In this guide, we identify all Marriott properties in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands and analyse when it makes sense to use your Marriott Bonvoy points and when to use cold hard cash.
Previously, we have had the chance to visit a number of properties that were part of the now-defunct Starwood programme. Our reviews of these hotels are linked in this guide.
One of the easiest ways to get your hands on Marriott points in New Zealand is through the American Express cards that earn into the Membership Rewards programme such as the American Express Platinum Charge or Platinum Edge.
If you have not read up on the new Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme, check out our introductory guide:
Locations and redemption rates – New Zealand and Australia
In New Zealand, we have the one property– the Four Points by Sheraton in Auckland.
Within Australia, there are currently 21 properties around the country which can be booked with Marriott Points, mostly centered within the eastern states.
All hotels are Category 5 or lower, meaning you will need up to 35,000 points per night for a standard Category 5 redemption. Off-peak and peak pricing will be introduced later this year, which may affect the points required.
Here is the full list of Marriott properties in New Zealand and Australia updated with the 2019 category changes, sorted by location for default and with links to Point Hacks reviews:
| Property | Location | Category | Points per night (standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four Points by Sheraton | Auckland | 4 | 25,000 |
| W Brisbane | Brisbane | 5 | 35,000 |
| Four Points by Sheraton | Brisbane | 3 | 17,500 |
| The Westin | Brisbane | 4 | 25,000 |
| Marriott | Brisbane | 4 | 25,000 |
| Sheraton Grand Mirage | Gold Coast | 5 | 35,000 |
| Sheraton | Melbourne | 35,000 | |
| The Westin | Melbourne | 5 | 35,000 |
| Four Points by Sheraton | Melbourne (Docklands) | 3 | 17,500 |
| Marriott | Melbourne | 5 | 35,000 |
| Aloft | Perth | 3 | 17,500 |
| Four Points by Sheraton | Perth | 3 | 17,500 |
| The Westin | Perth | 5 | 35,000 |
| Sheraton Mirage | Port Douglas | 5 | 35,000 |
| Marriott Resort & Spa | Surfer's Paradise | 5 | 35,000 |
| Pier One Autograph Collection | Sydney Harbour | 5 | 35,000 |
| Courtyard by Marriott | Sydney - North Ryde | 4 | 25,000 |
| Old Clare Hotel Chippendale | Sydney | 5 | 35,000 |
| Marriott Sydney Harbour | Sydney - Circular Quay | 5 | 35,000 |
| Sheraton Grand | Sydney - Hyde Park | 5 | 35,000 |
| Four Points by Sheraton | Sydney - Central Park | 4 | 25,000 |
| The Westin | Sydney | 5 | 35,000 |
Not included on the table but opening within the next year are:
- Aloft Adelaide (2019)
- Sheraton Adelaide (2019)
- Element Melbourne Richmond (June 2019)
- The Tasman, Hobart (December 2019)
- W Melbourne (2020)
We will update the table with their categories and redemption rates once they become known.
The Westin Sydney Hotel (Category 5, 35,000 points) will leave the Marriott group and rebrand as the Fullerton from 19 October 2019, meaning Marriott points cannot be used there anymore.
Four Points by Sheraton Auckland City Corner Room
The Westin Melbourne WestinWORKOUT Room
The Old Clare Hotel Sydney The Connell Room
The Sheraton Melbourne King Executive Terrace Suite
Locations and redemption rates – Pacific Islands
There are twelve properties through the Pacific Islands that can be booked with Marriott points, mainly centred around Fiji, New Caledonia, French Polynesia (Tahiti) and Palau.
These resorts tend to cost more than properties in New Zealand and Australia as they are in more exclusive settings, starting from Category 3 properties in Samoa for 17,500 points per night, right up to the most expensive Category 7 hotels from 60,000 points per night.
Here is the current list of properties in the Pacific Islands, updated to the 2019 Bonvoy category changes:
| Property | Location | Category | Points per night (standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island | Fiji | 5 | 35,000 |
| Marriott Resort, Momi Bay | Fiji | 5 | 35,000 |
| Sheraton Denarau Villas | Fiji | 7 | 60,000 |
| Sheraton Fiji Resort | Fiji | 5 | 35,000 |
| The Westin Denarau Island | Fiji | 5 | 35,000 |
| Le Meridien Bora Bora | French Polynesia | 7 | 60,000 |
| St Regis Bora Bora | French Polynesia | 7 | 60,000 |
| Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Spa & Gold Resort | New Caledonia | 5 | 35,000 |
| Le Meridien lle des Pins | New Caledonia | 7 | 60,000 |
| Le Meridien Noumea Resort | New Caledonia | 5 | 35,000 |
| Sheraton Aggie Grey's Hotel | Samoa | 3 | 17,500 |
| Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort | Samoa | 3 | 17,500 |
St Regis Bora Bora
Do note that the base 60,000 points redemption per night at the St Regis Bora Bora may come with a compulsory NZ $1,030 (74,000 XPF) ‘upgrade fee’ per night for the Overwater Deluxe Otemanu, which retails at more than NZ$3700++ per night.
The cost also does not include extras such as boat island transfers.
Comparison with rack rates
Previously, a good threshold with SPG Starpoints was 3.0 cents per points in value. With one Starpoint equivalent to three Marriott Bonvoy points, we would now expect to see 1.0 cents per point in value as a minimum.
It is generally the higher Category 5 – Category 7 that reach this threshold, while for Category 3 and 4 hotels, it may be better to pay in cash and save your points for another big trip.
Finally, the Fifth Night Free benefit remains with Marriott Bonvoy. All you have to do is book a redemption for five nights, and you will only be charged for four. This will further increase the value of your points redemption by 25% if you can score it.
Summing Up
The Marriott Bonvoy programme continues to offer decent value redemptions compared to the SPG Starwood days, which is great news for points collectors.
Properties in Category 5 and higher still remain the sweet spots in general, but be sure to check the hotel’s website rates for any special offers before redeeming.
To work out the value (cents per point), simply divide the room rate by the points needed and multiply by 100 to get the final answer in cents.
How these rates are affected by peak and off-peak pricing will remain to be seen when that is introduced later this year, but we will update the guides accordingly when we know more.
