Key Points

• Marriott has signed a deal with Catalonia Hotels & Resorts to bring a 271-room Autograph Collection property to Zanzibar, Tanzania in 2027 and a 522-room Marriott Hotels conversion to Montego Bay, Jamaica in 2028.
• Both resorts will be bookable with Bonvoy points and will earn a full 10 points per dollar on qualifying charges, though Cash + Points bookings and Nightly Upgrade Awards won't be available at either property.
• The Zanzibar addition matters more for points travelers since only a handful of major-chain, points-bookable resorts currently exist on the island, while Montego Bay already has plenty of competition.

Marriott Bonvoy is expanding into Tanzania and Jamaica

Marriott Bonvoy just got two new stamps on the map. The hotel giant signed a dual agreement with Spanish operator Catalonia Hotels & Resorts to open all-inclusive properties in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, giving points travelers two new ways to use Bonvoy currency in destinations that haven't had much of a Marriott footprint until now. If you've been holding Bonvoy points and wondering where to send them next, this expansion is worth watching.

What's actually opening

The Zanzibar property will operate as an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort with 271 rooms, and it's expected to open in 2027. It's a new build on a beachfront plot in the Pwani Mchangani area, and based on Catalonia's own plans, expect two water villas, an 800 square meter main pool, a saltwater pool, and a 1,600 square meter spa.

The Jamaica property is a bigger, slower project. It's a 522-room conversion of the former Catalonia Montego Bay near Sangster International Airport, targeting a 2028 opening under the standard Marriott Hotels brand. The building has history: it started life as a Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, ran as an IHG franchise for 16 years, and only became a Catalonia property in 2024 after Catalonia bought it. It's been closed since Hurricane Melissa caused extensive damage in late 2025, so this reopening also functions as a full renovation. Expect 13 dining venues, three pools, a spa, a lazy river, and tennis and pickleball courts once it's done.

Why Zanzibar is the one to watch

For redemption value, Zanzibar is the more interesting story here. Right now, Bonvoy already leads the island with three properties, Hyatt has one, Hilton has one through its Small Luxury Hotels partnership, and IHG has none. A fourth Bonvoy option in a destination this underrepresented in the points world is a genuine win, especially if you're pairing a Tanzania safari with a few beach days afterward.

One detail worth knowing before you get too excited about the ocean views: Zanzibar's east coast tidal shift means the water recedes dramatically at low tide, so swimmable turquoise water is only available for part of the day. The upside is location. The resort sits close to Mnemba Atoll, which is one of the better jumping-off points on the island for snorkeling and diving.

Montego Bay is a tougher sell if you're chasing a standout redemption. The market already has no shortage of all-inclusive options, and the property carried a weak 3.9 rating on TripAdvisor before it closed. A Marriott flag and new management could turn that around, but it's not a property I'd plan a trip around just yet.

How these fit into your Bonvoy strategy

Both resorts will be bookable through Bonvoy using Standard Redemption Awards, PointSavers Awards, or a Free Night Award for standard rooms. Earning is strong too. All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy properties earn the full 10 base points per dollar on qualifying charges, so you're not taking a haircut on points just because it's an all-inclusive stay.

There are a couple of tradeoffs to know before you book. Cash + Points isn't offered at Bonvoy's all-inclusive resorts, and Nightly Upgrade Awards aren't honored either, so you lose some of the flexibility you'd have at a typical Bonvoy hotel. If you're weighing whether Bonvoy is still the right program to build around given rules like these, it's worth revisiting how the Marriott Bonvoy 2025 changes to points and elite benefits affect your overall strategy, and checking the current Bonvoy redemption chart once award pricing for these two properties is published.

If you're earning toward a stay at either resort, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is the most straightforward way to rack up points fast, with a strong welcome bonus and 6x earning at Marriott properties. Travelers who stay often enough to justify a premium card should also look at the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, which adds free night certificates and elite status that could make a Zanzibar trip even more affordable.

Bottom line

Marriott Bonvoy is adding two all-inclusive resorts to its portfolio: a 271-room Autograph Collection property in Zanzibar opening in 2027, and a 522-room Marriott Hotels conversion in Montego Bay opening in 2028. Zanzibar is the one worth getting excited about, since points-bookable options there are still rare. Montego Bay is a nice-to-have but won't move the needle much given how saturated that market already is. Pricing on both properties hasn't been announced yet, so the real test comes once award charts are published and we can see whether these are actually good redemptions or just new logos in the portfolio. This article contains affiliate links. If you apply through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps us continue sharing points and miles strategies with the community.