This program was reviewed and rated by our editors in April 2007. Changes in the program past this date are possible, especially program partner information. We recommend you subscribe to the #1 source of frequent flyer information, Inside Flyer Magazine, to get the most current information possible.

On his blog last month, Bill Marriott writes that "people want to do business with companies that do the right thing." Throughout the month of April, Marriott demonstrated its commitment to doing the right thing to protect the health of the environment with a number of initiatives. Marriott employees participated in many projects that involved activities such as cleaning up beaches, rivers and parks and planting trees at sites around the world. Marriott will receive the EPA's 2007 Energy Star Award for their energy conservation efforts and has pledged to reduce greenhouse gases by six percent per guest room by 2010. Marriott has also stopped serving food that contains trans fats in its North American hotels and is now a 100 percent smoke-free environment.

How successful is Marriott at doing the right thing for members of its loyalty program? Marriott celebrates 50 years of being in the hotel business this year and the hotel chain has changed and grown tremendously from the initial days when rooms were offered for $8 a night. Marriott Rewards has developed a loyal following over the years and the program has much to offer its frequent guests.

Members earn 10 points or two miles per dollar spent on the total folio at Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts and Marriott Vacation Club International; 10 points or one mile per dollar spent on room rate only at Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Courtyard and five points or one mile per dollar on room rates at Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and on the total folio at Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club. Members can also earn 2.5 points per dollar spent at Marriott ExecuStay and Marriott Executive Apartments. Members who travel to Japan can earn 1,000 points per night at Hotel New Otani Tokyo, Hotel New Otani Makuhari and Hotel New Otani Hakata.

Event planners can earn three points or one mile per dollar spent for qualifying events or meetings held at a Marriott hotel with a maximum of 50,000 points or 15,000 miles per event.

Marriott Rewards offers three credit cards for United States residents. Cardmembers who use the Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card or Marriott Rewards Visa Business Card will earn three points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Rewards locations and one point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Cardholders will earn a 20,000 point bonus with their first purchase and will be automatically upgraded to Silver elite status. The Premier Visa launched earlier this year has a $65 annual fee and members earn five points per dollar spent at Marriott properties worldwide; two points per dollar spent on qualifying car rental, airline and dining purchases and one point per dollar for all other charges. Premier cardholders also receive 20,000 bonus points with first purchase, a free night certificate every year and a 15 night stay credit towards elite status in addition to automatic Silver elite status. Marriott also offers point-earning credit cards to residents of Canada and the United Kingdom.

Marriott has seven award categories determined by location and hotel type. One night at a category one hotel requires 7,500 points and 35,000 points at a category seven hotel. Booking more than one night offers a significant point savings and seven nights at a category one hotel is only 40,000 points (a savings of 9,000 points) and 150,000 points at a category seven hotel (a 95,000 point savings).

Effective June 1, 2007, Stay Anytime awards will be available for 100 percent more points than standard awards; currently the rate is 50 percent more points. A Stay Anytime award at a category one hotel has been 11,250 points but will increase to 15,000. Members can use a combination of Stay Anytime and regular awards when booking a hotel stay.

PointSavers are promotional discounts that offer up to a 33 percent savings. Hotels participating in PointSavers are discounted by one category in the required number of points. Hotels offering PointSavers change frequently and members can search online for discounted award stays.

Upgrades to a larger room or a room with a preferred view are available for 5,000 points. Most rooms require only one upgrade but two or more upgrades may be required for some views or types of rooms.

Members can also redeem points for stays at partner hotels The Ritz-Carlton, Orient-Express Hotels, New Otani, Peppers Retreats & Resorts, Ashford Castle and Dromoland Castle. Award redemptions vary and five nights at a participating Tier 1 Ritz-Carlton hotel is 150,000 points.

Members can redeem points for flight awards and miles on partner airlines. A one-way award inter-island ticket on Aloha Airlines is 25,000 points. Points can be redeemed for mileage awards ranging from 2,000 miles for 10,000 points to 50,000 miles for 125,000 points on the programs of Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Mexicana Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Varig. Southwest Rapid Rewards members can receive between two credits for 10,000 points and 32 credits for 125,000 points. On international airline programs Air China, Air France/KLM, Alitalia, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, LAN, Lufthansa/Miles & More, Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, SN Brussels Airlines and TAP Air Portugal, members can receive 1,500 miles in exchange for 10,000 points and 35,000 miles for 125,000 points.

Hertz car rentals start at 30,000 points for up to three weekend days' rental of a full-sized car. Eurostar rail passes can be redeemed for 39,000 points for standard class travel between London and Brussels, Paris and Lille and 60,000 points for first class. Orient-Express rail passes from London to Bath or Brighton including a tour and meals are 97,000 points. Carnival, Holland America, Costa Cruise and Orient Express cruises are also point redemption options. The lowest level award is a three-day cruise for two on Carnival to Baja, Mexico or the Bahamas for 120,000 points.

Members can also redeem 165,000 points for a vacation package that includes seven hotel nights at a category one through five hotel, 50,000 frequent flyer miles and 25 percent off an eight day Hertz car rental. Higher category hotels and mileage amounts are also available for more points. Members can redeem points for a round of golf at participating golf courses worldwide for between 15,000 and 40,000 points, depending on location and season. Points can also be redeemed for ski packages in Germany, sightseeing tours in London, spa packages, theme park admissions and other adventure and cultural experiences.

Points can be redeemed for Marriott gift certificates and shopping vouchers. Marriott gift certificates are available in $50, $100 and $1,000 amounts for 18,000, 33,000 and 180,000 points. Other currencies are also available.

Points can also be donated to Children's Miracle Network, American Red Cross or a nonprofit charity organization of your choice through the Rewarding Communities program.

Marriott has partnered with a variety of car, financial, retail and other partners. Members can earn 250 points for using Executive Sedan Service; up to 35,000 points for a Chase home loan or line of credit; 10 points per dollar spent at FTD.com/Marriott; 500 points for Hertz car rentals and up to 23,000 points for banking with NetBank. Members also earn 10 points per dollar spent at SkyMall and between one and 10 points per dollar spent at the Marriott Rewards Mall. Through Marriott's partnership with Travelling Connect, members can earn 10 points per minute for making mobile calls on participating wireless networks, including T-Mobile for calls made from the U.K., Austria, the Netherlands and Germany. Diners Club members can convert 1,250 Club Rewards points into 1,500 Marriott Rewards points.

Members who stay 10 nights in a calendar year will receive Silver elite status. Silver members receive 20 percent bonus points on hotel stays, priority late checkout, weekend discounts at participating Courtyard and SpringHill Suites, check-cashing privileges, exclusive reservation and guest services telephone line, exclusive award redemption options and guaranteed reservations. If Marriott is unable to honor an elite member's reservation, they will pay for lodging at a nearby hotel and also send a compensation check. Members who stay 50 nights a year will become Gold members and receive 25 percent bonus points, guaranteed room type, room upgrades, guaranteed concierge lounge access, free breakfast, local phone and fax service and exclusive offers. Platinum members are those who stay 75 nights in a calendar year and will receive 30 percent bonus points, an exclusive reservation line, arrival gift and 48-hour guaranteed availability, in addition to the previously mentioned elite benefits.

Points may be purchased and received as a gift up to a combined maximum of 50,000 points per year. Points can be purchased at the rate of 1,000 points for $12.50. Points can be transferred to a spouse and only immediately prior to an award redemption. An "Authorization to Transfer Points" form must be submitted to the service center along with the request for award redemption. Points do not expire but accounts that do not earn any points within a 24-month period may be closed.

Service support can be contacted via e-mail, telephone, fax and writing. We have heard a few complaints from readers, but most reports are positive and we have found call center employees to be courteous, knowledgeable and helpful.

Members can access their accounts, update their profile and earning preferences, make reservations, redeem for awards and donate and purchase points online. They can also record personal stay preferences such as extra towels and newspaper preference through Marriott's "Rewarding Welcome" program. Marriott also offers eFolio, a feature that sends you a copy of your hotel bill via e-mail after each stay. DreamRewards is a convenient tracking tool that lets you know how many points you need to reach a desired award and Promotion Tracker shows your progress towards achieving a particular promotion.
Points may be purchased and sent as a gift online, but point transfers and missing credit requests can only be made by sending a request form to the service center. Beginning this fall, members will be able to redeem their points at the hotel front desk, an alternative to the award certificates that currently require 24-hour advance notice. The upcoming addition is a welcome improvement and will make point redemptions quicker and easier.

Marriott has a solid loyalty program with bonus promotions like the MegaBonus promotion that allows members to rack up points. The hotel and air travel award packages are a great value and a favorite award choice among members. The discounted PointSavers hotel award are a good deal and offer members a savings of up to 33 percent. Members who sign up for the credit card automatically receive Silver elite status and Premier cardmembers earn a generous five points per dollar spent at Marriott hotels.

A few complaints we've heard from elite members are the lack of suite upgrades for elites and complimentary breakfast at resorts and we've heard from members in general that redeeming for award nights is becoming more difficult. The upcoming increase to Stay Anytime awards from 50 percent to 100 percent is unpopular and many members feel that it devalues the program. Furthermore, top elite-level members would like to have been exempt from the increase, but at least Marriott has given advance notice to members and reservations made before June 1, 2007, will be available at the 50 percent rate. Standard Award redemption levels are not changing, but some hotel categories have been adjusted which will make award redemptions higher in certain locations.

Phone: (800) 450-4442

Marriott Guest Services
310 Bearcat Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84115