Marriott [Unlock Extraordinary Travel Experiences]

Marriott is one of the biggest hotel rewards programmes in the world, the Marriott Bonvoy programme offers 30 brands at various pricing points, from affordable lodging to opulent vacation destinations. This program’s navigation can be challenging. Nevertheless, the Bonvoy software is not overly complicated considering its scale. Marriott has streamlined the majority of the program’s components, from accumulating points to obtaining elite status. Here, we go over each one in depth. Over 7,000 hotels across the globe are part of the Marriott family because of the range of brands that Marriott Hotels manages. Marriott brand hotels provide guests with first-rate accommodations and outstanding customer service, from the Ritz Carlton to the Residence Inn. The hotel chain now provides a rewards programme, Marriott Bonvoy, to make future journeys more affordable for frequent and loyal visitors. Marriott Bonvoy, formerly known as Marriott Rewards, awards you a set number of reward points based on the location and length of your stay. Your stay at any Marriott hotel will be even better thanks to the program’s additional wonderful benefits. To assist you in deciding if the rewards program is ideal for you, we’re here in-depth about everything about Marriott Bonvoy. The largest hotel loyalty program in the world, Marriott Bonvoy, is most easily available to Canadians who want to earn free hotel nights and privileged status advantages during their travels abroad. Although it is by far my preferred hotel program, it is not without flaws. I wanted to share with you nine things I like and dislike about Marriott Bonvoy in this post, with one week left in the first-ever 25% transfer bonus from Amex MR to the program, to help you understand the many advantages of the program as well as some of the frustrations you may encounter when earning and using Bonvoy points for stays at Marriott properties.

OVERVIEW

For visitors who stay at a Marriott-branded hotel, Marriott Bonvoy is a complimentary rewards program. You get discounted member rates for upcoming stays as a basic member. But the benefits don’t stop there. Free WiFi, mobile check-in, and a mobile key that you may access directly from your smartphone are additional benefits. Of course, you’ll also get reward points based on how much your accommodation costs and how many nights you stay. These reward points can be used at other hotel partners, such as specific airlines and restaurants, or used to book subsequent stays. Similar to other reward programs, this one has different tiers based on how many nights you’ve spent at a Marriott hotel. Depending on your status, you can be eligible for additional bonus reward points, free late checkout, welcome gifts, free breakfast, free hotel upgrades, and other benefits. You’ll advance through the levels of the program once you’ve used your Marriott Bonvoy account to check in for at least 10 nights in a calendar year. Getting Marriott Bonvoy’s elite status if you travel frequently, whether for work or pleasure, isn’t at all difficult. Even though joining Marriott Bonvoy is free, you can apply for and use any of the available credit cards to rack up even more reward points. Marriott Bonvoy offers credit cards in collaboration with Chase Bank, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card, which rewards new cardholders with three complimentary nights at a Marriott Hotel following qualifying purchases.

History

Marriott, the largest hotel chain in the world today, was founded in 1927, but its modest origins were as unrelated to the hotel business as it was possible to be. J. Willard and Alice Marriott, newlyweds, started Marriott by establishing the Hot Shoppe, a single soda shop, in Washington, D.C. The shop was prosperous, and the Marriotts soon started growing their company.

In 1937, Hot Shoppes started supplying boxed lunches for inflight service to airlines in Washington, D.C. The Marriotts didn’t change their direction and enter the hotel business until 1957. In Arlington, Virginia, J. Willard Marriott and his son Bill established their first hotel.

Marriott saw fast development and expansion throughout the ensuing decades, eventually entering the global market in 1969. With the acquisition of the well-known hotel brand Starwood in 2016, Marriott cemented its position as the largest hotel chain in the world. Currently, Marriott manages more than 8,000 properties under 30 brands.

How Does Marriott Bonvoy Compare to Other Hotel Rewards Programs or Promotions Offered by Booking Sites?

There are undoubtedly other hotels with rewards programmes besides Marriott. In fact, many of the same benefits are provided by other hotel reward programmes. Marriott’s programme looks to be superior when it comes to transferring rewards from approved credit cards or redeeming points while traveling. The Hyatt and Hilton, in contrast to Marriott, reportedly frequently waive resort fees. Additionally, Hilton makes it simpler to advance to higher levels of elite status because it takes fewer stays at the hotel to do so.

Additionally, you aren’t restricted to just one brand of hotel thanks to websites like Hotels.com and Booking.com, which provide fantastic reduced rates for hotels throughout the globe. Additionally, many services offer reward points for discounts on subsequent stays. You typically have more alternatives and freedom when using third-party booking platforms. However, Marriott Bonvoy might be the best option if you travel regularly and want some of those rewards programme benefits.

HOW TO EARN MARRIOTT BONVOY POINTS?

Marriott Bonvoy is the name of their loyalty programme, and the points you earn are referred to as Bonvoy points. There are many ways to gain Bonvoy points. Let’s examine all your alternatives for accumulating Bonvoy points.

1. Hotel stays

The most obvious way to earn Bonvoy points is by staying at one of Marriott’s many locations. By the rate paid, Marriott stays give Bonvoy points. No matter their status, all members get 10 Bonvoy points for every dollar spent on approved hotel expenses. The exceptions are the element®, Residence Inn®, and TownePlace Suites® hotels, where each eligible dollar will result in the earning of 5 Bonvoy points.

2. Elite Status Points 

You can get more benefits and more Bonvoy points for every stay if you have elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. There are six tiers of membership, each of which offers a different set of advantages.

Members of the Marriott Bonvoy Classic

• Members of the Marriott Classic programme receive a discount of roughly 5% off the going rate and earn points. 
• Therefore, I advise you to sign up as a member before making a reservation if you want to stay at a Marriott Hotel, even if it’s just once a year.
• Before making a reservation, remember to sign in to your Marriott member account if you already have one.
• Check out this new Marriott members deal if you have never signed up as a member. Additionally, you can use travel websites in the future for reservations.

SILVER Marriott Bonvoy Elite

Along with Member perks, you’ll receive:

• The hotel will pay for your rooms at a nearby hotel if it is unable to honor your reservation under the hotel’s “Ultimate Reservation Guarantee.”
• Late checkout(where available)

Bonvoy Gold Elite with Marriott

Along with Silver Elite advantages, you’ll receive:

• Totally free Internet
• check-out @ 2:00 PM (where available)
• Hotel points as a welcome present
• Superior room upgrade (where available)
• In essence, it is guaranteed that the upgraded room type will depend on the circumstances. It will be difficult to secure an upgraded accommodation if there are a lot of guests on weekends and holidays. 
• The advantages available to Marriott Platinum members are vastly different from those of Marriott Gold members. If you frequently stay at Marriott hotels, I advise upgrading to platinum.

Platinum Elite Marriott Bonvoy member

Along with Gold Elite advantages, you’ll also receive:

• The most valuable perk for platinum members is lounge access.
• Late check-out until 4 PM Type of room guaranteed
• Welcome bonus in the form of hotel points, breakfast, or perk
• Choice Benefit each year (options include 5 Suite Night Awards)
• Upgraded room options, including some suites (where available)

Titanium Elite Marriott Bonvoy member

Along with the advantages of Platinum Elite, you’ll also get:

• A supplementary Annual Choice Benefit (options include 5 Suite Night Awards)
• Marriott Bonvoy Elite Ambassador

Along with the advantages of Titanium Elite, you’ll receive:

Ambassador Service 

• Hotels allow guests to check in at any time and stay overnight.
• This means that whenever a member checks in, they can use their reserved room for a full 24 hours.For instance, if you arrived at 10:00 a.m. the day before, you can depart at the same time the following day.

Lifetime Marriott Member

• If you join Marriott as a lifetime member, you can take advantage of the perks of the membership level indefinitely, so even if you only stay at the hotel once, your membership will still be valid. The fact that all accounts’ points never expire is another plus.

3.  Credit Cards 

You may earn Marriott Bonvoy points by using a number of co-branded credit cards. Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your 

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card to make $5,000 in transactions within the first three months.

• $650 yearly fee
• Every year, in the month after your card’s renewal, you’ll receive a free night award that can be applied to one night at a hotel that costs 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or less.
• Statement credits of up to $300 (or $25 per month) are available for qualifying purchases at restaurants all over the world.
• Earn 25 Elite Night Credits each year 
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy points are awarded for every dollar spent on eligible purchases at Marriott ConvoyTM-affiliated hotels, 3 points are awarded for every $1 spent at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points are awarded for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: 

• After making $1,000 in purchases during the first three months after account opening, earn 30,000 bonus points.
• No yearly charge.
• More than 7,000 hotels that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy programme get 3 points for every $1 spent there, 2 points for every $1 spent on other travel-related items (including cabs and trains as well as airfare), and 1 point for every $1 spent elsewhere.You will earn 15 Elite Night Credits per year, giving you Silver Elite Status.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card 

• Earn three free nights (each worth up to 50,000 points) with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card after making $3,000 in purchases during the first three months after account opening.
• $95 for each year.
• Automatic Marriott Silver Elite perks; if you spend $35,000 in a single account year, you’ll also receive a Gold Elite upgrade.
• Get 15 elite night credits annually.6 points for every $1 spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3 points for every dollar spent annually (up to $6,000) on combined purchases from grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants, and 2 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. After the account’s anniversary, you’ll also be eligible for a free night award (worth up to 35,000 points).

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card 

Earn 75,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points with the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card after spending $3,000 in the first three months.

• $125 yearly fee
• 6 points for every $1 spent at hotels that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy® programme, 4 points for every $1 spent at restaurants around the globe, at gas stations in the United States, on wireless phone services bought directly from U.S. service providers, and 2 points for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Every year following the month of your card renewal, receive 1 free night (certain hotels have resort fees).
• After using your card for purchases totaling $60,000 in a calendar year, earn a further Free Night Award. One-night stays are permitted with awards (redemption levels at or less 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy).

4. Bonvoy Points purchase

One of the quickest ways to acquire Bonvoy points is to purchase them, but you will have to pay for the convenience. Purchasing any kind of point or mile is seldom ever profitable and should almost never be done on the open market. In reality, topping off an account for a redemption should be the only time buying points should be taken into account. Visit the storefront at points.com to purchase Bonvoy points. You will not be eligible for any hotel spending bonuses you might have on your credit card because the points are sold through Points.com. Your Marriott Bonvoy account must first be logged into. After that, you can complete the form and proceed according to the instructions.

A maximum of 100,000 Bonvoy points may be purchased annually by members. For $12.50 per 1,000 points, bonvoy points can be acquired in 1,000-point increments. Marriott frequently conducts specials where you can get a bonus for purchasing Bonvoy points, hence lowering the price.

5. Eat Around the Town Rewards

Gaining additional Bonvoy points is always beneficial, and it’s even better when you can do it by using them to pay for items you would otherwise buy, like dining. Earning Bonvoy points when dining out is possible thanks to the Marriott Eat Around Town dining rewards programme. You must login in to your Eat Around Town Dining Rewards account to start earning. You’ll be asked to join the programme as soon as you log in.

The next step after registering is to connect your credit card to your account. To receive bonus Bonvoy points, you must use the associated card at participating establishments. The Eat Around Town search engine can be used to locate a restaurant that qualifies. When ordering from specific restaurants online, you can also earn Bonvoy points.

6. Earn With Partners

Additionally, Marriott offers points through its affiliates:

Earn Bonvoy points when using specific Uber services—

UBER: If you place an Uber Eats order for $25 or more and choose to have it delivered to any Marriott property, you can earn up to 6 Bonvoy points. Additionally, when you schedule an Uber XL, Uber Black, Uber SUV, or Uber Comfort ride, you can earn 3 Bonvoy points. Finally, when the sum of your UberEats orders is $25 or more, you’ll earn 2 Bonvoy points. To start making money, be sure to connect your Marriott and Uber accounts.

Hertz: When you link your Marriott account to Hertz, you can receive exclusive discounts and earn Bonvoy points. Through June 30, 2022, members can receive 500 Bonvoy points for one-day rentals and 2,000 Bonvoy points for two-day or longer rentals at eligible locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, and New Zealand.

HOW TO USE MARRIOTT BONVOY POINTS? 

Many different things can be done using Marriott Bonvoy points. As previously mentioned, hotel stays are the main usage for Marriott Bonvoy points. Marriott will start using dynamic rewards pricing in April 2022 depending on shifting demand.

In addition, keep in mind that if you don’t have any qualifying activity from the previous 24 months, your Marriott Bonvoy points will expire. Making a purchase with a Marriott credit card, staying at a hotel, earning points through a Marriott Bonvoy partner, redeeming points, or buying points are all considered qualifying activities.

Partners in airline transfers

• A transfer of 3 Marriott Bonvoy programme points for 1 airline frequent flier mile is also possible to more than 40 airline partners. Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy will add 5,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 points transferred to a frequent flier account, giving members a total of 25,000 miles in the airline programme of their choice.
• Additionally, Priority Pass, TSA Precheck, shopping, or charitable donations can be made using Marriott Bonvoy, which can also be used for air travel or vehicle rentals. All of these, nevertheless, might not be the best uses of points because they frequently turn out to be undervalued as compared to using points for frequent flyer miles or hotel upgrades.

Room booking

• Marriott offers a number of ways to get free nights, including using points, points and cash, free night certificates, and hotel and airfare bundles.

Points

• You must comprehend Marriott’s room pricing in order to use points to book award nights. Early in 2022, Marriott abandoned its regular category-based award charts entirely and resorted to a dynamic pricing scheme. Demand currently determines prices. 
• The process of looking for award nights is unchanged. But the prize price will vary, sometimes even day to day, rather than being known according to category.
• The following property fluctuates between 70,000 and 76,000 Bonvoy points per night. Fortunately, Marriott has made it simple to search a variety of nights, so if you are flexible, you may look for and benefit from the less expensive evenings. 
• The search calendar for Marriott must be opened. You will conduct a typical search as is always the case. After choosing your property, move your cursor up to the “Dates” column. Select “Flexible Dates” from the menu. 
• Your search will change such that you can select from months rather than specific calendar dates. Simply select the desired month, click “Done,” and then select “View Rates.” Marriott will now display the rates for each and every night that is offered. As you can see, prices differ greatly.

Cash + Points

• Another way to use your Bonvoy points to book award nights is using Cash + Points. With this choice, you can pay for the night using a combination of points and cash. 
• Not all properties are available for this option, but if you don’t have enough points to finish your reservation, you can still purchase points at the time of booking. 
• It should be noted that award nights are eligible for the fifth night free promotion, however Points + Cash rates are not. Access the Points + Cash booking page to check for availability and redeem.

Certificates

• For Titanium elites, Marriott offers a variety of free night certificates through their credit cards as well as an annual award choice benefit where you may select from a number of advantages, one of which is a free night certificate good for up to 40,000 Bonvoy points. 
• The certificates are good for a year and can be redeemed for regular rooms.
• The following credit cards offer a reward that includes a free night certificate. Some properties may charge resort fees. Each year following the account anniversary, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers a free night worth up to 35,000 points.
• Free night worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® points each year following the account anniversary. Rules apply.
• Free night worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® points each year following the account anniversary. Rules apply. 
• Additional cards that provide free night certificates are also available, but they are no longer accepting new applications.

For rooms costing up to 35,000 Bonvoy points, the first kind of certificate is acceptable. Additionally, the following voucher allows for redemptions of up to 50,000 Bonvoy points per night. Members can now “top off” their award certificates with Marriott. You can now book a higher-category hotel by combining up to 15,000 Bonvoy points with a free night prize. You may now use free night certificates at hotels that demand 50,000 or 65,000 points, respectively, thanks to the free night top-off.

MARRIOTT BONVOY PERKS

If you’re thinking about joining Marriott BonvoyThis is a selection of many of the most beneficial and practical Marriott Bonvoy perks rather than a full list of all of them. Marriott Bonvoy offers many compelling reasons to think about joining, regardless of whether you are currently a hotel loyalist “free agent” or holding status with another chain.

1. Elite status levels pay off as soon as you sign up.

Obtaining elite hotel status is one of the best methods to enhance your overall trip enjoyment. As you advance through the five levels, the advantages of Marriott Bonvoy elite membership become more significant and opulent. The perks begin as soon as you sign up.

2. It’s simple to earn points.

As a Bonvoy member, you can earn a lot of points on paid stays, with bonuses ranging from 10% for Silver Elite members to 75% for Titanium or Ambassador Elite members. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card all offer welcome bonuses in addition to earning points each time you use the card. These cards can increase your ability to accrue points. Rules apply. You can also transfer AmEx Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Marriott Bonvoy to complete the points in your account.

3. Using points is simple.

You’re certain to discover the perfect accommodation because Marriott provides a large selection of hotels across the world, from luxurious to affordable. Additionally, since award nights begin at just 5,000 points per night, you may simply book an award stay.

4. Points can be converted into airline miles.

More than 40 airline partners from all of the main alliances accept transfers of Marriott Bonvoy points. For the majority of schemes, points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, so if you transfer 3,000 Marriott points, you’ll receive 1,000 airline miles.

5. United Airlines Premier Silver Status is free if you have high-tier Marriott status.

This is a priceless perk that can save you money (by waiving luggage fees and reducing change/cancellation penalties), as well as get you better seats, extra miles, and other perks. Once you’ve attained Marriott Bonvoy Titanium status, make sure to take advantage of this benefit if you even sometimes fly United.

6. You may grant yourself a “points advance.”

If you don’t have enough points in your account to reserve the desired award stay, you can still do so and pay the points back when you do, as long as you have enough points within 14 days of your arrival. This provides you much more planning flexibility.

 7. Stay for five, pay for four

One of those nights will be free when you book a stay for five or more nights using Marriott points. With longer stays, this also functions. For instance, if you stay for 10 nights, you’ll receive two free nights. Additionally, you can combine this benefit with the PointSavers deal. Important detailsYour stay must include consecutive nights. The full stay must be paid for using points; cash and points are not permitted. The complimentary night is applied to your reservation’s least expensive night. Reservations are only accepted for regular rooms.

SIX THINGS TO CONSIDER THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE SIGNING UP FOR MARRIOTT BONVOY? 

Marriott has thousands of locations in its portfolio across the world and is arguably one of the most well-known hotel chains in the United States. If you occasionally stay at a Marriott resort, you might be interested in learning more about their reward programme and deciding whether it would be beneficial to sign up.

We’ve compiled some of the key distinctions between the Marriott Bonvoy programme and the competition, including its lucrative elite status programme and the variety of ways to accrue and redeem points.

1. There is no cost to join Marriott Bonvoy.

Does it cost money to join Marriott Bonvoy? No. It’s totally free of cost. The points you accumulate as a member can be exchanged for hotel stays, hotel privileges (when you achieve elite level), gifts, or experiences. It’s easy to exchange points for a free night at Marriott. Dynamic award pricing, which relates award rates to demand, is used by Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy periodically offers discounts on stays at several of its properties through the PointSavers programme, which can cut the redemption rate by up to 20%. nts. Before signing up for Marriott Bonvoy, consider the following seven considerations. Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy Moments enables members to bid on or purchase unique experiences using their points.This could include, for instance, tickets to luxury seats at a concert or VIP access to sporting events like the US Grand Prix.

2. The number of Marriott Bonvoy hotels exceeds 8,000.

There is a Marriott Bonvoy hotel to suit every preference with more than 8,000 locations worldwide. The loyalty programme for 30 brands, including Homes & Villas by Marriott International, is called Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy points may get you anywhere in the world, whether you’re seeking for a cosy night’s rest at a Fairfield Inn & Suites or an opulent getaway at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis.

3. There are other ways to earn points besides paying for hotel stays.

There are numerous options for Marriott Bonvoy members to continue earning points for future free stays. You will earn award stays more quickly if you employ additional methods of collecting points.

• finish a paid stay at a Marriott location.

• Make a reservation at a Marriott property for a business meeting or event.
• Utilize a credit card with the Marriott Bonvoy co-brand.
• Hire a vehicle from Hertz.
• Book a cruise that qualifies.
• Eat at establishments that are a part of the Eat Around Town initiative.
• Uber and Uber Eats both let you order trips and food.

Purchases made through ShopMarriott.com, which carries furniture, bedding, pillows, and other amenities utilized at Marriott properties.

If you’re a new member who wishes to redeem a large amount of money but doesn’t have enough Marriott Bonvoy points, you can transfer points into Marriott at a 1:1 ratio from American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

4. After a year, Marriott points expire.

After 24 months of inactivity, Marriott points become invalid. Your entire balance will be extended for another 24 months as long as you have engaged in an eligible activity at least once in the two years since you last earned points. You must engage in at least one of the following acceptable activities to prevent your Marriott points from expiring:

• finishing a paid or reward stay.
• Non-stay hotel expenses are credited to your account.
• Make a transaction using a credit card that has the Marriott Bonvoy co-brand.
• Transfer points from a rewards scheme with flexibility.
• Purchase Marriott Bonvoy miles.
• Earn airline miles by converting Marriott points.
• Plan a gathering or an occasion at a venue that qualifies.
• Visit the retail and travel partners of Marriott.

5. You can become an elite member by booking a particular number of nights each year.

• The benefits on subsequent stays will start flowing once you have accumulated enough points to be eligible for Marriott Bonvoy elite membership. Marriott Bonvoy offers multiple status levels to its most loyal customers, including Ambassador Elite, Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, and Titanium Elite. With each degree of status you reach, the benefits increase. 
• You receive additional benefits the longer you remain. For instance, Platinum Elite and higher members get access to club lounges where breakfast and drinks are served, while Gold Elite and higher members may be eligible for a complimentary hotel upgrade (depending on availability). 
• Depending on your elite level, you also get additional points for every dollar you spend. You may be able to earn up to 10x points for every dollar spent, depending on the hotel. Additionally, Titanium Elite and top-level Ambassador Elite members receive a 75% bonus, while Silver Elite members receive a 10% bonus. 
• Free breakfast, a welcome amenity, late checkout, and faster Wi-Fi are some additional perks of elite status (depending on your level of status). For instance, if you have Platinum Elite status or higher, you can choose to get free breakfast at Aloft locations, where you can order from a trendy menu that includes Nutella waffles, Funfetti and maple-glazed cinnamon rolls, and a plant-based sandwich with Beyond Meat’s signature breakfast sausage. 
• Due to a unique connection between Marriott and United Airlines, United MileagePlus customers who have Premier Gold or higher status immediately qualify for Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite level. Members who qualify may link their accounts for immediate status.

6. With a membership or cards with Marriott Bonvoy, you can achieve elite status and accumulate points more quickly.

Using your newfound knowledge of elite status and points, there is a quick route to achieving it with Marriott Bonvoy-affiliated credit cards. Obtaining these cards and satisfying certain spending requirements might result in quick elite status and additional points.

For instance:

• Silver Elite level is granted by the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. This is the quickest and most affordable option to instantly achieve elite membership with Marriott Bonvoy because the card has no annual charge.

• The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card also grants Silver Elite status and a free night award (worth up to 35,000 points) each year after your card renewal month in exchange for a $95 annual fee.

• For eligible purchases at restaurants throughout the world, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card gives Platinum Elite status and up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year (up to $25 per month). The $650 annual charge may be justified by additional benefits like a Free Night Award (worth up to 85,000 points) given each year following the card’s account anniversary. Rules apply.
• Among other advantages, the Platinum Card® from American Express provides instant Gold Elite status. enrollment is necessary. Rules apply.
• You can start accumulating Marriott Bonvoy points right away even if you don’t have any imminent plans to stay at a hotel. One fast method to do it is using a card connected with Marriott Bonvoy.

PROS AND CONS 

Even though the Marriott Bonvoy programme has the broadest reach of any hotel reward programme, it undoubtedly has advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless, some of the main advantages and disadvantages depend on your travel style, desire for elite rank, and point-spending preferences. The Marriott Bonvoy rewards programme has the following advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

Over 7,000 hotels and resorts are available. Due to its extensive network of properties, the Marriott Bonvoy rewards programme is among the best hotel loyalty programmes. When it comes to earning points from stays, you have more choices, and you also have more options for using your points when you’re ready.

The “guarding” of Marriott’s elite status tiers is excellent. 

There are ways to obtain Marriott Bonvoy status, but you can only advance a limited number of tiers without regularly booking physical stays at the company’s hotels. For customers who frequently travel for work or pleasure, this is fantastic. Elite status is more precious the less people there are who have it.

Free fifth night during award stays

The hotel’s Stay for 5, Pay for 4 programme rewards Marriott loyalty club members for longer award stays. You will get the lowest point-value night for free for every five consecutive nights booked at a single hotel using Marriott Bonvoy points.

This is useful if you’re thinking about adding an extra night to your trip because obtaining five nights for the price of four isn’t a bad deal. It’s possible that you’ll just need to use 40,000 points to redeem a 50,000-point prize stay.

Beyond hotel stays, there are other ways to earn points.

Since paid hotel stays are the main way that Bonvoy members accrue points, it may seem impossible to accumulate enough points if you don’t travel frequently. Thankfully, there are additional methods to acquire Marriott points. For instance, as a transfer partner for the American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards® programmes, Marriott allows members to exchange their points for Marriott Bonvoy points. In addition, there are a number of credit cards that reward you with Marriott Bonvoy points for everyday purchases in addition to those made at Marriott properties. Most of these cards offer new cardholders who meet a minimum spending requirement in the first few months thousands of welcome bonus points.

It’s simple to gain points. 

Marriott offers a variety of options to earn points for hotel stays. On the majority of paid stays, members receive a base rate of 10X points per $1 spent, and Marriott credit cards make it simple to increase your rewards.

Cons

Status is hard to obtain: 

Top elite status can only be attained with numerous stays, whereas lower elite status can be automatically obtained using a credit card bearing the Marriott co-brand. In comparison, you can earn the highest level of Hilton Diamond status simply by applying for the American Express Hilton Honors Aspire Card.

Points could expire.

Unfortunately, if you don’t have any qualifying activity from the previous 24 months, your Marriott Bonvoy points will expire. Making a purchase with a Marriott credit card, staying at a hotel, earning points through a Marriott Bonvoy partner, redeeming points, or buying points are all qualifying actions. Giving or transferring points to another member or receiving points as a gift or transfer for yourself are a few examples of acts that don’t qualify.

Resort costs are not waived for award stays: Marriott charges resort fees for individuals who prefer to stay in more opulent hotels. There are no similar costs for award stays at other well-known hotels like Hilton and Hyatt. Before making your next reservation, check the resort fees because they can occasionally cost up to $100 per night.

There is no assurance that you will locate a room for points.

It can be very upsetting to spend months or even years building up points for a redemption just to find out that the Marriott hotel you’ve been admiring in the Caribbean is booked for your vacation dates. The amount of award nights that can be booked using Bonvoy points at each hotel may be restricted, making Marriott’s award night availability policy less lenient than that of other chains. This means that reward nights may not be available at popular hotels during periods of high travel demand. However, while trying to book a Marriott stay with points, you’ll often discover more possibilities if you can change your travel dates or don’t have your heart set on a specific resort.

Dynamic pricing: 

Marriott’s programme will switch to dynamic pricing in March 2022, but it now uses a set award chart. This means that depending on the demand and other circumstances, hotels will have varying point requirements.

FAQ

How can I earnMarriott Bonvoy points ?

A paid stay at a Marriott property, the scheduling of a meeting or an event there, the use of a co-branded Marriott credit card, eating at establishments that are a part of the Eat Around Town programme, ordering food or rides with Uber, or booking a cruise or rental car through one of Marriott’s partners are all ways to accrue points. Additionally, you can transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio from American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Do Marriott points have a lifespan or they are for lifetime?

After 24 months of inactivity, Marriott points become invalid. Your whole amount will be valid for an additional 24 months after you conduct an eligible activity, such as using a Marriott credit card to make purchases, staying at a Marriott, transferring points to a Marriott, or purchasing Marriott points.

What is the background of Marriott International?

J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott launched the business in 1927. Their son, J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr., spent more than 50 years transforming the family firm into one of the top hospitality organizations in the world. Currently, Bill Marriott serves as both executive chairman and board chairman for Marriott.

Who are Marriott International’s current executives?

Bill Marriott was succeeded as President and CEO of Marriott by Arne M. Sorenson in March 2012, following fifteen years in executive positions inside the business. In the history of the business, Mr. Sorenson is the third CEO. Discover more about our senior leadership.

Which credit card for Marriott Rewards is the best?

There is a Marriott credit card that is appropriate for you based on your spending patterns. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card could be worthwhile if you frequently book accommodations through Marriott. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase is a popular choice among users. As a result of its yearly free night certificate, this is a good option.

When will my Marriott Bonvoy account receive the points I earned?

The points you earn for eligible flights will be posted to your Marriott Bonvoy Member Account two to four weeks after the eligible flight has been completed if you are signed up for Your World Rewards and are a Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, or Ambassador Elite Member.

CONCLUSION

The  Marriott Bonvoy programme is appropriate for such a vast and varied collection of lodgings. In addition to being transferable to more airline partners than any other programme in the world at a higher rate, Bonvoy points can be utilized to enter once-in-a-lifetime events. Marriott Bonvoy should be a part of any traveler’s strategy since Bonvoy credit cards are an excellent tool to quickly advance in status and because there are so many accommodations available at all price points. It goes without saying that Marriott Bonvoy is my preferred hotel loyalty programme due to its strong global presence, the simplicity with which Canadians can earn points, the generous elite qualification and benefits, the wide selection of opulent properties that catch my eye for an upcoming redemption, and the unmatched flexibility provided by its 40+ airline transfer partners. However, the application does have some real flaws that could limit its usefulness for specific kinds of travelers. The programme complements both high-end and low-end travel types well, but it doesn’t provide the best value for the “average” traveler. In addition, the elite programme might be strengthened in a variety of ways, from greater brand standards to more distinctive incentives at the upper levels.