Your complete guide to Marriott hotel brands
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I don't envy the hotel marketing folks who have to come up with brand standards that work just as well in New York City as they do in Beijing, Phuket, Nice and Puerto Rico. Different destinations attract different types of travelers, with varying needs, tastes and, perhaps most importantly, budgets.
It should come as no surprise that Marriott, the world's largest hotel chain, also has the most distinct brands, with a whopping 32 in its portfolio. While it's easy to tell the difference between an ultra-luxurious Ritz-Carlton and a more budget-friendly Four Points by Sheraton, some of the distinctions are murky at best.
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Luxury brands
Marriott is well known for its portfolio of luxury properties that includes iconic brands such as the Ritz Carlton and St. Regis. After acquiring Starwood Hotels, Marriott owns some of the most aspirational hotels, including several all-suite properties in exotic locations such as the Maldives and Bora Bora. Still, there can be a pretty big difference between the brands at the top of this category and those at the bottom.
St. Regis
St. Regis is the pinnacle of old school luxury and one of the top brands in Marriott's portfolio. These are going to be pricier than other hotels, both with points and cash, but if you're able to afford it, they offer an incredible experience and some of the best treatment Marriott elites are going to find.
The St. Regis brand is known for a few quirky traditions, including the daily Champagne sabering ceremony (where guests are invited to enjoy a glass on the house) and the signature Bloody Mary each property offers, in honor of the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis New York, where the Bloody Mary was first invented. The properties also have a family traditions program, so little ones often receive toys and many properties have kid clubs -- sometimes ones that are complimentary for guests.
Reviews: St. Regis Maldives, St. Regis Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island and St. Regis New York
The Ritz-Carlton and Ritz-Carlton Reserve
The Ritz-Carlton was easily Marriott's premier brand before the SPG merger. The air of exclusivity has often translated to limited benefits for elite members (though that's improved slightly under the new Marriott Bonvoy program).
Ritz-Carlton properties often feature a much more modern design than St. Regis hotels without compromising any five-star luxury. They're also well known for their club-level experience, which includes an impressive five daily food and beverage servings.
Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties are even more luxurious and exclusive than their standard Ritz counterparts and are often in remote and secluded resort destinations. Frustratingly, Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties don't participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program, so you can't earn or redeem points for stays at these (very) pricey properties.
Edition
I'll admit there are times that I've felt wildly out of place walking through the sleek or ornate lobby of a Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotel, which is one reason I'm fond of the understated yet undeniably luxurious design of Edition hotels — a rapidly expanding collaboration between nightlife-purveyor-turned-corporate-hotelier Ian Schrager and Marriott.
At Edition hotels, natural wood, light colors and high ceilings reign. It's a brand that perfectly straddles the line between the eccentric clubby aesthetic found at many W Hotels and the reserved, mature sophistication of a Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis.
The biggest drawback of the Edition brand is its still relatively limited footprint, though the hotels are rapidly proliferating in major cities all over the globe.
Reviews: Shanghai Edition, Miami Beach Edition and Bodrum Edition
The Luxury Collection
The Luxury Collection (a legacy SPG brand) is an incredible grab bag of high-end properties that feel more like independent boutique hotels than members of a brand with rigid standards. These tend to be relatively expensive and high-category hotels.
Outside of the well-known luxury brands discussed above, you'll find many of Marriott's most aspirational properties falling under The Luxury Collection umbrella, including Al Maha in Dubai and Mystique in Santorini.
Reviews: Al Maha Resort & Spa, Prince de Galles Paris and The Gwen Chicago
W Hotels
W might be the most divisive hotel brand in existence. This brand is full of dark, clubby bars with live DJs that make you feel like you're partying on South Beach no matter where in the world you actually are. However, the brand is turning a page in its brand book and moving toward a balance of nightlife and daytime wellness -- blessedly with more natural light.
This often resonates with younger travelers or those who actively seek out nightlife, but plenty of people (including TPG himself) outgrow the brand at a certain point and opt for something a little quieter and more refined.
Reviews: W Dubai The Palm Jumeirah, W Aspen and W Shanghai
JW Marriott
JW Marriott has the largest footprint of Marriott's luxury brands, with plenty of properties in (relatively) smaller markets such as Hanoi and Tampa Bay. In addition to several beachfront resort locations, most JW Marriott properties in a city feel like they're geared towards high-end business travelers, offering upscale accommodations and great lounges at a relatively affordable cost.
Reviews: JW Marriott Singapore and JW Marriott Washington, D.C.
Premium brands
Marriott's 11 premium brands are the bread and butter of its portfolio, with household names like Marriott and Sheraton and a perfect mix of affordably priced luxury.
Marriott
With over 600 hotels in the namesake Marriott brand, you'll find a wide range of properties and not much in the way of a unifying brand identity. Plenty of locations, including the Marriott Marquis Chicago, are recently renovated and updated for the 21st-century traveler. On the flip side, there are plenty of Marriott locations, especially airport hotels, that have seen better days.
Reviews: New York Marriott Marquis and Marriott Resort and Spa Phuket
Westin
Westin hotels run the gamut from business destinations to resort getaways, focusing on wellness (including healthy menus and quality fitness centers). The signature Westin Heavenly bedding has been very well received by travelers, to the point that Delta has partnered with Westin to provide Heavenly bedding in its Delta One business class, and Westin even launched a popular gear-lending program at all its properties around the world.
Reviews: The Westin Brisbane, The Westin Singapore and The Westin Moana Surfrider Honolulu
Sheraton
Sheraton became a significant part of the SPG portfolio after it was acquired in 1997. It also has a more premium subdivision, Sheraton Grand, to parallel the Marriott Marquis brand. With nearly 500 properties around the world, you'll find a huge variation in the quality of Sheraton hotels, which is why Marriott announced a much-needed brand refresh to keep Sheraton competitive in the next decade and beyond.
Reviews: Sheraton Tribeca, Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa and Sheraton Grand Tokyo Bay
Autograph Collection Hotels
I often think of Autograph Collection as a slightly more affordable version of the Luxury Collection: distinct properties with a heavy emphasis on local design elements and quirky touches (like the automated robot butlers at the Hotel EMC2 Chicago that delivered my room service).
You'll find a large percentage of these relatively affordable luxury properties in Europe, with historic building features often incorporated into the design. Because there's less in the way of overarching brand standards here, I've heard some people complain about their Autograph Collection stays (at least relative to the price they paid), but this brand has always delivered for me on four continents now.
Reviews: Hotel EMC2 Chicago, St. Ermin's Hotel London and Hotel Banke Paris
Le Méridien
Born in the 17th Arrondissement of Paris, the Le Méridien brand has morphed into a great sweet spot for Marriott travelers looking for upscale hotels on a budget — especially if you have elite status that entitles you to lounge access.
Related: Maximizing redemptions with the Marriott Bonvoy program
TPG contributor Dia Adams notes that Le Méridien often falls in the same price range as the namesake Marriott brand but offers much more distinctive designs without going over the top like W Hotels sometimes does.
Tribute Portfolio
SPG launched Tribute Portfolio in 2015, just before it was acquired by Marriott, to bring together a few dozen formerly independent hotels. Since then, the brand has grown, though more than half of all Tribute Portfolio hotels are still located within the U.S.
Reviews: Maxwell Hotel NYC, Apollo Hotel Amsterdam and Noelle Hotel Nashville
Design Hotels
Design Hotels is a relatively small brand, with fewer than 100 properties globally, most of which are in Europe. The brand ranges from big city hotels with some incredible flair, like the Mira Moon Hong Kong (one of my all-time favorite properties), to historic buildings and exotic locales like the eight-room Macalister Mansion in Penang, Malaysia (the only hotel I've ever seen where you have to specifically book "room No. 2" or "room No. 4"), or the stilted Ion Adventure Hotel, located about 45 minutes outside of Reykjavík, Iceland.
While legacy SPG brands are generally known for the exceptional way they take care of elite members, Design Hotels are an important exception. Expect fewer upgrades (these properties tend to have fewer suites, to begin with) and don't get your hopes up about free breakfast either.
Reviews: Mira Moon Hotel Hong Kong, Mira Hotel Hong Kong
Renaissance Hotels
Renaissance Hotels are an attractively priced brand for guests, especially business travelers, who want more personality than you'd find at your garden variety Marriott or Sheraton. Each hotel has a "Navigator" to help you find what the guidebooks won't tell you, and the portfolio has been undergoing significant design renovations.
Reviews: Renaissance Atlanta Airport, Renaissance Hong Kong and Renaissance Montreal
Delta Hotels
Once independent, Delta Hotels have been part of the Marriott family since 2015. The chain currently has over 70 hotels, primarily located in Canada and northern U.S. states like Illinois and Minnesota. The upscale properties cater primarily to business travelers.
Marriott Vacation Club
If you often travel with a large group, you'll want to become familiar with this brand. Marriott Vacation Club is Marriott's vacation ownership (timeshare) brand, located primarily in leisure destinations like Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Many Marriott Vacation Club properties include multi-bedroom units you can book with points, so they're ideal for families. Be aware that availability isn't guaranteed like at other Marriott brands; you'll need to do a bit of digging and have the flexibility to find dates that work for you.
Reviews: Marriott Village d'Ile de France, a Marriott Vacation Club Resort
Gaylord Hotels
While most convention centers have plenty of hotel capacity nearby, Gaylord Hotels are designed to be a self-contained ecosystem for larger conferences with plenty of hotel rooms and hundreds of thousands of square feet of meeting and convention space.
The hotels feature beautiful glass atriums with high ceilings and great restaurants and shops, so you never have to leave the property. They also often become fun resorts for families looking for an all-in-one long weekend getaway with seasonal fun, including winter ice attractions.
Reviews: Gaylord Texan
Select brands
While we often like to focus on aspirational hotel redemptions, some people prefer to stretch their Marriott points by staying at budget ("select") properties. Some destinations simply can't support a luxury hotel like a JW Marriott, let alone a Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis.
This is where Marriott's select brands come in. While you'll find them in expensive cities like New York and London, you'll also see them in smaller markets, such as Ocala, Florida, where there aren't as many hotel options to pick from.
Courtyard by Marriott
Courtyard is Marriott's largest brand, with over 1,000 locations ranging from airport hotels to resort properties in Kauai or Bali. Courtyard might also be the brand with the biggest variation in quality: Many properties in the U.S. are downright decrepit and in need of a complete overhaul and others are much nicer.
Related: Privacy, please: The best budget hotel brands for families who need space
But in Asia, I've been consistently blown away by Courtyard hotels with marble-clad lobbies, spacious and luxurious rooms and even signature fragrances. If you swapped the signs on the door, these newer properties could easily pass for a Westin and fool most travelers. Courtyards are designed for travelers on the go, often featuring an in-house Starbucks and a grab-and-go snack station (complimentary for some elite members), making them perfect for road warriors.
Reviews: Courtyard Shanghai Xujiahui and Courtyard Bali Seminyak
Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points by Sheraton was SPG's answer to the Courtyard brand long before rumors about a Marriott and SPG merger began percolating. Similar to Courtyard, the quality of the properties in the U.S. is a complete toss-up, while newly-built hotels in Asia are much more impressive.
When I visited Beijing Daxing International (PKX), I stayed at a Four Points about 25 minutes south. For only about $80 a night, I booked a 1,100-square-foot suite and enjoyed a sit-down breakfast in the hotel's restaurant, thanks to my elite status.
Related: Your complete guide to Marriott elite breakfast benefits
Four Points will always have a bit of a special place in my heart. I earned hotel elite status for the first time on a Platinum challenge with SPG while racking up 20 to 30 nights a year at a Four Points in Houston. While the property itself wasn't especially impressive, the rates were competitive, the location was great and the free daily breakfast was more than I would've gotten at a Courtyard.
SpringHill Suites
SpringHill Suites is a great choice for larger families or groups traveling together who don't want to book multiple rooms. Every room at every property is a suite, and most of the hotels fall between Categories 1 and 3, meaning they're quite affordable whether you choose to pay with cash or points.
Related: SpringHill Suites Jackson Hole
Fairfield Inn & Suites
Fairfield Inn & Suites offers a similar all-suite setup, providing a decent amount of space at a very reasonable price. You're not going to find anything fancy here, but frequent flyers will appreciate the consistency from hotel to hotel, no matter what city you find yourself in.
Review: Fairfield Inn by Marriott Anaheim Resort
AC Hotels
AC Hotels originated in Spain, and the brand gets its name from Antonio Catalan, the businessman who partnered with Marriott to launch the brand. While it's since expanded around the globe, it prides itself on maintaining a European vibe, from the menu to the design of the rooms. AC Hotels can be a great value for budget travelers as they're often low-category properties but still a very decent quality.
Reviews: AC Hotel Times Square and AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
Aloft Hotels
While "Courtyard by Marriott" and "Four Points by Sheraton" make perfect sense, most people don't realize that Aloft Hotels is actually a subsidiary of the W brand — that is, until they walk through the door. Aloft Hotels retain the W party vibe but in a much more subdued and relatively predictable way.
Related: 7 things families should know about Aloft Hotels
The check-in counter is a circular desk in the middle of the lobby, which is sometimes awkward as you're not sure which side to approach from. You'll also find a grab-and-go food station in the lobby, making it easy to check out and pick up breakfast at the same time, often while waiting for the airport shuttle to pull up. When I need a cheap hotel near an airport for an overnight layover, Aloft has become my go-to brand from London to Montreal and New York City.
Reviews: Aloft South Beach and Aloft Panama City
Moxy Hotels
Moxy gets its fair share of flack for its quirky image targeting millennial travelers. The first line on the Moxy website says it all: "At Moxy Hotels, we don't take ourselves too seriously."
Travelers should expect to stay at a W on a budget — loud and bright, with space at a premium. At Moxy, there might be a backlit slab of glass instead of a nightstand. And don't get your hopes up about a desk in your room either.
Reviews: Moxy Chicago Downtown, Moxy Munich Messe and Moxy Times Square
Protea Hotels
Protea Hotels is an interesting niche, operating only in Africa. Previously independent, Marriott acquired the brand in 2014. The hotels are generally midrange, but because of the markets they operate in, some Protea Hotels are relatively upmarket and still available at a great value.
Extended stay brands
If you need a hotel for a longer period of time (think: you're moving somewhere new or are a business traveler on a longer assignment), Marriott has you covered with five brands devoted to extended-stay travelers.
Residence Inn
Residence Inn is a similar brand to Springhill Suites and Fairfield Inn & Suites, with affordable all-suite properties in many locations worldwide. Many suites include kitchenettes, which can help your suite feel and function more like an apartment during those longer trips.
TownePlace Suites
TownePlace Suites is Marriott's fourth all-suite brand, targeting families or business travelers staying for five nights or longer. They really excel with their kitchen setups, including a stove, refrigerator and microwave to help you settle in and feel at home.
Element Hotels
Element Hotels is a more affordable subsidiary of Westin focused on longer stays. It shares Westin's emphasis on health and wellness and sustainability, which is why each hotel has its own bike-sharing program. If you don't need the space of a suite or a kitchen in your room but are on the road for a while, Element can be an affordable and comfortable option.
Review: Element Lexington
Marriott Executive Apartments
Marriott Executive Apartments are geared at business travelers outside of the U.S. With laundry facilities and weekly housekeeping (on top of standard hotel amenities such as a fitness center), these properties are perfect for travelers seeking a hybrid between the independence of a short-term apartment rental and the service of staying in a hotel.
Homes & Villas by Marriott
Hotel companies have been feeling pressure from alternative travel options like Airbnb, and Marriott's response comes in the form of Homes & Villas by Marriott. While you can't yet redeem Marriott points for these properties, you can book entire villas in tropical Caribbean destinations, castles in Europe and countless other unique accommodations.
Earning Marriott points
There are two main ways for travelers to earn Marriott points: staying at Marriott properties and applying for Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. All guests who book directly with Marriott and stay at a Marriott hotel will earn 10x points per dollar spent, in addition to the following elite bonuses:
- Silver: 10% bonus (11 points per dollar total)
- Gold: 25% bonus (12.5 points per dollar total)
- Platinum: 50% bonus (15 points per dollar total)
- Titanium: 75% bonus (17.5 points per dollar total)
- Ambassador: 75% bonus (17.5 points per dollar total)
TPG values Marriott points at 0.8 cents each, meaning Marriott's top-tier elites are essentially earning a 14% return on all their cash stays.
Since completing its acquisition of SPG, Marriott offers cobranded credit cards issued by both Chase and American Express. Be sure to check out our post on how to figure out if you're eligible for a Marriott Bonvoy card before you consider applying.
Here's a quick overview of the different options and their current welcome bonuses:
| CREDIT CARD | BONUS | ANNUAL FEE | Annual free night certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months; plus, earn 50,000 points after you stay six eligible nights at Marriott hotels through Jan. 31, 2024. Offer ends August 9.. | $650 (see rates and fees) | Annual free night each year after your card renewal month, worth up to 85,000 points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program (certain hotels have resort fees). Valid at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card | Earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. | $125 (see rates and fees) | Annual free night on your card renewal month worth up to 35,000 points. Earn a second free night worth up to 35,000 points by spending $60,000 in a calendar year on your card. Valid at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card | Earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months; plus, earn 50,000 bonus points after you stay six eligible paid nights at Marriott hotels through Jan. 31, 2024. Offer ends August 10. | $95 | Annual free night on your cardholder anniversary worth up to 35,000 points at participating hotels |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card | Earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months; plus, earn 50,000 bonus points after you stay six eligible paid nights at Marriott hotels through Jan. 31, 2024. Offer ends August 10. | N/A | N/A |
| Marriott Bonvoy Amex | N/A (closed to new applicants) | $95 | Annual free night worth up to 35,000 points |
| Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business Visa Signature Card | N/A (closed to new applicants) | $99 | Annual free night worth up to 35,000 points. Earn a second free night worth up to 35,000 points by spending $60,000 in a calendar year on your card |
Except for the no-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold card, all credit cards on this list earn 6x points per dollar at participating Marriott hotels and 2x on everyday spending.
Related: Which Marriott Bonvoy credit card is right for you?
Bottom line
Not only does Marriott have the most hotels in its global portfolio of any major hotel company, but it also has the most brands. The differences between some — like Aloft and Moxy or Courtyard and Four Points — are fairly minor. You might be better off focusing on which category (luxury, premium, select) you're booking in many cases.
For the rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business card, please click here.
For the rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, please click here.