UpTrip loyalty guide · 2026

Marriott Bonvoy

Bonvoy's reach is hard to beat. The cost is a rulebook that changes by brand, hotel, and booking.

At a glance

The short version.

Marriott Bonvoy's advantage is reach. Marriott reported more than 9,900 properties in 146 countries and territories at the end of March 2026. One account can cover an airport night, an extended stay, and a destination resort.

That range comes with brand-specific rules. Earning rates, elite-night credits, breakfast, lounge access, upgrades, and checkout benefits vary. Check the hotel and brand terms while you compare the booking.

Strong points

An unusually broad global portfolio across price points
A fifth night benefit on eligible five-night all-points awards
High elite tiers can noticeably improve eligible stays
Airline-transfer breadth can help with a specific redemption

Watch for

Dynamic award prices replace a memorisable category chart
Earning, elite-night credit, and benefits vary by brand
Breakfast, lounge access, upgrades, and fees are not universal
Ambassador requires both nights and qualifying annual spend

Modern hotel lobby with warm wood walls and designer seating — Editorial illustration of a contemporary hotel lobby. It is not evidence that the pictured property participates in Marriott Bonvoy.Frames For Your Heart Unsplash

Bright apartment bedroom with white bed linen — Editorial illustration of extended-stay accommodation. It is not evidence that the pictured property participates in Marriott Bonvoy.Steven Ungermann Unsplash

Program overview

By the numbers.

Reviewed July 14, 2026 against Marriott Bonvoy's current program rules and first-quarter portfolio disclosure. Marriott's published hotel count describes the company portfolio, not identical Bonvoy participation at every property. Collection, residence, yacht, all-inclusive, vacation-ownership and partner hotels can follow supplemental rules.

Portfolio reach: More than 9,900 properties in 146 countries and territoriesMarriott corporate portfolio at March 31, 2026; participation and benefits still vary by property.
Core hotel earn: 10 base points per eligible US dollarSeveral extended-stay, regional and collection brands earn 5x; StudioRes earns 4x.
Elite ladder: 10 / 25 / 50 / 75 / 100 nightsAmbassador also requires US$23,000 in annual qualifying spend.
Award pricing: DynamicPoint prices can change with property, date, room and demand; Marriott no longer publishes a fixed category chart.
Long-stay award benefit: Stay for 5, Pay for 4The lowest-priced point night is removed on an eligible five-night Standard Redemption or PointSavers booking.
Point expiry: 24 months without qualifying activityPoint transfers and gifts do not reset the clock; Lifetime Elite status protects points from ordinary inactivity forfeiture.
Member transfers: Send 100,000; receive 500,000 points per calendar yearAccount-age and transaction-count restrictions apply.
Lifetime ceiling still attainable: Lifetime Platinum600 qualifying nights plus ten years as Platinum or higher; new Lifetime Titanium qualification ended in 2018.

3939 current brand and accommodation labels

Participating brands

Marriott covers almost every kind of trip.

Bonvoy covers select-service hotels, extended stays, private homes, and luxury reserves. Benefits and participation vary across the portfolio; the exceptions are marked.

Showing 39 of 39

Luxury

The Ritz-Carlton Participates
St. Regis Participates
JW Marriott Participates
Ritz-Carlton Reserve Participation varies
The Luxury Collection Participates
W Hotels Participates
EDITION Participates

Premium

Marriott Hotels Participates
Sheraton Participates
The Marriott Vacation Clubs Participation varies
Delta Hotels by Marriott Participates
Westin Participates
Le Méridien Participates
Renaissance Hotels Participates
Gaylord Hotels Participates

Select

Courtyard Participates
Four Points Participates
SpringHill Suites Participates
Fairfield by Marriott Participates
AC Hotels Participates
citizenM Participates
Aloft Hotels Participates
Moxy Hotels Participates
Protea Hotels Participates
City Express Participates
Four Points Flex by Sheraton Participates
Series by Marriott Participation varies

Longer stays and residences

Residence Inn Participates
TownePlace Suites Participates
Element Hotels Participates
StudioRes Participation varies
Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy Participation varies
Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy Participates
Marriott Executive Apartments Participation varies

Collections

Autograph Collection Participates
Design Hotels Participation varies
Tribute Portfolio Participates
MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy Participation varies
Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy Participation varies

Participation

A green check marks a participating brand. A dot means participation or benefits vary by property, region, collection, or stay type.

Before you book

Participation can vary by property, booking channel, residence type, or collection. Design Hotels, vacation clubs, MGM Collection, Outdoor Collection, Series, StudioRes, Homes & Villas, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and Marriott Executive Apartments have special or limited rules.

Often confused with Bonvoy

These names are not standard Bonvoy participants today.

Bulgari Hotels & Resorts
Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy
Most branded residences

Brand names and logos belong to their respective owners. Their appearance here does not imply affiliation with or endorsement of UpTrip.

View the official brand directory Read the participation terms

Status

What each tier adds.

Use these thresholds to plan. Where a program offers several routes to status, each one usually stands alone.

01
Member
Enrollment; 0–9 qualifying nights
Member rates and base earning
02
Silver Elite
10 qualifying nights
10% points bonus
03
Gold Elite
25 qualifying nights
25% bonus and enhanced room treatment, subject to terms
04
Platinum Elite
50 qualifying nights
50% bonus; breakfast, lounge, and checkout benefits begin here
05
Titanium Elite
75 qualifying nights
75% bonus and higher published priority
06
Ambassador Elite
100 nights and US$23,000 qualifying annual spend
Dual requirement; 75% bonus and Ambassador service

Reference

The rules at a glance.

Use these tables to plan, then confirm the current terms and your hotel’s participation before booking.

Earning

The headline rate is not the whole portfolio

Base points are calculated on qualifying charges after conversion to US dollars. Elite bonuses are applied to base points, so a reduced base rate also reduces the elite bonus.

Hotel or collection	Base earn	Elite-night treatment	Important qualification
Most participating brands	10 points per eligible US$1	Usually one credit per qualifying night	Eligible room rate and qualifying room-billed charges; taxes, gratuities and many third-party charges are excluded
Apartments, City Express, Element, Four Points Flex, Homes & Villas, Protea, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites	5 points per eligible US$1	City Express, Four Points Flex and Protea generally award one credit per two qualifying nights	Brand-specific charge and benefit rules still apply
Series by Marriott	10x in the US, Canada and Greater China; 5x elsewhere	One credit per night in those three regions; generally one per two nights elsewhere	Check the individual property because Series participation is region-sensitive
Marriott Executive Apartments	5 points per US$1 on qualifying room rate only	Qualifying-night credit under its special terms	No points on other qualifying charges and very limited on-property elite benefits
StudioRes	4 points per eligible US$1	No Elite Night Credit	No elite bonus points; participation is intentionally limited

Members select points or airline miles as their earning preference for a qualifying stay. They do not receive both, and a miles preference can also affect how welcome points are handled.

Status

Elite status is a ladder of nights, with spend at the top

Benefits below are the program-level promise. Breakfast, lounges, upgrades, checkout and reservation guarantees contain substantial brand, resort, region and property exclusions.

Tier	Qualification	Point bonus	Benefits to value carefully
Silver Elite	10 qualifying nights	+10%	Priority late checkout subject to availability; Ultimate Reservation Guarantee only where offered
Gold Elite	25 qualifying nights	+25%	Brand-dependent welcome points, enhanced room subject to availability, enhanced Wi-Fi and 2 p.m. checkout subject to availability
Platinum Elite	50 qualifying nights	+50%	Upgrades may include standard suites; brand-specific welcome choice; qualifying lounge or breakfast access; generally guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout with important exceptions; 50-night Annual Choice Benefit
Titanium Elite	75 qualifying nights	+75%	Platinum benefits plus restricted 48-hour paid-room guarantee and a 75-night Annual Choice Benefit
Ambassador Elite	100 qualifying nights and US$23,000 qualifying annual spend	+75%	Ambassador service and Your24 subject to availability; US$40,000 spend plus 100 nights is required for Ambassador Plus One

Annual qualifying spend is narrower than the folio total. Future-year prepaid stays, card spend, gift cards, events and other categories can be excluded.

Redemption

Every award needs a like-for-like cash comparison

Marriott updates award prices continuously. The useful comparison includes cancellation terms, room type and every fee that survives the redemption.

Redemption	What it covers	What it does not do	Planning rule
Standard Redemption Award	Standard room, room tax, service charge and ordinary extra-person charge under program terms	Does not necessarily remove resort, destination or other property fees	Confirm the final checkout total before transferring or buying points
Stay for 5, Pay for 4	Five consecutive Standard Redemption or PointSavers nights on one reservation; lowest point-priced night is free	No Free Night Awards, Cash + Points, premium rooms, split bookings or retroactive application	Price the complete five-night stay, not a nightly average shown before the benefit
Cash + Points	A property-controlled mix for an available standard room	Cash does not earn points, miles or Ambassador spend; no fifth-night benefit	Compare it with separate all-cash and all-points options before booking
Free Night Award	One standard-room night up to the certificate ceiling, with top-up only where that certificate permits it	Certificate cannot be converted to cash, freely transferred or combined with fifth-night-free	Check the certificate's own expiry and top-up limit rather than assuming every award is identical
Gifted award reservation	Member Support can place an eligible redemption in another guest's name, subject to the current annual limit	Does not transfer the member's status, earnings or elite-night credit to the guest	Use the official gift process; do not share account credentials

Edge cases

Certificates, lifetime status and special participation

Rule	Current treatment	What travelers commonly miss
50-night Annual Choice Benefit	Choice becomes available after 50 eligible nights under the current menu	It is not an automatic room benefit and selection deadlines apply
75-night Annual Choice Benefit	Second choice after 75 nights; one current option is a Free Night Award worth up to 40,000 points with permitted top-up	The award has its own expiry and is not the same as a standard point reservation
Lifetime status	Silver 250 nights + 5 years; Gold 400 + 7; Platinum 600 + 10	The years and nights must both be met; new Lifetime Titanium earning ended in 2018
Point transfer	Send up to 100,000 and receive up to 500,000 per calendar year; minimum 1,000; two transactions per month and six per year	Both accounts face age and good-standing tests, and a transfer does not reset expiry
Ambassador Plus One	100 nights plus US$40,000 qualifying spend can gift Ambassador status to an eligible same-household companion	Ordinary Ambassador at US$23,000 does not unlock this benefit; address and relationship evidence can be required
Limited participation	MGM Collection, all-inclusive, yacht, vacation ownership, Design Hotels, Homes & Villas, Outdoor Collection and other portfolios use supplemental rules	A Marriott-branded booking page does not prove the full standard benefit package

How it works

Earning, status, and awards.

01 · Who it suits

Bonvoy works well when your travel keeps changing.

Marriott's portfolio covers an unusual range of destinations, budgets, and trip types. It is easier to keep stays in one account without compromising too far on the hotel you actually need.

Still compare the all-in rate, cancellation terms, benefits at that brand, and likely point value. A larger balance rarely makes the wrong hotel a better choice.

Works well for travelers who need geographic flexibility
Less suitable if you expect the same benefits at every brand
Check the hotel first, then value the Bonvoy benefits

02 · Earning

Start with the brand.

Most participating brands award 10 base points per eligible US dollar, before the elite bonus. A current set of extended-stay and select-service exceptions—including Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, City Express, Element, Four Points Flex, Homes & Villas, Marriott Executive Apartments, Protea, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites—earns 5 base points per eligible dollar. StudioRes earns 4 base points and does not receive the normal elite bonus. Series by Marriott varies by region.

Elite-night credit can diverge from physical nights. Several brands award half a qualifying night per eligible night, while StudioRes does not award elite-night credit under the current terms. Select both the correct base rate and elite-night treatment before estimating a stay.

Taxes, excluded charges, and nonqualifying channels do not become eligible spend
The base estimate excludes credit-card multipliers and promotions
Bonus-point totals are not the same thing as elite qualification

03 · Using points

Price each award on its own.

Marriott prices awards by property and date. Compare the live point quote with the matching cancellable cash room, including taxes and any mandatory charge that remains on an award. The result applies to that booking; it is not a fixed value for every Bonvoy point.

Stay for 5, Pay for 4 applies to five consecutive, eligible Standard Redemption or PointSavers award nights booked together with points. The lowest-priced point night is removed. Cash + Points, Free Night Awards, premium rooms, and split reservations do not qualify, so a generic five-night discount toggle would overstate value.

Compare like-for-like room and cancellation rules
Check resort or destination fees on the award checkout screen
Reprice before the penalty window if the program's live price changes

04 · Status

Platinum adds the benefits most travelers notice.

Silver and Gold improve earning and recognition. Platinum can change an eligible stay through breakfast or lounge treatment, upgrades, and later checkout. Delivery depends on brand, region, property facilities, room inventory, and the exact benefit exclusions.

Titanium adds priority and earning power. Ambassador requires both 100 qualifying nights and US$23,000 of qualifying spend in the calendar year. Track the night and spend requirements separately.

05 · Keeping points active

Transfers will not extend your points.

Bonvoy points generally expire after 24 months without qualifying activity. Earning, redeeming, or purchasing can reset activity under current rules, while gifting, transferring, and receiving transferred points do not. Track the posted qualifying transaction rather than assuming any account movement is sufficient.

Members can transfer points within published annual send and receive limits, with account-age and good-standing requirements. Transfers make most sense when they complete a planned award. Airline transfers can also help, but check ratios, minimums, bonuses, and processing time before moving an irreversible balance.

06 · Our take

Bonvoy pays off for travelers who use its reach.

Bonvoy is an excellent default when destinations and budgets change often. At the right hotel, elite benefits can noticeably improve a stay. Their value comes from the brand's benefit rules and the hotel's delivery, not the status name by itself.

Let your usual stays determine whether status is worth pursuing. Compare every award with the real cash alternative and transfer points only for a booking you are ready to make. Travelers who frequent a smaller, more consistent network may decide the extra reach is not worth the extra rules.

Playbook

Earning and redemption, in practice.

Qualification, booking, and redemption call for different decisions. Here is how to handle each one.

Start here

Marriott's advantage is reach, not a single predictable experience

Bonvoy can follow a traveler through major cities, secondary markets, roadside stops, extended stays and high-end resorts. That breadth is the program's defining strength. It also makes any one-line promise about earning or elite treatment unreliable. The useful unit of analysis is the specific brand, property and rate, not the Bonvoy logo by itself.

Begin with the trip and work backward. Confirm that the hotel participates normally, identify its base earn and elite-night treatment, then check the benefits that matter at that brand. A traveler who needs breakfast and a late checkout should not treat a Residence Inn, a Ritz-Carlton and a Marriott hotel as interchangeable simply because all three appear in the same account.

Use the official property page and program terms together.
Treat collections and residences as special cases until verified.
Value status only against benefits the chosen brand actually offers.

Earning

Calculate the base before adding the bonus

Elite percentages sound simple, but they multiply the brand's base points rather than the cash folio directly. A Platinum member at a 10x brand ordinarily adds five bonus points per eligible dollar. At a 5x brand, the same 50% bonus adds only 2.5. StudioRes removes the elite bonus entirely. Taxes and excluded charges should be stripped out before either calculation.

Elite-night credit has its own map. Half-credit brands can make a long stay look more productive than it is, while StudioRes contributes no elite nights. This matters most near a 50-, 75- or 100-night threshold. Estimate both redeemable points and qualifying nights before choosing an extended-stay brand for a status run.

Base points = eligible spend × the property's brand rate.
Elite bonus = base points × tier percentage.
Track elite nights separately from points and cash spend.

Benefits

Platinum is valuable only after the brand matrix is applied

Platinum is where Bonvoy becomes materially different: suite-eligible upgrades, a welcome choice, lounge or breakfast at qualifying brands and usually 4 p.m. checkout. None is universal. Resorts and convention hotels weaken the checkout promise, and many luxury, lifestyle, select-service and extended-stay brands sit outside the ordinary lounge guarantee.

The best reading is contractual rather than aspirational. Identify the brand's welcome choices, whether a lounge exists, what happens if it is closed and whether the property is a resort. Then ask the hotel only about facts not resolved by the published rules. This avoids both assuming a benefit and accepting a vague denial of one that the terms actually guarantee.

Save the current brand-specific benefit section before arrival.
Distinguish a lounge entitlement from a breakfast welcome choice.
Do not promise suite, view or bedding upgrades in advance.

Top tier

Ambassador is a two-dimensional qualification

One hundred nights alone is not Ambassador. The member also needs US$23,000 in Marriott-defined annual qualifying spend. That figure is not simply the total charged to a Marriott card or the total of every hotel folio. Future stays prepaid in another year, taxes, gift cards, events and other categories can fall outside the calculation.

The 2026 Plus One benefit adds a second line at US$40,000 while retaining the 100-night test. It is designed for a qualifying same-household companion, spouse or significant other and has documentation rules. The guide should present US$23,000 as the status threshold and US$40,000 as the separate gifting threshold, never as competing versions of the same requirement.

Follow the spend meter in the member account, not card statements.
Keep receipts when a qualifying charge is missing.
Treat Your24 and property recognition as subject to the published conditions.

Awards

Dynamic pricing rewards comparison, not loyalty to a points target

There is no stable category number to memorize. A room can move in points as dates, inventory or demand change, and a modification can reprice the stay. The only defensible value calculation uses the current award quote and a genuinely comparable cash rate with the same room, cancellation policy and mandatory fees.

A high cash price does not automatically make the award good. Resort fees may remain, premium rooms can require more points or cash, and transferred or purchased points introduce their own cost. Conversely, a five-night standard award can be compelling because the lowest point-priced night is removed. Evaluate the reservation as a whole.

Recheck award price before the free-cancellation deadline.
Do not modify an award without seeing the new point total.
Include surviving fees in cents-per-point calculations.

Five nights

The fifth-night benefit has precise boundaries

Stay for 5, Pay for 4 applies when five consecutive nights are booked as one eligible Standard Redemption or PointSavers reservation. Marriott removes the lowest-priced point night, which matters when dynamic prices differ across the stay. The benefit is calculated within the reservation rather than supplied as a reusable certificate.

Free Night Awards, Cash + Points, premium rooms and split reservations sit outside the rule. A traveler cannot attach a certificate to four point nights and expect a second night to disappear. Nor should separate reservations be assumed to merge after arrival. Build the eligible five-night booking from the beginning and confirm the displayed total.

Use one confirmation for all five eligible nights.
Check which night Marriott priced at zero points.
Compare with shorter stays; the extra night still has opportunity cost.

Certificates

A Free Night Award is not a points balance

Each Free Night Award has a ceiling, expiration date and source-specific rules. Some permits a point top-up; that does not make the certificate divisible, refundable or eligible for the five-night benefit. The stay generally must satisfy the certificate's standard-room and participation requirements.

Certificates deserve an expiry-first strategy because points are more flexible. Search for a night whose award price fits the ceiling and whose cash cost is meaningful, then confirm that the property fee does not erase the value. Do not buy points for a top-up until the room is available and the certificate applies.

Read the certificate details in the account before searching.
Checkout must comply with the certificate's expiry rule.
Keep points flexible when a certificate can cover the same night.

Eligibility

A lower third-party rate can carry a large loyalty cost

Most OTA, wholesale, tour-operator and opaque bookings are nonqualifying. The member can lose base points, elite-night credit, upgrades, breakfast, lounge access and checkout benefits at once. Adding a Bonvoy number to the reservation does not convert an ineligible rate into a qualifying one.

The correct comparison is the net trip cost, not the first room price shown. Price the direct eligible rate after member discount and include benefits the traveler will realistically use. If the third-party saving remains larger, book it knowingly; if status value closes the gap, use a qualifying Marriott channel and preserve the reservation record.

Confirm rate eligibility before payment, especially for packages.
Do not count benefits that are merely possible.
Retain the folio and reservation confirmation until points post.

Account care

Move points for a booking, not for tidiness

Marriott permits useful household-style transfers, but the limits and account-age rules make them a planning tool rather than instant pooling. A member can send 100,000 points and receive 500,000 in a year, with monthly and annual transaction-count caps. The receiving account should already have a target award.

Transfers do not reset the 24-month inactivity clock for either side. A small qualifying earn or redemption is a better account-maintenance action. Lifetime Elite members receive ordinary inactivity protection, but all members remain subject to account integrity and program-enforcement rules.

Check both account ages before relying on a transfer.
Transfer only after confirming live award inventory.
Use a separately qualifying activity to preserve an expiring balance.

Change log

What changed.

2026-06
Ambassador Plus One entered the current program rules
An Ambassador who reaches 100 Elite Night Credits and US$40,000 in annual qualifying spend may gift Ambassador status to an eligible same-household companion, spouse or significant other, subject to verification and renewal conditions.
2026-02-12
Marriott Executive Apartments elite-point treatment changed
Current terms provide elite bonus points at Marriott Executive Apartments while preserving the brand's reduced 5x room-rate-only base earn and limited on-property benefits.
2025-11-09
Sonder left Marriott Bonvoy
Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy properties no longer participate. Older articles and cached property pages should not be used to promise earnings or benefits.
2026-07-14
UpTrip verification date
Program thresholds, earning exceptions, award rules, transfer limits and first-quarter footprint were checked against the first-party sources listed here.

Calculators

Run the numbers.

Compare the cash and reward prices for the same room, then use the assumptions that fit your stay.

01 · Award value

Should you use rewards?

Compare the cash price with the rewards required and any fees you still have to pay.

All-in cash price (USD)Bonvoy points requiredFees still paid (USD)Your target (USD cents each)

Observed value0.70 USD cents

Add the value you want from each reward.

02 · Earnings

Estimate what you’ll earn.

Most brands earn 10 base points per eligible US dollar; select and extended-stay brands earn 5, while StudioRes earns 4 without the normal elite bonus. Enter the live rule for your brand.

Eligible spend (USD)Base points per eligible US$Elite bonus (%)

Estimated earnings5,000

This estimate is in Bonvoy points. It excludes ineligible taxes, promotions, brand exceptions, caps, cards, and partner bonuses.

03 · Status

How many nights remain?

Night estimate only. Ambassador also requires US$23,000 in qualifying annual spend, and some brands award partial or no elite-night credit.

Target tierCompleted nightsAlready planned

Nights still needed100

You have entered 0 nights toward the 100-night Ambassador Elite threshold.

04 · Benefits

What is status worth to you?

Price only what you would otherwise buy. Then reduce the total for benefits that are uncertain, unavailable, or easy to leave unused.

Nights this yearStays this yearBreakfast value per night (USD)Upgrade value per night (USD)Other value per stay (USD)Expected use (%)

Your annual estimateUSD 0

Based only on the values above. Count a benefit only when you would otherwise pay for it.

Calculations stay in your browser. Use them as estimates; current program terms and your eligibility still apply.

Questions

What travelers ask.

Answers reflect the sources and review date above. Promotions, participation, and hotel delivery can change.

01How many Marriott Bonvoy points do I earn at a hotel?

Most participating brands earn 10 base points per eligible US dollar. Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, City Express, Element, Four Points Flex, Homes & Villas, Protea, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and some Series properties generally earn 5x; StudioRes earns 4x. Marriott Executive Apartments earns 5x on qualifying room rate only. Apply the elite percentage to base points, not to the whole folio.

02Does every paid night earn one Elite Night Credit?

No. Most qualifying nights do, but City Express, Four Points Flex, Protea and Series outside the US, Canada and Greater China generally award one credit for every two qualifying nights. StudioRes awards none. Nonqualifying rates, including most OTA bookings, also earn no credit.

03Does Marriott Platinum guarantee free breakfast?

No. Platinum's welcome gift, lounge and breakfast rules vary by brand, region and property type. Several luxury, lifestyle, select-service and extended-stay brands do not provide the ordinary lounge entitlement. Check the brand-specific matrix and whether the hotel is a resort before assigning value.

04Is 4 p.m. checkout guaranteed for Platinum members?

It is guaranteed at many participating properties, but resorts, convention hotels and several special-participation brands make it subject to availability or exclude it. The property classification matters as much as the tier.

05How does Stay for 5, Pay for 4 work?

Book five consecutive eligible Standard Redemption or PointSavers nights under one confirmation. Marriott removes the lowest point-priced night. The rule does not cover Free Night Awards, Cash + Points, premium rooms, split reservations or a retroactive request after check-in.

06Are resort fees waived on Marriott award stays?

Not as a universal Bonvoy benefit. Standard awards include specified room charges and taxes, but resort, destination and other property fees can remain. Eligible all-inclusive properties have separate rules. Review the final booking breakdown.

07Can I add points to a Marriott Free Night Award?

Only when the particular certificate permits a top-up, and only up to that certificate's limit. A top-up does not make the certificate transferable, divisible or eligible for fifth-night-free.

08Can I use my Marriott points for someone else?

An eligible award-redemption reservation can be placed in another guest's name through Member Support, subject to Marriott's current annual limit and process. The guest does not receive your elite benefits, point earnings or Elite Night Credit, and the certificate or account itself is not transferred.

09What counts toward Ambassador's spend requirement?

Marriott-defined annual qualifying spend from eligible completed stays counts. The total is narrower than card spend or every folio line; taxes, gift cards, many event charges and future-year prepaid stays can be excluded. Ambassador requires US$23,000 plus 100 nights; Plus One requires US$40,000 plus 100 nights.

10Can I transfer Marriott points to another member?

Yes. Current limits are 100,000 points sent and 500,000 received per calendar year, with a 1,000-point minimum, account-age tests, two transactions per month and six per year. Transfers do not reset point expiry.

11When do Marriott Bonvoy points expire?

After 24 months without qualifying activity. Eligible earning, redemptions and point purchases can preserve a balance. Gifting, sending or receiving transferred points does not. Lifetime Elite status protects points from ordinary inactivity forfeiture.

12Will an Expedia or Booking.com stay earn Bonvoy benefits?

Most OTA, opaque, wholesale and tour-operator rates are nonqualifying, even if a Bonvoy number is added later. Expect no room-rate points, Elite Night Credit or standard elite benefits unless the booking channel and rate are expressly eligible under Marriott's rules.

Sources

Go to the source.

Program rules and prices change. Before you book or move rewards, confirm the hotel, dates, room, rate, fees, benefits, account eligibility, and partner terms on the linked official pages.

01
Marriott Bonvoy program overview
Program and enrollment overview
Marriott International
02
Earn points at hotels
Base earning, brand exceptions, and qualifying-charge overview
Marriott International
03
Redeem points for hotels
Hotel award paths
Marriott International
04
Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions
Controlling qualification, earning, redemption, expiry, and transfer rules
Marriott International
05
Membership levels and benefits
Tier thresholds and published benefits
Marriott International
06
Q1 2026 results
Dated portfolio footprint
Marriott International
07
Lifetime Elite Status
Lifetime Silver, Gold and Platinum thresholds
Marriott Bonvoy
08
Ambassador Elite Benefits
Ambassador service, Your24 and Ambassador Plus One
Marriott Bonvoy
09
Transfer Points to Miles
Current airline-transfer partners and conversion conditions
Marriott Bonvoy
10
Marriott Bonvoy Enrollment
Official non-referral enrollment destination
Marriott Bonvoy
11
All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy
Separate all-inclusive portfolio and booking context
Marriott Bonvoy

Official enrollment

Join Marriott Bonvoy

This link opens Marriott International’s official site. It carries no referral code, and UpTrip receives nothing.

Join Marriott Bonvoy on the official site

Next guide

Next: World of HyattExcellent awards where the footprint fits