Article and photos by Dylan Clements

If you have Marriott Bonvoy status and are also considering booking through Marriott STARS, there is an obvious question: who gets upgraded first? The answer is that Marriott doesn't say.

I have asked Marriott about this several times and have never been given a clear upgrade hierarchy. There is no published rule saying a STARS guest comes before an Ambassador, Titanium or Platinum member, and there is no published rule saying the opposite either. Based on what I see booking Marriott's luxury hotels, however, I believe STARS carries a lot of weight. And if you have Bonvoy status as well, even better.

What Is Marriott STARS?

Marriott STARS is Marriott's own preferred travel advisor program for many of its luxury hotels, including:

• The Ritz-Carlton
• St. Regis
• EDITION
• The Luxury Collection
• Ritz-Carlton Reserve

A STARS booking will usually come with benefits such as daily breakfast for two, a hotel credit, an upgrade subject to availability, early check-in and late check-out.

You can also add your Marriott Bonvoy number to an eligible STARS reservation. You can still earn eligible Bonvoy points and elite nights, and your status remains on the booking. So you are not choosing between STARS and Bonvoy. You can use both.

Does STARS Get Upgraded Before Marriott Bonvoy Elite Members?

Nobody outside Marriott can give you a definitive answer because Marriott has never published one. If there is one suite available and an Ambassador, Titanium and STARS guest all want it, there is no public Marriott document telling us exactly who should receive it.

I have pushed Marriott on this and they remain quiet about it. My own belief is that STARS guests are very high up the pecking order at participating luxury hotels.

STARS is Marriott's own program, not an outside booking scheme. Marriott has invested heavily in it, and hotels know that STARS agencies can send them a lot of valuable business. That doesn't mean a STARS guest will always beat a Titanium or Ambassador member. I wouldn't make that claim because Marriott hasn't said it. But I do think STARS gives you an advantage.

A Good STARS Advisor Should Push for Your Upgrade

This is the part that often gets missed. At Clements Travel, we don't just make a STARS booking and wait to see what happens at check-in. We advance the stay with the hotel before the client arrives.

That can mean speaking with the hotel's sales manager, STARS team or our Marriott contacts, reminding them that the client is coming, passing on room preferences and pushing for an upgrade. Of course, we can't guarantee one. If the hotel is full, it is full. But I would rather have someone already speaking to the hotel about my room than arrive at reception and ask for an upgrade for the first time.

Marriott Titanium vs STARS: Who Gets the Suite?

Take a simple example. One guest is Marriott Titanium and books directly. Another guest books through STARS and their advisor has already been in touch with the hotel. Who gets the last available suite?

Marriott won't tell us. I think the STARS guest has a very good chance, but that is based on my experience rather than an official Marriott rule.

Now make both guests Titanium. One books directly and the other books through STARS with an advisor already pushing for the upgrade. I know which booking I would rather have.

Marriott Status Plus STARS Is the Best Combination

For me, this is the real answer to the STARS vs Bonvoy question. Don't choose between them.

If you are Platinum, Titanium or Ambassador, book an eligible STARS rate and add your Bonvoy number. The hotel can see your Marriott status, it can see that you are a STARS guest, and your travel advisor can be speaking to the property before you arrive.

There are still no guarantees, but that gives you about as much oomph as you can reasonably put behind a complimentary upgrade request.

Does Marriott STARS Guarantee an Upgrade?

No. Unless a particular offer specifically includes a guaranteed upgrade, Marriott STARS upgrades are subject to availability. A good STARS advisor can push for an upgrade, but they cannot promise a suite that the hotel hasn't made available.

Should You Book Marriott STARS If You Have Bonvoy Status?

In most cases, I would at least compare STARS before booking a participating luxury Marriott hotel directly. An eligible STARS booking can still earn Bonvoy points and elite nights, and your Marriott status remains attached to the reservation. You then add the STARS benefits and have an advisor who can work with the hotel before your arrival.

Sometimes Marriott will have another rate that makes more sense, so we always compare the options rather than automatically booking STARS.

Book Marriott STARS With Clements Travel

If you are looking at a Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, EDITION, Luxury Collection, Ritz-Carlton Reserve or another participating Marriott luxury hotel, contact Clements Travel before you book.

We will check the Marriott STARS option against the rates you can see online, add your Bonvoy number to an eligible reservation and explain exactly what benefits you will receive. There is no booking fee, and you pay the hotel directly.

Most importantly, once you are booked, we don't just leave the reservation sitting there. We advance the stay with the hotel, pass on your room preferences and push for the best available upgrade where appropriate.

If you're already looking at a Marriott hotel, send Clements Travel the hotel, dates and room you are considering before you press book.

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