The future of hotel rewards programs has arrived.
In 2016, members can do much more than simply redeem their hard-earned points for a discounted stay or free night at their next stop. With the rollout of its new experiences marketplace, Marriott Rewards members can now use their points to bid on one-of-a-kind experiences.
In addition to once-in-a-lifetime experiences like a trip to see "Hamilton" in New York City and a round of golf at iconic Pebble Beach, members can bid points on other travel experiences, including a New Year's cruise aboard Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas.
Members with enough points have already been able to redeem them on events like concerts or early movie screenings. But now they can bid points on extremely rare experiences like a ticket package to the Breeders' Cup.
The bidding is done auction-style, meaning that members will have a limited amount of time to try and outbid others. The member with the highest bid at the end of the auction wins the experience.
[READMORE] READ MORE: How Marriott Rewards Members Can Earn Bonus Points this Summer [/READMORE]
"We're evolving how we engage with, recognize, and reward our loyal guests," said Marriott's vice president of loyalty Thom Kozik in a statement earlier this year. "Loyalty is not just about our members choosing to stay with us. We want to make their travel more seamless and personalized, and we also want to deliver memorable experiences that go beyond the stay."
The marketplace boasts something for everyone, whether you're a sports fanatic, a music lover or passionate about food and beverage.
Nonetheless, some experiences are more attainable than others.
For example, members can redeem a mixology lesson from renowned mixologist Bob Peters for 30,000 points, while the bid for tickets to see Broadway's Hamilton starts at 75,000 points and has already reached 250,000 points with 19 days remaining before the auction ends.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
