Marriott vs. Hilton Rewards Program Overview 

Marriott Reward Program Overview

What is Marriott Bonvoy?

Marriott Bonvoy is the Marriott hotel company’s loyalty program, allowing you to earn and redeem points for stays at Bonvoy brands including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott, Sheraton, Westin and Renaissance Hotels.

It’s free to join the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, and all members can book hotels at discounted rates, enjoy free Wi-Fi and earn points toward free nights. Once you rise in Marriott Bonvoy status, you’ll get additional Marriott Bonvoy benefits such as late checkout, free breakfast, lounge access and more.

Which Brands Belong to Marriott Bonvoy?

Marriott has a dizzying list of 30unique brands, each of which offers distinctive character and caters to a different clientele (including those that want to bring a pet with them!). The brands vary across the board, ranging from opulent hotels with a dispersed footprint globally to affordable, extended-stay accommodations focused within North America. 

The brands participating in the Marriott Rewards program are:

How to Use Marriott Bonvoy Points?

Marriott Bonvoy points can be used to purchase gift cards or for online shopping, and they can be transferred to airline partner programs to book flights. But more often than not, the best way to use Marriott Bonvoy points is to book rooms at Marriott hotels. When purchasing a room from Marriott’s website, check the box stating “Use Points / Certificates” to search award rates and book your stay.

Pros & Cons of Marriott Bonvoy Program 

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Hilton Rewards Program Overview

What is Hilton Honors program?

The Hilton Honors program is most advantageous for business and leisure travelers who frequently fly to and stay in major cities in the United States, Europe and Asia. Hilton Honors members can redeem points at more than 6,500 hotels and resorts across 18 different brands in more than 100 countries and territories.

 Additionally, you can earn points for Lyft rides and everyday purchases made with the Hilton Honors credit cards from American Express. And because Hilton has a partnership with United Airlines (as well as more than 30 other airline and rail partners), you can cash in points for miles. Points can also be used to purchase tickets to concerts, luxurious meals, Lyft rides and items sold on Amazon.

Which Brands Belong to Hilton Honors?

Hilton Honors hotel brands fall under 8 broad categories: Luxury, Lifestyle, Upper Upscale, Upscale, Upscale independent hotels, Upper midscale, Timeshare, Midscale.

There are 18 Hilton Honors brands:

How to Use Hilton Honors Points?

With the Hilton Honors program, you can earn points by staying at any participating Hilton property and making everyday purchases with a Hilton Honors-affiliated credit card. Cash in your points for free nights, airline or rail miles, experiences and more.

Pros & Cons of Hilton Honors program

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Marriott Bonvoy vs. Hilton Honors: Which One Is Better?

1.Hotel Availability

Marriott

As one of the largest hotel chains in the world, the Marriott hotel group features more than 7,000 properties in 131 different countries. Its brands range from ultra-luxurious, like the St. Regis, to budget, like Courtyard Hotels. With 30 different brands, you’re sure to find something that suits your style.

Hilton

Falling behind Marriott, Hilton has more than 6,500 properties in 119 countries. Like Marriott, Hilton’s brands range from luxury, such as the Waldorf Astoria, to budget, such as the Hampton by Hilton. There are 18 different brands within Hilton’s portfolio.

Winner for hotel availability: Marriott

Hilton trails Marriott in availability, both in terms of the number of properties and the number of destination options (131 countries for Marriott, 119 countries for Hilton).

2.Earning Points

How to Earn Marriott Points?

Marriott Rewards members earn points on certain purchases made through the chain. As you’ll see below, exactly which types of transactions accrue points and the number of points you’ll receive per dollar spent depend on the particular Marriott-owned brand you’re shacking up with.

Marriott Bonvoy offers these ways to earn points:

(1)Stay at Marriott hotels

For the most part, you’ll earn 10 base Bonvoy rewards points per dollar spent at Marriott properties. So if you spend $100, you’ll earn 1,000 points.

(2)Buy Marriott points

Marriott Bonvoy points can also be purchased in increments of 1,000 for $12.50. This means that points cost 1.25 cents each, which may or may not be worth it, depending on your trip.

(3)Transfer credit card points

Marriott is a transfer partner for Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards, which means these points can be turned into Marriott points.

(4)Other ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

• Credit card bonuses and spending

• Car rentals with Hertz

• Flights

• Cruises

• Dining

• Events

• Transfer partners, including Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards

• Purchasing points

• Partnerships and promotions

How to Earn Hilton Points?

Hilton Honors members earn points when they make certain types of purchases through the hotel chain. As you’ll see below, exactly which types of transactions accrue points and the number of points you’ll receive per dollar spent depend on which Hilton-owned brand you’re staying with. Other types of purchases outside of Hilton can earn you Hilton Honors Points, too.

Hilton Honors offers these ways to earn points:

(1)Hotel stays

You can earn two types of points through Hilton Honors: base points and bonus points. You'll earn 10 base points per $1 spent at most Hilton portfolio hotels, regardless of your Honors status.

(2)Transfer points to Hilton

Another way to pick up Hilton points is to transfer them from another program. If you have a credit card that earns American Express Membership Rewards or Diners Club International Club Rewards, you can turn those points into Hilton Honors points. Before transferring, you must link your accounts.

(3)Other ways to earn Hilton Honors points

Promotional offers: Hilton Honors regularly offers promotions encouraging travelers to stay at their hotels. Promotions can include things like double and triple bonus points, on-property credits, and free breakfast at certain hotels.

• Car rentals: Hilton Honors members who book rental cars with Alamo, Enterprise or National can earn up to 5,000 bonus points per rental, depending in part on how long you have the vehicle.

• Cruises for Hilton Honors: Members who book through Cruises for Hilton Honors, powered by CruisesOnly, can earn bonus points based on the length of their cruise.

• OneSimCard: Frequent international travelers can pick up more Hilton Honors points by buying a OneSimCard.

• Hilton Honors Dining: Bonus points may be earned with every restaurant meal. Through Hilton Honors Dining, members can earn up to eight Hilton Honors bonus points per $1 spent at one of over 10,000 restaurants in the program.

• Booking meetings and events: Meeting organizers can earn one bonus point per $1 spent on guest rooms and meeting rooms during qualifying events at participating Hilton portfolio properties.

• Buy points: If you need a few extra bonus points for a free night, you can purchase points directly from Hilton at the price of 1 cent each with a minimum purchase of 1,000 points.

• Credit cards, which I’ll get into in the next section.

Winner for earning points: Tie

Loyalty programs and rewards are often connected because you likely want to join a program so you can earn points or miles. With Marriott and Hilton, this would typically mean earning points for your hotel stays. But that’s not the only way to earn points with either the Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors loyalty programs.

3.Redeeming Points

Earning points is nice, but how you can actually redeem those points is where you typically find the value in a loyalty program.

How to Redeem Marriott Points?

Marriott Bonvoy offers these ways to redeem points:

Clik here to see how to use Marriott Points.

How to Redeem Hilton Points?

Hilton Honors offers these ways to redeem points:

Clik here to see how to use Hilton Points.

Winner for ease of points: Marriott

Both Marriott and Hilton award nights typically start at 5,000 points per night. Though, certain Marriott nights could start at 4,000 points per night through PointSaver deals.

However, Marriott Bonvoy points and Hilton Honors points don’t have the same value. Marriott points are typically valued around 0.8 cents per point, whereas Hilton points are often valued around 0.6 cents per point. This means you’re likely to get more out of your points with Marriott compared with Hilton.

4.Points worth

How much are Marriott Bonvoy points worth?

Marriott Bonvoy points are typically worth about 0.8 cents per point according to travel experts. You could potentially get more (or less) value from your points depending on how you use them. Using points for award stays at luxury Marriott properties can often result in an above-average value for your points. This type of strategy can work well for getting the most out of your points when paired with the Marriott benefit of booking five consecutive award nights and getting one of the nights for free.

How much are Hilton Honors points worth?

Hilton Honors points are typically worth about 0.6 cents per point according to general sentiment from travel and points experts. However, it’s possible to get more value from your points depending on how you redeem them. 

Winner for points worth: Marriott

5.Membership Levels

Marriott Bonvoy elite status

The Marriott Bonvoy program is divided into 5 membership levels based on paid nights per calendar year: Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite. To qualify for Ambassador Elite status, you must also spend a certain amount of money with Marriott annually. 

Marriott status levels and benefits at every tier

How to earn Marriott elite status？

There are two ways to earn Bonvoy status: by staying at Marriott properties and collecting enough eligible nights, or by holding a Marriott credit card.

（1）Earn Marriott status through eligible nights

You can earn the first four levels (Silver through Titanium) by staying enough qualifying nights per calendar year.

Here’s the breakdown.

（2）Earn elite status through credit cards

Does spending a quarter of the year in hotels sound daunting? There’s an easier way. Several credit cards, including Marriott's own branded cards, provide complimentary elite status. This status is identical to what you’d get if you earned it the hard way.

How much is Marriott Bonvoy elite status worth in 2024?

Keep in mind that the value you get from elite status will depend on many factors, including how much you use it (by staying at Marriott properties) and how much you take advantage of the perks, such as free breakfast and upgrade certificates.

Here's what Marriott Bonvoy elite status is worth, broken down by tier.

Is Marriott elite status worth it?

Deciding whether it’s worth shooting for Bonvoy status depends entirely on your travel preferences and goals. If you’re a frequent business traveler considering Ambassador status, you’ll want to compare it to other high-end hotel elite levels. If you’re an infrequent traveler, you might wonder whether it’s worth earning any hotel elite status at all.

For example, Bonvoy Silver status offers almost no tangible benefits. The only real benefit is the bonus points earning benefit, which is still paltry at 10%. So we definitely wouldn’t suggest shifting your travel plans just to earn that 10th night.

Gold status offers a bit more, including late checkout and room upgrades. But remember it can be obtained hassle-free via getting a credit card instead of spending nearly a month in Marriott hotels.

As expected, Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador status offer the more meaty perks, including the flexible annual choice benefits and check-in gifts. But they also require a lot of Marriott loyalty (and spending) to earn, of course.

Hilton Honors elite status

Hilton Honors offers four elite status levels, ranging from member to Diamond. The higher your status, the more benefits you'll get when staying at Hilton properties. You can earn status by staying at hotels or by holding certain Hilton Honors American Express cards.

Honors status levels and benefits at every tier

How to earn Hilton elite status?

You earn Hilton status in any of these ways:

• Earning enough qualifying nights per calendar year at a Hilton property.

• Earning enough qualifying stays per calendar year at a Hilton property.

• Earning enough qualifying base points per calendar year at a Hilton property.

• Having a Hilton credit card that offers automatic elite status as a benefit.

Between the bonus points, the breakfasts, the welcome amenities and all the other benefits, Hilton's Gold and Diamond tiers can be pretty valuable — and even the lowest-tier Silver status is better than a poke in the eye.

By dividing the benefits by the cost, you can determine the elite earning rate for each level and determine what that status is really worth to you.

Is Hilton Honors elite status worth it?

The short answer: “It depends.”

If you’re earning status from a Hilton-branded credit card: Keep in mind that the benefits multiply by the amount you actually stay at Hilton properties. In other words, you can take the “shortcut” of earning Hilton status through a credit card— but if you’re not actually staying at Hilton hotels, you won’t reap the benefits or value. 

If you’re considering earning status from qualifying stays: If you’ve already stayed at enough Hilton hotels in a year to earn Gold status (which typically requires 20 stays per calendar year), then the roughly $3,000 difference in value between Gold and Diamond can be worth justifying chasing Diamond status (which typically requires 30 stays per calendar year). 

If you’re thinking of switching from another hotel program: Make sure to compare the benefits of the tiers you’d earn at each program. Gold status at Hilton will vary considerably in value from the Gold level at most other programs.

Best elite status offerings: Marriott Bonvoy

Hotel elite status can come with some money-saving and experience-boosting benefits including room upgrades, late checkout and breakfast. Not all programs are created equally. Marriott’s larger portfolio makes it easy to earn and benefit from its elite status program, which comes with slightly more valuable points, according to NerdWallet’s calculations.

6.Hotel credit card 

Marriott credit cards

Applying for a Marriott credit card is worth considering if you have good credit or better and spend several nights at hotels each year. There isn’t just one Marriott credit card, though. You can get a sense of what each brings to the table below.

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Offers Compared:

Hilton credit cards

You might want to consider applying for a Hilton credit card if you have at least good credit and you stay at hotels in the Hilton portfolio at least a few times each year. There are a few different Hilton credit cards to pick from, though. You can find a comparison of the current offers below.

Hilton Honors Credit Card Offers Compared:

Winner for best hotel credit card: Hilton Honors

Thanks to a variety of credit cards between these two loyalty brands, there are plenty of points on the horizon rewarding you for everyday spending. Hilton Honors wins the prize thanks to its ability to award the highest elite status after credit card approval.

7.Family travel considerations

Marriott Bonvoy perks for families

Marriott allows members to transfer points without charge, too, but only from one account to another, which makes it a bit more restrictive.

Marriott has five brands that include free breakfast:

• Residence Inn.

• TownePlace Suites.

• Springhill Suites.

• Fairfield Inn and Suites.

• Element.

Unfortunately, outside of these properties, you’ll need to have at least Platinum elite status in order to score a complimentary breakfast.

Hilton Honors perks for families

With this program, you won’t have to rely on just one person to accrue enough points for a hotel redemption. Thanks to free family pooling, you can combine points from as many as 10 other member accounts to achieve enough points for a redemption. There is no charge to pool points. Hilton Honors also has some popular brands for families like Embassy Suites, which includes free cooked-to-order breakfast for everyone.

Hilton also offers five different brands with complimentary breakfast:

• Embassy Suites.

• Hampton Inn.

• Home2 Suites.

• Homewood Suites

• Tru.

Breakfast access at other Hilton properties is also simple. You can get yourself and a registered guest complimentary breakfast if you have Hilton Gold status or higher.

Best hotel for family travel: Hilton

Although Marriott has more hotel brands available, the lack of free breakfast means that Hilton wins for family travel.

8.Business travel considerations

Marriott Bonvoy for business travelers

With so many hotels and brands within its portfolio, Marriott Bonvoy wins higher marks. Among its many Marriott Bonvoy brands are Gaylord, which caters to large-scale group events, and Homes & Villas by Marriott International, which is a home-sharing and rental platform similar to Airbnb. There are also Residence Inn by Marriott (offering free breakfast and suite accommodations with kitchens) and TownePlace Suites by Marriott (also with free breakfast).

Hilton Honors for business travelers

This program is highly respected in the meetings and conventions industry, and Hilton is making a concerted effort to double down on the business with its new brand focused on the events trade, Signia by Hilton. Other popular brands include Hilton, DoubleTree and Hampton Inn, all serving different business traveler price points.

Best hotel for business travel:Marriott 

Both loyalty programs place a bull's-eye on attractive corporate business with brands that cater to everything from solo travelers to conferences and events. Marriott Bonvoy wins out only for the number of global hotels and brands that can serve more budgets and interests.

9.Transfer partners

If you want to pad your Marriott or Hilton hotel points, consider transferring rewards to your account from a transfer partner. Both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors partner with other loyalty programs to allow an exchange of rewards points.

Marriott

These partners allow transfers to Marriott Bonvoy:

• Amex Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio

• Chase Ultimate Rewards at a 1:1 ratio

• Diners Club International Club Rewards at 1.25:1.5 ratio

Hilton 

These partners allow transfers to Hilton Honors:

• American Express Membership Rewards points – Transfer American points to Hilton at a ratio of 1 Amex point to 2 Hilton points (and watch for occasional transfer bonuses)

• Hawaiian Airlines miles – Transfer Hawaiian Airlines miles to Hilton at a 1:1.5 ratio. 

• Virgin Atlantic miles – Transfer Virgin Atlantic miles at a 1:1.5 ratio to Hilton points. 

Winner of transfer partners: Marriott

Overall, Marriott has more flexibility because it partners with both American Express and Chase. Hilton Honors doesn’t partner with Chase. This increases your options for credit cards that could potentially pad your Marriott Bonvoy points account.

How to Choose the Best Hotel Reward Program?

For Marriott Bonvoy Members

• The best way to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points is for Marriott stays. Points are worth 0.98 cents apiece that way.

• Consider applying for a Marriott credit card. The best Marriott credit card could save the average person roughly $3,000 over the first two years of use.

• Try the Island Approach with your credit cards. The Marriott Card offers competitive earnings on hotel reservations (within the Marriott family). On pretty much everything else, you’ll actually get a lower value. That’s why you should put an everyday rewards card into your wallet as well. 

• Take advantage of status perks. The assorted small perks with which members are rewarded for their financial loyalty can be a big selling point for hotel rewards programs, but they are often forgotten by users as time goes by.

• Make sure to read Marriott reviews & Bonvoy FAQs. Learning from experts and fellow travelers will help you pick up some helpful tips as well as avoid tricks and pitfalls.

• Pool or transfer points if it makes sense. Marriott allows members to pool their points together for easier redemption. This is especially helpful for family members with individual Marriott Bonvoy memberships who often travel together.

• Avoid buying Bonvoy points, if possible. Marriott points cost more to purchase than they are worth when redeemed, on average. However, it could be worth buying a small number if it puts you over the top for a free night.

• Compare your hotel options if you’re not wedded to Marriott. Marriott is not the only worldwide hotel chain with a rewarding loyalty program. 

For Hilton Honors Members

• The best way to redeem Hilton Honors Points is for Hilton stays. Points are worth 0.58 cents apiece that way.

• Take advantage of status perks. The assorted small perks with which members are rewarded for their financial loyalty can be a big selling point for hotel rewards programs, but they are often forgotten by users as time goes by.

• Consider applying for a Hilton credit card. The best Hilton credit card could save the average person roughly $3,500 over the first two years of use.

• Pool or transfer points if it makes sense. Hilton allows members to pool their points together for easier redemption. This is especially helpful for family members with individual Hilton Honors memberships who often travel together.

• Make sure to read Hilton reviews & Hilton Honors FAQs. Learning from experts and fellow travelers will help you pick up some helpful tips as well as avoid tricks and pitfalls.

• Compare your hotel options if you’re not wedded to Hilton. Hilton is not the only worldwide hotel chain with a rewarding loyalty program. 

Conclusions：Is Hilton or Marriott Better?

It can be difficult to decide between multiple hotel loyalty programs because there’s a lot to consider. You need to know how to earn and redeem points, whether the available properties align with your travel preferences, and how good the elite status benefits are. Fortunately, you’re able to join multiple loyalty programs if you want. This could be beneficial if you travel frequently and want even more options for places to stay worldwide.

But if you only travel occasionally, it might make more sense to stick with one loyalty program so you can get the most out of it. Both Hilton and Marriott have their pros and cons, but this guide can be a helpful reference if you need it. Keep in mind that the right program for you ultimately depends on your lifestyle and preferences.

Sometimes,the Marriott program is a more worthwhile investment. Hilton undoubtedly beats Marriott in a few ways, but Marriott has more of everything you want in a hotel program — more five-star brands, more locations, more unique experiences. Their elite status comes with more concrete benefits, like suite night awards or 40% off your favorite hotel mattress. If you find yourself staying in hotels often enough to achieve Marriott Platinum status, stick with Marriott.

FAQs

1.Is Marriott Bonvoy free?

Yes, it’s free to join the Marriott Bonvoy program, though you must provide your email address to join.

2.Is Marriott Bonvoy the same as Marriott Rewards?

Sort of, yes. Thanks to a huge hotel merger, the Marriott Rewards, SPG and Ritz-Carlton Rewards programs joined forces; in 2019, they combined to become the Marriott Bonvoy program.

3.Do Marriott Bonvoy points expire?

Yes, Marriott points expire after 24 months of inactivity. "Activity" includes both earning and spending points, so you can reset this expiration date either way.

4.How to sign up for Hilton Honors?

Sign up for Hilton Honors’ free program here. Simply fill out the form, create a password and book your next stay. You will then immediately have access to member-level benefits, including from 2% off the eligible rate discount on qualifying stays.

5.Is it free to be a Hilton Honors member?

It is free to become a Hilton Honors member, and even infrequent Hilton customers will get value from their entry-level membership.

6.Is Hilton part of Marriott?

No, Hilton is its own company, formally called Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. With a portfolio of 18 brands comprising more than 6,300 properties worldwide, Hilton hotels include Waldorf Astoria, Doubletree, Embassy Suites and Hilton Garden Inn. Marriott is a separate company, formally known as Marriott International. Among its approximately 30 brands are The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis and SpringHill Suites.

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