Like a Sign of Spring, a New Collaboration with Uber Brings Hope for Recovery

Marriott International announced a new collaboration with Uber today that I’m really excited about.

Members of our travel program and marketplace Marriott Bonvoy can now link their accounts to their Uber accounts to earn points toward free hotel stays when they order food delivery on eligible transactions with Uber Eats and hail select rides with Uber in the United States.

To me, this collaboration is beautiful for so many reasons. First, it represents hope. As more of our members return to travel or even begin to think about travel, this arrangement feels like a sign of spring – that perhaps the recovery is getting closer.

I’m also delighted to see Marriott Bonvoy become such a regular part of daily life. Marriott Bonvoy members are not just engaging with the program during hotel stays, but also when earning or redeeming points at restaurants using our Eat around Town program and for unique and I think truly special tours and activities like virtual wine tasting in Tuscany or online master classes in donut making. Members are also earning or redeeming points at retail stores, for gift cards and now to order Uber Eats and select Uber cars.

Today’s collaboration came about, in part, due to a longtime friendship between Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Arne Sorenson, our late CEO who was brilliant at connecting people with ideas. 

As we all know, COVID-19 changed consumer behavior the world over. That had a big impact on both of our companies. Earlier this year, Dara told Arne that Uber Eats transformed from the little sister of his company to the big sister in a matter of months as demand for home food delivery increased. 

As many of our shared customers stayed home throughout 2020, it made sense for Marriott Bonvoy and Uber to team up and find a way for our customers to earn points towards their next vacation – the one many of us have been dreaming about for the last 12 months. Now that it feels like the recovery is finally underway, the timing is perfect. Whether our shared customers are still at home or are beginning to venture out, this collaboration is useful.

As more vaccines are distributed and optimism rises, our arrangement with Uber takes our shared customers one step closer to normalcy. So, order a car, order a meal, earn your points and before too long, I will be looking for you at one of our hotels. Stay well.