Marriott starts selling activities

Marriott International will start selling in-destination activities through its 'Moments' program that previously was available exclusively for loyalty members who had purchased such activities only through accumulated points.

Marriott, which previously offered about 8,000 activities for members of its Marriott Rewards, SPG and Ritz-Carlton Rewards loyalty programs, has added about 100,000 activities in more than 1,000 global destinations that can be purchased by anyone with cash or credit cards.

For instance, Marriott offers more than 900 activities in the Los Angeles area, where anyone can buy "skip-the-line" Universal Studios tickets for $179 each or take a private L.A. sightseeing tour in a "luxurious SUV" for $399. Loyalty members who buy "Moments" on their credit card can also earn loyalty points.

Marriott's offering more than 3,000 'Moments' in the New York City area, and about 1,000 each in Beijing and Paris.

Marriott, whose Moments program includes Marriott Moments, Marriott Rewards Moments and SPG Moments, will continue to offer about 8,000 members-only, VIP-type activities that can be purchased with loyalty points. Such activities include attending a Los Angeles album-listening session with actor Jared Leto and his band 30 Seconds to Mars; having a question-and-answer session and backstage tour with country-music star Keith Urban; and taking a "progressive" dinner tour around New York City with celebrity chef Eric Ripert.

Marriott debuted its Marriott Moments program about a decade ago, and added Marriott Rewards Moments in 2016. Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which Marriott acquired in 2016, debuted its SPG Moments program in 2007.