You can become a Marriott member in under five minutes by signing up on their website
Marriott Bonvoy is the rewards program for Marriott International hotels. You create a free account at marriottbonvoy.com, provide your email and a password, and you are enrolled. No credit card is required to join — membership itself costs nothing. Once your account is active, you earn points for every night you stay at a Marriott property, and those points convert to free nights, room upgrades, or other rewards.
The fastest path to membership is online enrollment, which takes about three minutes. You can also join by phone at 1-888-236-2427, or in person at any Marriott hotel front desk. Many people link a credit card to their account later to earn points faster, but that is a separate decision from joining the program itself.
Key Takeaways
- Marriott Bonvoy membership is free and requires only an email address, name, and password to create an account online.
- You begin earning points when ready after enrollment on any stay at a Marriott-branded hotel, even without a credit card attached.
- Linking a Marriott credit card to your account accelerates point accumulation through sign-up bonuses and points per dollar spent.
- Your membership number appears in your account when ready and can be used to check in at any Marriott property worldwide.
The enrollment process: what you need and what happens next
Start at marriottbonvoy.com and click "Enroll Now" or "Join Now" in the top navigation. You will enter your first name, last name, email address, and create a password. Marriott will send a confirmation email to the address you provided — click the link in that email to verify your account. This step takes less than five minutes.
After you confirm your email, your account is live. Marriott assigns you a membership number, which appears in your account dashboard. Write this number down or save it in your phone — you will give it to the front desk when you check in at a Marriott hotel so the stay posts to your account and you earn points.
You do not need to provide a credit card, phone number, or mailing address to join. Marriott will ask for some of this information later, but none of it is required to start earning rewards on hotel stays.
Linking a credit card to accelerate your point earnings
A Marriott credit card is optional, but it changes how fast you accumulate points. When you open a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, you typically receive a sign-up bonus — often 75,000 to 100,000 points after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. You also earn points on every dollar you charge to the card, even when you are not staying at a hotel.
To link a card to your Bonvoy account, log in to marriottbonvoy.com, go to your account settings, and add your credit card information. The card does not have to be a Marriott-branded card — you can link any card you want to track spending. However, only Marriott credit cards earn the sign-up bonus and ongoing rewards points.
If you are considering a Marriott card, compare the different versions available — Marriott offers cards at several tiers, each with different annual fees and point-earning rates. The card you choose depends on how often you travel and whether the annual fee makes sense for your spending patterns.
How points work and what they are worth
Points are the currency of Marriott Bonvoy. You earn them by staying at Marriott hotels, and you can redeem them for free nights, room upgrades, airline miles, or other perks. The number of points you earn per night depends on your room rate and your membership tier — higher tiers earn more points per dollar spent.
One point does not equal one cent. The value varies depending on what you redeem for. A free night at a budget hotel might cost 10,000 points, while a free night at a luxury property could cost 50,000 or more. Airline miles, which you can transfer to partners like United or American Airlines, typically value at around 0.5 to 1 cent per point, though this varies by airline.
Marriott publishes a chart showing how many points each hotel category requires for a free night. You can view this on the Bonvoy website before you book, so you know exactly what a redemption will cost before you commit your points.
Membership tiers and what each one offers
Marriott Bonvoy has five membership tiers: Member, Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, and Titanium Elite. You start at Member when you enroll. As you stay more nights or spend more money on a Marriott credit card, you move up tiers and unlock benefits like room upgrades, late checkout, and bonus points.
Silver Elite requires 10 nights per year. Gold Elite requires 25 nights. Platinum Elite requires 50 nights. Titanium Elite requires 75 nights. Each tier adds perks — for example, Gold Elite members receive a room upgrade when available, while Platinum Elite members get a may provide room upgrade plus late checkout until 4 p.m.
You can also reach elite status through credit card spending. Some Marriott cards grant automatic Silver or Gold Elite status just for holding the card, regardless of how many nights you stay. This is one reason people link a credit card to their account even if they do not travel frequently.
Using your membership number when you book and check in
When you book a room at a Marriott property, enter your membership number in the reservation. You can book directly on marriott.com, through the Marriott app, by phone, or through a travel agent — as long as you provide your number, the stay will earn points.
At check-in, give your membership number to the front desk again. The hotel uses this to link your stay to your account and post the points. If you forget to provide it at booking, you can still add it at check-in, though it may take a few days for the points to appear in your account.
You can also check your points balance anytime by logging into marriottbonvoy.com or opening the Marriott Bonvoy app. Points typically post within a few days after checkout, though it can take up to two weeks in some cases.
What happens to your points and account over time
Marriott Bonvoy points do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months. Activity includes earning points on a stay, earning points through a credit card, or redeeming points. If your account goes inactive for more than 24 months, Marriott may close it and you will lose your points.
If you are not planning to travel or use your card for a while, log into your account and make a small redemption — even transferring a small number of points to an airline partner counts as activity and resets the 24-month clock. You can also call Marriott member services to request a manual activity posting if you are close to the expiration date.
Your membership number stays the same for as long as you hold your account. You can use it across all Marriott properties worldwide, including brands like The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, and Sheraton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay anything to join Marriott Bonvoy?
No. Creating a Marriott Bonvoy account is completely free. You only pay if you open a Marriott credit card, which has an annual fee that varies by card type. Membership itself has no cost.
Can I earn points without a credit card?
Yes. You earn points on every night you stay at a Marriott hotel using your membership number, regardless of whether you have a Marriott credit card. A credit card straightforward accelerates point accumulation through sign-up bonuses and everyday spending rewards.
What if I forget my membership number when I check in?
The front desk can look up your account using your name and email address. Tell them you are a Marriott member and provide the email you used to enroll. They will find your account and add the stay to your record. It may take a few extra days for the points to post.
How long does it take to earn enough points for a free night?
This depends on the hotel category and your earning rate. A budget hotel might require 10,000 points, which you could earn in two or three nights at a mid-range property. A luxury hotel could require 50,000 or more points. Check the Marriott Bonvoy website for the specific point cost of hotels you want to visit.
Can I transfer my points to someone else?
Marriott allows you to transfer points to another Bonvoy member's account, though there is a fee and a minimum transfer amount. You can also use your points to book a room for someone else without transferring them. Contact Marriott member services for details on point transfers.