Trailborn’s outdoorsy hotels are joining Marriott — here’s what we know about the partnership
Fans of the great outdoors have a new reason to love Marriott: Trailborn, a small collection of nature-focused, outdoorsy hotels, is set to join Marriott Bonvoy in the coming months. Ahead of the integration, Marriott Bonvoy has updated its terms and conditions to reflect how the new Trailborn partnership will work, as first reported by Award Wallet.
What is Trailborn?
Trailborn touts its properties as "boutique hotels in extraordinary outdoor destinations" on the company's official website. Those extraordinary destinations are near Rocky Mountain National Park and the Grand Canyon, as well as popular beach towns on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. When the strategic partnership was announced in December, Marriott said Trailborn's portfolio of open and future properties included 559 rooms in the following hotels:
- Trailborn Rocky Mountains — Estes Park, Colorado
- Trailborn Highlands — Highlands, North Carolina
- Trailborn Surf & Sound — Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
- Trailborn Grand Canyon — Williams, Arizona
- Trailborn Mendocino — Mendocino, California (coming soon)
The hotels are trendy, chic and not your typical bare-bones nature lodge. At Trailborn properties, guests can expect great bars and restaurants, guided outdoor excursions, activities like campfires and live music, the occasional pool or hot tub, and curated field guides to show you around the community.
How will Trailborn integrate into Marriott Bonvoy?
In the original partnership announcement, Marriott said Trailborn's current portfolio would join "Marriott's planned outdoor-focused collection, with expected integration into Marriott's system and platforms, including Marriott.com and the Marriott Bonvoy app, in 2025."
Recently, Marriott Bonvoy updated its terms and conditions to reflect the upcoming Trailborn integration. Marriott Bonvoy members will earn 10 base points per $1 spent when booking through Marriott channels, the Trailborn support team, a Trailborn property or Trailborn's website. (If you're booking through Trailborn, just be sure to call and confirm that your Marriott Bonvoy number is linked.)
Marriott Bonvoy members can also expect the following at Trailborn properties:
- Complimentary in-room internet access.
- Ultimate Reservation Guarantee: Elite members receive $200 and 90,000 Marriott Bonvoy points if a confirmed reservation is made unavailable.
- Elite welcome gifts: 500 points for Gold Elite members; 1,000 points or a $10 food-and-beverage credit per night for Platinum Elite members (one guest may also receive a $10 credit per night).
- Platinum Elite and higher members will receive $100 if their booked room type is unavailable.
Here's what Marriott Bonvoy members should not expect, according to the newly laid-out terms and conditions:
- Member rates
- Gift shop discount
- Guaranteed lounge access
- Nightly Upgrade Awards
- 48-hour guaranteed availability
- Instant Redemption Awards
Now the only question that remains is when these properties will be bookable through Marriott Bonvoy. Right now, Marriott's list of effective participation dates marks all the Trailborn properties simply as "coming soon."
On the Marriott website, Trailborn Highlands claims to be opening in April of this year. As of publishing, though, the other open hotels simply say that "reservations are not yet available."
Points hotels are leaning into the outdoors
Trailborn is one of a series of recently announced acquisitions or partnerships between major hotel loyalty programs and smaller, outdoors-focused hotel brands.
On the same day Marriott announced its partnership with Trailborn, it also announced the acquisition of Postcard Cabins, offering over 1,200 cabins across the U.S. Last year, Hilton launched a partnership with AutoCamp, giving Hilton Honors members the chance to earn and burn points on Airstream stays from Yosemite National Park to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Hyatt is also part of the movement, adding luxury glamping company Under Canvas to the World of Hyatt family.
More hotels joining major loyalty programs means more opportunities for folks to visit America's incredible national parks — and to save money while doing so. It also reinforces the fact that outdoorsy hotels don't always have to be rugged or bare-bones. Most of these hotels, in contrast, err on the side of cool, upscale and — most importantly — comfortable.
Bottom line
We're excited about Trailborn's partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, even if some of the fine print leaves us wanting a bit more for members. Either way, these exciting properties offer Marriott loyalists and nature lovers exciting new places to earn or burn points while exploring the wonders of our national parks.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.