Ever dreamt of gifting a luxurious hotel stay to a loved one, but wondered if you could use your hard-earned Marriott Bonvoy points for their unforgettable experience? You absolutely can! While it might seem a bit intricate at first glance, booking a Marriott stay for someone else using your points is a fantastic way to share the joy of travel. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, ensuring a smooth and successful booking process.
The Art of Gifting Travel: Booking Marriott with Points for Someone Else
Imagine the delight on their face when they realize you've handled their accommodation, all thanks to your Marriott Bonvoy loyalty! Whether it's for a special occasion, a much-needed getaway, or just a generous gesture, using your points for someone else's stay is a thoughtful and impactful gift. Let's dive into how you make that happen.
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| How To Book Marriott With Points For Someone Else |
Step 1: Identify Your Strategy – Direct Booking vs. Points Transfer
Before you even think about searching for hotels, you need to decide on the best approach. Marriott Bonvoy offers a couple of ways to book a stay for someone else with points, each with its own nuances.
Sub-heading: The "Guest of Honor" Method (Highly Recommended for Elite Members)
This is generally the easiest and most beneficial method if you hold Marriott Bonvoy Elite status (Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, or Ambassador Elite). Marriott's "Guest of Honor" program allows you to extend your elite benefits to a recipient when you book an award stay for them. This means they could enjoy perks like complimentary breakfast, lounge access, late checkout, and even potential room upgrades, making their stay even more special.
Sub-heading: Transferring Points to Their Account
If you don't have Elite status or the recipient also has a Marriott Bonvoy account and you'd prefer they manage the booking themselves, you can transfer points directly to their account. This is also a good option if they have specific preferences or another free night certificate they want to combine with your points.
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Important Note: Marriott allows you to transfer up to 100,000 points per calendar year to another member, and a member can receive up to 500,000 points per calendar year. Both accounts must be at least 90 days old, or 30 days old with qualifying activity (earning or redeeming points). Transfers must be in increments of 1,000 points.
Step 2: Gather Necessary Information
Regardless of your chosen method, having the right details at hand will make the process much smoother.
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Your Marriott Bonvoy Account Details: Your member number and password.
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Recipient's Full Name: Exactly as it appears on their government-issued ID that they will use for check-in. This is crucial to avoid any issues at the hotel.
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Recipient's Marriott Bonvoy Account Number (if transferring points): Again, ensure accuracy.
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Desired Destination and Dates: Have a clear idea of where and when you want to book.
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Hotel Preferences: Any specific Marriott brand, amenities, or room types.
Step 3: Executing the Booking – Step-by-Step
Now, let's get into the actual booking process.
Sub-heading: Method 1: Booking as "Guest of Honor" (Phone Call Required)
This method cannot be done online. You must call Marriott Bonvoy Reservations.
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Call Marriott Bonvoy Reservations: Dial the dedicated Marriott Bonvoy customer service number for your region. You can find this on the Marriott Bonvoy website under "Help & Contact Us" or "Global Reservation Phone Numbers."
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Inform the Agent of Your Intention: Clearly state that you wish to book an award stay for someone else using your points and that you want to apply your elite benefits via the "Guest of Honor" program.
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Provide Your Account Information: The agent will ask for your Marriott Bonvoy member number and verify your identity.
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Provide Recipient's Details: Give the agent the exact full name of the guest who will be staying. Emphasize that you are booking it for them.
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Search for Availability: Provide your desired destination, dates, and any hotel preferences. The agent will search for available award nights.
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Confirm the Booking: Once you find a suitable hotel and dates, the agent will confirm the booking. Double-check that the recipient's name is listed as the primary guest.
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Verify Elite Benefits: Ask the agent to confirm that your elite benefits (e.g., complimentary breakfast, lounge access) will be extended to your guest. They should add a note to the reservation indicating this.
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Receive Confirmation: You will receive an email confirmation. Forward this confirmation to your guest, as it will have all the necessary details for their check-in.
Sub-heading: Method 2: Transferring Points (Online or Phone)
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This method gives the recipient the control to book their own stay.
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Log In to Your Marriott Bonvoy Account: Visit the Marriott Bonvoy website (marriott.com) and log in to your account.
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Navigate to the Points Transfer Page: Look for a section related to "Points," "Use Points," or "Transfer Points." Often, there's a direct link within your account dashboard or under the "My Account" section.
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Direct Link Tip: You might find a direct link like
https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/redeem/transfer-points.mi(this link may vary or be redirected, so searching within your account is best).
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Initiate the Transfer: Select the option to transfer points to another member.
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Enter Recipient's Information: You will need to input the recipient's full name (exactly as on their Marriott Bonvoy account) and their Marriott Bonvoy member number.
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Specify Transfer Amount: Enter the number of points you wish to transfer. Remember the minimum of 1,000 points and increments of 1,000.
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Review and Confirm: Carefully review all the details before confirming the transfer. You may be asked to verify your identity via text or email.
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Recipient Receives Points: The points typically transfer instantly or within an hour. Once the points are in their account, your recipient can then log in and book their desired stay themselves.
Step 4: Post-Booking Communication
Once the booking is complete, whether you booked directly or transferred points:
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If you booked directly (Guest of Honor): Communicate clearly with your guest. Let them know the details of the reservation, including the confirmation number, hotel name, dates, and importantly, that it's an award stay booked in their name with your elite benefits extended. Remind them to bring their ID for check-in.
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If you transferred points: Confirm with the recipient that they have received the points and can now proceed with their own booking.
Step 5: Important Considerations and Tips
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Marriott's Official Policy: While it's common practice, Marriott's official policy for "gifting" award stays typically requires you to call. Booking online with someone else's name as the primary guest without being present yourself can sometimes lead to issues at check-in if the hotel isn't properly notified. The "Guest of Honor" method explicitly addresses this.
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No Elite Night Credits for You: When you book an award stay for someone else, you will not earn elite night credits for that stay, even if you are the one using the points. The stay counts towards the recipient's elite night tally if they are also a Bonvoy member and the booking is in their name.
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Hotel Specifics: While most Marriott properties honor the "Guest of Honor" program, it's always a good idea to confirm with the specific hotel directly if you have any concerns or want to ensure specific benefits (like lounge access) will be available during their stay.
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Cancellation Policies: Award bookings also have cancellation policies. Be sure to note these when booking to avoid losing your points if plans change.
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Free Night Certificates: Free Night Certificates generally cannot be used to book a stay for someone else directly. They are usually tied to your account and require you to be the staying guest. However, in some anecdotal cases, people have successfully added a second guest name to a free night certificate booking and had the second guest check-in first. This is not officially permitted, so proceed with caution.
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Combining Points: If you or your recipient need more points, remember that you can combine points from different sources, including transfers from credit card rewards programs (like American Express Membership Rewards) to your Marriott Bonvoy account.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 related FAQ questions to help you navigate booking Marriott with points for someone else:
How to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to another member's account?
You can transfer points online via the Marriott Bonvoy website (look for the "Transfer Points" section in your account) or by calling Marriott Bonvoy customer service. You'll need the recipient's full name and Marriott Bonvoy member number.
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How to ensure my Marriott Bonvoy Elite benefits apply to the gifted stay?
To ensure your Elite benefits (like breakfast or lounge access) apply, you must book the award stay by calling Marriott Bonvoy Reservations and explicitly asking for it to be a "Guest of Honor" reservation.
How to confirm the recipient can check in without me present?
When booking as "Guest of Honor" by phone, explicitly inform the agent that you are booking for someone else and they will be the primary guest checking in. The reservation will be made in their name. If transferring points, they will book it in their own name.
How to find the Marriott Bonvoy customer service number for my region?
Visit the official Marriott Bonvoy website (Marriott.com), scroll to the bottom, and look for "Help & Contact Us" or "Global Reservation Phone Numbers."
How to know the minimum and maximum points for a transfer?
You can transfer a minimum of 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, and transfers must be in increments of 1,000. You can transfer a maximum of 100,000 points per calendar year, and a member can receive up to 500,000 points per calendar year.
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How to check if my recipient's Marriott Bonvoy account is eligible for a point transfer?
Both the sending and receiving Marriott Bonvoy accounts must be at least 90 days old, or 30 days old with some qualifying activity (earning or redeeming points).
How to use a Marriott Free Night Certificate for someone else?
Officially, Marriott Free Night Certificates are for the account holder's use only. However, some members have reported success by booking the room in their name and then calling the hotel to add the recipient's name as an additional guest for check-in. This is not a guaranteed method and may vary by hotel.
How to ensure the recipient receives the booking confirmation?
If you book the stay, forward the email confirmation you receive from Marriott directly to the recipient so they have all the necessary details, including the confirmation number.
How to avoid issues at check-in for a gifted stay?
The most important step is to ensure the reservation is correctly made in the recipient's full name (matching their ID). If using the "Guest of Honor" program, clearly communicate this to the Marriott agent during booking.
How to check if a specific hotel participates in the "Guest of Honor" program or offers certain Elite benefits?
While "Guest of Honor" is a program-wide benefit, specific elite benefits (like lounge access) can vary by hotel brand and property. It's always a good idea to check the specific hotel's website or call them directly to confirm what amenities will be available during your guest's stay.
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