The Complete Guide to Marriott STARS and Luminous

Marriott International is the largest hotel chain in the world, with an international footprint of over 6,500 properties and a very popular Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.

However, there are two lesser-known Marriott programs which aren’t as widely discussed, but that can offer a ton of value for paid bookings.

Marriott STARS and Marriott Luminous allow you to enjoy enhanced benefits at certain Marriott properties, without needing to have Marriott Bonvoy elite status at all. These two programs are only available through select travel advisors, meaning that you can’t book a hotel through these programs on your own.

In this guide, we’ll dive into what these two programs are, their benefits, and when it makes the most sense to book Marriott STARS or Marriott Luminous hotels.

What Is Marriott STARS?

Marriott STARS is composed of only the most luxurious hotel brands within the Marriott portfolio. The following brands are part of Marriott STARS:

• The Ritz-Carlton
• Ritz-Carlton Reserve
• St. Regis
• EDITION
• The Luxury Collection
• Bvlgari Hotels and Resorts

You can book any hotel that belongs to these brands through the Marriott STARS program, and when you do, you’ll get the following benefits:

• A $100 (USD) hotel credit per stay
• Complimentary daily breakfast for up to two people per room
• Room upgrade, subject to availability upon check-in
• Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
• In-person welcome
• A personalized welcome amenity

The two most valuable benefits are the $100 (USD) credit, and the complimentary breakfast for two. Furthermore, room upgrades can be immensely valuable, especially if you get an upgrade to one of the higher-tier suites at any of these luxury hotels.

There is no additional cost for booking through Marriott STARS and receiving these benefits. However, the rate you book is usually equivalent to the best flexible rate you would find on Marriott.com or through the Marriott app.

This means that prepaid rates, member rates, or corporate rates would not be eligible for bookings with Marriott STARS. While they’d cost less than the Marriott STARS rate, they don’t include the same perks, and they can also be more restrictive.

For example, let’s suppose that you’re heading to Tasmania and you’ve got your eyes on The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel. You intend on paying…