Marriott Bonvoy, the travel marketplace and highly awarded travel program from Marriott International, has released a redesigned, more intuitive version of its mobile app in anticipation of increased desire and demand for travel later this year. As a part of the refresh, members residing or visiting the UAE can access a QR code in the app that can be scanned at select on-property restaurants to earn and redeem points for food and beverage purchases. The programme also announced that the app will be available in Arabic from August.
As the centerpiece of the company’s mobile-first mindset, the Marriott Bonvoy app ensures guests receive the best available rate; enjoy programme benefits such as exclusive member rates and accruing points for stays; and enables members to customise their experience.
Featuring new travel shopping options based on inspiring destinations and access to more of Marriott’s vast travel offerings, such as destination tours and activities, the app now offers members even more personalised recommendations and offers so members can maximise their points earned both while traveling and even when they are not.
The app will make it easier for guests to choose a contactless option for check-in and check-out, easy access to mobile keys, and the ability to request services and amenities via chat and mobile requests.
More and more members are using the Marriott Bonvoy Mobile App, which offers mobile check-in and checkout, Mobile Requests and, wherever available, Mobile Key. In participating hotels, Guests who opt into the Mobile Key service via the app can receive a virtual key to their phone, without the need for a traditional plastic room key, in hotels that offer this service. Guests receive an alert when their key is activated following a Mobile Check-In. Mobile key is currently offered at approximately 4000 properties worldwide. Almost half of Marriott International’s hotels in Europe, Middle East & Africa are now live with Mobile Key, with many more preparing for their implementation during 2021.
While nearly a million people used the app to become members of Marriott Bonvoy in 2020, travellers not yet ready to join (for free) can still search and book stays easier than before.
“The pandemic has accelerated the trend of digitalisation in the travel sector. Digital platforms, which have long been the preferred source of content and commerce for Millennials and Gen-Z, will increasingly become a source of both inspiration and sales embraced by all generations. The enhanced Marriott Bonvoy Mobileapp is a must-have travel companion. It simplifies the travel planning process, allows for a frictionless experience before and during your stay and gets smarter the more you interact with it,” said Neal Jones, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Marriott International, Europe, Middle East & Africa. “The Marriott Bonvoy Mobile app offers travellers access to so much, whether it is the breadth of our global portfolio of7,500 hotels among our 30 brands or home rentals, to destination experiences and customisable content for travel inspiration. Through tailored offers, members can learn how to earn hundreds of thousands of points just by booking stays, booking a Day Pass to work from a hotel or going about their daily lives.”
What’s new on the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app:
New Shopping and Booking Options: Work Anywhere with Marriott Bonvoy Day, Stay and Play passes (Select destinations) and Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities are all now available through in-app browsing. By booking via the app, guests are guaranteed the lowest rate available and is one of the ways members can earn points and receive on-property benefits during stays.
More CustomisationDuring the Stay: Improvements and additions to mobile requests and mobile key enable members to get more from their experience and choose to minimise contact and better maintain social distance.
- Mobile Key, available at over 4000 properties, is now accessible on the home screen once checked in. Making it easy to skip the desk and minimize social interactions.Almost half of Marriott International’s hotels in Europe, Middle East & Africa are now live with Mobile Key.
- Mobile Requests now contains more one-touch-buttons so users can order a cot, along with bath towels, pillows, bath products and more, as well as the ability to chat directly with hotel staff.
Making it Easier for Members to Earn Points: Members can capitalise on points promotions relevant to them on the home screen and their account page,
Updated Searching & Booking with New, Dynamic Map: Users can search and book accommodations by hotel brand, destination, price or points needed for a free night’s stay.
And More Improvements for the Frequent App Users:
- Updated Marriott Bonvoy account profile page highlighting personalised promotions, on-property benefits to take advantage of during stays and full account activity.
- Member numbers can be copied and pasted onto other web-based forms.
- FaceID and TouchID automatically engages after the first login.
- Room numbers will now appear on the home screen.
An ever-expanding travel programme, Marriott Bonvoy connects 30 extraordinary hotel brands with 7,500 properties located in 132 countries & territories, 20,000 premium and luxury vacation home rentals, and tens of thousands of tours & activities enabling members countless ways to earn and redeem points for a perfect and personalised travel experience. The refreshed Marriott Bonvoy mobile app provides easy access to points earning opportunities, as well as the ability to sign-up for and earn points with the Marriott Bonvoy co-brand credit cards, providing additional ways beyond the stay for members to earn points.
The app is currently available in seven languages – English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese. Four additional languages will be added later this year including Italian (April), Russian (May), Portuguese (June) and Arabic (August). The improved app experience launches first on Apple’s iOS operating system which accounts for most Marriott Bonvoy app users followed the Android operating system later this year.
