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What are the Marriott brands?
The 30 Marriott brands are:
- The Ritz-Carlton
- St. Regis
- JW Marriott
- W Hotels
- Edition
- The Luxury Collection
- Marriott Hotels
- Sheraton
- Marriott Vacation Club
- Delta Hotels
- Le Meridien
- Westin
- Renaissance Hotels
- Gaylord Hotels
- Autograph Collection Hotels
- Tribute Portfolio
- Design Hotels
- Courtyard Hotels
- Four Points
- SpringHill Suites
- Protea Hotels
- Fairfield Inn & Suites
- AC Hotels
- Aloft Hotels
- Moxy Hotels
- Marriott Executive Apartments
- Residence Inn
- TownePlace Suites
- Element
- Homes & Villas by Marriott International.
Marriott is the world's largest hotel chain and has a total of 30 brands in its portfolio (29 that participate in Marriott Bonvoy), which span more than 7,200 properties in over 130 countries and territories. These hotel and resort brands have distinct amenities and services that fit the preferences and budget levels of different types of travelers.
Marriott hotel brands fall under 4 broad categories: Luxury, Premium, Select and Longer Stays. The only Marriott hotel brand that does not participate in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty rewards program is Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
How can I buy Marriott Bonvoy points?
You can buy Marriott points by going to the “Buy Points" page on Marriott's website, selecting how many points you want to buy in increments of 1,000, and entering your member account information. Then, follow the prompts to enter your payment information to complete the purchase. It can take between 24 and 48 hours for the points to be deposited into your account.
Marriott Bonvoy members can buy points at a rate of $12.50 per 1,000 points. Marriott points can only be purchased in 1,000-point increments. Bonvoy members can buy up to 50,000 points each calendar year.
Occasionally, Marriott runs promotions that could save you 20%-50% off the regular purchase rate. That's one reason to buy extra points, rather than earning them. Another reason to buy Marriott points is if you only need a small number to reach a specific redemption. You are essentially booking a hotel stay (or some other redemption) for a steep discount if you already earned most of the points.
What is Marriott Bonvoy?
Marriott Bonvoy is the Marriott hotel chain's loyalty program. Marriott Bonvoy was created in February 2019 following the merger of Marriott and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG). Marriott Bonvoy brings together Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards and SPG under one umbrella.
Marriott Bonvoy is one of the world's largest loyalty programs with 120 million members and more than 7,200 properties in over 130 countries and territories. The majority of Marriott's hotels and resorts participate in Marriott Bonvoy, including Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Sheraton, Westin, and The Ritz-Carlton – though there are some notable exceptions, like the Ritz-Carlton Residences or the Marriott Vacation Club at The Empire Place. It's free to join Bonvoy, and membership offers perks and benefits that will appeal to different types of travelers.
Earning Bonvoy Points
Bonvoy gives members lots of opportunities to earn points. Marriott Bonvoy members earn 10 points per $1 spent on stays at most Marriott properties, 3 points per $1 spent on cruises booked through Cruise with Points, and up to 2,000 points when booking a car rental with Hertz.
Another easy way to earn Marriott points is by signing up for – and using – one of Marriott's co-branded credit cards. All of the Marriott credit cards – Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, Business, Bold, and Boundless –offer points for every purchase you make.
Bonvoy's Status Tiers
Marriott Bonvoy has six status levels: Member (entry level), Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador. By simply joining Marriott Bonvoy, members get free Wi-Fi access, mobile priority check-in, and discounted rates on rooms booked through a Marriott channel (such as the Marriott website or app). Each level offers additional benefits and perks, such as complimentary room upgrades, in-hotel welcome gifts, late checkout, and bonus points.
Members advance to a higher status tier by staying more nights at Marriott hotels and resorts or earning points through different types of transactions, such as booking cruises through Cruise with Points or renting a car through Hertz. You can also gain status by signing up for one of Marriott's credit cards.
Redeeming Marriott Points
Marriott Bonvoy points can be redeemed for free stays, rental cars, cruises, gift cards, special events, Priority Pass membership, TSA PreCheck, and travel packages. Members can also redeem points through Marriott Bonvoy's partnership with United MileagePlus, called RewardsPlus, which offers benefits and points bonuses when transferring miles and points between programs. Bonvoy allows points transfers to lots of common airline loyalty programs, too, and many offer bonus rewards just for doing it.
To learn more, check out our complete Marriott Bonvoy Review.
What does Marriott Gold Elite get you?
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite benefits include an in-hotel welcome gift, priority late checkout, 25% points bonus and more. Gold Elite members get all the benefits of general Bonvoy members and Silver Elite members as well as additional perks.
To reach Marriott Gold Elite status, you must earn at least 25 elite night credits in a year. The most common way to earn elite night credits is by staying with a Marriott brand hotel. You usually earn one elite night credit for each night you stay, including both paid and award stays. It is also possible to earn elite night credits with Marriott's co-branded credit cards or by hosting meetings and events at Marriott properties.
When you achieve Gold Elite status, you keep that status for the remainder of the year as well as the following one. You will need to earn your status again in order to maintain it after that. You will also need to book directly with Marriott, rather than a third-party travel site, to access Gold Elite member benefits.
Marriott Gold Elite Benefits:
- 25% point bonus: Gold elite members earn 25% more points than regular members.
- Upgrades to enhanced rooms: Gold members are eligible for room upgrades at check-in, depending on availability.
- Welcome gift: Gold members receive a welcome gift of 250-500 points at check-in (amount varies depending on hotel).
- Complimentary enhanced internet: Although all Marriott Bonvoy members enjoy free internet, Gold members can take advantage of faster speeds during their stay.
- Dedicated elite reservation line: Gold member have access to an elite member reservation line.
- Priority late checkout: As long as there is availability in the hotel, Gold members can enjoy priority checkout as late as 2 PM.
As you move up in status, you'll gain access to additional perks and benefits such as free breakfast, lounge access and an annual gift of choice. You should decide whether Gold Elite status or any of the other statuses are worth earning based on your travel goals and preferences.
How do you use Marriott points for cruises?
You can use points for Marriott cruises by booking a cruise through Marriott's Cruise With Points program, which allows full or partial payment with Marriott points. The minimum amount of points you can redeem is 63,000, which will get you a $250 credit toward a cruise booked through Cruise With Points. You can use as many Marriott points as needed to redeem for a free cruise. Available cruise lines include Disney, Royal Caribbean, Viking and more.
How to Use Points to Book Marriott Cruises:
- Go to Marriott's Cruise With Points website.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click “Redeem Points” at the bottom right. Here, you can see any current special promotions.
- Find the “Search Cruises” button or navigate to your preferred cruise line from the top navigation bar. Select your cruise.
- Call 800-596-0452 Monday-Friday from 8 am to 8 pm EST to make a reservation with your Marriott points, after finding a cruise. Final booking requires a phone call when you pay with points.
By booking a cruise through Marriott Cruise With Points, members get discounted rates and receive a 110% best price guarantee. That means if you find a lower price on another website within 48 hours of booking, Marriott will refund you 110% of the difference.