It's great you're looking to share the benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy program! There are two main ways to refer someone and earn bonus points: referring them to the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program itself and referring them to a Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card. The process and rewards differ for each, so we'll cover both.
Step 1: Decide What Kind of Referral You're Making
Before you start, you need to know if you're referring someone to the free loyalty program or to a paid credit card. This is the most critical first step because the process and your potential rewards are completely different.
Loyalty Program Referral: This is for someone who isn't a Marriott Bonvoy member yet and wants to start earning points and enjoying benefits like free Wi-Fi and mobile check-in. It's a great, low-commitment way to introduce a friend to the program.
Credit Card Referral: This is for someone you think would benefit from a co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit card. They'll get a welcome bonus for signing up, and you'll get a referral bonus. This is often the more lucrative option for the referrer.
Once you know which type of referral you're making, you can proceed with the correct steps. Let's start with the loyalty program referral, as it's the most common.
Step 2: How to Refer Someone to the Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program
Referring someone to the free loyalty program is simple and can be done online. Here's your step-by-step guide.
Step 2a: Access the "Reward a Friend" Page
First, you need to find the official Marriott Bonvoy referral page, often called "Reward a Friend." You can typically find this by searching for it on the Marriott website or by logging into your account and looking for a "Refer a Friend" or similar link in the promotions section. This is where you will generate your unique referral link.
Step 2b: Generate and Send the Referral Link
On the "Reward a Friend" page, you'll be prompted to enter your friend's information, or you'll be given a link to share directly.
The key here is that your friend must use this specific link to sign up. If they just go to the Marriott website and create an account on their own, neither of you will get the bonus points.
The system will send an invitation email to your friend. It's a good idea to also send a personal message to your friend so they know to look for the email and use the link.
Step 2c: Understand the Benefits and Requirements
Both you and your friend get rewarded, but it's not immediate. The rewards are based on your friend's stays after they sign up.
For you (the referrer): You'll earn 2,000 bonus points for each of your friend's first five stays. This means you can earn up to a maximum of 10,000 points per referral. You can refer up to five new members each calendar year, which means you have the potential to earn up to 50,000 bonus points annually from this program.
For your friend (the new member): They will also earn an extra 2,000 bonus points for each of their first five stays, on top of the points they would normally earn. This is a great incentive for them to join and book their first few trips.
Keep in mind: The stays must be paid, qualifying stays. Stays booked through third-party websites like Expedia or Hotels.com are not eligible.
Step 3: How to Refer Someone to a Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card
This type of referral can be much more rewarding, but it's specific to cardholders.
Step 3a: Log into Your Credit Card Account
You can only refer someone to a Marriott Bonvoy credit card if you already have one. You'll need to log into the online portal for your specific credit card provider, either Chase or American Express.
For Chase cards: Look for a "Refer a Friend" or "Referral Bonus" section within your account dashboard.
For American Express cards: Find the "Refer-a-friend" link at the bottom of the page or within the main menu after you log in.
Step 3b: Generate Your Referral Link
Once you're in the correct section, the bank will provide you with a unique referral link. You can then share this link with your friends and family.
Pro Tip: The referral link from American Express may show an offer for the card you hold, but your friend can often click "View all cards with a referral offer" to see other options.
Step 3c: Understand the Referral Bonuses and Limits
The bonuses for this type of referral can be substantial but also vary.
The amount you earn for a successful referral (when your friend is approved for the card) can be significant, often 40,000 bonus points or more per referral.
There's an annual cap on how many points you can earn through this program, which can be as high as 200,000 bonus points per calendar year.
The bonus points may take several weeks to post to your account after your friend is approved.
FAQs
How to find my Marriott Bonvoy referral link?
You can find your referral link by logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account and navigating to the "Reward a Friend" page, or by logging into your Chase or American Express credit card account and finding the "Refer a Friend" section.
How to check the status of a Marriott Bonvoy referral?
The Marriott Bonvoy "Reward a Friend" program doesn't provide a dashboard to track individual referrals. You'll need to watch your points activity for the bonus points to post, which happens after your friend completes a qualifying stay. For credit card referrals, you may be notified when the bonus posts to your account, but there isn't typically a real-time tracker.
How to qualify for the Marriott Bonvoy referral bonus?
To qualify, your friend must sign up using your unique referral link and, for the loyalty program, complete their first five paid, qualifying stays within 365 days of joining. For credit card referrals, they must apply and be approved for the card.
How to refer a family member to Marriott Bonvoy?
The process is the same as referring a friend. You can send them your unique referral link for the loyalty program or for a co-branded credit card.
How to get the most points from the Marriott Bonvoy referral program?
To maximize your points, find five friends who you are confident will complete five eligible stays each in a year. This will earn you the maximum of 50,000 bonus points. If you have a credit card, referring friends to that card is often the quickest way to earn a large number of bonus points.
How to deal with a referral link that isn't working?
If your friend's referral link isn't working, they should try clearing their browser's cache and cookies or try a different browser. If the issue persists, contact Marriott Bonvoy member support directly for assistance.
How to refer a friend to a different Marriott Bonvoy credit card than the one I have?
With American Express, you can often share a link to your card, and your friend can then view other available card offers. For Chase, you may be able to refer to any of the Marriott cards they offer, not just the one you hold. It's best to check the specific referral page within your credit card account.
How to earn a referral bonus if my friend is already a member?
You cannot earn a referral bonus for referring an existing Marriott Bonvoy member. The program is specifically for new members.
How to merge my friend's accounts if they have more than one?
If a referred friend has accidentally created multiple accounts, they should contact Marriott Bonvoy Member Support to merge their accounts. This should be done before they complete any stays to ensure their points are credited correctly.
How to find the terms and conditions for the referral program?
The full terms and conditions for both the loyalty program and credit card referrals are available on the respective websites. It's always a good idea to read them for the most up-to-date information on eligibility, bonus caps, and qualifying stays.
