Marriott Bonvoy 2026 Report Highlights APEC Traveler Loyalty Trends, Driving Hospitality Sector Growth, Boosting Hotel Revenue and Tourism Impact Across Asia-Pacific

According to the 2026 Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Trends Report, the engagement in hotel loyalty within the APEC region (Asia-Pacific, excluding China) is getting more complicated due to the travel needs, daily values, and regional market behaviors. Even though there is an impressive statistic according to which 89% of the population is engaged in loyalty programs, this shows that the success of hotels depends on specific approaches to loyalty programs.

Travel Passions as Drivers of Hotel Loyalty and Revenue

Travel priorities strongly influence loyalty engagement and hospitality sector performance. The top five travel priorities in APEC are Food & Dining, Nature/Sightseeing, Shopping, Cultural Immersion, and Recharge & Disconnect. Food & Dining leads in engagement, with 63% of travelers prioritizing culinary experiences. Travelers in this segment often earn points through dining and redeem for F&B experiences, directly increasing hotel restaurant revenue, boosting guest spend, and supporting hospitality sector growth.

Recharge & Disconnect travelers represent the largest growth opportunity. Though initially less likely to join loyalty programs, they actively engage once on property, staying in hotels, resorts, and villas while earning points through stays, dining, and spa services. By attracting this segment, hotels can drive longer stays, higher spending, and increased utilization of on-site services, contributing to sustainable hospitality sector expansion.

Hotel Loyalty Anchors Traveler Engagement

Hotel loyalty programs remain the most widely adopted across APEC, with 66% participation, surpassing airlines, retail, and dining. Most members stay enrolled for over two years, highlighting that hotel loyalty anchors traveler relationships, strengthens repeat business, and supports long-term revenue generation for hotels and resorts.

Everyday earning and point redemption are essential. 77% of travelers redeem points for small rewards, 61% for major items, and 37% for exclusive experiences, demonstrating that practical, accessible rewards help hotels capture repeat visits and ancillary revenue streams, fueling future hospitality growth.

Partnerships Enhance Hotel Loyalty and Sector Impact

Loyalty programs integrated with a broader partnership ecosystem are more relevant to travelers. Co-branded credit cards, retail, F&B, and e-commerce partnerships provide multiple earning and redemption opportunities. 57% of loyalty earnings come from stays, 53% from co-branded cards, and 48% from dining, highlighting how hotels can leverage partnerships to increase revenue, occupancy, and customer engagement, which supports the wider hospitality ecosystem.

Redemption patterns show that travelers value property upgrades (58%), small F&B indulgences (57%), and practical travel perks (51%), directly impacting on-site revenue and service utilization, further illustrating the connection between loyalty programs and hospitality sector profitability.

Three Distinct Loyalty Mindsets Across APEC

Loyalty Strategists – Japan and South Korea
Travelers optimize loyalty deliberately, focusing on co-branded card use, frequent stays, and practical redemption. Their behavior drives consistent occupancy and stable revenue streams, supporting long-term hotel operations.

Value Optimizers – Singapore, Australia, Thailand
Pragmatic travelers engage with loyalty programs to maximize trip value and efficiency, favoring direct booking incentives and upgrades. This drives higher average daily rates, ancillary revenue, and strengthens hotels’ ability to generate sustained income.

Experience Seekers – India, Indonesia, Vietnam
Emotionally and transactionally engaged travelers prioritize exclusivity, curated experiences, and partnerships. This segment is projected to drive future hospitality growth, supporting luxury, boutique, and experiential properties, and creating opportunities for premium pricing and differentiated services.

Future Tourism and Hospitality Sector Impact

The report indicates that future hotel loyalty programs will directly shape tourism and hospitality growth in Asia-Pacific. Adaptive programs aligned with traveler priorities will:

• Increase hotel occupancy and guest spending
• Encourage use of ancillary services such as dining, spa, and retail
• Drive repeat visits and longer stays, boosting regional tourism revenues
• Strengthen destination loyalty, supporting tourism marketing and cross-border travel

By integrating loyalty programs with hyperlocal partnerships and experiences, hotels can amplify both short-term revenue and long-term brand engagement, contributing to broader economic growth and hospitality sector expansion.

Loyalty Programs as Catalysts for Hospitality Growth

The report entitled “Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Trends Report 2026” reveals that hotel loyalty is integral to APEC travelers’ actions, with regional tastes playing an influential role in influencing their behavior, expenditures, and experiences sought out.

Those hotels and resorts that align themselves with the passions of their travelers, provide consistent value through rewards and engage in collaborative relationships will be able to boost occupancy rates and generate additional income for the sector. In light of these insights, the hospitality and tourism industry can ensure sustainable development, as well as meet the varying needs of their guests.

Image Source: Marriott