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With over 9,300 properties spanning 144 countries and territories, Marriott is undoubtedly one of the world's largest hotel chains. You can earn Marriott Bonvoy® points when you stay at eligible Marriott hotels, spend on its co-branded credit cards, or transfer points in from major flexible rewards programs. Then, you can redeem points for free stays, airline miles, and even experiences.
With so many redemption options and no standard award chart to reference, it can be tough to navigate this loyalty program. But don't worry — we'll teach you everything you need to know about Marriott Bonvoy.
Page Contents
- Marriott Hotel Brands
- Marriott Elite Status
- Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite welcome gift options
- Upgrades
- Marriott Nightly Upgrade Awards
- Earn Marriott elite status via credit cards
- Will Marriott status match other loyalty programs?
- United Marriott status match
- Marriott Emirates partnership
- Marriott Singapore Airlines status match
- Marriott lifetime status
- How To Earn Marriott Points
- Do Marriott Points Expire?
- Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy Points
- Transfer Marriott Points to Another Account
- Marriott Bonvoy Best Rate Guarantee
- Final Thoughts
Marriott Hotel Brands
There are over 30 Marriott hotel brands, ranging from high-end Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis properties to extended stay brands like TownePlace Suites and Residence Inn.
With such an expansive footprint, it's no surprise you'll find Marriott properties everywhere — from big cities like New York and London to suburbs, small towns, and near major airports and expressways.
Marriott Elite Status
The rewards program offers five Marriott Bonvoy elite status tiers, in addition to a basic Member tier. You can only earn Marriott Bonvoy elite status by accumulating elite night credits each calendar year — or by having the right credit card.
Here's a quick look at the requirements and perks of each Marriott Bonvoy elite status tier:
| Elite Status Tier | Nights/Spending Required | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Member | None | Complimentary In-Room Internet Access Member Rates Mobile Check-In and Mobile Key |
| Silver Elite | 10 | Member benefits plus: 10% Bonus Points on Stays Priority Late Checkout (Not Guaranteed) Ultimate Reservation Guarantee |
| Gold Elite | 25 | Silver Elite benefits plus: 25% Bonus Points on Stays 2 p.m. Late Checkout (Based on Availability) Welcome Gift of Points Enhanced Room Upgrade (Based on Availability) |
| Platinum Elite | 50 | Gold Elite benefits plus: 50% Bonus Points on Stays 4 p.m. Guaranteed Late Checkout Welcome Gift Choice (Points, Breakfast Offering, or Amenity - Varies by Brand) Enhanced Room Upgrade Including Select Suites (Based on Availability) Lounge Access Annual Choice Benefit (After 50 Qualifying Nights) |
| Titanium Elite | 75 | Platinum Elite benefits plus: 75% Bonus Points on Stays Additional Annual Choice Benefit (After 75 Qualifying Nights) United MileagePlus Premier Silver Status Hertz Five-Star Status |
| Ambassador Elite | 100 Nights + $23k Qualifying Spend | Titanium Elite benefits plus: Ambassador Service Your24™ Hertz President's Circle Status |
If you book multiple rooms for the same night, you can earn points on each one. However, you’ll receive elite night credit only for the room you personally stay in.
Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite welcome gift options
Marriott Bonvoy offers Platinum Elite (and higher) members a choice of welcome gifts on each stay. The options vary by brand and region but can range from 1,000 bonus points to daily complimentary breakfast.
To see what your available choices are on an upcoming stay, check out the “guaranteed welcome gift” tab on the Marriott Bonvoy website. Be aware of your guaranteed benefit before you check in, and don't be afraid to follow up if it isn't offered proactively.
Upgrades
Gold Elite members can get upgrades to enhanced rooms based on availability. These could include a higher floor, a nicer view, a corner room, or a room with extra amenities. Ritz-Carlton properties are the exception — Gold members won’t receive club-level access there.
Marriott Platinum Elite members and higher are eligible for the best available room at check-in for the length of the stay. Upgrades can include suites, higher floors, better views, or corner rooms. At Ritz-Carlton properties, only Titanium Elite members and higher are eligible for suite upgrades, and even then, club-level access is not included.
Before you get too excited, keep in mind that not every Marriott brand offers upgrades. The following types of properties don’t participate in this benefit:
- Marriott Vacation Club
- Marriott Grand Residence Club
- Sheraton Vacation Club
- Westin Vacation Club
- The Phoenician Residences, a Luxury Collection Residence Club, Scottsdale
- Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Upgrades are never guaranteed and ultimately come down to availability and the property’s discretion — even for Titanium and Ambassador Elite members.
Marriott Nightly Upgrade Awards
If you reach 50 elite nights — and again at 75 nights — each calendar year, you can select an Annual Choice Benefit. One of the options is Marriott Nightly Upgrade Awards. These certificates allow you to confirm an upgrade before arrival, rather than hoping for one at check-in.
Each Nightly Upgrade Award covers one night of your stay and must be used for the full length of the reservation. For example, a four-night stay requires four certificates.
When you apply a Nightly Upgrade Award to your stay, Marriott will start checking for upgrades five days before you check in. The exception to this rule is at EDITION, Ritz-Carlton, and St. Regis properties, where upgrades begin processing three days prior to arrival.
Further, the following brands do not accept Nightly Upgrade Awards:
- Ritz-Carlton Reserve
- The Ritz-Carlton Club
- The Ritz-Carlton Residences
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
- Most Design Hotels
- Marriott Executive Apartments
- All-Inclusive Resorts
- Marriott Vacation Club
- Marriott Grand Residence Club
- Sheraton Vacation Club
- Westin Vacation Club
- The Phoenician Residences, a Luxury Collection Residence Club
- MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy
Just like the standard elite upgrades, Nightly Upgrade Awards are not guaranteed. Confirmation is ultimately up to the participating hotel.
Earn Marriott elite status via credit cards
Several Marriott Bonvoy credit cards offer automatic elite status and elite night credits simply for being a cardholder. These are the current options to consider:
Marriott Bonvoy® Silver Elite Status and five elite night credits:
- Limited-time offer! Earn 2 Free Night Awards after qualifying purchases.
- Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase®!
- Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
- Earn 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services.
- 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Travel now, pay later - Break up purchases into equal monthly payments with no interest plus no plan fees on qualifying travel purchases. Terms apply.
- Pay Yourself Back® - Redeem Marriott Bonvoy® points for a statement credit to cover qualifying travel purchases made directly with airlines or at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, up to $750 total in redemptions per year.
- Member FDIC
- 3X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
- 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services
- 1X point on all other purchases
Marriott Bonvoy® Silver Elite Status and 15 elite night credits:
- Our best offer is back and better than ever! Earn 5 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
- 2026 Exclusive Offer: Get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually.
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
- Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
- Member FDIC
- 6X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
- 3X points for every $1 spent on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status and 15 elite night credits:
$250Rates & Fees
(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
$250
- 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
$125Rates & Fees
(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 Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status and 25 elite night credits:
(Terms Apply)
- Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- A Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite member will earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- 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
You can earn elite night credits from up to one consumer card and one small-business card (currently only the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card) for up to 40 elite night credits per year. In addition, one of these cards — the Marriott Boundless — lets you earn additional elite night credits as you hit specific spending thresholds. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
You can also get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status by enrolling with the following American Express cards:
Will Marriott status match other loyalty programs?
Marriott typically doesn’t offer a direct Marriott status match from another loyalty program. However, it does occasionally run status challenges that let you fast-track your way to elite status. Check our updated Marriott status challenges page for the latest offers.
United Marriott status match
The United-Marriott status match — known as the Marriott RewardsPlus program — offers reciprocal elite benefits at select tiers:
- Marriott Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite members can enroll to get complimentary United MileagePlus Premier Silver status.
- United Premier Gold and above are eligible for Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.
Marriott Emirates partnership
Beyond the option to transfer Emirates miles to Marriott, the partnership between Emirates and Marriott offers reciprocal benefits at certain tiers.
- Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members and higher receive benefits like priority check-in and boarding with Emirates.
- Emirates Skywards Gold and Platinum members can enjoy perks such as late checkout at Marriott hotels. This is a reciprocal benefits partnership, not a formal status match.
Marriott Singapore Airlines status match
The partnership with Singapore KrisFlyer offers a Marriott Singapore Airlines status match, status challenges, and points transfers between the programs.
Marriott lifetime status
You can earn Marriott lifetime status based on your total nights stayed and the number of years you've spent at an elite tier. Here are the current requirements for lifetime status:
- Silver Elite: 250 lifetime nights and five years with Silver Elite status or higher.
- Gold Elite: 400 lifetime nights and seven years with Gold Elite status or higher.
- Platinum Elite: 600 lifetime nights and 10 years with Platinum Elite status or higher.
You can check your progress toward Marriott Bonvoy's lifetime elite status by logging in to your account. Unfortunately, it's not currently possible to earn lifetime status above the Platinum Elite level.
How To Earn Marriott Points
You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points in many ways beyond staying at a hotel — including credit cards, partner offers, car rentals, dining initiatives, events, and more.
Here's an overview of how to earn Marriott points.
Stays and spending at Marriott properties
You'll earn a base of 10 points per dollar spent at most Marriott properties. However, your earning rate is lower at some brands:
- 5X points at Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Four Points Express, City Express, Element, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Protea Hotels, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Series by Marriott, and Marriott Executive Apartments
- 4X points at StudioRes
Keep in mind that Marriott elite members earn bonus points on top of this base earning rate.
If you charge your purchases to your room, you'll usually earn points for on-property spending, including dining and spa services. However, you won't earn points on some charges, including resort fees, gratuities, and the cash part of Cash & Points awards.
You'll also earn 1 elite night credit for each night you stay at most Marriott properties. A few brands have reduced earnings:
- 0.5 elite night credit for every night stayed at Protea Hotels, City Express, Four Points Flex, and Series by Marriott
- StudioRes stays do not earn elite credit
Related: Marriott Bonvoy Now Awards Half Elite Nights at Select Brands — Here’s Why That's Good News
Note that Marriott Residences properties, such as JW Residences and Renaissance Residences, do not participate in Marriott Bonvoy and do not earn points or elite night credits — even when booked at a paid membership rate.
What is the best Marriott credit card?
The easiest way to earn Marriott points is by using the best Marriott credit card. Here's an overview of the Marriott Bonvoy cards, including welcome offers, key benefits, and the annual fee for each card.
| Card Name | Welcome Offer | Key Benefits | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) | Earn 2 Free Night Awards after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. Redeem your Free Night Awards for a one-night stay at properties with a redemption level up to 50,000 points per night, a total value of 100,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees. | • 3x on Marriott spend • 2x on grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services • 1x on all other eligible purchases • Silver Elite status • 5 elite night credits per calendar year • No foreign transaction fees | $0 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) | Earn 5 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Redeem your Free Night Awards for a one-night stay at properties with a redemption level up to 50,000 points per night, a total value of 250,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees. 2026 Exclusive Offer: Get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. | • 6x on Marriott spend • 3x on gas stations, grocery stores, and dining (up to $6,000 in combined purchases each year) • 2x on all other eligible purchases • Anniversary free night award valid at any property up to 35,000 points • Silver Elite status • Path to Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 on the card in an account year • 15 elite night credits per calendar year • 1 elite night credit for every $5,000 you spend | $95 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card | Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | • 6x on Marriott spend • 4x at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year) • 2x on all other eligible purchases • 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points with each qualifying paid stay • Gold Elite status • 15 elite night credits per calendar year • Free night award up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points in value after making $15,000 in purchases per year | $250 - Rates & Fees |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card | Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in the first three months. | • 6x on Marriott spend • 4x on grocery stores and dining (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year) • 2x on all other eligible purchases • 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points with each qualifying paid stay • Gold Elite status • 15 elite night credits per calendar year • Free night award up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points in value after making $15,000 in purchases per year | $250 |
| 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®. | • 6x on Marriott spend • 4x 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 on all other eligible purchases • Anniversary free night award valid at any property up to 35,000 points • Gold Elite status • 15 elite night credits per calendar year | $125 - Rates & Fees |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | • 6x on Marriott spend • 3x at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines • 2x on all other eligible purchases • Anniversary free night award valid at any property up to 85,000 points • Platinum Elite status • $300 dining credit each calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide • Priority Pass™ Select membership • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years • 25 elite night credits per calendar year • Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. | $650 - Rates & Fees |
| Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Credit Card | No longer accepting applications | • 6x on Marriott spend • 4x at restaurants, gas stations, shipping, internet, cable and phone service purchases • 2x on all other eligible purchases • Anniversary free night award valid at any property up to 35,000 points • Gold Elite status • 15 elite night credits per calendar year | $99 |
| Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card | No longer accepting applications | • 6x on Marriott spend • 2x on all other eligible purchases • Anniversary free night award valid at any property up to 35,000 points • Silver Elite status • Path to Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 on the card in an account year • 15 elite night credits per calendar year | $95 |
| The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card | No longer accepting applications | • 6x on Marriott spend • 3x at restaurants, rental car agencies, and on flights booked directly with the airline • 2x on all other eligible purchases • Anniversary free night award valid at any property up to 85,000 points • Gold Elite status • Path to Platinum Elite status when you spend $75,000 on the card in an account year • $300 annual travel credit for airline incidental purchases • Priority Pass™ Select membership • Three annual club level upgrades on paid stays up to seven nights • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years • 15 elite night credits per calendar year | $450 |
| Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Credit Card | No longer accepting applications | • 5x on Marriott spend • 2x restaurants, car rental agencies, and airfare purchased directly from the airline • 1x on all other eligible purchases • Anniversary free night award valid at any property up to 25,000 points • Silver Elite status • 15 elite night credits per calendar year • 1 elite night credit per $3,000 spent in purchases | $85 |
| Marriott Bonvoy® Credit Card | No longer accepting applications | • 3x on Marriott spend • 1x on all other eligible purchases • Free night award valid at any property up to 20,000 points after you spend $25,000 on purchases each year • Silver Elite status • 15 elite night credits per calendar year • 1 elite night credit per $3,000 spent in purchases | $45 |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business® Credit Card | No longer accepting applications | • 3x on Marriott spend • 1x on all other eligible purchases • Silver Elite status • 15 elite night credits per calendar year • 1 elite night credit per $3,000 spent in purchases | $45 |
$250Rates & Fees
(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
$650Rates & Fees
(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
$125Rates & Fees
(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 Bonvoy Events
Whether you’re an event organizer, planning a reunion, or want to maximize the points earned on your wedding, you can earn bonus points and elite night credits through the Marriott Bonvoy Events conference program.
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 do not participate in Marriott Bonvoy Events.
Members can earn up to 60,000 points per event (2 points per dollar spent, up to $30,000). Elite members get a points bonus on top of that. For example, Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elites can earn up to 105,000 points per event.
Plus, you can earn 1 elite night credit for every 20 room nights you book (up to 20 elite night credits per event) when you host an event.
Marriott promotions
Marriott runs regular promotions for its members year-round, so make sure to bookmark our Marriott promotions post (we update it with each new promotion).
Marriott Bonvoy partners
Marriott also offers earning opportunities through select travel partners. For example, you can earn bonus Bonvoy points through Hertz car rental or when you book select cruises through Cruise with Points.
You also can earn Marriott points on select Uber rides and Uber Eats orders after you link Marriott and Uber accounts. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Marriott Eat Around Town
Marriott Bonvoy members can earn up to 6,000 bonus points after their first three dining experiences with the Marriott Eat Around Town program.
Marriott Refer a Friend
With the Marriott Refer a Friend program, you can earn 2,000 bonus points for each eligible stay your referral completes, up to five stays per person. You can refer up to five new members per calendar year, for a maximum of 50,000 bonus points annually.
Your referrals also earn an additional 2,000 points per stay (up to 10,000 points).
Buy Marriott points
You can buy Marriott points or receive them as a gift, up to a maximum of 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per calendar year. The purchases are processed through Points.com so you won't receive any travel-related bonuses for credit card spending.
You can buy Marriott points in increments of 1,000 at the rate of $12.50 per 1,000 points. However, you may be able to purchase at a lower rate during promotions.
Transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy
You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Bilt Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy. That said, we rarely recommend doing this, as you can often get more value from your points through other transfer partners.
Marriott has also struck transfer partnerships with airlines and other loyalty programs. But again, it's usually not the best use of your miles.
Do Marriott Points Expire?
Yes, Marriott points expire after 24 months without qualifying activity on the account. You can keep them alive by spending on a Marriott Bonvoy card, enjoying a stay at a Marriott property, and much more.
Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy Points
With a massive global footprint, the combined Marriott portfolio includes brands catering to every budget.
It's becoming more difficult to find outsized value when redeeming Marriott points for stays since Marriott moved to dynamic pricing in 2022. But there are many ways to redeem Marriott points for luxury stays and budget-friendly stays. And Marriott offers a few other options for redeeming points.
Redeem points for stays
Marriott Bonvoy uses dynamic pricing for its free night awards. You'll have to search the Marriott website or app to determine how many points you'll need for a stay.
But you can get a complimentary award night when redeeming points for a stay of at least five consecutive nights at the same hotel. Specifically, you'll get the lowest point-value night free. You can use this perk multiple times on longer stays. For example, you could get two nights free when redeeming points for a 10-night stay.
Get discounted points stays with Marriott PointSavers awards
Even in the world of dynamic pricing, you can still find Marriott PointSavers discounted awards. For limited periods, you can use PointSavers for a discounted rate on a standard or premium room at participating properties.
Marriott no longer publishes a list of rotating PointsSavers properties. In order to find the PointSavers rate, you can search for a stay using points, and the discounted rate will pop up — if available. Expect to find these rates on off-peak dates, like winter in the Midwest.
Marriott Cash & Points awards
You can also redeem points for a Marriott Cash & Points award. These awards start at just $55 plus 3,500 points but aren't available for all stays.
When booking a stay, you may have the option to upgrade to a better room or a suite using points or cash. Upgrade awards are only available at select properties, though. And requirements vary by property, room type, and season.
Book award stays for other people
You can use Marriott Bonvoy points to book award stays for someone else up to five times per calendar year. To arrange a gifted award redemption, you’ll need to contact Marriott directly.
Free Night Award certificates can’t be used for gifted bookings.
You'll need to provide your name and Bonvoy number plus the name of the staying guest to make the booking. You won't be able to change the reservation once it's booked, but you can cancel and rebook (assuming you're still within the free cancellation window).
Keep in mind that gifted award stays don’t earn points or elite night credits for anyone. In addition, the guest staying at the hotel won’t be able to enjoy your elite benefits.
Marriott transfer partners
You can take advantage of Marriott transfer partners by converting Marriott points to airline miles at a 3:1 rate — with most programs. You'll also get 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points transferred with most programs (excluding American Airlines AAdvantage®, Avianca LifeMiles, and Delta SkyMiles). As such, you'll get 25,000 miles for every 60,000 points transferred.
United Airlines has an enhanced bonus of 10,000 United miles when you transfer at least 60,000 Bonvoy points at one time. After this bouns, you'll receive 30,000 United MileagePlus miles when you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points.
Check out the full list of transfer partners below:
You can transfer up to 240,000 points to airline programs per day.
Marriott Moments
Marriott Moments allows members to redeem Marriott points for special culinary, entertainment, lifestyle, and sports experiences.
Through Marriott Bonvoy Moments, you can bid points on an auction or redeem points for fixed-price experiences.
Shop with your points
You can redeem your Marriott points for various items on Marriott's website. Unfortunately, redemption rates are often low, so we don't recommend using your points this way.
Use your points for other travel
You can redeem Marriott points for various other travel options, including:
- Airline tickets and car rentals with over 250 travel partners
- Cruises through the Cruise with Points program
- TSA PreCheck application fee
However, consider your redemption rate before redeeming for these options. AwardWallet users have redeemed Marriott points at an average of 0.93¢ per point. When possible, we don't recommend redeeming your points for less than this number.
Donate your points
Finally, you can donate your Marriott Bonvoy points to various charities. You must donate at least 2,500 points.
Transfer Marriott Points to Another Account
Marriott Bonvoy members can transfer Marriott points — up to 100,000 points per calendar year — between accounts that have been open for at least 30 days with qualifying activity (or 90 days without qualifying activity).
The 100,000-point limit applies only to transfers from your account to another member. You can receive up to 500,000 points each calendar year from other members.
To transfer your points to another member, you can use the Marriott online points transfer tool.
Marriott Bonvoy Best Rate Guarantee
Marriott Bonvoy has a best rate guarantee providing assurance “that you’ll always get the best rate available when you book directly with Marriott.” To use this guarantee, Marriott says you should:
- Make a reservation using any official Marriott reservation channel.
- Submit a Best Rate Guarantee claim if you find a lower rate for the same hotel, same room type, and same reservation dates on a non-Marriott channel.
- If Marriott approves your claim, it will match the rate and give you either an extra 25% discount on the room (20% discount for Design Hotels) or 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Like most best rate guarantees, this one comes with a list of conditions and exclusions. Be sure to review Marriott’s full Best Rate Guarantee terms before filing a claim.
Final Thoughts
There's plenty of value to be found in the Marriott Bonvoy program, especially if you understand where its strengths lie. Marriott Bonvoy credit cards can give you a nice boost toward earning high tiers of elite status. You can even get Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status just by having the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card.
The top ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and elite status are usually credit cards and stays. Meanwhile, the top ways to redeem Marriott points are usually hotel stays and transfers to unique airline partners.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
