Which Marriott Hotel Brands Earn the Most Points? Which Marriott Hotel Brands Earn the Most Points?

Which Marriott Hotel Brands Earn the Most Points?

Bonus Points

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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 is home to more than 30 Marriott hotel brands, with more than 8,000 properties in 139 countries. They have properties suited to meet the needs of all different types of travel. The Marriott Bonvoy rewards program, while sometimes confusing, can offer good value.  When you stay at one of Marriott's many brands and properties, you'll want to earn as many points as possible in return. But just how many points can you earn on Marriott stays? We will help break down what you earn and where.

Related: Everything About the Marriott Bonvoy Reward Program

First Things First: A Marriott Bonvoy Account

You can join Marriott Bonvoy online through the Marriott website or via mobile app.  Once you've entered your information, you'll then receive a membership number. Be sure to head to AwardWallet to track your Marriott account with all your other loyalty programs.

To give you a sense of how much points are worth, AwardWallet members typically redeem Marriott points at 0.94¢ 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 Marriott. 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. Determining all other incidental charges that count towards earning Marriott Bonvoy points varies by brand and type of charge.

the JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa at sunset
JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa. Credit: Marriott

The Marriott Bonvoy program is one of the more confusing programs to decipher in terms of earnings. The amount of points earned depends on what brand you are staying at. Base earning rates in Marriott's terms are as follows:

  • 10 points per dollar: Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Edition, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, JW Marriott, Marriott, Sheraton, Marriott Vacation Club, Delta Hotels, Le Meridien, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, Springhill Suites by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, AC Hotels, Aloft Hotels, Autograph Collection, Design Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott, Moxy Hotels
  • 5 points per dollar: Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Element, Homes & Villas by Marriott International, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Protea Hotels, City Express by Marriott, Four Points Express by Sheraton
  • 2.5 points per dollar: Marriott Executive Apartments
  • No points per dollar: Residences properties, such as JW Residences or Renaissance Residences.
Marriott Bonvoy brands earning rates
Earning rates at the various Marriott Bonvoy brands. Credit: Marriott

Elite tier bonuses

In addition to the base rate earnings, elite members enjoy additional earning 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)
Marriott Elite Status
Marriott Bonvoy elite status earnings. Credit: Marriott

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 below chart for options with higher status.

Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite welcome amenity options

Hotel BrandWelcome Gift Option(s)Compensation for Not Providing the
Specified Gift
Marriott Hotels, JW Marriott, Delta Hotels, Autograph Collection, and Renaissance Hotels
  • In the U.S. / Canada / Europe: 1,000 points per stay or $10 USD Food & Beverage ("F&B") credit per stay
  • Resorts in the U.S. / Canada / Europe: 1,000 points per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for member +1
  • In Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: 1,000 points per stay or F&B amenity per stay
  • Resorts in Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: 1,000 points per stay or F&B amenity per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for member +1
  • $100 USD
    Gaylord Hotels1,000 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 Portfolio1,000 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, EDITION, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Design Hotels™, and 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 stayN/A
    Courtyard
  • In the U.S., Canada, Europe: 500 points per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay for member +1**
  • Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: Properties without lounge: 500 points per stay or F&B amenity per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay for member +1** / Properties with lounge - 500 Points per stay and breakfast in lounge - if lounge is closed, breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for member +1
  • $50 USD
    AC Hotels, Moxy Hotels
  • United States, Canada, Europe: 500 Points per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay for member +1**
  • Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: 500 Points per stay or F&B amenity per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay
  • $50 USD (AC Hotels), $25 USD (Moxy Hotels)
    SpringHill Suites, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites

  • United States, Canada, Europe: 500 points per stay or F&B item
  • Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: 500 points per stay or F&B amenity
  • $50 USD (SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn), $25 USD (Fairfield by Marriott, TownePlace Suites)
    Four Points, Aloft500 points per stay or amenity or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for member +1$25 USD
    Protea Hotels500 points per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for member +1$50 USD
    Element500 points per stay or amenity$25 USD

    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 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.

    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.

    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 also can check Marriott's dedicated page, which may have offers targeted specifically to you.

    Earning Rates Using Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

    American Express and Chase both offer multiple co-branded Marriott credit cards. Each card has different bonus categories, any of which could be useful 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 Platinum Card® from American Express 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.

    interior of a hotel room
    Credit: Marriott

    However, the Marriott Bonvoy credit card portfolio 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

    Cards not accepting applications

    • 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. Figuring out how many points you earn at a particular brand, what elite bonuses you get, and what credit cards you can get requires some research to fully maximize your points-earning capabilities. If you are willing to spend a bit of time to ensure you have the right tools you need, the program can be very rewarding.

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