You can become a Marriott member in under five minutes by signing up on their website or through their mobile app
Marriott Bonvoy is the rewards program for Marriott International hotels. Membership itself is free — you create an account, get a membership number, and begin earning points on every night you stay at a Marriott property. You do not need a credit card to join, though a Marriott credit card accelerates how fast you accumulate points and unlocks additional perks like elite status pathways.
The signup process is straightforward. Visit Bonvoy.marriott.com, click "Join Now," and fill in your name, email address, and password. Marriott will send you a confirmation email with your membership number. That number is active when ready — you can use it to book your next stay and start earning points the same day you check in.
Most people sign up online, but you can also join at the front desk of any Marriott property when you arrive to check in. The desk staff will create your account on the spot and link it to your reservation so points post to your account after your stay.
Key Takeaways
- Free membership starts when you complete the online signup at Bonvoy.marriott.com — no credit card required.
- You earn one point per dollar spent on room rate at any Marriott property, plus bonus points if you hold elite status or a co-branded credit card.
- A Marriott credit card is optional but speeds up point accumulation and can grant elite status without staying nights.
- Points never expire as long as your account remains active, meaning you can hold them indefinitely until you redeem.
- You can redeem points for free nights, room upgrades, airline miles, or other travel rewards through the Bonvoy website.
The basic signup: what you need and where to go
To create a Bonvoy account, you need a valid email address and a password you can remember. Marriott will ask for your first name, last name, and date of birth. That is the entire required information — no credit card, no phone number, no address. The whole process takes about three minutes.
Go to Bonvoy.marriott.com and look for the "Join Now" button, usually near the top of the page. You can also read the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play and join directly there. Both routes create the same account — joining on the website or the app makes no difference to your membership or how you earn points.
After you submit your information, Marriott sends a confirmation email to the address you provided. Click the link in that email to verify your account. Once verified, your membership number appears in your account dashboard. Write it down or take a screenshot — you will need it when you book a hotel room to make sure the stay is linked to your account.
How to link your membership number to hotel reservations
When you book a room at a Marriott property, you must provide your membership number so the points post to your account after checkout. If you book online through Marriott.com or the Bonvoy app, there is a field that asks for your membership number — enter it before you complete the reservation. If you book through a third-party site like Expedia or Booking.com, those sites may not have a field for your Bonvoy number, so call the hotel directly or contact Marriott customer service to add it after you book.
If you forget to add your number before checking in, tell the front desk staff when you arrive. They can usually link your membership to the reservation in their system, and the points will still post after you check out. However, it is faster and more reliable to add it before you arrive.
You can also add your membership number to your frequent traveler profile with airlines, rental car companies, and other travel partners. Marriott allows you to link your Bonvoy account to major airlines so you can earn airline miles instead of hotel points, or earn both simultaneously depending on the airline.
Understanding points and how they accumulate
Every dollar you spend on your room rate earns one Bonvoy point. If you stay three nights at a hotel that costs $150 per night, you earn 450 points (3 nights × $150 = $450 spent, so 450 points). Taxes and resort fees do not earn points — only the base room rate does.
You earn bonus points if you hold elite status or a Marriott credit card. For example, a Gold Elite member earns 10% bonus points on top of the base points, so that same $450 stay would earn 495 points instead. A Marriott Bonvoy credit card holder earns additional points per dollar spent, usually 2 to 6 points per dollar depending on which card you hold, plus a one-time bonus of 50,000 to 100,000 points after you meet a spending threshold in the first few months.
Points never expire as long as your account has activity at least once every 24 months. Activity means earning points, redeeming points, or even just logging into your account. Most people stay at a hotel or use a credit card at least once every two years, so expiration is rarely a concern for active members.
The difference between free membership and a credit card
Free membership lets you earn points on every stay and redeem them for rewards. You accumulate points slowly — roughly one point per dollar spent on the room rate — and you start at Member level with no perks beyond point earning.
A Marriott credit card accelerates point earning and can grant elite status without staying nights. The card earns 2 to 6 points per dollar on hotel stays depending on which card you choose, plus 1 to 3 points per dollar on other purchases. Most cards offer a sign-up bonus of 50,000 to 100,000 points after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. Some cards also grant automatic Silver Elite or Gold Elite status just for holding the card, which gives you perks like room upgrades, late checkout, and bonus points on stays.
You do not need a credit card to be a Marriott member or to earn points. The card is a tool to earn faster if you travel frequently or spend a lot on hotels. If you stay at Marriott properties only once or twice a year, free membership is sufficient.
Elite status and how to reach it
Marriott has five elite tiers: Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite. Each tier unlocks perks like room upgrades, late checkout, bonus points on stays, and lounge access at higher levels. You reach elite status by staying a certain number of nights per year or by holding a may have access to credit card.
Silver Elite requires 10 nights per year. Gold Elite requires 25 nights per year. Platinum Elite requires 50 nights per year. Titanium Elite requires 75 nights per year. Ambassador Elite is invitation-only and requires 120 nights or $20,000 in spend per year. A night counts as one calendar day, so a two-night stay counts as two nights toward your annual total.
Many Marriott credit cards grant automatic Silver or Gold Elite status just for holding the card, even if you have not stayed any nights that year. This is one reason people open a Marriott card — they get elite perks when ready without having to stay 10 or 25 nights first. Elite status resets on January 1 each year, so your night count starts over.
Redeeming points for free nights and other rewards
Points are most valuable when redeemed for free nights at Marriott properties. The cost in points varies by hotel and by season — a budget hotel in a small city might cost 10,000 points per night, while a luxury resort in a major city might cost 50,000 or more. You can see the point cost for any hotel before you book by searching on Bonvoy.marriott.com and filtering for "Points + Cash" or "Points Only" redemptions.
You can also redeem points for airline miles, gift cards, car rentals, or experiences like spa treatments or dining credits. The value of points varies depending on what you redeem them for — a free night is usually the highest-value use, while airline miles or gift cards typically give you less value per point.
Points can be transferred to a travel partner or gifted to another Bonvoy member, though Marriott charges a fee for transfers. You can also use points to pay for part of a stay and pay the rest with cash — this is called "Points + Cash" and is useful if you do not have enough points for a full free night.
What happens after you join
After your account is active, you will receive emails from Marriott about promotions, bonus point offers, and new properties. You can adjust your email preferences in your account settings if you want fewer emails. You can also log into your Bonvoy account anytime to check your point balance, view your stay history, and search for redemption options.
Your membership number stays the same for as long as you hold the account. If you change your email address or password, your membership number does not change — it is tied to your name and date of birth. If you lose access to your account, you can contact Marriott customer service with your membership number and they can help you regain access.
Membership is free and has no annual fee, so there is no cost to keeping your account open even if you do not travel for a while. As long as you have some activity every 24 months, your points will not expire and your account will remain active.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use a credit card to earn points?
No. Free membership earns one point per dollar spent on the room rate at any Marriott property. A credit card earns points faster and may grant elite status, but it is not required to earn points or be a member.
Can I transfer my points to someone else?
Yes, you can transfer points to another Bonvoy member or gift them. Marriott charges a fee for transfers — usually a small amount plus a percentage of the points transferred. You can also use "Points + Cash" to let someone else book a room using your points and their payment method.
What if I do not stay at hotels for a year?
Your points will not expire as long as your account has activity within 24 months. Activity includes earning points, redeeming points, or logging into your account. If your account becomes inactive for more than 24 months, Marriott may close it and you could lose your points.
Can I join at the hotel instead of online?
Yes. You can join at the front desk of any Marriott property when you check in. The staff will create your account and link it to your reservation so points post after your stay. Online signup is faster, but both methods create the same membership.
How long does it take to earn enough points for a free night?
It depends on how often you stay and which hotel you choose. A budget hotel might cost 10,000 points, which you could earn in 10 nights at $1,000 total spend. A luxury hotel might cost 50,000 points, which would take 50 nights. A credit card sign-up bonus of 75,000 points could cover a free night when ready after you meet the spending requirement.