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- Marriott is rolling out an Airbnb-style home-sharing program.
- Marriott Homes and Villas, which has been trialed in several European cities, will officially launch in May, as soon as next week, and will initially feature about 2,000 homes.
- Marriott Bonvoy members will be able to earn and redeem points on stays.
- This week is the last chance to earn a 100,000-point sign-up bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card (after spending $5,000 in three months). It ends on May 2.
Airbnb and the home-sharing model have dramatically changed the face of travel — and the largest hotel brand is making moves.
Marriott International has been trialing a home-sharing service in several European cities and is poised to expand it into the US in May, Bloomberg reported.
The home-sharing service, Marriott Homes and Villas, will be available next week, and in a move that's sure to be a boon to Marriott loyalists, it will be possible to earn or redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for stays, a Marriott spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider.
Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card at Business Insider's partner The Points Guy »
The home-sharing program, which will initially boast a footprint of about 2,000 homes, will be run in partnership with several rental-property-management firms and will feature options such as city apartments, beach houses, and cabins.
According to Skift, Marriott will — at least initially — effectively serve as an online travel agency, facilitating reservations at properties owned and managed by third parties. While properties won't be exclusive to Marriott and can be booked elsewhere — like on HomeAway — the ability to earn and redeem Bonvoy points will likely be a strong draw.
The announcement comes after the rollout of the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program — a product of the merger between Marriott and Starwood Hotels' Preferred Guest program — which has seen some initial bumps but has also featured lucrative promotions and opportunities as the brand has introduced new and rebranded rewards credit cards and properties.
The last of these promotions — a limited-time 100,000-point sign-up bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, ends on Thursday, May 2. New cardholders must spend $5,000 in the first three months to get the bonus.
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