When you book through us, the Marriott STARS program gives guests at Marriott's luxury brands, including The Ritz-Carlton, EDITION and BVLGARI, free breakfast plus a $100 USD hotel credit. That's the program we're covering today.
You may have heard of advisor programs like Hyatt Privé, Four Seasons Preferred Partner and Virtuoso, but Marriott's own Marriott STARS program tends to get overlooked. It also happens to be the most widely applicable and consistent of them across Marriott's luxury brands.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto – a Marriott STARS hotel, with free breakfast and a $100 credit when you book through us
What is Marriott STARS?
Marriott STARS is a booking-benefits program that Marriott Bonvoy offers exclusively to accredited travel advisors, and it applies to Marriott's Luxury Brands. Its sister program, Marriott Luminous, covers the boutique and upscale brands.
The core logic of both programs is the same: hotels are willing to offer extra perks to an advisor's clients because advisors bring them bookings, so everyone wins – the advisor, the guest and the hotel brand. That's also why programs like Virtuoso, Hyatt Privé and Four Seasons Preferred Partner have lasted so long.
Which brands does Marriott STARS cover?
Unlike Luminous, Marriott STARS includes every property under each participating brand, with no opt-outs. All six of the following brands are included across the board:
- BVLGARI Hotels & Resorts
- EDITION Hotels
- The Luxury Collection
- The Ritz-Carlton
- Ritz-Carlton Reserve
- St. Regis
For any hotel under these six brands, a booking made through us at the standard rate comes with STARS benefits, so you never have to wonder whether a particular property participates.
The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko – Marriott STARS covers every Ritz-Carlton property worldwide
What are the Marriott STARS benefits?
When you book a STARS room at the standard rate through us, you receive the following benefits on every stay, with no minimum length of stay:
- Free daily breakfast (full or continental, for up to two guests per room)
- $100 USD hotel credit (once per stay, usable on any eligible incidental charges)
- Room upgrade at check-in, subject to availability
- Free basic Wi-Fi daily
- Welcome greeting on arrival
- Personalized welcome amenity and card
The two most valuable perks are the free breakfast and the $100 credit. At a Ritz-Carlton, a single breakfast can easily cost $40–$80 USD per person, so the daily savings for two add up quickly. The $100 credit can be used across Marriott's properties for dining, the spa, in-room dining and more, which is far more flexible than some programs that limit the credit to either spa or dining.
Worth noting: Marriott STARS also applies to the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, though the specific benefit rules for yacht sailings differ. If you're interested, ask us and we can look into the details separately.
Which rates qualify?
STARS benefits apply only to bookings at a rate equivalent to the Standard/Flexible Rate on Marriott's website. The following do not qualify:
- Member-only rates (Member Rate)
- Advance purchase rates (Advance Purchase Rate)
- Most promotional discount rates
Put simply, it's the most flexible, freely cancellable tier of rate you'd see when booking directly on Marriott's website. STARS rates through us are in line with booking direct, with the extra benefits added on top; it isn't a way to get a lower price. You'll still earn hotel points and elite nights when you book through an advisor.
The Singapore EDITION – free breakfast when you book through Marriott STARS
How does Marriott STARS differ from its sister program, Luminous?
The biggest difference is consistency:
- Marriott STARS covers every property under the six luxury brands. There are no hotel opt-outs, and the $100 credit is included uniformly across the board.
- Marriott Luminous covers boutique and upscale brands such as JW Marriott, W Hotels, Westin and Autograph Collection, but individual properties can choose whether to participate and can also opt out of offering the $100 credit. You'll need to confirm a specific hotel's participation before booking.
How does Marriott STARS differ from Virtuoso?
Virtuoso is a broader luxury travel advisor network covering far more hotel brands than Marriott's. Many Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels take part in both STARS and Virtuoso. The main differences are:
- The Marriott STARS $100 credit can be used on almost any incidental charge, while the Virtuoso credit is usually limited to either the spa or dining, making it somewhat less flexible.
- Marriott STARS covers many more hotels than the Marriott-family properties in the Virtuoso network.
- Some Ritz-Carlton Reserve and BVLGARI hotels participate in STARS but are not part of the Virtuoso network.
How do I book Marriott STARS?
Marriott STARS benefits can't be booked directly on Marriott's website; you need to book through us.
If you've already booked directly on Marriott's website or through an online travel agency, STARS benefits generally can't be added afterward, so please send us an inquiry before you book.
Book Marriott STARS through us
We're an accredited Marriott STARS advisor. When you book through us, you get rates in line with booking direct, plus the following benefits:
- Free daily breakfast (full or continental, for up to two guests per room)
- $100 USD hotel credit (once per stay, usable on any eligible incidental charges)
- Room upgrade at check-in, subject to availability
- Free basic Wi-Fi daily
- Welcome greeting on arrival
- Personalized welcome amenity and card
Conclusion
Marriott STARS is one of the most consistent and best-value advisor benefit programs in the Marriott system. As long as your booking meets the standard-rate requirement, booking through us gets you free breakfast plus a $100 hotel credit at top-tier brands like St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton, EDITION and BVLGARI, along with a room upgrade when availability allows.