Marriott Stars & Luminous: Get Exclusive Benefits at Marriott Hotels

Updated Aug 30, 2024
Fact checked by
Vicky Moreau
Vicky Moreau

Vicky Moreau

Vicky Moreau
Canadian by birth and European at heart, Vicky now moves between France and Germany, where she settled five years ago. A lover of words and adventure, she explores new places by van or on foot, immersing herself in diverse cultures. An expert in Flying Blue and Membership Rewards programs in France, Vicky is also well-versed in French banking options, including BoursoBank.
All posts by Vicky Moreau
Marriott Stars Luminous
To the point The Marriott Stars and Marriott Luminous programs, available through selected travel agencies, offer travellers a unique opportunity to access exclusive benefits when staying at Marriott hotels.

Not only members of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program can benefit from advantages when staying at Marriott hotels. Thanks to the Marriott Stars and Marriott Luminous programs available to select travel agencies, some agencies can offer their customers luxurious benefits such as free breakfast and upgrades. Curious? We’ll explain how you can take advantage of these opportunities.

Marriott is not the only hotel chain to offer a dedicated travel agency program. Several chains have their own exclusive programs, including Accor Step, Belmond Bellini Club, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Hilton Impresario, Hyatt Privé, Mandarin Oriental Fan Club, Rosewood Elite and Shangri-La Luxury Circle.

Marriotts Stars & Luminous - Program Benefits

Marriott Stars and Marriott Luminous are the two Marriott programs available to travel agencies, enabling them to offer special benefits to travellers who book through them.

The main differences between the two programs are the participating hotels and the benefits offered.

Marriott Stars

Marriott Stars enables travellers booking a Marriott hotel through an eligible travel agency to obtain the following benefits:

  • Complimentary breakfast for two for the duration of your stay
  • 100 USD hotel credit
  • Room upgrade, subject to availability at time of check-in
  • WiFi access
  • Personalized welcome
  • Welcome gift (usually a bottle of wine or champagne, or a small appetizer)

Interestingly, there is no minimum length of stay. Whether you stay at a hotel for a night or a week, the benefits remain the same.

Marriott Luminous

Marriott Luminous, meanwhile, enables travellers booking a Marriott hotel through an eligible travel agency to obtain the following benefits:

  • Complimentary breakfast for two for the duration of your stay
  • 100 USD hotel credit
  • Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
  • Room upgrade, subject to availability at time of check-in
  • WiFi access
  • Personalized welcome
  • Welcome gift (usually a bottle of wine or champagne, or a small appetizer)

Although at first glance the benefits offered by Marriott Luminous seem more attractive than those offered by Marriott Stars, particularly because of the possibility of arriving earlier and leaving later, this is not always the case. While Marriott Stars includes all hotels of participating brands, hotels of brands participating in Marriott Luminous can choose not to offer the hotel credit, or even not to participate in the program.

Marriotts Stars & Luminous - Participating Hotels

Marriott Stars

Only a few of Marriott ‘s luxury brands participate in the Marriott Stars program. Including:

  • Bvlgari
  • Edition
  • Luxury Collection
  • Ritz-Carlton
  • Ritz-Carlton Reserve
  • St. Regis
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

Marriott Luminous

The Marriott Luminous program is valid for luxury and premium brands, including :

  • Autograph Collection
  • JW Marriott
  • Le Meridien
  • Marriott
  • Renaissance
  • Tribute Portfolio
  • W Hotels
  • Westin

As mentioned, each Marriott Luminous brand hotel is free to decide whether or not to participate in the program. Meaning it’s possible that some hotels do not offer Marriott Luminous benefits, even if they are operated under one of the previous brands. Ask your travel agent for more information.

Le Méridien Ile Maurice 23

Marriott Stars & Luminous Member Agencies

Individuals cannot book a stay through Marriott Stars and Marriott Luminous; it must be booked through a participating travel agency.

Fortunately, there are many travel agencies all over the world with access to the Marriott Stars and Marriott Luminous programs, including the United States, Canada and France. Some are available online, while others require in-person visits, some charge booking fees, while others do not.

Contact your local travel agency to find out whether they can offer you the benefits of the Marriott Stars and Mariott Luminous programs.

Marriott Stars & Luminous - Eligible Rates

Marriott Stars and Marriott Luminous benefits cannot offer reduced rates. The rates in effect are the standard rates displayed on the Marriott website.

Pay With Marriott Bonvoy Points

It’s not possible to book a stay with Marriott Stars and Marriott Luminous using your points. To pay for your next stay at a Marriott hotel using your points, visit the Marriott website.

Note that if you hold Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite or Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you will be entitled to benefits similar to those offered by Marriott Stars and Marriott Luminous.

The quickest way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is with a Marriott partner credit card.

In Canada

Marriott Bonvoy has chosen American Express to issue two credit cards:

Both credit cards earn Marriott Bonvoy points directly, and offer :

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly with American Express Membership Rewards. 5 Membership Rewards points are equivalent to 6 Marriott Bonvoy points.

In France

French American Express cards also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly. In France, 1 Membership Rewards point is equivalent to 1 Marriott Bonvoy® point.

Bottom Line

The Marriott Stars and Marriott Luminous programs offer travellers even greater benefits than those available to members of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. Partner travel agencies can offer a wide range of privileges at some of the world’s most exclusive hotels, such as the Ritz-Carlton and St. Moritz. Regis in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, New York, Paris and London.

These programs, along with similar initiatives in the hotel industry, demonstrate the growing importance of travel agencies in optimizing luxury travel experiences. To take advantage of these exclusive programs, all you have to do is contact one of our partner agencies and find out more.

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Marriott Stars & Luminous - Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a reservation with Marriott Stars & Luminous?

To book with Marriott Stars & Luminous, you need to go through a partner travel agency that has access to these programs. Only selected agencies can book a stay at a Marriott hotel using the advantages offered by Marriott Stars & Luminous.

Which program is better: Virtuoso or Marriott Stars & Luminous?

Virtuoso offers a varied selection of benefits at a wide range of luxury hotels, while the Marriott Stars and Marriott Luminous programs focus specifically on Marriott establishments. As each of these programs has its own advantages, we recommend that you consult a travel agent to determine which one best suits your needs.

Can I enjoy my Marriott Bonvoy benefits with Marriott Stars & Luminous?

Yes, Marriott Bonvoy benefits can be added to reservations made via Marriott Stars and Marriott Luminous. These reservations are considered qualifying in the same way as stays booked directly with Marriott, meaning that they earn points and qualify for certain promotions.

What is Marriott Bonvoy?

Marriott Bonvoy is Marriott International’s loyalty program, enabling members to earn points when they stay at participating establishments and benefit from various advantages, such as upgrades, free nights and exclusive offers.

Who owns Marriott International?

Marriott International was founded by J. Willard and Alice Sheets Marriott. Today, Anthony Capuano is CEO.

Which group does Marriott belong to?

Marriott International is an American multinational hotel company that owns, manages and franchises a vast portfolio of hotels worldwide. It is one of the world’s largest hotel companies.

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Vicky Moreau

Vicky Moreau

Vicky Moreau
Canadian by birth and European at heart, Vicky now moves between France and Germany, where she settled five years ago. A lover of words and adventure, she explores new places by van or on foot, immersing herself in diverse cultures. An expert in Flying Blue and Membership Rewards programs in France, Vicky is also well-versed in French banking options, including BoursoBank.
All posts by Vicky Moreau
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