Key Points

• Marriott Bonvoy credit cards earn 2-6x points per dollar spent, with welcome bonuses reaching 185,000 points.
• Hotel stays with eligible rates earn 10 base points per dollar, multiplied significantly by elite status.
• Strategic combinations of credit cards, elite status, and shopping portals can multiply your earning rate by 5-10x.

Introduction

Building a meaningful Marriott Bonvoy points balance doesn't require constant travel or endless credit card applications. Whether you're planning a weekend at a Courtyard or dreaming about the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, understanding how to earn Marriott Bonvoy points efficiently makes those stays possible faster than you might think.

The program offers multiple earning paths that work together. A single hotel stay can generate points from your room rate, credit card spending, elite status bonuses, and promotional offers simultaneously. Most people focus on just one or two earning methods and miss significant opportunities.

This guide breaks down every way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, showing you which strategies deliver the best return on your time and spending.

Understanding Base Earning Rates

Marriott Bonvoy operates with a straightforward foundation: 10 base points per dollar spent on eligible hotel stays. This applies when you book directly through Marriott channels and pay with qualifying rates.

What counts as eligible spending:

• Room rate and room charges
• Food and beverage at the property
• Spa services
• Golf and resort activities

What doesn't earn points:

• Third-party bookings (Expedia, Hotels.com, Priceline)
• Taxes and resort fees in most locations
• Award night stays
• Points + Cash bookings (earn on the cash portion only)

That 10 points per dollar baseline becomes significantly more valuable when you layer on other earning methods. A $200 hotel night earning 2,000 base points can turn into 5,000+ points with the right credit card and elite status combination.

Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

Credit card welcome offers represent the fastest way to accumulate large quantities of Marriott points. Current bonuses range from 50,000 to 185,000 points after meeting minimum spending requirements.

Current Marriott Credit Card Options

Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold

• 50,000 bonus points after $1,000 spend in 3 months
• No annual fee
• Earns 3x at Marriott properties, 2x on other travel, 1x everywhere else
• Best for: Testing Marriott cards without financial commitment

Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

• 100,000 bonus points after $5,000 spend in 3 months
• $95 annual fee
• Earns 6x at Marriott, 3x on first $6,000 in combined gas/grocery/dining, 2x everywhere else
• Free night certificate (up to 50,000 points) annually
• Best for: Most travelers seeking solid value

Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful

• 75,000 bonus points after $3,000 spend in 3 months
• $250 annual fee
• Earns 6x at Marriott, 3x on first $6,000 in combined gas/grocery/dining, 2x everywhere else
• Three free night certificates (up to 50,000 points each) annually
• Best for: Frequent Marriott guests who value free night certificates

American Express Marriott Bonvoy Bevy

• 125,000 bonus points after $5,000 spend in 6 months
• $250 annual fee
• Earns 6x at Marriott, 4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000), 2x everywhere else
• Gold Elite status automatically
• Best for: Strong everyday spending rewards beyond just Marriott

American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

• 185,000 bonus points after $6,000 spend in 6 months
• $650 annual fee
• Earns 6x at Marriott, 3x on restaurants worldwide and flights booked directly, 2x everywhere else
• Platinum Elite status automatically
• $300 annual Marriott credit
• Priority Pass lounge access
• Best for: Frequent luxury travelers and those pursuing elite status

American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business

• 150,000 bonus points after $5,000 spend in 3 months
• $125 annual fee
• Earns 6x at Marriott, 4x on dining/gas stations/wireless/U.S. purchases for shipping, 2x everywhere else
• 15 elite night credits annually toward status
• Best for: Business owners and elite status chasers

Strategic Timing for Applications

The welcome bonus from a single credit card can cover 3-5 free nights at mid-tier properties. If you're organized about timing, you can potentially open multiple Marriott cards within a year since Chase and American Express operate as separate issuers.

Here's what matters for timing:

• Chase cards follow the one Marriott card per 90 days rule
• American Express cards follow their once per lifetime bonus rule per product
• You can hold both Chase and Amex Marriott cards simultaneously
• Space applications to meet minimum spending requirements comfortably

Before applying for Chase cards, understand Chase's 5/24 rule, which can impact your approval odds if you've opened too many cards recently.

A realistic earning example: Opening the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (185,000 points) and Marriott Bonvoy Business (150,000 points) within a few months provides 335,000 points. That's enough for a week at a Category 7 property during off-peak dates or two weeks at a Category 4 property.

Everyday Credit Card Earning

After the welcome bonus, your daily spending becomes your steady accumulation engine. The earning rates vary significantly depending on which card you use and your spending patterns.

Marriott Property Spending

All Marriott co-branded cards earn at least 6x points per dollar at Marriott properties (except the Bold at 3x). This stacks with the 10x points per dollar you earn as a Bonvoy member on eligible room rates.

Real-world example: A $200 nightly rate with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card generates:

• 2,000 base Bonvoy points (10x per dollar as a member)
• 1,200 credit card points (6x per dollar on card)
• Total: 3,200 points per night, before elite bonuses

That's a 16x earning rate on hotel spending when you combine membership and credit card rewards.

Category Bonus Spending

Several Marriott cards offer elevated earning on non-Marriott spending. The most valuable categories:

Dining (3-4x points):

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: 3x worldwide
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: 4x worldwide
• Marriott Bonvoy Business: 4x at restaurants

Grocery Stores (3-4x points):

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 3x (first $6,000 annually)
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful: 3x (first $6,000 annually)
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: 4x at U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 annually)

Gas Stations (3-4x points):

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 3x (first $6,000 annually)
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful: 3x (first $6,000 annually)
• Marriott Bonvoy Business: 4x at gas stations

The $6,000 annual cap on some Chase cards means you'll earn bonus points on the first $500 monthly in combined eligible spending. For most households, this covers regular grocery and gas expenses year-round.

Maximizing Credit Card Returns

If you hold multiple Marriott cards, strategically routing your spending optimizes your earning:

Daily spending strategy:

1. Marriott property charges: Any 6x card
2. Dining: Marriott Bonvoy Business or Bevy (4x)
3. Groceries: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy (4x up to $15,000)
4. Gas: Marriott Bonvoy Business (4x)
5. Everything else: Any Marriott card (2x)

Annual spending of $30,000 strategically distributed across categories with the right cards can generate 70,000-80,000 points beyond any welcome bonuses.

Hotel Stays and Elite Status Multipliers

Staying at Marriott properties remains the most rewarding earning method per dollar spent when you factor in elite status bonuses. The base 10 points per dollar gets multiplied significantly as you climb elite tiers.

Elite Status Earning Rates

Member (No Status):

• 10 points per dollar on eligible stays
• No additional bonuses

Silver Elite (10 nights or 25 elite night credits):

• 10% bonus points (11 total points per dollar)
• Late checkout

Gold Elite (25 nights or 50 elite night credits):

• 25% bonus points (12.5 total points per dollar)
• Room upgrades when available
• Late checkout

Platinum Elite (50 nights or 75 elite night credits):

• 50% bonus points (15 points per dollar)
• Enhanced room upgrades including suites
• Lounge access when available
• Late checkout and 4pm guaranteed checkout

Titanium Elite (75 nights or 100 elite night credits):

• 75% bonus points (17.5 points per dollar)
• 48-hour reservation guarantee
• All Platinum benefits enhanced

Ambassador Elite (100+ nights plus $23,000+ annual spending):

• 75% bonus points (17.5 points per dollar)
• Your Ambassador contact for personalized service
• Suite upgrade certificates
• All Titanium benefits

Learn more about the complete elite status benefits and how to maximize them.

The Compounding Effect

Elite bonuses compound with credit card earning. Here's how a $200 hotel night breaks down at different elite levels using the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card:

No Status:

• 2,000 base points
• 1,200 credit card points
• Total: 3,200 points (16x per dollar)

Gold Elite:

• 2,000 base points
• 500 elite bonus (25%)
• 1,200 credit card points
• Total: 3,700 points (18.5x per dollar)

Platinum Elite:

• 2,000 base points
• 1,000 elite bonus (50%)
• 1,200 credit card points
• Total: 4,200 points (21x per dollar)

Ambassador Elite:

• 2,000 base points
• 1,500 elite bonus (75%)
• 1,200 credit card points
• Total: 4,700 points (23.5x per dollar)

The difference between no status and Ambassador on a $200 night is 1,500 points. Over a year of moderate travel (30 nights), that's an extra 45,000 points from elite bonuses alone.

Fast-Tracking Elite Status with Credit Cards

Three Marriott credit cards grant automatic elite status or help you earn it faster:

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: Gold Elite StatusThe $250 annual fee card provides automatic Gold Elite status, giving you the 25% point bonus immediately without earning 25 qualifying nights. For someone who stays 15-20 nights annually, the bonus points from Gold status often exceed the annual fee cost.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: Platinum Elite StatusThe $650 annual fee includes automatic Platinum Elite status. The 50% point bonus becomes significant for moderate to frequent travelers. Combined with the $300 annual Marriott credit, the effective annual fee drops to $350 for Platinum status you'd otherwise need 50 nights to earn.

Marriott Bonvoy Business: 15 Elite Night CreditsThis card grants 15 elite night credits annually regardless of actual stays. These credits count toward status qualification, reducing the number of paid nights needed. If you're targeting Platinum (50 total elite night credits needed), the Business card gets you 30% of the way there without setting foot in a hotel.

You can combine these benefits strategically. Holding both the Brilliant (automatic Platinum) and Business (15 elite night credits) means you start the year at Platinum and have a head start toward Titanium if you add paid stays.

Marriott Bonvoy Shopping Portal

The Marriott Bonvoy shopping portal offers points for online purchases at over 900 retailers. While not as lucrative as credit card spending, the portal adds bonus points on purchases you're making anyway.

How the Shopping Portal Works

Access the portal at Marriott Bonvoy Shopping, browse participating retailers, click through to their website, and complete your purchase. Points typically post within 4-8 weeks.

Current earning rates at popular retailers:

• Department stores: 2-5 points per dollar
• Electronics: 1-3 points per dollar
• Travel bookings: 2-8 points per dollar
• Specialty retailers: 3-10 points per dollar

The portal runs frequent promotions offering 2-3x the standard earning rate. Combining portal bonuses with credit card earning and any store-specific promotions creates stacking opportunities.

Stacking Portal Earnings with Credit Cards

The shopping portal awards points separately from your credit card rewards. This means you can earn Marriott points three ways on a single purchase:

Example: $500 purchase at a retailer offering 3x points through the portal

• 1,500 shopping portal points (3x per dollar)
• 1,000 credit card points (2x base rate on most Marriott cards)
• Any store-specific rewards or promotions
• Total: 2,500+ Marriott points (5x+ per dollar)

During promotional periods, some retailers offer 10x+ points through the portal. A $1,000 purchase at 10x through the portal plus 2x from your credit card generates 12,000 Marriott points.

Maximizing Portal Value

Track promotional offers: The portal sends email notifications about bonus earnings events. Major shopping holidays (Black Friday, Cyber Monday) often feature enhanced rates.

Compare with other portals: Sometimes the Marriott portal offers the best rate for your desired purchase, sometimes not. Quick comparison with other shopping portals ensures you're getting optimal value. If another portal offers significantly better cash back or transferable points, that might deliver more value depending on your goals.

Don't overthink small purchases: The portal makes sense for planned purchases over $100. Clicking through for a $15 item that earns 45 extra points isn't worth the hassle for most people.

Consider timing: If you're planning a large purchase and aren't in a rush, wait for promotional periods when earning rates increase. A $2,000 furniture purchase at a standard 2x rate (4,000 points) becomes 8,000 points when the retailer runs a 4x promotion.

Transfer Partners and Point Conversions

Marriott Bonvoy partners with over 40 airline programs through its transfer partners program, allowing you to convert hotel points into airline miles. While the base conversion rate of 3:1 (60,000 Marriott points = 20,000 airline miles) isn't spectacular, the 5,000-mile bonus on every 60,000 points transferred improves the value.

How Airline Transfers Work

Transfer 60,000 Marriott points to most airline partners and receive 25,000 airline miles (20,000 base + 5,000 bonus). The effective conversion rate becomes 2.4:1 rather than 3:1.

Most valuable transfer partners:

• Alaska Mileage Plan: 2.4:1 effective rate
• American Airlines AAdvantage: 2.4:1 effective rate
• United MileagePlus: 2.4:1 effective rate
• British Airways Executive Club: 2.4:1 effective rate
• Emirates Skywards: 2.4:1 effective rate

Note on Marriott-to-airline transfers: This strategy works best when you need to top off an airline account for a specific award or when airline miles offer significantly better redemption value for your goals than hotel nights. Most people find better value using Marriott points directly for hotel stays.

Point Purchasing and Transfers

Marriott occasionally offers promotions to purchase points at discounts (typically 50-60% off). The standard purchase price of 1.25 cents per point rarely makes sense, but promotional pricing around 0.6-0.7 cents per point can be worthwhile for specific redemptions.

You can also transfer points between Marriott Bonvoy accounts for free (up to 100,000 points per year), combining points from family members for larger redemptions. This helps avoid point expiration issues.

Promotions and Limited-Time Offers

Marriott runs quarterly and monthly promotions that accelerate point earning. These offers typically reward completed stays during specific timeframes with bonus points.

Types of Recurring Promotions

Quarterly Promotions:Marriott's major quarterly promotions usually offer bonus points for completing a certain number of stays or nights during a 3-month period. Recent examples include:

• Register for promotion, earn 2,000 bonus points after 5 nights
• Complete 3 stays, earn 3,000 bonus points
• Stay 10 nights, earn 10,000 bonus points

These promotions often include multiple tiers, rewarding both occasional and frequent travelers.

Targeted Offers:Marriott sends personalized promotions based on your stay history and account activity. These targeted offers frequently provide better value than general promotions:

• Double points on all stays for 60 days
• 50% bonus points at specific property brands
• Flat bonus amounts (5,000-10,000 points) for completing certain activities

Brand-Specific Promotions:Individual Marriott brands (Ritz-Carlton, W Hotels, Courtyard) occasionally run their own promotions offering bonus points, statement credits, or other perks for stays at their properties.

Maximizing Promotional Value

Always register: Most Marriott promotions require manual registration before your stay. Register for every promotion that applies to your planned travel, even if the bonus seems small. These bonuses stack with your normal earning.

Plan around promotion calendars: If you have flexibility in your travel dates, timing stays to coincide with generous promotions multiplies your earning. A $1,000 business trip planned during a "double points" promotion earns 20,000 base points instead of 10,000.

Track your progress: Marriott's website and app show your progress toward promotion requirements. Sometimes a single additional night qualifies you for the next reward tier, making that extra stay worthwhile.

Combine promotions when possible: You can often benefit from multiple promotions simultaneously. A single stay might earn points from a quarterly promotion, a targeted offer, and a brand-specific promotion all at once.

Dining Programs and Experiences

Marriott Bonvoy Moments offers experiential rewards, but the dining program provides ongoing earning opportunities at participating restaurants.

Marriott Bonvoy On Tables

Link your credit card to the Marriott Bonvoy dining program and earn bonus points when dining at participating restaurants. The program works similarly to airline dining programs, tracking your payments at registered locations.

Earning structure:

• 5 points per dollar at participating restaurants
• Occasional bonus promotions (10-15 points per dollar)
• Monthly bonuses for multiple visits to different restaurants

The program requires no extra steps beyond linking your card and dining at participating locations. Points post automatically within weeks after your meal.

Is it worth it?If you frequently dine at participating restaurants, the program adds value with minimal effort. However, you'll typically earn more points using a Marriott credit card that offers 3-4x points on dining than relying solely on the dining program. The real value comes from stacking both methods together.

Example calculation:$100 dinner at a participating restaurant using the Marriott Bonvoy Business card:

• 400 credit card points (4x dining bonus)
• 500 dining program points (5x base rate)
• Total: 900 points (9x per dollar)

During promotional periods offering 10x through the dining program, that same $100 dinner generates 1,400 points (14x per dollar).

Business Account Earning

Marriott Bonvoy Business Account allows companies to earn points on employee stays, which can be used for future business travel or converted to personal rewards in some cases.

For business owners who travel regularly, enrolling in the business program while also having a personal Bonvoy account maximizes earning. Specific earning depends on the agreement negotiated with Marriott, but corporate rates typically earn fewer points per dollar than flexible rates.

The trade-off between discounted corporate rates (fewer points) and flexible rates (maximum points) depends on your circumstances. For self-employed individuals and small business owners, flexible rates often deliver better overall value when you factor in credit card welcome bonuses and elite status progress.

Advanced Earning Strategies

Once you understand the basic earning methods, combining them strategically accelerates point accumulation significantly.

The Triple-Dip Strategy

Maximize earning on hotel stays by stacking three point sources:

1. Base earning + elite bonus: Book directly through Marriott using an eligible rate
2. Credit card points: Pay with a Marriott co-branded card earning 6x points
3. Promotional bonuses: Ensure you're registered for any active promotions

Real example: A $3,000 week-long stay at a Platinum Elite level

• 30,000 base points (10x per dollar)
• 15,000 elite bonus (50% of base)
• 18,000 credit card points (6x per dollar)
• 10,000 promotional bonus (hypothetical quarterly promo)
• Total: 73,000 points (24.3x per dollar)

The Status Acceleration Strategy

If you're close to the next elite tier but short on nights, strategically planning your stays maximizes both points earned and status qualification:

1. Book stays that count toward elite qualification (avoid third-party bookings and points awards)
2. Use the Marriott Bonvoy Business card for an automatic 15 elite night credits
3. Consider the stay credit multipliers program for faster status qualification
4. Take advantage of status challenges or matches if you hold elite status with competing hotel programs

The New Card Strategy

If you're planning a large Marriott stay, time your credit card application to earn the welcome bonus while generating significant spending toward the minimum requirement. A $5,000 five-night resort stay while working on a new card's welcome bonus can simultaneously earn:

• The 100,000+ point welcome bonus
• 25,000-30,000 points from the stay itself
• Progress toward elite status (5 nights and 5 elite night credits)

That single trip generates 125,000+ points, enough for multiple future stays at mid-tier properties. Before applying, check which Chase cards are subject to 5/24 to optimize your application strategy.

The Shopping Portal Stack

For planned large purchases (appliances, furniture, electronics), the shopping portal combined with credit card earning and any store promotions creates opportunities for significant point earnings with minimal effort:

Example: $2,500 appliance purchase during a portal promotion

• 10,000 portal points (4x promotional rate)
• 5,000 credit card points (2x base rate)
• $250 store credit or discount (hypothetical retailer promotion)
• Total: 15,000 points plus $250 savings (effective 6x points per dollar spent)

The Points Pooling Strategy

Marriott allows you to transfer up to 100,000 points per calendar year to another member's account for free. Couples and families can pool points from multiple accounts to reach redemption thresholds for aspirational properties that require 70,000-100,000 points per night.

If you and a partner each earn 50,000 points annually through modest credit card spending and occasional stays, pooling creates a combined 100,000 point balance sufficient for premium redemptions instead of two separate 50,000 point balances that only access mid-tier options.

Avoiding Common Earning Mistakes

Booking through third parties: Third-party sites (Expedia, Booking.com) offer competitive rates but you forfeit all Marriott points earning, elite benefits, and elite night credits. The point earnings from a direct booking almost always provide more value than saving $10-20 on a room rate.

Missing promotion registrations: Marriott promotions require manual registration. Set calendar reminders each quarter to check for new promotions and register before your next stay.

Using the wrong credit card: If you hold multiple Marriott cards, verify you're using the one that maximizes earning for each purchase type. Putting grocery spending on a card that only earns 2x when you have another card earning 4x costs thousands of points annually.

Letting points expire: Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Even small earning activity (a shopping portal purchase, dining program transaction, or credit card use) resets the expiration clock on your entire balance.

Overlooking small earning opportunities: While you shouldn't obsess over earning 50 points here and there, consistently using the shopping portal for planned purchases, linking your credit card to the dining program, and taking advantage of transfer partner bonuses adds up to thousands of bonus points annually with minimal effort.

Ignoring the 5/24 rule: Before applying for Chase Marriott cards, check your 5/24 status to avoid unnecessary denials that hurt your credit score without earning any points.

Creating Your Earning Plan

The optimal earning strategy depends on your travel patterns, spending habits, and goals. Here's how to build a personalized approach:

Step 1: Identify your natural spending patternsReview your last three months of spending. How much do you spend on dining, groceries, gas, and general purchases? This shows which credit card category bonuses benefit you most.

Step 2: Set a realistic goalDecide what you're saving toward. A weekend at a Category 4 property requires 25,000-35,000 points. A week at a Category 6 property needs 60,000-70,000 points. An aspirational stay at a Category 8 Ritz-Carlton demands 100,000+ points. Your goal determines your timeline and strategy intensity. Learn more about Marriott's redemption structure.

Step 3: Choose your credit card strategyFor most people, one or two Marriott cards provide the right balance. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless covers everyday earning well for its $95 annual fee. Add the Marriott Bonvoy Business if you want the 15 elite night credits and strong business spending categories.

Step 4: Establish earning habitsRegister for quarterly promotions, link your card to the dining program, bookmark the shopping portal, and set reminders to check for targeted offers. These habits become automatic within a few months.

Step 5: Track and adjustReview your earning quarterly. Are you accumulating points at the rate you expected? Do you need to adjust your strategy? Should you consider adding another card or focusing more on stays versus credit card spending?

Earning Benchmarks by Strategy Level

Casual Strategy (Minimal effort):

• One Marriott credit card for everyday spending
• 3-5 Marriott stays annually
• Annual earning potential: 40,000-60,000 points
• Time investment: 1-2 hours annually

Moderate Strategy (Strategic but not obsessive):

• 1-2 Marriott credit cards optimized for spending patterns
• Shopping portal for planned purchases
• Quarterly promotion registrations
• 8-12 Marriott stays annually
• Annual earning potential: 100,000-150,000 points
• Time investment: 4-6 hours annually

Aggressive Strategy (Maximizing earning):

• Multiple Marriott credit cards strategically used
• New credit card applications timed with large spending
• Active shopping portal use
• Dining program enrollment
• Pursuing elite status with 30+ nights
• Leveraging all promotions
• Annual earning potential: 250,000-400,000+ points
• Time investment: 12-20 hours annually

Most people find the moderate strategy offers the best balance of effort versus results. It generates enough points for 2-3 significant trips annually without requiring constant optimization or monitoring.

Conclusion

Earning Marriott Bonvoy points efficiently combines understanding the program's structure with choosing strategies that match your travel patterns and spending habits. Credit card welcome bonuses and category spending provide steady accumulation with minimal effort. Hotel stays multiplied by elite status deliver the highest per-dollar return. Shopping portals, dining programs, and promotional bonuses add meaningful earning opportunities without requiring you to change your lifestyle.

Start with one or two earning methods that fit naturally into your routine. Add complexity gradually as you become comfortable with the program. The difference between a casual approach and a strategic one is often 100,000+ points annually, translating to several additional free nights at the properties you want to visit.

Ready to start building your Marriott Bonvoy balance? Check out the current credit card offers, complete Marriott Bonvoy guide, and learn how Marriott certificates work for more strategies to maximize your rewards.

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