**Marriott Bonvoy Enhances Free Night Award Top Off Capability**
In early 2022, Marriott Bonvoy launched a feature that allowed members to supplement free night awards with up to 15,000 points per night, facilitating stays at pricier hotels. This was a noteworthy improvement from the former policy, which prohibited any top-ups. Now, as of March 12, 2026, Marriott Bonvoy has broadened this feature, permitting members to enhance free night awards with as many as 25,000 points. This signifies a 67% rise in the points that can be added.
**Key Information:**
– The broadened top-off capability is applicable to all free night awards, including those from co-branded credit cards, promotions, and Choice Benefits.
– Members are able to augment points to each qualifying free night award during the booking phase, even for multi-night bookings.
– Nightly upgrade awards can still be utilized for these reservations.
– Altering a reservation may influence the points necessary for redemption.
**Positive Shift with Restrictions**
Although this update delivers increased flexibility, it may not entirely mitigate the effects of points inflation. With some top Marriott Bonvoy properties demanding over 200,000 points per night, a 25,000-point top-off could still fall short for numerous high-end stays. In comparison, Hilton Honors and IHG One Rewards provide greater flexibility with their free night awards, while World of Hyatt does not permit point top-offs.
**Conclusion**
Marriott Bonvoy’s revised policy permits free night awards to be supplemented with up to 25,000 points, boosting the possible redemption value. For instance, a 35,000-point certificate can now be utilized at establishments costing up to 60,000 points, and an 85,000-point certificate can be utilized at venues priced up to 110,000 points. This alteration offers members more choices, albeit it may not fully resolve the difficulties caused by points inflation.
**What are your thoughts on Marriott Bonvoy’s enhanced points top-off feature?**