elite status perks.
Marriott boasts an impressive portfolio of around 9,000 hotels across roughly 140 countries. Its global presence is truly unparalleled.As the largest hotel chain in the world by the number of countries served, Marriott’s scale is undeniably massive. It’s also one of the top hotel chains globally in terms of total properties,With a diverse collection of 38 unique brands, Marriott offers something for every type of traveler. These brands range from luxurious, globally recognized hotels to budget-friendly, extended-stay options primarily found in North America. Whether you’re seeking a lavish escape or a practical stay that accommodates pets, Marriott has you covered. Here’s a look at Marriott’s 39 brands:
You can earn Marriott Bonvoy elite status through qualifying nights. The program offers five elite status tiers beyond the basic membership level:
Here are a few key features of the Marriott Bonvoy elite status program:
Here’s a closer look at the main benefits you can expect at each tier:
Silver Elite:– 10% bonus points on eligible purchases.– Priority late checkout when available.– Member rates and complimentary Wi-Fi.Gold Elite (additional benefits):– 25% bonus points on eligible purchases.– Enhanced room upgrades based on availability.– 2 p.m. late checkout upon availability.Platinum Elite (additional benefits):– 50% bonus points on eligible purchases.– Enhanced room upgrades (including select suites) based on availability.– 4 p.m. late checkout upon availability.– Welcome gift of points, breakfast offering or amenity — varies by brand.– 50-night annual choice benefit.Titanium Elite (additional benefits):– 75% bonus points on eligible purchases.– Guaranteed room availability within 48 hours of check-in.– 75-night annual choice benefit.Ambassador Elite (additional benefits):– Personalized service from a dedicated ambassador.– Your24 for flexible check-in and check-out.
Marriott Bonvoy offers several ways to earn points through hotel stays and various non-hotel activities. Here are the primary methods to earn points:
The most straightforward way to earn points is by staying at Marriott properties. Members earn points based on their spending and elite status level:
You can earn points on eligible room rates, dining, spa services and other incidental charges.Just note that certain brands offer fewer points per dollar spent than others. Specifically, members earn only 5 base points per dollar at some select brands, which include Element, Protea Hotels, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and Homes & Villas by Marriott. These brands are typically categorized as extended-stay or budget-friendly options, which may explain the lower earning rate.
Meanwhile, at Marriott Executive Apartments, members can earn 2.5 points per dollar and 1 elite night credit per 3 qualifying nights.
Marriott’s cobranded credit cards help members earn points faster. Here are the four Marriott Bonvoy credit cards from Chase and American Express:
Marriott Bonvoy partners with American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards to transfer points at a 1:1 ratio.
Here are some Chase and Amex cards with current sign-up bonuses that can be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy:
If you host a meeting and event, you can earn up to 60,000 points per event (or 105,000 points for Titanium and Ambassador Elite members) on eligible room, food, beverage and audio/visual charges. Alternatively, you can choose to earn up to 20,000 airline miles per event. Plus, you can receive one elite night for every 20 room nights booked, with a maximum of 20 credits per event.
Members can also earn points by booking with Marriott’s car rental partners or purchasing gift cards. Additionally, you can buy Marriott Bonvoy points directly. However, this is typically not the most cost-effective method unless there’s a promotional offer when you can buy points for under 0.8 cents apiece.You can also earn points with restaurants participating in Marriott Bonvoy Eat Around Town. By linking your credit card to the dining program, you can earn extra points at participating restaurants.With numerous opportunities to earn points through various activities, Marriott Bonvoy makes it easy for members to accumulate rewards for their travels.
Marriott Bonvoy offers various redemption options, with award nights typically providing the best value. Here are the main ways to use your Marriott Bonvoy points:
The most valuable way to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points is for award nights at participating hotels. You can book award stays online through the Marriott Bonvoy website or mobile app.Unlike the previous eight-category fixed award chart, which was phased out in 2022, Marriott now employs a dynamic pricing model, meaning that the points required for free nights can vary based on the destination, room type, time of year and demand. For example, lower-tier properties may require fewer points, while luxury hotels will typically demand more. You should also be aware that they will need to cover any resort fees or destination charges associated with their stay, even if you have elite status.A given night at The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas costs just under 45,000 INR (around $520).Meanwhile, you could use 29,000 points to book this room.By using points in this case, you would be getting nearly 1.8 cents per point, which is a fantastic use of Marriott points.Meanwhile, a sample night at the Renaissance Paris Republique Hotel costs €373,38 (around $385).You can book this room for 80,000 points plus €11,83 (around $12).When you use points for this reservation, you’d only be getting around 0.47 points apiece. This gives you an idea about the massive range in value from Marriott redemptions. When possible, we recommend trying to get at least 0.8 cents per Marriott point when you redeem.Here’s another tip — you can effectively stretch your points by 20% with Marriott’s fifth-night free benefit. For every five consecutive nights you pay with Marriott Bonvoy points, you receive the lowest point-value night free.Here’s an example of a five-night stay at the St. Regis Houston where the least expensive of the five nights is “free.”
When you book your room on the Marriott website or app, there may be options to redeem points for upgraded rooms.For instance, at the New York Marriott Marquis, a standard room costs 78,000 points, while a Premier room requires 108,000 points or 78,000 points plus $150.Before redeeming points, it’s always wise to compare cash and award rates. In this example, the same Premier room can be booked for $665 plus a $40 destination fee. Redeeming 108,000 points (also subject to the $40 destination fee) for this stay would yield a value of just 0.62 cents per point — below our recommended minimum value of 0.8 cents per Marriott point, making it a less favorable redemption.
On some reservations, you can combine cash and points for your bookings through the Cash + Points option. This allows you to pay partially with points and partially with cash. This can be a good option if you don’t have enough points to cover your room entirely on points.
Marriott Bonvoy also allows members to redeem points for unique experiences through its Moments program. While these experiences may not always provide the best value per point compared to hotel stays, they offer an opportunity to use points for memorable activities.
Members can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to dozens of airline partners at a ratio of 3:1, with bonuses available for larger transfers to most airlines. However, transferring points typically yields less value than redeeming them for hotel stays.But of course, just remember that the best redemption is one that aligns with your travel goals and preferences.
In addition to hotel stays and experiences, members can redeem points for gift cards or merchandise through the Marriott Bonvoy shopping portal. However, these options often provide lower value per point compared to traditional travel redemptions.Overall, Marriott Bonvoy provides numerous ways to redeem points, but members should aim for redemptions that align with their travel goals and offer competitive value.
Yes, Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity.To prevent your points from expiring, engage in activities such as staying at Marriott properties, using a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, purchasing points or transferring points from programs like American Express Membership Rewards. Gifting or combining points with another member also resets the expiration clock.
Marriott Bonvoy delivers exceptional value for travelers with flexible earning and redemption options, along with great elite perks that enhance every stay. Whether you’re accumulating points through hotel stays, credit card usage or partner activities or redeeming them for award nights, upgrades or unique experiences, this loyalty program is a favorite for good reason.With its competitive award rates, valuable points and high footprint, Marriott Bonvoy is a must-consider program for savvy travelers. The diverse range of brands and properties ensures that members can find suitable accommodations while maximizing their reward potential.
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