When Marriott International acquired Starwood Hotels in 2016, the hotel world became a better place for Canadian travellers. With more hotel brands — from economy to mid-scale, long-stay, luxury, and lifestyle options — as well as more hotel rooms and destinations, increased ways to earn and redeem reward points appeared seemingly overnight.
The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program recently launched as a global travel rewards program to replace Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards. It offers more options for members who are looking to enhance their overall travel experience. This includes not only redeeming reward points for stays, but also memorable experiences and once-in-a-lifetime events.
Moments make memories
Personalization is the height of good hospitality. The Marriott Bonvoy program lets members choose how they redeem their reward points. Perhaps it’s a dream stay at The Ritz-Carlton Reserve property in Bali, a romantic getaway to Napa, or the chance to have VIP access to Grey Cup. Recently, Marriott International opened its 7,000th hotel, meaning consumers have a plethora of choices when it comes to which hotel to book a stay at.
And with the recent launch of Homes & Villas by Marriott International, guests can now book a stay in a six-bedroom villa in Italy or in an 18-century Irish castle that sleeps 17 as well. Whether guests are looking to celebrate a milestone or want a special property to bring together the whole gang, Homes & Villas offers plenty of options with over 2,000 luxury additions to the Marriott International portfolio.
Personalization is the height of good hospitality.
Knowing that travel is not only about fabulous hotel stays, the program also offers unique options for reward redemption. Looking to score VIP access to the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver? How about meeting Chef Wolfgang Puck during a dinner and kitchen tour at Spago in L.A. or enhancing your Instagram account by taking a photo with Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton at a Montreal Grand Prix event?
Marriott International partners with companies such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mercedes AMG Petronas, the Kentucky Derby, and others to make sure members have direct access to the world’s best sporting matches, concerts, culinary events, and unique happenings. Smaller scale tours and activities are also available.
Members who book directly on Marriott.com or on the Marriott mobile app always get the best rates available. The app has some added benefits, including letting members check on rewards status, manage an itinerary, chat with staff to ask that a forgotten amenity be put in their room ahead of time, or book a dinner reservation. Members can also head straight to their rooms with the mobile check-in and mobile key features available at many of Marriott International’s hotels.
Spend your summer with Marriott
Marriott International is celebrating summer by offering members more savings until Labour Day. Two of the hotels included in the promotion are also two of the newest additions to Marriott International’s expanding portfolio. In Toronto, The St. Regis hotel is everything a luxury property should be: It’s sophisticated, inviting, and has decadent dining and drinking options on hand.
On the 31st floor, the hotel boasts the opulent LOUIX LOUIS restaurant and lounge. The grand two-storey-high lounge features a burnished gold long bar and is an homage to Toronto’s great distilling past. As you drink in the views over Toronto’s skyline, you can drink one of the many dark spirits the bar has in storage, over 500 in fact, one of the largest collections in North America.
The Residence Inn Calgary Beltline, opened this March, and is the largest Residence Inn in the world with 390 suites. Modern and stylish, this hotel can be a home-away-from-home for a few days or longer-term stays in one of Calgary’s most dynamic neighbourhoods.
Built where the former Alberta Boot Company once stood, this 33-storey hotel soars above the city and offers western-style design details such as the cowboy (and gal) boot stitching in each suite’s bed headboards. Guests at the hotel have prime access to Calgary’s biggest cultural spots like the Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary Tower, and Studio Bell.
Wherever your travel plans take you this summer, let Marriott help ensure the experience is packed full of memorable moments.
