E-certificates may not be transferred, extended beyond the expiration date, or re-credited for points. To qualify for the Free Night Award, your account must be open and not in default at the time of the Free Night Award e-certificate issuance.

As of 2026, Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Award certificates are not transferable to another person. These certificates are issued specifically to the account holder and must be used for a stay where the member is present. While you cannot give the certificate itself to someone else, you can sometimes "gift" a stay using your Marriott Bonvoy Points—though this requires a specific process of calling Member Support to add the recipient's name to a points-based reservation (limited to 5 such gifts per year). Promotional eGift Cards, which are often confused with stay certificates, are also typically non-transferable and must be used by the intended recipient whose name appears on the card. If you attempt to sell or trade these certificates on secondary markets, Marriott reserves the right to void the award and even terminate your Bonvoy account, as the terms strictly prohibit the resale or regifting of these specific loyalty perks.

Excellent question. The transferability of Marriott Bonvoy eCertificates (electronic certificates) depends on the specific type of eCertificate.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common types and their rules:

1. Free Night Award Certificates (From Credit Cards or Elite Status)

These are the most common eCertificates, earned from Marriott Bonvoy credit cards (like the Amex Brilliant or Chase Boundless) or as an elite status benefit (e.g., the Annual Choice Benefit).

• Generally, they are NOT transferable to another person’s account. They are issued to and must be redeemed by the member who earned them.
• However, you CAN book a reservation for someone else. This is the key distinction. You can use your eCertificate to book a stay in your name and then add the guest’s name to the reservation. It’s highly recommended to call Marriott to make this type of booking to ensure the hotel properly notes the reservation is for another guest. The stay will not earn Bonvoy points or elite night credit for anyone.

2. Gift Cards (eGift Cards)

These are purchased directly from Marriott.

• Yes, these are fully transferable. Since they are essentially a form of payment, you can purchase one and give/send the code to anyone. They can be applied to a reservation by the recipient during checkout.

3. “Give Back” eCertificates (From Promotions like “Giving Back”)

These are earned from specific promotions where you donate points to charity and receive a certificate in return.

• Typically, these are NOT transferable between accounts. Like Free Night Awards, they are issued to the member who participated. However, you can usually use them to book a stay for someone else by calling in, similar to Free Night Awards.

4. Compensation eCertificates (From Customer Service)

These are issued as goodwill gestures for service issues.

• Policies can vary, but they are usually non-transferable between accounts and tied to the recipient’s membership. Again, booking for another guest is often possible by calling.

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Key Summary & Best Practices

Type of eCertificate Transfer to Another Account? Can Book for Someone Else? Free Night Award (Credit Card/Status) No Yes