The Marriott Explore Rate: How to Save up to 75% Off Room Rates

One of the many perks of being a Marriott employee is saving up to 75% on hotel stays with Marriott’s employee discount program, the “Marriott Explore Rate.”

With Marriott, the discounts apply to you as an employee and extend to your friends and family! So, if you’re one of the 200,000+ current Marriott employees (or even if you know one), you can get in on the savings right now.

Some terms can be confusing, so we created this detailed guide to explain the rules, features, and benefits of the Marriott Explore Rate.

We include how to book, eligibility requirements, and restrictions with the friends and family rates. We will also cover the additional discounts you can receive, like food and beverage, which can make your stay at a Marriott property an even better deal!

The Marriott Explore Rate

All of the major hotel chains offer some level of discount or free travel to employees and their family members. These rates are intended to encourage employees to experience the brand’s hotels and resorts and allow their loved ones to enjoy a discounted stay or vacation.

Hyatt has the best employee discount program of all major hotel chains because it annually gives employees 12 completely free nights at any Hyatt property worldwide.

Marriott’s program is similar to the “Go Hilton” Team Member Rate and the IHG Employee Rate because employees receive a deeply discounted nightly rate.  It’s a great program, with a couple of variations, depending on your relationship with the Marriott employee.

Who is eligible to use the Marriott Explore Rate?

Marriott “Associates” and “Immediate Family Members” are eligible to use the Marriott Employee Code (MMP).

Marriott Associates are defined as:

• Full-time and Part-time employees
• Seasonal and Temporary employees who have a valid discount form
  • Employees of Design Hotels are not eligible for the “Explore” program. Similarly, if you work for Marriott as a vendor, you do not qualify for the Explore rate.

Immediate Family Members are defined as:

• Parents or Parents-in-law
• Children
• Spouse or Domestic Partner
• Siblings (Brother or Sister)
  • Cousins, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, Uncles, and Aunts are not considered immediate family. They are considered “extended family” and can use the Marriott Explore Friends Rate.

Marriott Employee Discount Codes

Under the Marriott Explore program, four discount codes are available. When using the proper rate code, employees, friends, and family members can take advantage of low rates.

1. “MM4” – The Marriott Employee code is “MM4”. It is for employees only and is called the “Explore More” rate. This rate provides the largest discount, but it is rarely available.
2. “MMP” – The Marriott Friends and Family code is “MMP.” It is for employees and immediate family members and is called the “Explore Rate.” This is the most widely available discounted rate for employees and the best Marriott family discount.
3. “MMF” – The Marriott Explore Friends code is “MMF.” It is for friends and distant family members and is called the “Explore Friends Rate.”
4. “QCC”—The Quarter Century Club code is “QCC,” which is for Marriott employees who have been with the company for 25+ years.

1. Marriott Employee Codes (“MM4” and “MMP”)

The Explore Rate is for Marriott associates and their immediate family members.  

Employee & Marriott Family Discount Codes

There are two different Explore discount codes to use when booking an employee rate: the “MM4” rate and the “MMP” rate. The MM4 rate code only displays the employee discount rates. When you book with the MMP rate code, the results are available to employees and immediate family members (i.e., Marriott friends and family).

At check-in, eligible guests must present a photo ID and the Explore Authorization Form.

MM4 and MMP Rate Restrictions

It’s important to note some limitations to using these codes. When using an Explore Rate, an employee can book a maximum of 2 rooms per night, and an immediate family member can book a maximum of 1 room per night with the discounted rate. 

The total rooms per night tied to the employee cannot exceed two rooms simultaneously.  

For example, if an employee has two rooms at a Marriott property, their parent (or brother, sister, etc.) cannot book an additional room at that same hotel on the same date. However, if the employee has just one room, the parent (or another immediate family member) can book one room at the same hotel on the same date.

2. Marriott Friends Code (“MMF”)

If you’re not a member of a Marriott employee’s immediate family, you can still benefit from a reduced rate with the Marriott Explore Friends rate code. This rate isn’t as good as the employee rate, but it can still offer some nice savings for friends and distant family members.

The Code for the Marriott Explore Friends Rate to use when booking is “MMF”

If you want to be eligible to use this code, you need only ask your family member or friend (“the employee”) to get an authorization form for you to complete. Employees can get this from Marriott Human Resources or download it directly from the Marriott Global Source intranet site.

This form is a requirement to receive the Marriott Friends and Family or the Marriott Explore Friends discount and must be presented at check-in with your photo ID.

MMF Rate Restrictions

The terms of the Marriott Explore friends rate are:

• The rate is available to friends of Marriott associates only for personal travel only.
• There is no limit on the number of rooms per night or nights per stay.
• This rate is eligible for Marriott Bonvoy points.

3. Marriott Quarter Century Club (“QCC”)

The Quarter Century Club (“QCC”) is Marriott’s program for employees (and former Marriott employees) who have worked at Marriott corporate or a hotel property for 25 or more years. These long-time employees are rewarded with complimentary rooms at participating Marriott locations.  Plus, they will continue accessing employee discounts for paid stays.

This program applies to approximately 2,000 Marriott hotel and resort properties but excludes their most exclusive properties, including:

• Bulgari,
• Design Hotels,
• Luxury Collection,
• Ritz-Carlton and
• St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. 

QCC Rate Restrictions

• QCC members are allowed one complimentary stay per property per year, subject to availability.
• QCC members may stay up to three nights at the same property during the same stay.
• Members may book one room at the QCC complimentary rate and, if desired, one additional room at the Explore Rate or Explore Friends Rate.

How to Book Marriott Employee Rates

The booking process is very easy.  You’ll just need to use the code when booking the employee or family and friends rate on Marriott’s website.

Marriott Explore Rate

Marriott Employees can save up to 75% with the Explore Rate. 

Friends & Family can save up to 50% with the Explore Friends Rate.

Book Here!

How to book with a Marriott employee discount code

Here’s a quick example of how to book the rate and what discount level you can expect based on a sample search I did for a Marriott weekend stay in Chicago.

1. Go to Marriott’s booking site.
2. Click on the “Find & Reserve” tab on the upper left portion of the page.
3. Enter the location you are traveling to and the travel dates.
4. Click on the Special Rates Drop Down.
5. Click the “Corporate/Promo Code” button and enter “MMP” in the text field.
6. Enter the destination and dates you want to travel, then hit “Find Hotels.”

A list of available hotels will display, but you won’t know if the rate is offered until you click on each hotel to see the available rates.

How to book with a Marriott friends and family code

The process for booking a Marriott friends and family rate is the same as booking an employee discounted rate. The only difference is that you will enter “MMF” in the Promo Code field instead of “MMP”.

How to book with a QCC rate code

Booking a QCC rate takes an extra step. Here is what you need to do:

1. QCC members should first book the Explore Rate as stated earlier at marriott.com (use the Marriott Bonvoy App)
2. Then, call or email the QCC Customer Engagement Center to determine if the Explore Rate can be changed to the QCC complimentary rate.
3. To check complimentary rate availability, call (800) 826-1882 in the U.S. or call (402) 390-1600 ext. 2281578 outside of the U.S., or email: [email protected]. 

Marriott Explore Rate Authorization Form

As mentioned earlier, you must present a completed Explore Rate Authorization Form at check-in. To get an authorization form, you must be a Marriott employee (and download it from the corporate intranet site) or have Marriott HR provide you with it. 

Here are the steps:

1. Go to the Marriott Extranet site
2. Enter your EID and password.
3. In the Form/Card Number field, enter the Validation Code to pull up the validation information.
4. Make sure the following information matches:
   • The Associate Name field must match the form’s (Name of Associate),
   • The Guest Name field must match the form (Name of Guest), and
   • The Expiration field must match the form’s (Expiration Date).

How much can you save with a Marriott Explore Rate?

Here are two random examples of savings with a Marriott Explore rate:

1. Chicago Example: JW Marriott Chicago

With these rates, the savings at the JW Marriott Chicago can be huge. As you will see below, the standard rates for this night (before taxes and fees) are very high, and the Explore rate is a great deal!

• Standard Rate: $450
• Prepaid Rate: $360
• Explore Rate: $104 (76% discount off the standard rate)
• Explore Friends Rate: $199 (56% discount off the standard rate)

2. Tampa Example: Le Méridien Tampa

The savings at the Le Méridien Tampa can be significant as well. Below is a summary of the different rate options

• Standard Rate: $298
• Prepaid Rate: $271
• Explore Rate: $104 (65% discount off the standard rate)
• Explore Friends Rate: $234 (21% discount off the standard rate)

Employee Food & Beverage Discount

Employees (as well as Marriott friends and family) also receive discounts when dining on the property. The discounts are not as good as what Hilton offers its employees, but they will save you 20%, which can add up throughout your stay.

In addition to the 20% off of food and beverage, the Marriott Explore rate also offers the following discounts to employees, family members, and friends:

• 20% off Spa Treatments
• 30% off Retail at Marriott Stores
• 30% off Golf Tee Times and Apparel

FAQ’s about the Marriott Explore Program: