Marriott Bonvoy Can I Book for Someone Else? Complete Guide for 2025

The travel landscape is evolving rapidly. Whether it’s helping a friend book a stay or organizing a business trip for a colleague, many Marriott Bonvoy members are curious: can you book a hotel room for someone else with your Bonvoy account? The short answer is yes but with some important caveats.

Marriott Bonvoy allows members to make reservations for others, but how benefits are transferred (or not) depends on specific policies. This guide explores the official stance, real-world use cases, and tips to maximize value while helping others.

Can You Book a Marriott Hotel for Someone Else Using Bonvoy?

Marriott Bonvoy’s Official Policy

According to Marriott’s terms, members can book rooms for others as long as the reservation is made in the guest’s name. However, Bonvoy elite benefits like room upgrades or lounge access are not guaranteed to transfer unless the Bonvoy member is staying as well.

You can add the actual guest’s name to the reservation during checkout. It’s important to contact the hotel in advance to confirm details and ensure a smooth check-in for the other guests.

Booking a Room With Points for Someone Else

Yes, Bonvoy members can use their points to book an award stay for another person. This is known as a “Reward Redemption Stay.” Just add the recipient’s name as the primary guest and ensure that they present ID at check-in.

Reward stays for someone else don’t transfer elite status perks, but the booking will still go through without issues. Always confirm redemption terms during the reservation process.

Benefits of Using Technology for Third-Party Bookings

Marriott Bonvoy App Functionality

The Marriott app allows you to manage reservations easily, even when booking for someone else. You can:

• Add or change guest details
• Send confirmation emails directly to the traveler
• Communicate with the hotel via mobile chat

This digital flexibility helps streamline the process and ensures a great experience for the person you’re looking for.

Digital Check-In and Mobile Keys

While only available for the Bonvoy account holder, digital check-in features can still be used to coordinate timing and preferences. If the guest you’re looking for is arriving late, use the app to alert the front desk or add notes.

Real-World Examples and Scenarios

Booking a Business Trip for a Colleague

Imagine you’re an executive assistant handling travel arrangements for your team. Booking a stay using your Bonvoy account ensures convenience, even if the points aren’t redeemed for your travel. Though your colleagues won’t get your elite perks, they’ll enjoy a seamless check-in process.

Helping Family Book Vacation Stays

Many Bonvoy members use their points to help loved ones go on vacation. Booking under their name with your points is permitted, allowing you to share the value of your loyalty without physically traveling.

Gifting a Stay to a Friend

Some members use their points to surprise friends with a hotel stay. As long as the name matches at check-in, the booking will be honored. It’s a thoughtful use of accumulated rewards.

Practical Benefits and Limitations

Advantages

• Bookings are allowed under another person’s name
• Reward stays can be gifted with no transfer fee
• Useful for business, family, or gift-giving purposes

Limitations

• Elite status perks typically do not transfer
• Digital keys and check-in benefits remain account-specific
• Some properties may require pre-authorization or verification for third-party check-ins

Use Cases and Why It Matters

Enhancing Business Efficiency

For companies managing frequent travel, using one account to control bookings can save time. Even without elite perks transferring, the ability to manage multiple itineraries is invaluable.

Building Loyalty Through Shared Experiences

Gifting or sharing stays strengthens relationships. Whether it’s rewarding a top employee or treating a parent to a special weekend, your Bonvoy membership becomes a tool for generosity.

Maximizing Point Value

Instead of letting points sit unused, members can turn them into experiences for others. This flexibility is especially important in times when travel plans change, or personal commitments prevent you from traveling yourself.

FAQ

Q1: Can I earn points if someone else stays using my booking? No. You can only earn points if you’re the one staying. If someone else checks in, they won’t earn points unless they’re a Bonvoy member and the stay is booked under their account.

Q2: Can the guest use my elite status benefits during their stay? Typically no. Elite perks are only applied when the account holder is present. However, some hotels may extend courtesy upgrades at their discretion.

Q3: What should I do to ensure smooth check-in for someone else? Always add their name to the reservation, contact the hotel in advance, and ensure they bring a valid ID. You may also want to prepay or leave a card on file for incidentals.