Marriott Bonvoy Moments: Redeem Points for Unique Experiences

In the world of miles and points, we can become set in our ways of trying to redeem points for the maximum value. Frequent flyer program points should only be redeemed for flights, hotel loyalty program points should only be redeemed for hotel stays, and so on.

But sometimes a unique redemption opportunity presents itself and showcases unexpected value for a particular program. This is where the Marriott Bonvoy Moments program lands, as a way to redeem your Marriott Bonvoy points for once-in-a-lifetime experiences instead of typical hotel stays.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about Marriott Bonvoy Moments so that you can decide if one of these unique experiences should be your next redemption!

What are Marriott Bonvoy Moments?

Marriott Bonvoy Moments are unique experiences available worldwide that are offered to members as another redemption option for their points. 

These experiences can include events such as seeing a concert from the Marriott Bonvoy Luxury Suite, cooking classes by a world-renowned chef, tickets to premier sporting events, and much more. If there is an event you are interested in, a redemption through this program is a great way to gain exclusive or VIP access.

These moments can be purchased using Marriott Bonvoy points. Redemption costs can range anywhere from 5,000 Bonvoy points to upwards of 500,000 points (and even higher occasionally).

Marriott Bonvoy Moments are broken down into four main categories: culinary experiences, arts & lifestyle experiences, sports experiences, and entertainment experiences.

As to examples of what experiences you can expect in each category, Marriott sums it up quite nicely:

• Culinary: Dine at Michelin-starred restaurants and learn from world-class chefs.
• Arts & Lifestyle: Discover cultural experiences, indulge in wellness retreats, and expand your horizons.
• Sports: Enjoy your favorite game, meet legends, and sharpen your skills.
• Entertainment: Receive VIP treatment at sold-out shows, festivals, and more.

How to Redeem Points for a Marriott Bonvoy Moment

Marriott Bonvoy members are able to redeem points for up to 5 Marriott Bonvoy Moments per calendar year. Unfortunately, Quebec residents are not eligible to participate in the Moments program.

The available list of Marriott Bonvoy Moments List is updated frequently so it is worth checking often if you are interested in redeeming points for one of these opportunities. You can view the currently available Moments here.

When it comes to redeeming your Marriott Bonvoy points for a Marriott Bonvoy Moment, experiences are purchased either through auction pricing or fixed pricing.

Auction Pricing Redemptions

Many of the higher-end and more desirable experiences through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments program are offered through auction pricing, meaning that members can bid on these experiences and there is no price ceiling.

Frequently there is only one experience package available per moment, but there can be multiple packages. In the latter case,  you should look to see which one is cheapest and bid on the lowest priced one at that moment. Once you find an experience you are interested in, click the “View Packages” button to see more.

On the next page, you will see the current bid and the bidding prompt on the experience page. Bids must be placed in increments of 2,500 Bonvoy points. 

Members can choose to do a one-time bid, which is exactly what it sounds like. Alternatively, members can choose to set a maximum bid amount, meaning that the system will automatically bid up to the maximum value entered if someone bids higher. No matter which method you choose, once you bid, there is no way to withdraw that bid.

Once you make a bid, your Marriott Bonvoy points balance must remain high enough to cover the bid amount. This means that you shouldn’t make any redemptions that would drop you below your bid amount during the time the auction is running.

You will receive an email from Marriott when you are outbid or if you are the winner of the auction. If you are the winner, a Marriott Bonvoy Moments representative will contact you to arrange the details of the moment that you won and will coordinate the withdrawal of Bonvoy points from your account.

Fixed Pricing Redemptions

If you aren’t interested in getting caught in a bidding war, Marriott Bonvoy Moments also offers fixed pricing for a number of their experiences. These fixed-price experiences might be more attractive to the average Marriott Bonvoy member as you know exactly what you are receiving for what price point.

Many of the experiences that are available for fixed pricing are concert and sporting event tickets and often there are multiple packages available for purchase.

If there is a fixed price Moment you are interested in, simply click through to the experience and purchase it with your Marriott Bonvoy balance. Once purchased, you will receive an email regarding the next steps to access or arrange your newly redeemed Moment.

The Best Way to Earn Marriott Bonvoy Points for Moments

If you are interested in a future Marriott Bonvoy Moments redemption, you’ll need to earn a good amount of points, especially if you are interested in one of the experiences that are auctioned off. There are a few methods that are worth considering as you look to build your balances.

Credit card welcome bonuses allow new cardholders to earn a large amount of Marriott Bonvoy upon meeting the welcome offer requirements. American Express Canada issues two Marriott Bonvoy credit cards in Canada: the American Express Marriott Bonvoy card and the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business card.

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American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy card earns Bonvoy points and offers cardholders benefits including an annual free night and 15 qualifying nights towards elite status.

Check out our American Express Marriott Bonvoy card review for more details.

BONUS
50,000 Marriott Bonvoy

MINSPEND
$1,500

NET VALUE
$330+

ANNUAL FEE
$120

FOREX FEES
Yes

EXPIRY
–

If you are a Marriott Bonvoy member who earns points with others, Marriott Bonvoy allows members to transfer and combine points. Members can transfer up to 100,000 points per calendar year and receive up to 500,000 points, which means this is a good avenue to utilize for couples who are looking to build their balances towards a Moment redemption or even a luxurious hotel stay.

If you are a Canadian who has access to US credit cards, there are a number of co-branded credit cards offered by both American Express US and Chase Bank that earn Marriott Bonvoy points:

	Credit Card	Welcome Bonus	Net Value
	American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business Card (US)	250,000 Marriott Bonvoy	$2,125	Apply
	Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card	150,000 Marriott Bonvoy	$1,255	Apply
	American Express Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card (US)	85,000 Marriott Bonvoy	$515	Apply
	Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card	85,000 Marriott Bonvoy	$515	Apply
	Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card	30,000 Marriott Bonvoy	$270	Apply
	American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card (US)	95,000 Marriott Bonvoy	$205	Apply

Ultimately, if you are looking to accrue Marriott Bonvoy points for a Marriott Bonvoy Moment redemption, credit card welcome bonuses and combining points with your significant other or partner that you collect miles and points with is the easiest way to make this redemption possible.

Valuing a Marriott Bonvoy Moments Redemption

Determining what makes a good Marriott Bonvoy Moments redemption is much more subjective compared to booking a hotel stay. Personal preferences and values play a much larger role.

For example, if you were looking to redeem for a concert experience with luxury box seats, you could look at ticket prices for similar seats. You would also need to factor in the value of the complimentary food and drink that might be included. However, even with this calculation, the ultimate determination of value lies in you as a consumer, as every person will value things differently. 

Thinking about it personally, if it was a concert with an artist that I have no interest in, I would place the value of this experience at zero. Others may consider paying upwards of 100,000 Bonvoy points for that same experience that I consider worthless.

That being said, not everything can or should be quantified in dollars and cents when talking about value. How do you value playing a round of golf with one of your favorite PGA Tour players? Or what about personal DJ sessions with an artist who plays many big festivals worldwide? To the right person, those experiences might be considered priceless for the memories they will generate for years to come.

It can be difficult if not impossible to place a price on these experiences. While I don’t think there is any harm in doing some basic calculations to ensure you are getting decent value for your points, most redemptions within the Marriott Bonvoy Moments program are going to be driven by personal choice and personal valuation, as opposed to the calculated cash equivalent value.

Conclusion

Marriott Bonvoy Moments are a neat redemption opportunity that I am a fan of.  I love it when loyalty programs deviate from the usual redemption options with other value-added options. Over the years, there have been a number of unique experiences available through the program, and if you find yourself with a bountiful supply of Marriott Bonvoy points, redeeming for one of these experiences might just be worth it.