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Guide to the Marriott STARS Program: Get the VIP Treatment with Marriott STARS without having Hotel Elite Status
Guide to the Marriott STARS Program & How to Get the VIP Treatment with Marriott STARS without having Hotel Elite Status
Many people aren't aware of these types of programs, but Marriott offers a special program reserved for a select few travel agencies/advisors that offers travelers great value-added benefits and amenities that can't be secured on your own. Even if you have elite status with Marriott (Platinum, Titanium or Ambassador), STARS perks can go above and beyond hotel elite benefits and provide great value for your next stay.
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| The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki, Image Credit: Randy | The Family Travel Guy |
This article covers Marriott STARS benefits. To see Marriott Luminous benefits and participating hotels, click here.
The Family Travel Guy is a Virtuoso affiliated Travel Advisor and is able to offer STARS benefits to clients staying at certain Marriott brands.
Marriott STARS (and Marriott Luminous) are benefits programs available to eligible travel advisors and agencies that are able to offer special perks and amenities to those who book through them. In many cases, Marriott STARS benefits can outperform the benefits offered to those with Marriott Bonvoy elite status (or combine the best of both!)
Marriott STARS
When booking your next Marriott STARS hotel stay through The Family Travel Guy, you'll be eligible for special value-added Marriott STARS benefits as part of your stay at the following participating hotel brands:
- The Luxury Collection
- The Ritz-Carlton
- The Ritz-Carlton Reserve
- St. Regis
- BVLGARI
- EDITION
Benefits include room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, hotel credits and special STARS only promotions (non-public offers).
Marriott STARS benefits include the following:
- Daily complimentary breakfast for 2 guests per day
- $100 property credit per stay
- Priority for complimentary room upgrade (based on availability upon arrival)
- Complimentary Wifi
- Personalized welcome amenity & letter
- Early Check-in/late Check-out, based on availability
What hotels participate in Marriott STARS?
Marriott STARS Participating Hotels Directory
How to Book a Marriott STARS Reservation
- Contact The Family Travel Guy with your booking request via email or send me a message
- The Family Travel Guy will send you Marriott STARS rates and included benefits.
- To confirm a booking, The Family Travel Guy will need your billing information, phone number, Marriott Bonvoy Number and a valid credit card to make your reservation.
- Once the reservation has been made, you will receive an email confirmation directly from Marriott and you will also be able to see the reservation in your Marriott Bonvoy Account.
Marriott STARS Frequently Asked Questions
Do you charge a fee to book Marriott STARS?
- No, The Family Travel Guy does not charge any booking fees for hotel reservations for Marriott STARS.
What rates qualify for Marriott STARS and Luminous?
- In most cases, the “Best Available Rate” or "Flexible Rate" needs to be booked in order to gain these benefits.
- You can't combine rates or use other discounted rates or use points to book your stay.
- Sometimes there may be special STARS offers that can provide tremendous value for your stay (Examples may include upgrade at time of booking, free night benefits (3rd, 4th night free, etc, bonus hotel/resort credit or other special offers)
Is the Marriott STARS rate more?
- The Marriott STARS rate should reflect the the best available/flexible/standard rate. You can’t book a Marriott STARS rate in conjunction with other discounts or award stays.
Is there a minimum stay requirement?
- There is no minimum stay required for Marriott STARS reservation.
Do you earn Marriott Bonvoy points for Marriott STARS Rates?
- Yes - Marriott STARS and Luminous reservations are booked directly with Marriott and you will earn and receive all elite benefits when booking.
Is Marriott STARS similar to having elite status in Marriott Bonvoy (Marriott Platinum or Titanium Elite Status)?
- Yes - but without the requirements needed for elite status!
- If you don't travel extensively for business or leisure and can't reach the requirements needed for Marriott Bonvoy elite status, you can book a Marriott STARS (or Luminous rate) and make yourself a VIP!
Do you earn Marriott Bonvoy points on these stays?
- Yes, all Marriott STARS and Luminous bookings are considered “qualifying” for the purposes of earning points, elite credits, and more.
- Marriott STARS reservations count the same as any other stay booked directly with Marriott.
Are these rates combinable with other consortia or programs?
- All of the benefits for both STARS and Luminous will only be granted by booking the respective rate codes that are tied to the Best Available Rate and they are not combinable with any other consortia or programs.
Is STARS and Luminous mandatory for all hotels in the respective member brands?
- No - STARS and Luminous hotels that are not able to support the amenities due to their particular market conditions are allowed to opt-out of the program (or not participate in the enhanced Luminous benefits)
Are there any Marriott STARS special offers?
Yes!
There are great Marriott STARS promotional offers available for a particular hotel that may include a free night (3rd or 4th night free, etc), upgrade at time of booking, extra hotel credits and more.
Here are some great examples of current Marriott STARS promotional offers available
These are just a few examples below, there are tons more offers depending on the hotel
Also note that these offers have valid dates for the offer, as well as booking date windows and sometimes can have blackout dates
Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco: Stay for 3, Get 4th Night Free. Guests will also receive STARS privileges, including:
- $100 Food and Beverage credit once per stay (excludes Sunday Brunch)
- Daily Breakfast (up to two per room per night)
- Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi
- Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary upgrade (some room category restrictions apply)
- Daily parking (one car per stay)
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara: Stay 3 nights, get the 3rd night complimentary!
- The promotion is combinable with STARS amenities
- Offer is cumulative (i.e. 3rd, 6th, etc. night is complimentary).
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay: Stay Longer, Experience More
- Save 15% when staying 3+ nights and receive STARS benefits
The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki: 5th Night Free Promotion
- Book now through December 13, 2022 on a 5-night stay or longer, and receive a complimentary night on EVERY 5th night.
STARS amenities as followings:
- Daily breakfast for two at Surf Lanai
- $100 resort credit per room, once per stay (resort credit includes food charges at Azure, Surf Lanai, Mai Tai Bar, Aha’aina Luau, and cabana charges)
- Royal Hawaiian History book
- Special welcome amenity
- Upgrade based on availability at time of arrival
- Early check-in and late check-out based upon availability
- VIP service
- Resort fee waived but all benefits included
The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C.
- Complimentary Third Night
- Stay 4 Nights - Receive a 25% discount
- Club Lounge Promotion
- Receive up to 50% off of Club Lounge premium in addition to all STARS amenities.
The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort: Two great STARS offers including a Reopening Offer and a Taste of Luxury offer
Reopening Offer- Stay 5, Pay 4 with complimentary Half Board
- Daily Dinner for 2, including the Polynesian show & Indian night (Beverages and Candlelight dinners not included)
- 45 min Couple massage at Iridium Spa
- Daily a-la-carte Breakfast at Te Pahu Restaurant (room service and canoe breakfast not included)
- Complimentary Shared airport transfers for 2
- $100 Resort Credit
- 20% off Spa treatments
- Upgrade based on availability
- Early Check in based on availability
- Late Check out based on availability
Taste Of Luxury
- Stay 4 nights, pay 3 including daily breakfast for 2 guests.
- Minimum 4 night stay
- Can be booked without limitation: Stay 8, Pay 6 etc.
- Combinable with Honeymoon, Wedding Anniversary, Family and STARS Amenities
Hôtel De Berri Champs-Élysées, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris: Complimentary Night Offer
- Book 3 nights & Stay 4 - for any booking from the Deluxe Room through the Berri Suite
- Book 5 nights & Stay 7 - for any booking from the Deluxe Room through the Berri Suite
Contact The Family Travel Guy with your booking request or to learn more about Marriott STARS
