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Bilt Adds Marriott Bonvoy as Point Transfer Partner
Bilt has added yet another new partner to its stable of point transfer options.
What’s happening:
Today, Bilt announced Marriott Bonvoy as its newest travel transfer partner. As a result, Bilt members will be able to convert their Bilt Points to Marriott Bonvoy points at a ratio of 1:1. The brand is now the 15th Bilt transfer partner and is the third hotel chain partner (joining Hyatt and IHG). As a result of this announcement, Marriott Bonvoy properties have also been added to Bilt’s hotel award booking portal. That feature, which is powered by Awayz, was first introduced in September of this year.
While Bonvoy is officially a 1:1 transfer partner, Bilt does note that customers can earn an exclusive bonus. For every 20,000 Bilt Points users transfer in a single transaction, they’ll receive an additional 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points. As a result, those taking advantage of this offer could effectively see a transfer rate of 1:1.25. Additionally, when members link their Marriott Bonvoy account to Bilt for the first time, they’ll earn a bonus of 100 Bilt Points.
Other recent Bilt news:
This announcement is only the latest news from Bilt as the company has continually rolled out new features and more. Most recently, it introduced Bilt Experiences and, in October, expanded the concept to dining. In turn, members could purchase tickets to exclusive dining experiences at top restaurants in select cities.
Elsewhere, as mentioned, Bilt partnered with Odynn’s Awayz platform to bring a hotel award booking tool to the Bilt app. Similarly, last year, the company added an award tool for flights via a partnership with Point.me.
Beyond transfer partners and award bookings, Bilt members also have the option to redeem Bilt Points for travel bookings made using their Bilt Travel portal. Launched in July of last year, this Expedia-powered platform allows users to use their points at a valuation of 1.25¢ each. For context, this makes it one of the more lucrative options — although Bilt also allows members to cash in points at a value of 1.5¢ each when used towards a down payment on a home.
My thoughts:
When it comes to point currency transfer partners, I’m definitely in a “the more, the merrier” mood. Because of this, I’m excited to see that Marriott Bonvoy has climbed aboard the Bilt train. However, it’s worth noting that Marriott Bonvoy points aren’t typically valued at a full cent. Therefore, this may not be the best deal — although the bonus points could even things out a bit more.
Also, since Bilt has been known to offer transfer bonuses as part of their monthly Rent Day promotions, perhaps a really attractive Marriott Bonvoy deal could be coming down the pike. In that case, it may make sense to take advantage of — but, in general, this may not be a favorite option for many members.
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