Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy is the loyalty program for Marriott International’s vast portfolio of hotels. As a free member, you can earn Bonvoy points on your stays and redeem them for rewards at more than 9,000 properties across 131 countries.
The program includes 30 distinct brands, offering everything from luxury to extended-stay options. This includes well-known names like The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and JW Marriott, as well as popular premium brands such as Sheraton and Westin. You’ll also find widespread options like Courtyard by Marriott and brands focused on longer trips, such as Residence Inn.
Marriott International’s luxury brands are a diverse collection of hotels and resorts, each with its own unique personality and target audience. The company divides its luxury portfolio into two main categories: “Luxury” and “Distinctive Luxury.” Luxury Brands include The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts & JW Marriott. Marriott’s Distinctive Luxury Brands include EDITION, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels & Bulgari Hotels & Resorts. Bulgari Hotels & Resorts is is a very exclusive, ultra-luxury brand that offers a contemporary style inspired by the Italian jeweler. These hotels are known for their high-end design and are typically located in major international cities and resort destinations.
In this overview, I explain the Marriott Bonvoy’s loyalty program:
Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Overview
The program is free to join and allows members to earn points on hotel stays, dining, and other eligible purchases, which can be redeemed for free nights, unique experiences, and more. With five tiers of elite status—Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador—members can unlock increasing benefits such as bonus points, late checkout, room upgrades, and lounge access, with the highest tiers providing a dedicated personal ambassador and a 48-hour room guarantee. Bonvoy also offers co-branded credit cards and various partnerships to accelerate point earning and help members achieve elite status more quickly.
Elite Status & Benefits
Silver Elite is the first and most basic tier of elite status within the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. It’s a stepping stone that offers a few small perks to members who are starting to show loyalty to the brand. To qualify for Silver Elite status, you need to complete at least 10 qualifying nights at Marriott properties in a calendar year. The key benefits of Silver Elite status include:
- 10% bonus points on all eligible purchases, including room rates and incidentals.
- Priority late checkout, which is subject to availability at the time of your stay.
- An Ultimate Reservation Guarantee, which provides compensation if a hotel cannot honor your reservation for a valid reason.
Gold Elite is the second tier of elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, offering a step up in benefits from the basic Silver Elite status. To qualify for Gold Elite, you must achieve 25 qualifying nights at Marriott properties in a calendar year. The key benefits of Gold Elite status include:
25% bonus points on all eligible purchases, significantly increasing your points-earning power.
A welcome gift of points upon arrival at the hotel, which varies by brand.
Enhanced room upgrades, subject to availability. This means you might get a room with a better view, a higher floor, or a more desirable location, though it doesn’t typically include suites.
Late checkout at 2 p.m., which is subject to availability at most brands and must be requested on the day of departure
Platinum Elite is a highly sought-after status in the Marriott Bonvoy program because it’s where the benefits start to become truly valuable, particularly for frequent travelers. To qualify for Platinum Elite status, you need to complete 50 qualifying nights at Marriott properties in a calendar year. The key benefits of Platinum Elite status go significantly beyond the lower tiers and include:
50% bonus points on all eligible purchases, accelerating your points accumulation.
Guaranteed lounge access and complimentary breakfast at brands that have lounges, such as Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, and Westin. This is a major benefit that can save you a significant amount of money.
Enhanced room upgrades, including the possibility of an upgrade to a select suite, subject to availability upon arrival.
Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout at most brands, which is a great benefit for travelers who want to maximize their time before a flight or meeting.
An Annual Choice Benefit upon reaching 50 nights, allowing you to choose a valuable perk like five Nightly Upgrade Awards, which you can apply to a future stay to increase your chances of a suite upgrade.
Titanium Elite is a prestigious status in the Marriott Bonvoy program that signifies a very high level of loyalty and frequent travel. It is the second-highest public tier, just below Ambassador Elite. To qualify for Titanium Elite status, you must complete 75 qualifying nights at Marriott properties in a calendar year. Titanium Elite members enjoy all the benefits of Platinum Elite, but with several key enhancements:
75% bonus points on all eligible purchases, significantly out-earning lower tiers.
A second Annual Choice Benefit upon reaching 75 nights (in addition to the one you receive at 50 nights), with options including a Free Night Award worth up to 40,000 points.
Complimentary United MileagePlus Premier Silver status, which can be valuable for travelers who also fly with United Airlines.
A 48-hour room guarantee, ensuring a room will be available at a participating hotel (subject to terms and conditions) when you book at least 48 hours in advance.
While the core benefits of lounge access and suite upgrades are shared with Platinum Elite, the higher status often gives Titanium members a better chance at receiving more desirable upgrades and a more attentive level of service.
Ambassador Elite is the highest public tier of elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, designed for the most loyal and frequent guests. It’s a very difficult status to achieve, as it has two requirements instead of just one. To qualify for Ambassador Elite status, you must:
Complete 100 qualifying nights at Marriott properties in a calendar year.
Spend $23,000 in qualifying charges at Marriott properties in that same calendar year.
75% bonus points on all eligible purchases, significantly out-earning lower tiers.
A second Annual Choice Benefit upon reaching 75 nights (in addition to the one you receive at 50 nights), with options including a Free Night Award worth up to 40,000 points.
Complimentary United MileagePlus Premier Silver status, which can be valuable for travelers who also fly with United Airlines.
A 48-hour room guarantee, ensuring a room will be available at a participating hotel (subject to terms and conditions) when you book at least 48 hours in advance.
Ambassador Service: This is a dedicated support team of ambassadors who act as a personal concierge. They can help you with a wide range of requests, from making reservations and coordinating complex itineraries to handling any issues with your account or stay.
Your24™: This perk allows you to request a specific 24-hour check-in and checkout time. If the hotel approves the request, your checkout time will be the same as your check-in time, giving you maximum flexibility for your stay. This is a powerful benefit that no other Marriott status offers.
Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points
The main ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points can be categorized into three key areas:
1. Hotel Stays:
The most direct way to earn points is by booking and staying at Marriott properties. For most brands, you’ll earn 10 points per dollar spent on qualifying charges, including your room rate and eligible on-property expenses like dining, spa services, and golf. Your earning rate increases significantly with elite status—from a 10% bonus for Silver Elite to a 75% bonus for Titanium and Ambassador Elite members.
2. Marriott Co-branded Credit Cards:
This is one of the fastest ways to accumulate a large number of points. Marriott offers a variety of credit cards through both American Express and Chase. These cards often provide a large welcome bonus for new cardholders, and they offer high earning rates on Marriott purchases and elevated rates in common spending categories like dining, gas, and groceries. Many of these cards also include automatic elite status, which further boosts the points you earn on stays.
3. Transferring Points from Other Programs:
Marriott Bonvoy is a transfer partner with several major credit card rewards programs. You can transfer points from programs like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards to your Marriott Bonvoy account, typically at a 1:1 ratio. This provides a great deal of flexibility, allowing you to top off your Marriott account for a specific redemption.
Redemption Options & Free Travel
When you’ve earned a good amount of Marriott Bonvoy points, you have a wide range of options to redeem them for travel and experiences. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of all the ways you can use your points:
1. Free Night Awards at Marriott Hotels
- Standard Free Nights: This is the most popular way to use points. You can book a standard room at over 9,000 properties worldwide using just points. The number of points required is dynamic and changes based on demand, hotel brand, and time of year.
- “Stay for 5, Pay for 4”: A key benefit for all members, this perk gives you the fifth night free when you book a consecutive five-night stay using only points. The lowest-cost night of your stay is automatically deducted, effectively giving you a 20% discount.
- Cash + Points: If you don’t have enough points for a full free night, you can use a combination of cash and points to book a stay, allowing you to stretch your points further.
- Free Night Awards (Certificates): Co-branded Marriott credit cards often provide a Free Night Award certificate each year, with a specific point value (e.g., 35,000 or 50,000 points). You can use this certificate for a one-night stay, and you can even top it off with up to 15,000 of your own points to book a more expensive night.
2. Transfer to Airline Miles
- Airline Transfer Partners: Marriott Bonvoy has over 35 airline partners, allowing you to convert your points into airline miles. For most partners, the transfer ratio is 3:1 (3 Bonvoy points = 1 airline mile).
- Transfer Bonus: You’ll receive a bonus of 5,000 miles for every 60,000 Bonvoy points you transfer. This is a very powerful feature that can make your airline redemptions even more valuable, especially for topping off an account for an award flight.
3. Marriott Bonvoy Moments
- Unique Experiences: Redeem your points for exclusive, “money-can’t-buy” experiences. This can include VIP access to major sporting events, concerts, food and wine festivals, culinary classes with famous chefs, and more.
- Fixed-Price or Auction-Based: Some Moments are available for a fixed number of points, while others are available through an auction where you bid on the experience using your points.
- “1-Point Drops”: On rare occasions, Marriott offers a limited number of high-value experiences for just 1 point on a first-come, first-served basis, which are announced on their social media channels.
4. Other Redemption Options
- Car Rentals: You can use your points to book rental cars through partners like Hertz.
- Cruises: Redeem your points for cruises through Marriott’s exclusive partnership with Cruise with Points.
- Gift Cards: While not typically the best value, you can redeem your points for gift cards at various retailers.
- Donations: You can donate your points to various charities and philanthropic partners.
- Shopping: Use your points for merchandise through the Shop With Points portal.
Strengths (Pros) about Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy has several key strengths that make it a leading loyalty program, particularly for a wide range of travelers:
Vast Global Footprint: With over 9,000 properties across more than 30 brands and 130 countries, Marriott Bonvoy offers unparalleled reach. This makes it easy for members to find a participating hotel whether they’re traveling for business, a luxury vacation, or a family trip.
Diverse Portfolio of Brands: The program includes a brand for every type of traveler. From ultra-luxury properties like The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to well-known premium brands like Sheraton and Westin, and even budget-friendly or extended-stay options like Courtyard and Residence Inn, there’s a Marriott brand to fit nearly any need or budget.
Valuable Elite Status Perks: Marriott’s elite status tiers provide significant benefits. Platinum Elite status, in particular, is considered a “sweet spot” for many travelers, offering valuable perks like guaranteed lounge access with complimentary breakfast, room upgrades (including suites), and guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.
Strong Co-branded Credit Card Ecosystem: Marriott has a robust lineup of credit cards from both American Express and Chase. These cards are excellent for accelerating points earning, providing automatic elite status, and offering annual Free Night Awards, making it easier for members to enjoy the program’s benefits even without frequent stays.
Flexible Redemption Options: While free nights are the most popular redemption, Bonvoy points are highly flexible. You can transfer them to a long list of airline partners for free flights, redeem them for unique “Marriott Bonvoy Moments” experiences, or use them for cruises and car rentals, providing a wide array of travel-related uses.
Weaknesses (Cons) about Marriott Bonvoy
While Marriott Bonvoy has many strengths, it also has some significant weaknesses and areas that can be frustrating for members. These are common complaints among travelers who use the program:
Dynamic Pricing and Devaluations: Marriott eliminated its fixed award charts, moving to a dynamic pricing model. This means the number of points required for a free night can fluctuate wildly, often mirroring the cash price of the room. This makes it difficult to get consistently high value for your points, as popular and aspirational properties can become incredibly expensive in points, and it can be hard to plan or save for a specific redemption.
Inconsistent Elite Benefits: Although the program promises valuable benefits like room upgrades and guaranteed late checkout for elite members, the implementation of these benefits can be inconsistent across different properties. Whether you actually receive a suite upgrade, for instance, can depend heavily on the specific hotel and even the front desk agent, leading to a “your mileage may vary” experience.
Resort and Destination Fees: A major point of frustration is that Marriott charges resort fees on both paid and award stays, regardless of your elite status. This means that even a “free” night booked with points isn’t truly free, as you’ll still be on the hook for these nightly fees. This is in contrast to some other programs, like World of Hyatt, which waive resort fees on award stays for all members.
Free Night Certificates Can Be Hard to Use: Co-branded credit cards often come with Free Night Awards, which have a maximum point value (e.g., 35,000 points). However, due to dynamic pricing, it has become increasingly difficult to find a desirable hotel that costs within that point limit, especially in popular destinations or during peak seasons. This can leave members with a certificate they struggle to redeem before it expires.
Customer Service Issues: Many members report a frustrating experience with Marriott’s customer service, particularly when dealing with issues like missing points, billing discrepancies, or problems with bookings. The process can often require multiple phone calls or escalations, leading to a time-consuming and often unsatisfactory resolution.
Key Points
Key Weaknesses (Cons)
Dynamic Pricing: The move to dynamic award pricing has made it difficult to find good value for points, as the cost of a free night can fluctuate significantly and often mirrors the cash price.
Devaluation of Points: The value of Bonvoy points has been on a downward trend, meaning you need more points to book a hotel stay than in the past.
Inconsistent Benefits: While elite status comes with promised perks like room upgrades and late checkout, these benefits are often not consistently honored across all properties.
Resort Fees: A major complaint is that resort and destination fees are charged even on award stays, meaning a “free” night isn’t actually free.
Difficult to Use Free Night Certificates: The point caps on free night certificates can make it challenging to redeem them for desirable properties, especially during peak seasons.
Customer Service: Some members report frustrating experiences with customer service, particularly with issues like billing errors or missing points.
Key Strengths (Pros)
Extensive Portfolio: With over 30 brands and thousands of hotels worldwide, Marriott Bonvoy offers a vast network of properties, giving members many options for earning and redeeming points.
Earning Potential: Points are easy to earn through hotel stays, co-branded credit cards, and other partnerships. Elite members also receive a bonus on points earned from stays.
Valuable Elite Status: While inconsistent at times, elite status (especially Platinum and above) can provide valuable benefits like complimentary breakfast, lounge access, and a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout at many hotels.
Fifth Night Free: The program offers a “fifth night free” on award stays, which can provide significant savings for longer trips.
Lifetime Status: The ability to earn lifetime status means that loyal members can continue to enjoy elite benefits for years to come without having to re-qualify annually.
Diverse Redemption Options: Points can be redeemed for more than just hotel stays; options include unique experiences through Marriott Bonvoy Moments and transfers to over 40 airline partners.