Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s travel rewards programme, and Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline, have announced a partnership that allows members of both loyalty programmes to convert points and miles for hotel stays, flights, and upgrades.
Source: Marriott International, Inc.
Under the collaboration, Marriott Bonvoy and ShebaMiles members can transfer ShebaMiles to Marriott Bonvoy points for hotel stays and upgrades, or convert Marriott Bonvoy points to ShebaMiles to book flights. Members staying at participating Marriott properties can also choose to earn either Marriott Bonvoy points or ShebaMiles.
Ethiopian Airlines operates flights to over 145 destinations across Africa, as well as connections to major cities including Mumbai, Paris, London, Washington D.C., and Beijing. Through its membership in Star Alliance, the airline offers access to more than 1,150 destinations via 25 partner airlines, expanding opportunities for loyalty point redemption.
The partnership comes as travel within Africa continues to grow. According to the African Travel & Tourism Association, international arrivals to Africa increased by 9% in early 2025, with intra-regional travel accounting for over 50% of trips. Major hubs like Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, and Nairobi are seeing increased connectivity, contributing to higher demand for hotel and flight loyalty programmes.
Ethiopian Airlines’ ShebaMiles members can convert miles to Marriott Bonvoy points at a 2:1 ratio, while Marriott Bonvoy points can be converted to ShebaMiles at a 3:1 ratio. A bonus of 5,000 ShebaMiles is awarded for transfers of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points in a single transaction. Members earn up to two ShebaMiles per US dollar spent at participating Marriott properties, or can earn Marriott Bonvoy points as usual. Enrollment in both programmes is required, with no account linking necessary.
“Africa is one of the world’s fastest‑growing regions for travel, and this partnership reflects our continued commitment to deliver the most rewarding travel experiences for our members,” said Andrew Watson, Chief Commercial Officer – Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “Through our partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, Marriott Bonvoy members will have the freedom to enjoy the benefits of loyalty in ways that are most meaningful to them – whether earning miles during their stays or using points to get the miles they need for flights.”
Rahel Assefa, Ethiopian Airlines Group Vice President of Marketing, added: “The partnership we have established with Marriott Bonvoy is part of our ongoing efforts to advance our vision of enhancing the ShebaMiles member travel experience while diversifying our service offerings. Through this new partnership, our ShebaMiles members will have greater opportunities to earn and redeem their miles through access to Marriott Bonvoy’s global network of hotels across multiple touchpoints and destinations in Africa and around the world. Ethiopian Airlines remains committed to building strategic partnerships with various stakeholders that enhance our service offerings and enable us to continually exceed our customers’ expectations.”
Travel within Africa is expected to continue growing, with the World Travel & Tourism Council projecting that Africa’s tourism sector could reach $200 billion in contribution to GDP by 2027, driven by expanding air connectivity and the rising middle class. Strategic partnerships between airlines and hotel loyalty programmes are increasingly seen as key to facilitating seamless travel across the region.
