The Marriott Bonvoy Moments feature allows members to redeem points for experiences rather than hotel stays, either through an auction or by purchasing them outright. The types of experiences can include VIP access to concerts, culinary experiences, premier sporting events, and more, all available through an online portal.
While the best redemptions of Marriott Bonvoy points typically lie in aspirational hotel and resort stays, the Marriott Bonvoy Moments program offers a variety of alternative uses if you find yourself in search of an experience instead of a place to stay.
What Are Marriott Bonvoy Moments?
Marriott Bonvoy Moments are a collection of experiences that can be purchased solely with Bonvoy points through an online portal. Some experiences may be bid for through an auction, while some may be confirmed with a fixed amount of points.
Many of the experiences are held at Marriott-affiliated hotels and resorts, and sometimes, the Moment may entail a stay at the property as well.
Marriott Bonvoy Moments are divided into four categories:
- Culinary Moments, which include wining and dining at well-known restaurants, culinary courses with renowned chefs, private dinners in unique locations, and more.
- Arts & Lifestyle Moments, which is a broad collection encompassing art shows, fashion events, amusement parks, cultural experiences, and float rides, amongst others.
- Sports Moments, which offer prime access to a range of events at various venues worldwide through Marriott’s partnerships with leagues, teams, and venues, including the NFL, Manchester United, and more.
- Entertainment Moments, which include concerts, awards ceremonies, exclusive parties, and sporting events, often with premium seating. For example, you can expect entry to Marriott’s private suites at entertainment venues, such as the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, The O2 in London, and the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin.
It’s worth noting that the Marriott Bonvoy Moments program is separate from the Tours & Activities program, also offered by Marriott. The former typically includes one-off and exclusive experiences, while the latter offers travel experiences that you can also find with other tour companies.
Bonvoy members may redeem points for up to five Moments per calendar year, with up to two packages per event. Unfortunately, residents of Quebec aren’t eligible to participate in the Moments program for now, but the basis for eligibility seems to depend solely on the address listed in your Bonvoy profile.
If you reach the maximum of five Moments redemptions, keep in mind that you can always initiate free online transfers of up to 100,000 Bonvoy points to other people’s accounts every year.
According to the Marriott Bonvoy Moments FAQs, auctions tend to be offered between 15 and 30 days from the launch of the event. The list is frequently updated, so it may be worthwhile to check once a month or so to see if anything piques your interest.
How to Redeem Points for Marriott Bonvoy Moments
There are two ways to redeem points for Marriott Bonvoy Moments.
The first is to buy packages outright at a fixed price. For these Moments, you can instantly confirm your experience, and the points will immediately be deducted from your account.
Note that once purchased, Moments are non-refundable, so be sure to check all details before clicking through.
The second way is through an auction-style format, whereby members bid on Moments from a fixed starting price. Bids increase by increments of at least 2,500 points, and you have the option to place a one-time bid or to enter a maximum bid.
If someone outbids your one-time bid, you’ll have to enter in another bid if, for example, you really want to redeem Bonvoy points to see Madonna at the O2 in London.
If you choose to enter a maximum bid instead, you must input the most Bonvoy points you’d be willing to part with to win a particular experience. If someone outbids you, the bidding system will automatically increase your bid by the lowest possible increments, until your maximum is reached.
Note that you can’t alter or remove your bid, so be prepared to part with the full amount of your bid before clicking “Bid Now”. You’ll automatically be disqualified from the auction if your balance is insufficient to cover your bid at any point throughout the auction.
You’ll be notified by email if you win an auction, or if you’re outbid. A Marriott Bonvoy Moments specialist will contact you to finalize the details of the experience if you win, and the points will be deducted from your account.
Does Marriott Bonvoy Moments Offer Good Value?
Since Marriott Bonvoy Moments claims to offer exclusive access to a variety of experiences, it may be difficult to calculate the exact value of a Moments experience. This is especially true if it’s a private event, for which the general public can’t pay cash.
Furthermore, the value naturally fluctuates depending on how important a particular experience is to you. A Manchester United fan may feel giddy with excitement to enjoy VIP hospitality at Old Trafford, while someone who’s completely indifferent to football might balk at that same proposition.
Meanwhile, if you’re sitting on a large sum of Marriott Bonvoy points and don’t intend to use them for hotel stays, perhaps the idea of throwing 100,000 points at a particular experience could be a fun way to get something out of your points.
Whatever the case may be, an objective way to consider the value of a Moment is to ask yourself: “Am I getting good value by using $X worth of Bonvoy points for this experience?”
We value Bonvoy points at 0.8 cents per point (CAD) / 0.6 cents per point (USD), which is the figure we’ll use in the below discussion.
For example, there’s a recently closed offer for two tickets to see Drake in concert at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. For 55,000 Bonvoy points, which we’d value at $440 (CAD), buyers received two tickets in section 108, plus VIP access to the arena.
Considering that seats on the same section now resell on Ticketmaster for upwards of $2,000 (CAD) each, the lucky Bonvoy members got themselves a fantastic deal – and they didn’t have to go through the usual hassle of securing the much-coveted tickets in the first place.
As another example, consider the following Moment, which offers three nights of experiences in Montreal:
Included in this package are:
- Three-night stay at Le Centre Sheraton Montreal, worth $1,277 (CAD)
- Dinner for two at Stanley Restaurant, worth $180 (CAD)
- Two platinum-level tickets to the Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils game, worth $460 (CAD)
- Dinner for two at La Mise au Jeu Restaurant, worth $200 (CAD)
- Two autographed Montreal Canadiens jerseys, worth $300 (CAD)
- VIP Shania Twain Queen of Me Tour concert experience for two with lower-bowl seats, worth $580 (CAD)
Plus, this Moment comes with a slew of VIP perks, including:
- Access to the Montreal Canadiens Director’s Lounge
- A single parking space in the Montreal Canadiens’ private garage
- Access to the Montreal Canadiens Media Lounge and Press Gallery
- Access to the Montreal Canadiens dressing room and post-game press conference
- Access to the Shania Twain Queen of Me pre-show lounge, including complimentary beverages and light appetizers, one merchandise item per person, and autographed souvenir
The approximate values listed above were taken from the hotel, restaurant, and Ticketmaster websites. For the hotel stay, tickets, jerseys, and meals alone, you’re already getting approximately $3,000 (CAD) in value – plus, you’re getting plenty of VIP benefits that the public doesn’t necessarily have access to.
Two of the Montreal Moments package are currently bidding for 122,000 Bonvoy points, which we’d value at $976 (CAD). The auction wasn’t closing for 10 days after the time of writing; however, to match the approximate $3,000 (CAD) value of the packages, you’d have to bid about 350,000 Bonvoy points, which is still a far cry from the current bid.
Even if you end up bidding points to match or even exceed the face value of the package, you could still come out ahead with the exclusive perks you’ll be receiving. A regular attendee of an NHL game, no matter if they paid for the most expensive tickets in the house, won’t necessarily get access to a team’s dressing room and post-game conference. Similarly, a Shania Twain fan may find it hard to get an autographed souvenir.
While there are many other factors that could change the valuation above, it’s worth noting that the value that Moments offer varies widely depending on the package price, how much you value Bonvoy points, and most importantly, an individual’s tastes and preferences.
If you’re a die-hard opera fan, and a Moment offers you a premium seat, a chef’s dinner, and a meet-and-greet with your favourite soprano, you might not stop talking about this for the rest of your life. The same is true for foodies, sports fans, fashion gurus, and music lovers – the groups for whom Moments seem to be designed.
Conclusion
The Marriott Bonvoy Moments program offers an alternative redemption option other than aspirational hotel stays or transfers to airline loyalty programs. It also serves as an interesting way to spend your Bonvoy points on something that you might find valuable without having to shell out the cash.
As the selection of Moments is constantly changing, it may be worthwhile to occasionally check the website for experiences that may be of interest to you. The experience could be a great compliment to a holiday or a nice surprise for someone special, perhaps even offering you an unforgettable experience that money can’t buy – but points can.
