Home
Credit Cards
Your guide to Marriott Bonvoy

Ultimate Marriott Bonvoy guide for Canada

Cory Santos Credit card expert

Updated Mar 14, 2025

The Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty program provides members with luxurious perks and impressive rewards at 10,000+ hotels worldwide.

While we adhere to strict editorial guidelines, partners on this page may provide us earnings.

Marriott Bonvoy is the free hotel rewards program offering exclusive perks at over 8,000+ hotels and resorts worldwide.

Hotel loyalty programs are designed to offer regular guests enhanced perks during their hotel stays. From free Wi-Fi to complimentary breakfast, suite upgrades, spa credits and more, these programs offer significant value for the brand-dedicated traveller. Marriott Bonvoy is the largest hotel program worldwide, covering more than 10,000 global properties across 30 brands. But how does it work? Here’s everything you need to know about the Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty program.

Top 3 Marriott credit cards (and alternatives) in Canada

Card

Welcome Offer

  • Why you can trust Money.ca's best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards in Canada list

    +

    Money.ca rates all credit cards on a numeric scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest rating, respectively. Money.ca’s proprietary scoring formulas break down the confusing language, complex points, rewards and earn rates to give you the real data that caters to your needs first, not ours.

    Our partnerships have no impact on our ratings, which are solely determined by the merits of each card. To learn more about how we researched and ranked these cards, read our full credit card review methodology.

What is the Marriott Bonvoy program?

The Marriott Bonvoy program is regarded as one of the most exceptional hotel rewards programs available and prides itself on offering elite-level benefits and excellent redemption value for Canadian travellers with brand loyalty.

Marriott Bonvoy is the product of three loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest. These programs merged to form Marriott Bonvoy in 2016. All told, Marriott Bonvoy has more than 200 million global members, as of the start of 2024, making it one of the largest loyalty programs in the world.

All Marriott Bonvoy hotel brands

Marriott Bonvoy brands. Image courtesy of Marriott Bonvoy

The following hotels and resorts make up the Marriott International portfolio and participate in Marriott Bonvoy:

  • AC Hotels
  • Aloft
  • Autograph Collection
  • Bulgari Hotels
  • Courtyard by Marriott
  • Element
  • Fairfield Inn
  • Four Points
  • Gaylord Hotels
  • Homes & Villas by Marriott
  • JW Marriott
  • Le Meridien
  • Marriott Hotels & Resorts
  • Regis
  • Renaissance Hotels
  • Residence Inn
  • Ritz-Carlton
  • Sheraton
  • SpringHill Suites
  • TownePlace Suites
  • W Hotels
  • Westin

Pros and cons

Pros

Pros

  • Value: Bonvoy points are worth between 0.5 and 1.5 cents per point, which is among the more valuable loyalty points in Canada

  • Redemption options: You can book hotels with points or a mix of points and cash or transfer points to over 40 airline loyalty programs

  • Hotel options: The program classifies hotels into five distinct categories, providing a broad spectrum of choices, including luxury, premium, select, longer stays and collections

  • Co-branded credit cards: You can maximize your rewards with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card from American Express

Cons

Cons

  • Points expire: Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity on the account

  • Dynamic pricing: The program uses dynamic pricing for its award nights, making it challenging to predict the number of points required for booking trips

How to join Marriott Bonvoy

Joining the Bonvoy program is simple and straightforward. First, you’ll need to visit the Marriott Bonvoy sign-up page where you’ll need to provide some basic personal information:

  • Full name
  • Address
  • Valid email address

From there you will need to set a password. After that, just click “join” and you're enrolled. 

How to earn points with Marriott brands

The primary method of earning Marriott Bonvoy points is by staying at Marriott properties. As a Marriott Bonvoy member, you will earn points for every dollar spent at most Marriott hotel brands. The rate of earning varies depending on the property, but for most brands, it’s 10 points per dollar spent. 

Marriott brand Points per $1
Marriott Executive Apartments 2.5x points per dollar spent
Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Element, Homes & Villas 5x points per dollar spent
All other Marriott brands 10x points per dollar spent

If you want to supercharge your Marriott Bonvoy points-earning potential, a co-branded hotel credit card is an excellent option to consider. Marriott issues two co-branded hotel credit cards with American Express in Canada: Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* and Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card.

50,000 points*

Welcome Bonus

$719

First Year Value

$269

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points* after you spend $1,500 on your Card within your first 3 months as a new Cardmember.*

Learn More Apply Now On American Express' Secure Site

Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card

4.0

60,000 points*

Welcome Bonus

$830

First Year Value

$314

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 Welcome Bonus Marriott Bonvoy® points*

Apply Now On American Express' Secure Site

Outside of the reward points each card earns, both cards also provide the following Marriott benefits:

  • 15 elite qualifying nights per calendar year
  • An anniversary Free Night Award worth 35,000 points
  • Gold elite status when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year

Disclosures:

  • Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

    American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

One of the best features of loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy is the ability to transfer points to other reward programs:

  • Other transfer partners

    +

    But Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to more programs than just Amex. Points also transfer to more than 40 airline frequent flyer programs worldwide, including:

    ● Aegean Airlines

    ● Asiana Airlines

    ● Aeroflot

    ● Avianca LifeMiles

    ● Aeromexico

    ● Air Canada Aeroplan

    ● Air China

    ● Air France/KLM Flying Blue

    ● Air New Zealand

    ● Alaska Airlines Mileage pLAN

    ● All Nippon Airways

    ● American Airlines AAdvantage

    ● British Airways

    ● Cathay Pacific DragonMiles

    ● China Eastern Airlines

    ● Copa Airlines

    ● Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

    ● Emirates

    ● Etihad

    ● Frontier Airlines

    ● Hainan Airlines

    ● Hawaiian Airlines

    ● Iberia

    ● Japan Airlines

    ● Jet Airways

    ● JetBlue TrueBlue

    ● Korean Air

    ● LATAM LATAM Pass

    ● Lufthansa Miles & More

    ● Qantas

    ● Qatar Airlines

    ● Saudi Airlines

    ● Singapore Airlines

    ● South Africa Airways

    ● Southwest Rapid Rewards

    ● Thai Airways

    ● Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

    ● United Airlines MileagePlus

    ● Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

    ● Virgin Australia

    Transfer rates of Bonvoy points to frequent flyer miles are uniform, with a few notable exceptions. Most airlines offer frequent flyer miles for Bonvoy points at a rate of three points for every mile (3:1). The following, however, are exceptions:

    ● Air New Zealand: 200 Bonvoy points for every mile (200:1)

    ● JetBlue: Six Bonvoy points for every point (6:1)

    ● United MileagePlus: Three Bonvoy points for every 1.1 miles. This rate is unique, as United Airlines offers a 10% bonus on every point transfer (3:1.1)

Amex MR points

Another way to quickly earn Marriott Bonvoy points is by transferring points from an American Express Membership Rewards credit card. The transfer process is straightforward and offers good value, especially during promotional periods. Here are the key details:

  • Transfer ratio: The standard transfer rate from Canadian-issued American Express Membership Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy is 1:1.2. This means for every 1,000 MR points transferred, you receive 1,200 Marriott Bonvoy points.
  • Transfer time: Most points transfers are instant. Officially, transfers are slated to take up to two business days to complete. 
  • Minimum transfer: The minimum transfer amount is 1,000 MR points, and transfers must be made in increments of 1,000 points.

Top Amex MR credit cards Canada

Card

Welcome Offer

Disclosures:

  • Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

    American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Read more: How American Express Membership Rewards Work and How to Get the Most Out of Your Points

When considering whether to transfer your MR points to Marriott Bonvoy, weigh the potential value against other transfer options, such as airline partners. Hotel redemptions can offer great value, especially for family travel or longer stays, but premium flight redemptions might provide higher value per point in some cases.

Cory Santos, Money.ca Credit Card Expert

Do Marriott Bonvoy points expire?

One of the biggest worries with reward points is the expiration. Some bad news: Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity on the member account. 

Members can check their Marriott Bonvoy point expiration date by logging into their account either online or through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app.

How to keep your Marriott Bonvoy points active

Yes, it's true: Marriott Bonvoy points expire, should your account be inactive for at least 24 months. Fortunately, you can bypass points expiring by completing an eligible transaction. Some examples of qualifying activity to keep the account active include:

  • Completed stays at a Marriott property posted to the account
  • Food and beverage purchases at a Marriott property
  • Completed Marriott Bonvoy events
  • Purchasing points online
  • Converting Bonvoy points to airline miles
  • Converting airline miles to Bonvoy points
  • Earning Marriott Bonvoy points through eligible tours and activities
  • Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points
  • Making a purchase with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card

Redeeming points is easy. The simplest way to redeem Bonvoy points is through booking free night stays with eligible Marriott properties. 

Previously, Marriott classified its properties into nine categories, with higher scores indicating more exclusive hotels and resorts. However, in March 2022, Marriott switched to a dynamic pricing system. This change has reduced transparency for members, as the previous award chart that provided information on the points needed for free nights is no longer in use.

Previously, Marriott's award pricing for free nights was as follows:

Hotel category Off-peak Standard Peak
1 5,000 7,500 10,000
2 10,000 12,500 15,000
3 15,000 17,500 20,000
4 20,000 25,000 30,000
5 30,000 35,000 40,000
6 40,000 50,000 60,000
7 50,000 60,000 70,000
8 70,000 85,000 100,000

The new dynamic pricing means that the cost of an award stay is determined by various factors, such as the hotel's paid rates, events and occupancy levels. Unfortunately, this also means that you won't know the exact cost of your award stay until you go to book it.

Points are redeemable for stays in three different ways: PointSavers, points, or cash and points.

  • PointSaver: PointSaver is a revolving list of Marriott properties and offers the best value for money, with increased discount rates. Redemptions with PointSaver start as low as 4,000 points for off-peak stays, 6,000 for regular stays and 8,500 points for peak-season stays
  • Points: Points are the primary method of redemption with the Bonvoy program, with free nights starting at 5,000 points for off-peak stays at Category 1 properties, 7,500 for typical stays, and 10,000 for peak-season stays
  • Cash and points: Cash and points allows Bonvoy members to pay for part of their stay with points – paying the rest with cash. Redemptions using cash and points start as low as 1,500 points and $55

The Bonvoy loyalty program provides a variety of perks and amenities for members. These perks vary depending upon your tier status, with the following tiers enjoying the following benefits: 

Tier Requirements Points multiplier Perks
Member N/A 10x Mobile check-in, digital key, free Wi-Fi
Silver 10 nights 11x Mobile check-in, digital key, free Wi-Fi, reservation guarantee, elite reservation phone line, late check-out
Gold 25 nights 12.5x Mobile check-in, digital key, upgraded free Wi-Fi, reservation guarantee, elite reservation phone line, room upgrades (where available), late check-out, welcome gift
Platinum 50 nights 15x Mobile check-in, digital key, enhanced free Wi-Fi, reservation guarantee, elite reservation phone line, suite upgrades (where available), late check-out, welcome gift
Titanium 75 nights 17.5x Mobile check-in, digital key, enhanced free Wi-Fi, reservation guarantee, 48-hour room guarantee, elite reservation phone line, suite upgrades (where available), late check-out, welcome gift, suite upgrades at Ritz Carlton, United MileagePlus Silver Premier status, lounge access
Ambassador 100 Nights + $20,000 in spending 17.5x Annual choice benefit, mobile check-in, digital key, enhanced free Wi-Fi, reservation guarantee, 48-hour room guarantee, elite reservation phone line, late check-out, welcome gift, room upgrades (including at at Ritz Carlton), United MileagePlus Premier status, lounge access, personalised Ambassador service

Marriott Bonvoy elite tiers explained

Member

Even if you're just dipping your toes into the Marriott Bonvoy program, you're in for some perks. As a basic Member, you're already on the path to earning points and enjoying free Wi-Fi during your stays. There's no minimum stay requirement; just sign up, and you're good to go. 

Silver Elite

Once you've racked up 10 nights in a calendar year, you'll hit Silver Elite status. Think of it as your first step up the Marriott ladder. Along with the Member benefits, you'll get:

  • 10% bonus on points earned during stays
  • Priority late checkout (when available)
  • Access to a dedicated elite reservation line

Once you hit Silver, you'll keep it for the rest of the year you earned it and the entire following year.

Gold Elite

Hit 25 nights in a calendar year, and you'll be basking in the golden glow of Gold Elite status. This is where the perks start to get juicy:

  • 25% bonus on points earned during stays
  • 2 p.m. late checkout (subject to availability)
  • Room upgrades (based on availability at check-in)
  • Welcome gift of points at check-in

Gold Elite is where you start to feel like a VIP. Even better, if you have an American Express Platinum Card, you automatically get Gold Elite status.

Platinum Elite

At 50 nights, you've reached Platinum Elite, and this is where the Marriott Bonvoy program really starts to shine. Platinum members enjoy:

  • 50% bonus on points earned during stays
  • 4 p.m. late checkout (guaranteed at most properties)
  • Room upgrades, including select suites (based on availability at check-in)
  • Welcome gift choice (points, breakfast, or amenity depending on the hotel)
  • Lounge access (where available)
  • Annual Choice Benefit (5 Suite Night Awards or other options)

Platinum is where you start to feel like Marriott is rolling out the red carpet for you. The suite upgrades and lounge access can really elevate your stay.

Titanium Elite

If you're a true road warrior and hit 75 nights in a year, welcome to Titanium Elite status. Along with all the Platinum perks, you'll also get:

  • 75% bonus on points earned during stays
  • Additional Annual Choice Benefit
  • United Airlines Silver status 

Ambassador Elite

At the pinnacle of the Marriott Bonvoy program sits Ambassador Elite status. To reach this lofty height, you need to stay 100 nights AND spend $20,000 on qualifying purchases in a calendar year. But oh, the perks:

  • All the benefits of Titanium Elite
  • Ambassador service (personalized service to handle your travel needs)
  • Your24 (choose your check-in and checkout times for stays of 24 hours)

Ambassador Elite is for those who practically live in Marriott hotels. The personalized service and flexible check-in times can be game-changers for frequent travellers.

Remember, once you earn a status level, you'll enjoy it for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earned it, plus the entire following calendar year. So if you hit Platinum in July 2025, you'll keep it until December 31, 2026.

Marriott Bonvoy Moments guide

Marriott Bonvoy Moments is a program that offers members access to a collection of exclusive experiences and events around the world. These experiences range from cultural and culinary events to sports and entertainment. Members can use their loyalty points to bid on or purchase these experiences, making their travel more rewarding and memorable.

What experiences you can expect with Marriott Bonvoy Moments can vary considerably, with the program offering a wide range of traditional experiences with more unusual events popping up on occasion.

For example, 2025 is an exciting time for Bonvoy members, with some of the unique Memories including:

  • A ride on the Royal Railway to Utopia Station: An immersive dining experience on a cruise ship bound for the Bahamas, featuring a Wild West-themed train carriage restaurant with a Western-inspired menu and immersive theatre
  • Witness Her: Naked Fashion Show, Melbourne, Australia: An exclusive women-only event aimed at promoting body positivity and empowerment through a naked fashion show, providing a safe and nurturing space for women to celebrate their natural bodies

These events are in addition to the Memories you'd typically expect to find from an experience portal, including skydiving over the Grand Canyon, tickets to Broadway shows, cooking classes in Italy, food tours in Mexico City, educational experiences and more.

Pool points

You can earn even more Bonvoy points if you pool points with friends or family. You can share up to 100,000 points between accounts each calendar year. It's a great way to combine forces for that dream vacation.

Make use of "Fifth Night Free"

One of the best features of Marriott Bonvoy is its "Fifth Night Free" perk. The Fifth Night Free benefit lets you book five nights for the price of four when using points.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy program worth it?

The Marriott Bonvoy program offers various ways to earn points, including through co-branded credit cards with American Express and through converting American Express Membership Rewards points. With more than 7,000 properties worldwide and more than 20 brands to choose from, Bonvoy has a hotel (and room) that’s just right for your next trip. 

The Bonvoy program offers significant value if you frequently travel and prefer to stay with a Marriott brand like Ritz-Carlton, Sherwood, Marriott, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn or any other eligible property. Gaining elite status with the program is straightforward and unlocks valuable perks like free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, late check-out and more. The ability to book award nights with a combination of cash and points is equally enjoyable and helps increase flexibility when redeeming.

The chance to transfer points to more than 40 international frequent flyer programs is equally great, with many transfer partners offering favourable rates and a simple way to book award flights almost anywhere worldwide. 

FAQs

  • What are Marriott Bonvoy points worth?

    +

    The value of Marriott Bonvoy points varies depending on how you choose to redeem. You’ll get your best value when redeeming for free nights at Marriott International properties, but the actual value will depend on things like time of stay, hotel brand and location. Typically Marriott points are worth about 0.5 to 1.5 cents per point.

  • How long does it take to transfer points to another program?

    +

    Moving Bonvoy points to another loyalty program (or vice versa) usually takes between 48 and 72-hours — or two to three business days.

  • Does Marriott offer free in-room Wi-Fi?

    +

    Yes. As a basic Marriott Bonvoy member, you can enjoy access to complimentary in-room Internet access when you book through the Marriott website or app.

  • Does Marriott offer free breakfast?

    +

    In some cases, yes, but it’ll require elite status Platinum Elite status, which is the upper mid-tier level of the program (requires 50 nights per year). But you can expect complimentary breakfast at eligible properties once you reach that target.

Cory Santos Credit card expert

Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous print and digital publications across North America, including the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Debt.ca, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk.

Disclaimer

The content provided on Money.ca is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter. Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website.

†Terms and Conditions apply.