The vacation rental industry is rapidly evolving, and one of the biggest names making waves in the space is Marriott International. Through its premium vacation rental platform, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott is offering short-term rental property managers an exclusive opportunity to tap into one of the world’s largest loyalty program ecosystems — Marriott Bonvoy.
In this article we look at how the world-renowned hotel brand is changing the short-term rental landscape and how you, as a property manager, can benefit from it.
Marriott Bonvoy is the official loyalty program of Marriott International, designed to reward travelers who frequently stay at Marriott's expansive portfolio of hotels, resorts and premium vacation rentals.
Initially launched in 2019, the program consolidated Marriott’s previous rewards systems under one global umbrella. Today, it boasts over 228 million Marriott Bonvoy members worldwide, making it one of the largest loyalty program networks in the world.
Through Marriott Bonvoy, members can earn points for every hotel stay, dining experience or eligible spend at participating properties. These points can then be redeemed for a variety of benefits, including free nights, room upgrades, exclusive events and much more.
The expansion of Marriott Bonvoy into the vacation rental market through Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy opened a new frontier for property managers. Unlike traditional OTAs, Marriott’s approach is selective, focusing exclusively on luxury, professionally managed properties.
Here’s why this matters:
Over 96% of bookings on Homes & Villas are made by Marriott Bonvoy members. These are well-traveled, affluent guests who are loyal to the Marriott brand. Property managers who list on the platform can immediately connect with an audience eager to earn and redeem points for luxury vacation stays.
The average Homes & Villas guest stays for 4.6 nights per trip, significantly longer than the industry average. For property managers, this means fewer turnovers and higher spend per booking.
One of the key drivers behind guest loyalty is the Marriott Bonvoy points system. Members earn points not only for hotel stays but also when booking premium vacation rentals through Homes & Villas. These points can be used to redeem valuable rewards, including:
Free nights at participating Marriott properties
Room upgrades and premium amenity packages
Access to exclusive events and experiences
Lounge access and elite benefits
Complimentary in-room wi-fi
For property managers, this means you can attract travelers who actively seek opportunities to earn points and maximize their Marriott Bonvoy membership benefits during every trip.
Understanding the different membership levels will help property managers appreciate the quality and expectations of guests booking through Homes & Villas by Marriott.
The tiers are:
Member
Entry-level with basic rewards such as discounted rates, free in-room Internet access and mobile check-in. Requires a minimum 9 nights per year.
Silver Elite
Silver status requires 10 nights per year. Rewards include priority late checkout, member rates, free wi-fi and bonus points.
Gold Elite
Gold elite status offers enhanced room upgrades, late checkout until 2p.m. and 25% more Marriott Bonvoy points per purchase. Requires 25 nights per annum.
Platinum Elite
Platinum Elite status requires 50 nights per annum and provides lounge access, welcome gifts, late checkout until 4p.m. and 50% more Marriott Bonvoy points.
Titanium Elite
Benefits includes enhanced room upgrades, 75% more points earned per purchase, wider choice of welcome gift, 48 hour room guarantee and dedicated support. Earning Titanium Elite status requires 75 nights per year.
Ambassador Elite
The most elite status, it requires 100+ nights per year and over $23,000 qualifying annual spend. Benefits include a dedicated Ambassador service, choice of check-in and checkout times, Hertz President's Circle Status, reservation guarantee, 75% more points and more.
As a property manager, knowing these tiers helps you deliver tailored, high-quality service to match guest expectations — many of whom are accustomed to personalized perks and premium benefits.
When you partner with Homes & Villas by Marriott International, you get more than just another booking platform.
Here are specific benefits for property managers:
Your propertiver 228 million Marriott Bonvoy members in 12,000 cities worldwide. That’s unparalleled reach to the premium traveler segment.
Guests who book via Homes & Villas are generally high earners and higher-spending, more respectful and more engaged, thanks to their interest in Marriott Bonvoy points and premium experiences.
You can simultaneously list your properties on other OTAs like Airbnb and Vrbo. However, you must avoid direct competitors like Hilton and Hyatt, as per the standard agreement.
Marriott works exclusively with professional property managers who can maintain its brand standards, ensuring a curated, upscale experience for all your guests, helping you earn higher reviews on the other OTAs you list on as well.
Marriott offers a competitive commission cost structure for Homes & Villas properties. Plus, it provides insights, performance guidance and dedicated account managers to help you maximize bookings.
The Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem is designed to create a cycle of earning and spending. Here’s how it works:
Members earn points when booking a stay, paying for an additional amenity, dining at Marriott restaurants or using credit cards partnered with Marriott.
Members can transfer points to family, friends or other accounts.
Points can be redeemed for free nights, bonus points packages, exclusive experiences or transferred toward airline miles.
Frequent stays accumulate elite night credits, moving members toward elite status and unlocking even more benefits.
For property managers, the more attractive your listing is to these travelers, the more you benefit from repeat bookings, longer stays, and higher revenue.
Since its launch, Homes & Villas has grown rapidly from 2,000 properties to over 180,000 luxury vacation rentals in nearly 12,000 cities across more the world. Marriott’s commitment to expanding this platform is backed by their massive infrastructure, proprietary technology (Marriott proprietary information) and market research.
If your vacation rental business is located in a key tourist country and/or city, there’s never been a better moment to join the platform.
Marriott has clear eligibility criteria to maintain the high standards its members expect. You’ll need to:
Ensure your properties meet premium quality standards
Maintain consistent service and cleanliness
Offer dedicated support 24/7
Provide premium amenities like luxury linens, fully-equipped kitchens and complimentary in-room wi-fi.
Implement a professional check-in process including options for mobile check-in.
In return, you gain access to one of the world’s most loyal travel communities and benefit from Marriott’s global marketing and booking infrastructure.
Success on Homes & Villas depends heavily on your ability to exceed guest expectations. Here’s how you can do it:
Avoid surprises by keeping listings accurate.
Gather guest preferences before arrival and offer tailored recommendations
Whether through self-check-in, personal greetings and/or a welcome basket, make the arrival moment special.
Provide proactive guest communication and ensure all essentials are available.
Respond quickly and empathetically to any guest concerns.
A simple thank-you note or follow-up message goes a long way in enhancing the guest experience.
Following this process ensures you earn an Intent to Recommend (ITR) score of 9 to 10. ITR is the key performance metric for tracking guest satisfaction and indicates that a guest
will return, recommend or both
is satisfied the experience was exceptional
If you want to take advantage of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program but aren’t sure how to get started, Hostaway is here to help. As an official channel partner, Hostaway offers seamless integration, ensuring your listings meet Marriott’s standards while automating the backend processes.
Hostaway’s key services include:
Multi-channel syncing: Keep your property details consistent across OTAs
Automated guest messaging: Personalized communication without the manual work
Revenue optimization tools: Dynamic pricing based on demand
Property maintenance tracking: Stay on top of cleaning, repairs and guest readiness
Dedicated account support: Get guidance and performance insights
Marriott Bonvoy is more than just a loyalty program. For property managers, it’s a gateway to premium guests, higher booking rates and global exposure. By listing your properties on Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, you gain access to millions of travelers motivated to earn points, enjoy first-class benefits and redeem rewards for memorable experiences.
If you’re ready to take your vacation rental business to the next level, there’s no better time to join the Marriott Bonvoy platform and connect with an audience that values quality, consistency and hospitality. Request a free demo with Hostaway and learn how we can help you seamlessly integrate your properties into Marriott’s global vacation rental marketplace.