Marriott Travel Agent Rates (Fam-Tastic): How They Work for Qualified Advisors

Marriott offers special discounted room rates for qualified travel advisors through its Fam-Tastic Travel Agent program. These rates are not available to the general public, are capacity-controlled, and are subject to verification at booking and check-in.

This guide explains who qualifies for Marriott travel agent rates, how Fam-Tastic booking works, what restrictions apply, and what legitimate alternatives exist if you’re not eligible.

Here is everything you need to know about Marriott Travel Agent Rates.

What is the Marriott Fam-tastic Program?

“Fam-Tastic” is Marriott’s rate familiarization program. It allows registered travel agents to book special rates at Marriott properties worldwide. This allows agents to see Marriott properties at discounted prices and promote them to their customers.

The Fam-tastic program is recognized as the industry’s premier travel agent familiarization rate program. It is offered as an exclusive benefit to qualified travel consultants who have completed the Hotel Excellence!  Core training and the current year’s annual Continuing Education are employed by a valid ARC/IATA/TIDS/CLIA agency.

The Fam-tastic rate is a discounted rate that varies by brand and is subject to availability based on Marriott’s Travel Agent Rate Ratio Policy.

Qualifying travel agents can book Fam-tastic stays (maximum four nights per stay, one visit per participating hotel per calendar year) at participating hotels.

Who Qualifies for Marriott Travel Agent Rates?

Marriott travel agent rates are reserved for credentialed travel professionals booking personal or familiarization (FAM) travel.

To qualify, advisors generally must:

• Be an active travel advisor affiliated with a recognized agency
• Hold a valid IATA, ARC, CLIA, or TRUE number
• Be booking for personal or FAM travel only, not for clients

Independent advisors must be affiliated with a qualifying host agency. Advisors booking through online-only or non-accredited channels typically do not qualify.

If you cannot verify your professional status, you will not be eligible for Fam-Tastic rates.

Marriott Travel Agent Rates vs. Fam-tastic Rates:

It’s important to note that Marriott has two different types of discounted travel agent rates:

• The “Fam-tastic” Travel Agent Rate, and
• The Standard Travel Agent Rate.

Any registered travel agent can book a standard travel agent rate. However, if you want to book a “Fam-tastic” rate, you need to follow some additional steps.

Fam-Tastic Travel Agent Rate Requirements:

To qualify for Fam-Tastic discounted rates and benefits, travel agents have to do the following:

• Complete the Hotel Excellence! Core training.
• Complete the latest Continuing Education training.
• Ensure your profile has been updated.
• US advisors must also have a valid IATAN VER or CLIA EMBARC ID number added to their Hotel Excellence! Profile.

“Fam-Tastic rates are for the exclusive use of active accredited travel agents who are graduates of Hotel Excellence! and have completed the current year’s continued education training (“Travel Agents”).  Fam-Tastic rates are designed to afford travel gents the ability to familiarize themselves with Marriott hotels and resorts.

Fam-Tastic rates may not be used by anyone other than the travel agent. For clarity, Fam-Tastic rates may not be used by a travel agent’s family, friends, clients, or any other third party.

As soon as a your Hotel Excellence! dashboard indicates that you are “Qualified” for Fam-Tastic, stays can be booked immediately.”

Marriott

How to Book a Marriott “Fam-Tastic” Travel Agent Rate?

Fam-Tastic rate reservations must be made in advance and can only be made via marriott.com/travelagents.

Marriott travel agent rates are accessed through Marriott’s designated Fam-Tastic booking channels.

In practice, booking works like this:

1. The travel advisor logs into Marriott’s travel agent portal
2. Eligible Fam-Tastic rates display based on credentials, dates, and availability
3. The reservation is booked in the advisor’s name
4. Verification may occur before arrival or at check-in

Hotels may request proof such as:

• A valid travel agent ID or credentials
• Agency documentation
• Matching identification at check-in

If eligibility cannot be confirmed, the hotel may remove the travel agent rate.

Fam-Tastic Availability and Program Restrictions

Marriott Fam-Tastic rates are capacity-controlled and subject to meaningful restrictions.

Important limitations include:

• Limited inventory per property and per night
• Blackout dates during peak travel periods
• Reduced or no availability at high-occupancy resorts and luxury brands
• Some brands or individual hotels may opt out

Even qualified advisors should treat these rates as opportunistic, not guaranteed.

How to Book a Standard Marriott Travel Agent Rate?

Standard Travel Agent rates are much easy to book. You just need to go to the Marriott booking page and book a room with the Marriott travel agent rate code (“TVL”). 

• Enter code “TVL” in the “Corporate/Promotional Code” box under the “Special Rates” section of the Marriott booking page.
• Then, enter your travel destination and dates and hit the “find hotels” button to reveal the results.  

The process is the same as when you book a room with a Marriott Corporate Code or a Marriott Employee Discount Rate. 

That said, you will still need to provide travel agent credentials when checking in, so this is not a rate code that just anyone can use.

Here are the credentials and ID requirements for using the Marriott travel agent rate code:

• During hotel check-in, the travel advisor must provide appropriate credentials. An IATAN photo ID Card or CLIA EMARC Photo ID Card is required for travel agents associated with a US agency. For travel agents associated with an agency outside the US or advisors associated with a AAA location, a valid photo ID and a business card or employment verification letter on the letterhead of their agency are required.
• If the appropriate credentials are not presented at check-in, the hotel will charge the travel advisor the Travel Agent rate or the lowest rate available to the general public for each night of the stay.

Verification, Enforcement, and Misuse Risk

Marriott actively enforces its travel agent rate policies.

If eligibility cannot be verified, hotels may:

• Reprice the reservation at the prevailing public rate
• Cancel the booking prior to arrival
• Decline to honor the rate at check-in

Repeated misuse can result in:

• Loss of booking privileges
• Removal of access for the advisor
• Notification to the advisor’s host agency

Because of this, travel agent rates should be used carefully and strictly within program rules.

What’s the difference between Standard Travel Agent Rates and Marriott Fam-Tastic Rates?

There are a couple of key differences between the two Marriott travel agent rates, including:

• The discount is typically higher for the Fam-tastic rate.
• You can only book 1 room (4 nights maximum) at the given property with a Fam-Tastic Rate, but you can book two rooms with a standard travel agent rate and stay as long as you want.
• You can only book a Fam-Tastic rate at a participating Marriott International property once per calendar year. Standard Travel Agent rates do not have this limit.
• You must undergo additional training to qualify for a Fam-Tastic rate, whereas any accredited travel agent can book a Travel Agent Rate.
• You can only book a Fam-Tastic rate through the Marriott Travel Agent portal, whereas you can book a standard Travel Agent Rate through the Marriott website.

Terms of the Marriott Fam-Tastic Program

• Reservations for the Fam-Tastic rate must be made upon logging into hotelexcellence.marriott.com.
• The rate is available at participating properties for a minimum of one (1) night and a maximum of four (4) nights per stay.
• Rates are subject to availability and black-out dates. Reservations are required.
• Travel agents may book a maximum of one (1) room per stay using the Fam-Tastic rate.
• The number of stays the travel advisor may book in a calendar year using the Fam-Tastic rate is not limited, provided that the advisor may only use the Fam-Tastic rate one (1) time per calendar year at each participating property.
• Rates will be shown in USD or local currency and do not include taxes, gratuities, resort or destination fees, or other mandatory fees.
• The rate applies to one standard guest room based on double occupancy.

Are Marriott Travel Agent Rates Worth It?

For qualified advisors, Marriott travel agent rates can be valuable when availability aligns with travel plans. However, they are:

• Restricted
• Capacity-controlled
• Non-qualifying for loyalty in most cases
• Intended strictly for advisor use

If you don’t meet eligibility requirements, focusing on Marriott Bonvoy member rates or negotiated discounts is usually the more reliable option.

Final Thoughts

Marriott travel agent rates are a legitimate professional benefit—but they are not public discounts. Understanding eligibility, verification, and restrictions will help you avoid booking issues and use the program correctly.

When used as intended, Fam-Tastic rates can support professional development and personal travel. When misused, access can be revoked quickly.

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