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Offers for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card, Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers
The Marriott Bonvoy® rewards program currently has a whopping 37 Marriott hotel brands. With more than 9,300 properties in 144 countries, it boasts one of the largest hotel chain footprints. Marriott has properties suited to meet the needs of all different types of travel.
The Marriott Bonvoy rewards program, while sometimes confusing, can offer good value to those who learn the ins and outs. One of the best ways to maximize the value you get from the program is to ensure you're earning as many points as humanly possible. But just how many points can you earn on Marriott stays? We will help demystify the complex earning structure and all the factors that come into play.
Related: Everything About the Marriott Bonvoy Reward Program
Getting a Marriott Bonvoy Account
Before you earn any Marriott points, you'll need a Marriott Bonvoy account. You can join the loyalty program either online through the Marriott website or the mobile app. Once you've entered your information, you will be issued a membership number. Be sure to head to AwardWallet to track your Marriott account with all your other loyalty programs. This will help you monitor points balance, expiration dates, reservations, and many other key data points.
To give you a sense of how many points are worth, AwardWallet members typically redeem Marriott points at 0.93¢ each. You certainly can extract more value in the right circumstances.
Earning Rates for Qualifying Stays
As always, make sure that your Marriott Bonvoy number is attached to the reservation. Qualifying stays are stays booked directly through any Marriott channel, as well as those your travel advisor books for you (provided they're eligible rates). If you book through a third-party site, such as Hotels.com or Expedia, you likely won't earn points on your hotel stay.
If you charge on-site purchases to your room, you will generally earn points on eligible incidental charges for on-property spending with Marriott, including dining and spa services. However, note that you won't earn points on some charges, including resort fees, gratuities, and the points part of Cash + Points awards. Award stays will give points for qualifying incidental charges as well. If you pay your tab directly at the restaurant or bar, it will not yield the same amount of points as the same bill charged to your room.
Determining all other incidental charges that count towards earning Marriott Bonvoy® points varies by brand and type of charge.
Base earning rates
The Marriott Bonvoy program is one of the more confusing programs to decipher in terms of earnings. The number of points earned depends on the brand you are staying at. Base earning rates in Marriott's terms are as follows:
10 points per dollar:
- EDITION
- The Ritz-Carlton
- The Luxury Collection
- St. Regis
- W Hotels
- JW Marriott
- Marriott Hotels
- Sheraton
- Marriott Vacation Club
- Delta Hotels by Marriott
- Westin
- Le Meridien
- Renaissance Hotels
- Autograph Collection
- Tribute Portfolio
- Design Hotels
- Gaylord Hotels
- MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy
- Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy Hotels
- Courtyard by Marriott
- Four Points by Sheraton.
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott
- Fairfield by Marriott
- AC Hotels by Marriott
- Aloft
- Moxy Hotels
5 points per dollar:
- Residence Inn by Marriott.
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott.
- Element by Westin.
- Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy.
- Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy.
- Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy Apartments.
- Protea Hotels by Marriott
- City Express by Marriott
- Four Points Flex by Sheraton
4 points per dollar:
- StudioRes
2.5 points per dollar:
- Marriott Executive Apartments
No points earning:
- Residences properties, such as JW Residences or Renaissance Residences, or non-participating properties.
Elite tier bonus earning
In addition to the base rate earnings, elite members enjoy additional earnings bonuses. Depending on their status level, the bonus earning rates are as follows, with an example of the bonus at a brand earning 10 base points:
- Silver Elite: 10% bonus, yielding 11, 5.5, or 2.75 points per dollar (depending on the brand)
- Gold Elite: 25% bonus, yielding 12.5, 6.25, or 3.125 points per dollar (depending on the brand)
- Platinum Elite: 50% bonus, yielding 15, 7.5, or 3.75 points per dollar (depending on the brand)
- Titanium Elite/Ambassador Elite: 75% bonus, yielding 17.5, 8.75, or 4.375 points per dollar (depending on the brand)
Related: The Complete Guide to Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status
Welcome amenity
Elite members also have the option to earn additional bonus points as a welcome amenity upon checking in. As you earn higher status, you have a choice in your amenity. Points are the default option. Generally, the number of bonus points earned will correlate to the amount of base points that a particular brand will earn. For Gold Elite, you can receive a gift of 250 or 500 bonus points (varies by brand) when you arrive for your stay. See the chart below for options with higher status.
Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite welcome amenity options
| Hotel Brand | Welcome Gift Option(s) | Compensation for Not Providing the Specified Gift |
|---|---|---|
| Marriott Hotels, JW Marriott, Delta Hotels, Autograph Collection, and Renaissance Hotels | $100 USD | |
| Gaylord Hotels | 1,000 points per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per stay | $100 USD |
| St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin, and Tribute Portfolio | 1,000 points per stay or amenity per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for member +1 (including resorts) | $100 USD |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, EDITION, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Design Hotels™, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy, Homes & Villas by Marriott International. Vistana properties provide Elite Welcome Gift only to Members who are not Vistana Owners using their ownership interest. | 1,000 points per stay | N/A |
| Courtyard | $50 USD | |
| AC Hotels, Moxy Hotels | $50 USD (AC Hotels), $25 USD (Moxy Hotels) | |
| SpringHill Suites, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites | $50 USD (SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn), $25 USD (Fairfield by Marriott, TownePlace Suites) | |
| Four Points, Aloft | 500 points per stay or amenity or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for member +1 | $25 USD |
| Protea Hotels | 500 points per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for member +1 | $50 USD |
| Element | 500 points per stay or amenity | $25 USD |
| Four Points Flex | 500 points per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1 | $25 USD |
| City Express |
Can You Earn Points on Multiple Rooms?
According to Marriott's terms and conditions, you can earn points on up to three total rooms, as long as you meet the following conditions:
“Yes, you can earn Marriott Bonvoy® Points on the Qualifying Charges for up to three Rooms, if all of the following conditions are met:
- You are occupying one of the Rooms
- Your Marriott Bonvoy® Member Number is on each Room
- You are personally paying for each Room
- Check-In and Check-Out Dates match for all three Rooms
- Pay a Qualifying Rate or apply an Award Redemption
Please Note: Elite Night Credit is earned only for the Room you, the Member, occupied.”
More Ways To Earn Marriott Points on Your Stays
There are additional ways to earn even more Marriott points while you are enjoying your stay. Here are some examples to boost your point earnings.
Meetings and events
Whether you’re an event organizer, planning a reunion, or want to maximize the points earned on your wedding, Marriott Bonvoy Events offers bonus points and elite credits for meetings and events at many brands participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Members can earn 2 points per dollar spent, up to 60,000 points per event. Elite members also earn their standard points bonus.
Silver Elites can earn up to 66,000 per event, Gold Elite 75,000, and Platinum Elite 90,000. Those who hold Titanium Elite or Ambassador Elite status enjoy a much higher cap of 105,000 points per event.
Excluded brands are Marriott Executive Apartments, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Design Hotels™, Bulgari Hotels and Resorts, Ritz-Carlton Hidden Boutique Resort, Vistana Hotel, and Homes & Villas by Marriott International.
Promotions can boost earnings even more
Marriott runs various promotions throughout the year to provide even more points for your hotel stays. Typical offerings include bonus points per stay or per night, as well as bonus elite night credits. Additionally, Marriott often gives credit cardholders even more valuable promotions.
AwardWallet also maintains a list of the best promotions across all loyalty programs. You can also check Marriott's dedicated page, which may have offers targeted specifically to you.
Earning Rates Using Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards are issued by both American Express and Chase. Each card has different bonus categories and earning structures, so chances are there is one that's best for you. Cards also offer varying levels of elite status. There are cards to meet all levels of budgets and spending.
In addition to Marriott's co-branded credit cards, cardmembers with the American Express Platinum Card® or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can enroll for complimentary Gold Elite status. Having elite status boosts your overall point earnings on your stays.
However, there are so many Marriott Bonvoy credit cards out there that choosing one can be very confusing. Not only are there two banks offering personal and business cards, but there are several discontinued cards that are still available to use. Moreover, the cards don't all earn the same number of points at Marriott properties.
Related: Making Sense of the Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
Cards available for new applicants
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: 3X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: 6X Bonvoy points per $1 spent participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card: 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: 6X points on purchases at Marriott Properties
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: 6x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
(Terms Apply)
- 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4X points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
(Terms Apply)
- 6X points on purchases at Marriott Properties
- 3X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
(Terms apply)
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping
- 2x Marriott Bonvoy® points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Marriott cards not open to new applicants
- Marriott Bonvoy™ Credit Card: 3x points at Marriott Bonvoy properties
- Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card: 3x points at Marriott Bonvoy properties
- Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Credit Card: 6x points at Marriott Bonvoy properties
- Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card: 6x points at Marriott Bonvoy properties
- The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card: 6x points at Marriott Bonvoy properties
Paying for your Marriott stay with any of these cards will add a significant number of points. For example, paying for your stay and room charges with a Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card (counting the bonus from the Platinum Elite status it confers) can earn you a whopping 21 points per dollar.
Final Thoughts
Marriott Bonvoy is one of the more complicated and confusing loyalty programs. This complexity is in part thanks to Marriott's whopping 37 separate brands, in part because of Marriott's multiple elite tiers, and in part because of the numerous co-branded credit cards out there. Figuring out how many points you earn at a particular brand, what elite bonuses you get, and what credit cards are best requires some research to fully maximize your points-earning capabilities. Those willing to spend some time to ensure they have all the info they need will most likely find the Marriott Bonvoy quite rewarding.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
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