The Basics of Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy has the highest number of guest rooms of any hotel portfolio globally—more than 1.5 million rooms across 141 countries. That means the chances you’ve stayed at one of the 30 different Marriott brands is high.

If you’re a frequent or even occasional guest at Marriott properties, there are a myriad of ways that you can earn points as well as elite status. That equals out to more award stays, more frequently.

Here’s the ultimate guide to the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program.

Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status Tiers: Overview

Here’s an overview of the six tiers of Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status plus an insight into Lifetime Elite Status.

Elite Status Tier	How to Qualify	Benefits
Member	• Sign up for a Marriott Bonvoy account	• Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi • Exclusive member rates • Mobile check-in and key
Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	• Stay at Marriott properties for 10 nights within a year, or • Hold the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card	• 10% points boost on eligible hotel purchases • Priority late checkout • Exclusive member rates • Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	• Stay at Marriott properties for 25 nights within a year, or • Hold the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express® Card	• 25% points boost on eligible hotel purchases • 2 p.m. late checkout, subject to availability • Enhanced room upgrades, subject to availability • Welcome gift (Marriott Bonvoy points)
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite	• Stay at Marriott properties for 50 nights within a year, or • Hold the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	• 50% points boost on eligible hotel purchases • 4 p.m. late checkoutEnhanced room upgrades, subject to availability • Welcome gift—points, breakfast offering or amenity • Guaranteed hotel lounge access and complimentary breakfast, subject to availability • Annual Choice Benefit Award
Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite	• Stay at Marriott properties for 75 nights within a year	• 75% points boost on eligible hotel purchases • 4 p.m. late checkout • Enhanced room upgrades, subject to availability • Welcome gift—points, breakfast offering or amenity • Guaranteed hotel lounge access and complimentary breakfast, subject to availability • 48 hour room booking guarantee • Complimentary Hertz Five Star® status • Complimentary United Silver Premier status • Two annual Choice Benefit Awards • Priority check-in and boarding with Emirates
Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite	• Stay at Marriott properties for 100 nights within a year and spend $23,000 in qualifying purchases annually	• 75% points boost on eligible hotel purchases • 4 p.m. late checkout • Enhanced room upgrades, subject to availability • Welcome gift—points, breakfast offering or amenity • Guaranteed hotel lounge access and complimentary breakfast, subject to availability • 48 hour room booking guarantee • Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle® status • Complimentary United Silver Premier status • Priority check-in and boarding with Emirates
Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Elite Status	• For Lifetime Silver Elite: 250 qualifying nights plus five years as Silver Elite or higher • For Lifetime Gold Elite: 400 qualifying nights plus seven years as Gold Elite or higher • For Lifetime Platinum Elite: 600 qualifying nights plus 10 years as Platinum Elite or higher	• Permanent benefits at the given membership tier • Points never expire

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points, for a total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points)

after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card!

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Marriott Bonvoy Member

Marriott Bonvoy’s Member status is its basic level of membership, so all you have to do to achieve this status is sign up for an account. You can stay as few as zero and as many as nine nights to remain within the Member status tier.

You’ll receive exclusive member rates, complimentary in-room Wi-Fi and mobile check-in and keys.

Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite

Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the first elite status tier.

Silver members enjoy all the benefits of Member status, in addition to a 10% points boost on eligible hotel purchases and priority late checkout.

To qualify, you’ll need to stay at Marriott properties for 10 nights within a year or hold the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status is the next level of elite status.

Gold Elite members receive a 25% points boost on eligible hotel purchases, a welcome gift (Marriott Bonvoy points), enhanced room upgrades and 2 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability).

To qualify for Gold Elite status, you’ll need to stay at Marriott properties for 25 nights within a year or hold the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express® Card.

Frequent travelers may be able to earn Gold Elite status through staying with Marriott. Otherwise, your best bet will be to open one of the eligible credit cards that includes Gold Elite status as a complimentary perk.

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status is the next step after Gold Elite status.

Platinum Elite members enjoy a 50% points boost on eligible hotel purchases, 4 p.m. late checkout, guaranteed hotel lounge access and enhanced room upgrades (subject to availability). You’ll receive a welcome gift of either points, a breakfast offering or hotel amenity with every stay.

When booking a stay at Marriott properties, you’ll benefit from a 48-hour room guarantee, which guarantees you a room when you book by 3 p.m. 48 hours before your arrival.

Platinum Elite members are also entitled to an Annual Choice Benefit Award, which they can choose from the following:

• Five Nightly Upgrade Awards to redeem for upgrades to select Premium Rooms or Standard Suites
• $1,000 discount on your purchase of a bed from any Marriott Bonvoy retail brand
• The ability to gift Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status to a family member or friend
• Support the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund by donating $100 
• Support the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) by donating $100 
• Support the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) by donating $100 
• Five Elite Night Credits

To qualify for Platinum Elite status, you need to stay at Marriott properties for 50 nights within a year or hold the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.

Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite

After Platinum Elite, the next tier of Marriott Bonvoy status is Titanium Elite.

Titanium Elite members enjoy a 75% points boost on eligible hotel purchases, in addition to all of the benefits enjoyed by Platinum Elite members.

Titanium Elite members also receive complimentary Hertz Five Star® status and United Silver Premier status. Through Marriott Bonvoy’s partnership with Emirates, Titanium Elite members receive priority check-in and boarding when flying with Emirates.

Lastly, Titanium Elite members get to choose two annual Choice Benefit Awards. The awards are the same as those for Platinum Elite members, with the addition of the following two options: 

• A Free Night Award with a redemption value of up to 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
• The ability to gift Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status to a family member or friend

To qualify for Titanium Elite status, you’ll need to stay at Marriott properties for 75 nights within a year.

Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite

Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite status is the top tier of Marriott status.

Ambassador Elite members enjoy all the benefits of Titanium Elite status, in addition to complimentary Hertz President’s Circle® status, Ambassador Service and Your24 (a service enabling you to choose your own check-in and checkout times).

To qualify for Ambassador Elite status, you need to stay at Marriott properties for 100 nights within a year and spend $23,000 in qualifying purchases annually.

Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Elite Status

Marriott recognizes loyal guests who have earned elite status year upon year and have accumulated a certain number of nights. Marriott rewards these guests with Lifetime Elite status, which gives you the benefits of a specific elite status tier permanently and protects your points from expiry.

To earn Lifetime Silver Elite status, you’ll need a total of 250 qualifying nights plus five years at Silver Elite status or higher. To earn Lifetime Gold Elite status, you’ll need a total of 400 qualifying nights plus seven years at Gold Elite status or higher. And to receive Lifetime Platinum Elite status, you’ll need a total of 600 qualifying nights plus 10 years at Platinum Elite status or higher.

What Are Marriott Bonvoy Elite Night Credits?

For every night you spend at a Marriott Bonvoy property, you’ll receive one Elite Night Credit. Elite Night Credits help to earn you status.

For award stays, you’ll earn Elite Night Credits on the room you stay in only—other rooms paid for by the award stay will be ineligible for Elite Night Credits.

There are some exceptions to earning Elite Night Credits to be aware of. At Protea Hotels, City Express and Four Points Express properties, you’ll earn one Elite Night Credit for every two Qualifying Nights you stay. Similarly, at Marriott Executive Apartments, you’ll receive one Elite Night Credit for every three Qualifying Nights you stay. 

One of the most cost-effective ways to earn Elite Night Credits is through holding a co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit card. Among their many perks, each of these cards offers between five and 25 annual Elite Night Credits, offering a significant amount of value. Here’s an overview of the number of Elite Night Credits you’ll receive every year you hold the following cards:

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card—Five Elite Night Credits
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card—15 Elite Night Credits
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card—15 Elite Night Credits
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card—15 Elite Night Credits
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express® Card—15 Elite Night Credits
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card—25 Elite Night Credits

Keep in mind that Elite Night Credits don’t rollover to the next calendar year. That means your Elite Night Credit count will reset to zero on Jan. 1 every year.

How to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points

Marriott Bonvoy points can be redeemed for luxury award stays or even transferred to airline partners. But before you start dreaming about award redemptions, you first have to start earning Marriott points.

Here are the top ways that you can earn Marriott Bonvoy points.

Stay With Marriott Bonvoy Properties

The most traditional way to earn points with Marriott Bonvoy is by staying at one of the properties in its portfolio. With more than 7,000 properties worldwide, that isn’t much of a challenge.

The number of points you earn on stays is tied to the cash price you pay per night, the type of property and your elite status tier.

All members earn a base rate of 10X points per dollar spent on stays. Silver Elite members will have this rate boosted by 10%, Gold Elite members by 25%, Platinum Elite members by 50% and Titanium and Ambassador Elite members by 75%.

However, there are some exceptions to this rewards rate.

Specifically, you’ll earn 5X points per dollar spent on stays at the following properties:

• Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy
• City Express by Marriott
• Element®
• Four Points Express by Sheraton
• Homes and Villas by Marriott International
• Protea Hotels by Marriott
• Residence Inn® by Marriott
• TownePlace Suites® by Marriott Hotels

Likewise, you’ll earn 2.5X points per dollar spent at Marriott Executive Apartments.

Event Hosting and Meetings

If you host a meeting or an event at an eligible Marriott property, you can earn up to 60,000 points—if you have Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite status, you can earn up to 105,000 points.

Specifically, you can earn up to 60,000 points per event on eligible room, food, beverages and audio/visual charges, at a rate of 2X points per dollar spent. You’ll also earn one Elite Night credit for every 20 room nights you book, with a maximum earning cap of 20 Elite Night Credits per event.

Here’s an overview of the earning caps based on your elite status:

• Member—60,000 points
• Silver Elite—66,000 points
• Gold Elite—75,000 points
• Platinum Elite—90,000 points
• TItanium Elite—105,000 points
• Ambassador Elite—105,000 points

Keep in mind that the following properties are ineligible for event hosting: 

• Bulgari Hotels and Resorts
• Design Hotels
• Homes & Villas by Marriott International
• Marriott Executive Apartments
• Residence Inn
• Ritz-Carlton Hidden Boutique Resort
• TownePlace Suites
• Vistana Hotel

So if you’re planning on hosting an event, partnering with Marriott can earn you a significant number of points. 

Marriott Bonvoy Dining Rewards

You can enroll in Marriott Bonvoy’s dining program, Eat Around Town, and earn Marriott points at more than 11,000 restaurants.

All you need to do is log into the Eat Around Town website using your Marriott account details and link a credit card. You can take advantage of the search tool to find participating restaurants in your area.

Members will earn 4X points per dollar spent at participating restaurants, while those with Silver Elite status or higher will earn 6X points.

This is an easy way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, which can add up over the year.

Marriott Bonvoy Tours and Activities

Marriott Bonvoy partners with Travel Curious to offer a wide range of global tours and activities. By booking these tours and activities through Marriott, you can earn anywhere between 200 to 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

The number of points you earn is tied to the cash cost of the activity or tour.

Whether it’s a sunset sail in Aruba, ATV tour in Ubud or wine tasting in Napa, you can earn thousands of Marriott Bonvoy points on the experience. 

Spending With Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

One of the most convenient and lucrative ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is through spending with a Marriott co-branded credit card.

Marriott Bonvoy cards are issued by Chase and American Express, with annual fees ranging from $0 to $650.

You’ll also enjoy a lucrative welcome offer, complimentary Elite Night Credits, complimentary elite status, travel insurance perks and in some cases a free night award.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card offers the following benefits for a $0 annual fee:

• 3X points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 2X points for every $1 spent on purchases at grocery stores
• 2X points for every $1 spent on rideshare and select food delivery purchases
• 2X points for every $1 spent on select streaming, internet, cable and phone services
• 1X points on all other purchases
• Complimentary Silver Elite Status
• Five annual Elite Night Credits
• Baggage Delay Insurance
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement
• Trip Delay Reimbursement
• No foreign transaction fees

For a $95 annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers a wider range of perks, including:

• 6X total points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 3X points for every $1 on the first on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations and dining (2X points thereafter)
• 2X points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases
• Annual free night award, valid for a one night stay with a redemption value of up to 35,000 points
• One Elite Night Credit toward Elite Status for every $5,000 spent
• 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
• Complimentary Silver Elite Status
• Upgrade to Gold Elite Status after spending $35,000 within a calendar year
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Trip delay reimbursement
• No foreign transaction fees 

For the frequent guest of Marriott Bonvoy properties looking for luxury perks, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card offers the following benefits for a $250 annual fee:

• 6X total points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4X points on the first $15,000 in combined purchases each year on grocery stores and dining (2X points thereafter)
• 2X points on all other purchases
• Complimentary Gold Elite Status
• 1,000 bonus points per eligible stay at Marriott hotels
• 15 Elite Night Credits issued to your account annually
• If you spend $15,000 in a calendar year, you’ll receive a free night award for Marriott properties up to the 50,000 point level
• Baggage Delay Insurance
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement
• Trip Delay Reimbursement
• No foreign transaction fees

If you’d prefer an American Express issued card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express® Card offers many of the same benefits as the Bountiful for the same annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees):

• 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 4X points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and supermarkets per calendar year; 2X points thereafter
• 2X points on all other purchases
• 1,000 bonus points per eligible stay made with properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• Complimentary Gold Elite Status
• 15 Elite Night Credits issued to your account annually
• No foreign transaction fees
• Spend $15,000 with your card in a calendar year and receive one free night award at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy with a maximum equivalent redemption level of 50,000 points
• Baggage insurance plan
• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Trip delay insurance

If you’re a small business owner looking for elite perks with Marriott, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers the following perks for an annual fee of $125 (see rates & fees):

• 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4X points at restaurants worldwide
• 4X points at U.S. gas stations
• 4X points on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
• 4X points on U.S. shipping purchases
• 2X points on all other purchases
• Complimentary Gold Elite Status
• 7% discount on bookings when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate
• Annual free night award with the opportunity to receive a second free night award after spending $60,000 within a calendar year, for use at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy with a maximum equivalent redemption level 35,000 points
• 15 Elite Night Credits issued to your account annually
• No foreign transaction fees
• Baggage insurance plan
• Car rental loss and damage insurance

Lastly, if you’re a frequent Marriott Bonvoy guest looking for the ultimate when it comes to rewards, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the perfect fit, offering the following benefits for a $650 annual fee (see rates & fees):

• 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 3X points on restaurants worldwide
• 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
• 2X points on all other purchases
• $300 annual dining statement credit for restaurant purchases worldwide, given in $25 monthly increments
• $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a minimum stay of two nights
• Annual free night award valid for use at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy with a maximum redemption value of 85,000 points
• Complimentary Platinum Elite status
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
• Spend $60,000 within a calendar year and receive one Earned Choice Award benefit, including: five Nightly Upgrade Awards, an additional free night award with a maximum equivalent redemption value of up to 85,000 points or $1,000 off a bed from any Marriott Bonvoy retail brand
• 25 complimentary Elite Night credits issued to your account annually
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck application fee (when applying through a TSA official enrollment provider), in each case when charged to your eligible American Express card
• No foreign transaction fees
• Cell phone protection insurance plan
• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Baggage insurance plan
• Trip delay insurance
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Overall, there’s a co-branded Marriott card for everyone, whether you stay with Marriott twice a year or twice a month.

When Do Marriott Bonvoy Points Expire?

Marriott Bonvoy points won’t stay with you indefinitely—that’s unless you have a Lifetime Membership account. For all other account types, your Marriott Bonvoy points will expire after 24 months of account inactivity.

To prevent your points from expiring, all you need to do is earn or redeem Marriott Bonvoy points. You can do one of the following to prevent your account from expiring:

• Stay with Marriott
• Enroll and dine with restaurants participating in Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy
• Host an event with a Marriott Bonvoy hotel
• Spend with a co-branded Chase or American Express Marriott Bonvoy credit card
• Purchase points online
• Convert your points to miles or convert miles to Marriott Bonvoy points
• Book a Marriott Bonvoy tour or activity
• Redeem your points for an award stay

Every time you do one of the qualifying activities above, the expiration clock will reset on your stock of points. 

Keep in mind that gifting or transferring points to someone doesn’t count as account activity.

How to Redeem Marriott Bonvoy Points

Marriott Bonvoy prices its award stays dynamically, meaning the number of points required is tied to the cash price. Nevertheless, you can still often get good value for your points by redeeming them during periods of high demand.

You can take advantage of Marriott’s booking portal by selecting “Dates are Flexible”—this feature allows you to compare award rates across the entire month. 

When you book a consecutive five-night award stay with Marriott, you’ll get the night requiring the lowest number of points for free. This is one of Marriott’s top perks when it comes to redeeming your points.

You can also book with Cash + Points or use a Free Night Award in combination with up to 15,000 points, enabling higher redemptions. That means if you want to redeem your free night award (worth 35,000 points) for a stay requiring 50,000 points, you can make up the 15,000 point difference with existing points in your account.

The more flexible you are with dates, the better the chance you’ll have of getting solid value for your points.

Transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points to Airline Partners

Marriott Bonvoy partners with 40 airline frequent flyer rewards programs, to whom you can transfer your points.

With a couple of exceptions, points transfer at a 3:1 ratio. When you transfer your points to a frequent flyer program, you’ll get 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points you transfer to airline miles. 

And for Marriott Bonvoy points transferred to the United MileagePlus program, you’ll get a 10,000 mileage boost for every 60,000 points transferred.

Transfers to airline partners can take up to seven days, so keep that in mind if flight award availability is limited. Likewise, point transfers to American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles and Delta SkyMiles aren’t eligible for the 5,000 point boost.

Frequent Flyer Program	Points : Miles
Aegean Miles+Bonus	3:1
Aer Lingus AerClub	3:1
Aeromexico ClubPremier	3:1
Air Canada Aeroplan	3:1
Air China PhoenixMiles	3:1
Air France-KLM Flying Blue	3:1
Air New Zealand AirPoint	200:1
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan	3:1
American Airlines AAdvantage®	3:1
ANA Mileage Club	3:1
Asiana Airlines Asiana Club	3:1
Avianca LifeMiles	3:1
British Airways Executive Club	3:1
Cathay Pacific Cathay	3:1
China Southern Airlines Sky Pearl Club	3:1
Copa Airlines ConnectMiles	3:1
Delta SkyMiles®	3:1
Emirates Skywards®	3:1
Etihad Guest	3:1
Frontier Miles	3:1
Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club	3:1
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles®	3:1
Iberia Plus	3:1
Iberia Plus	3:1
InterMiles	3:1
Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank	3:1
LATAM Airlines LATAM Pass	3:1
Multiplus Fidelidade LATAM Pass	3:1
Qantas Frequent Flyer	3:1
Qatar Airways Privilege Club	3:1
Saudia Alfursan	3:1
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer®	3:1
Southwest Rapid Rewards®	3:1
TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go	3:1
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus	3:1
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles	3:1
United MileagePlus®	3:1
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	3:1
Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer	3:1
Vueling Club	3:1

Final Thoughts

With a range of ways to earn points and solid options to redeem them, Marriott Bonvoy points can play a key part in your points and miles strategy. Understanding how to earn them, how to achieve elite status and how to maximize their value will help you make the most of your spending.

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