How to book a hotel award stay for someone else

How do you book a points stay for another person?

Start with the member's own balance. Wyndham Rewards free nights at participating properties require 7,500 to 30,000 points, and blackout dates, rates and other restrictions apply [6]. Redemption requirements are set per bedroom per night and vary by property, and the member must have enough points for all the bedrooms in the accommodation being booked [4]. These rules are stated in the Wyndham Rewards terms effective 30 September 2026 [5].

Next, look at what the account itself permits. Marriott Bonvoy accounts are individual: they may not be shared, jointly held, sold, bartered or transferred except as its rules expressly permit, and points, awards, status and benefits may not be used on behalf of a company or other entity except as expressly permitted [7]. Wyndham Rewards states that a member may not maintain more than one account or share accounts [5]. The practical route for a second person is therefore a booking made from the member's account, not a second name on that account. [7] [5]

If the reservation covers more than one room, note how the programmes count rooms. Marriott Bonvoy sets its earning around the member's own folio: charges count where the member stays in one of the reserved guest rooms as the registered guest and pays for them, and the credit extends to up to two additional guest rooms with the same check-in and check-out dates [7]. The first award stay walkthrough covers the booking flow itself.

Who is named on the reservation, and what ID is checked?

Membership numbers travel with the booking. Wyndham Rewards asks the member to provide their membership number during the reservation process for stays at Participating Destinations and Participating Caesars Rewards Properties [5], and Marriott Bonvoy requires the membership number at the time of reservation or at check-in for a stay's charges to count toward earning [7].

Identification is checked against the account name. Where a Marriott Bonvoy member earns points at a participating outlet without staying in a guest room, the member may be required to give their membership number and show a valid form of picture identification that matches the name on their account [7]. The same programme rules require valid and accurate personal information on the account, allow supporting documentation to be requested for certain changes, and allow identity verification when a member contacts member support [7].

Wyndham Rewards places the duty to report name and address changes on the member, through its website or member services [5], and at enrolment requires an email address not shared with an existing member and a phone number not shared with any existing member who has the same first and last name [5]. The account holder's own details are the reference point in both programmes, so they need to be current before a guest travels [7] [5].

Where do the member's own benefits stop?

Earning. A free night is not revenue. Wyndham Rewards lists complimentary room nights and nights obtained with any form of Free Night as non-revenue-generating, and says stays that are not Qualified Stays do not qualify for points or Travel Partner Currency [5]. Marriott Bonvoy runs earning through the member's own folio, which requires the member to be the registered guest in one of the reserved rooms and to pay the charges [7].

Tier and benefits. Marriott Bonvoy ties points, awards, status and benefits to the individual member whose name appears on the account [7]. Wyndham Rewards lists points, Member Level, Member Level benefits, Free Nights and Discounted Nights with Points + Cash together as things that may not be transferred, sold, bartered or commercially distributed in breach of its terms, and says such use can bring termination of the account and forfeiture of accrued points [5].

Cash. At Wyndham, taxes and resort fees may apply even on free nights, and points cannot be used to pay them [4].

Cancellation. Marriott Bonvoy says an award redeemed before points are forfeited remains valid unless it is cancelled after the points expiration date; if it is cancelled after that date and no qualifying activity has extended the date, the points used for the award expire [7].

Exceptions and limits

• Transfers differ between the two programmes. Marriott Bonvoy allows member-to-member points transfers under Section 2.8 of its rules, subject to the conditions, limits, account standing, documentation and verification requirements stated there, and says limited transfers on death or divorce may be permitted at its discretion [7]. Wyndham Rewards states that points may not be sold, bartered or transferred by the member or any other party, during or after the member's life, by operation of law or otherwise, except where its terms explicitly authorise it [5]. Moving points between accounts is a separate subject — see family points sharing.
• The account has to stay alive. Marriott Bonvoy requires Qualifying Activity at least once every 24 months, and gifting, transferring or receiving points from another member does not count; an account with no qualifying activity for 24 consecutive months forfeits accumulated points, awards and benefits, which cannot be reinstated, and an account inactive for five consecutive years may be deactivated [7]. Wyndham Rewards points expire four years after the date they are posted, accrued points may be cancelled after roughly 18 consecutive months without account activity, and an account may be terminated after 60 consecutive months of inactivity with remaining points forfeited [5].
• Names and documents. Wyndham Rewards puts name and address changes on the member [5], while Marriott Bonvoy may ask for supporting documentation for certain changes and identity verification when a member contacts support [7]. The authorized user entry explains how named access to an account works elsewhere in the hobby.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my points for a room a family member stays in?

The points are spent from the member's own account. Wyndham Rewards points cannot be sold, bartered or transferred except where its terms explicitly allow [5], and Marriott Bonvoy points, awards, status and benefits belong to the member whose name appears on the account [7].

Do I need to transfer my points to the person who is staying?

No transfer is needed to redeem a free night, because the night is booked with the member's own points [4]. Handing the points themselves to another person is a separate action that both programmes restrict [5] [7].

Does the guest earn points or elite credit for the stay?

Wyndham Rewards treats free nights as non-revenue-generating, so they do not qualify for points or Travel Partner Currency [5], and Marriott Bonvoy credits a member only where the member stays in one of the reserved guest rooms as the registered guest and pays the charges [7].

What happens if the award is cancelled after the points expiration date?

Marriott Bonvoy says the award remains valid unless it is cancelled after the points expiration date, and if it is cancelled after that date without qualifying activity extending it, the points used for the award expire [7].

Are taxes and resort fees included in a free night?

At Wyndham they may apply even on free nights, and points cannot be used to pay them [4].

Related pages

First hotel award stay, step by step · Family points sharing · Authorized user · Frequent flyer glossary

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Other programmes, including Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards and Accor ALL, are not covered here.

1. Wyndham Rewards programme page, checked 18 October 2026
2. Wyndham Rewards terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026
3. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts booking site, checked 18 October 2026
4. Marriott Bonvoy programme terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026