Work from Anywhere

Take Your Job on the Road in 3 Cities Perfect for Bleisure Travel

by Ramsey Qubein

Photograph by Ramsey Qubein

woman with suitcase in london

Combine work and play for a trip to remember. (Photo: Getty Images)

It’s easier than ever to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for both work and play, including on hotel stays, with travel partners, and on tours and activities. For small business owners, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card makes it easier to rack up points and has a $125 annual fee.

Earn points from your own spending as well as on eligible Employee Card purchases. Card Members can add up to 99 Employee Cards with no annual fee and earn points for purchases the same way your own Card does.

So, if your company’s team puts their work expenses on the Card, you can earn extra points. This is a great option for those that travel for work, especially now that remote working and “bleisure travel” are becoming more popular.

This new way of working involves blending personal and professional time while remaining productive. And that type of flexibility can lead to more Marriott Bonvoy points, too. Here are three cities worth exploring for a remote work experience where Marriott Bonvoy and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Card® can play a central (and rewarding) role.

As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

New York City

nyc marriott marquis broadway lounge with views of times square
Soak up the energy of Times Square from a hotel lounge. (Photo: Marriott International)

The Big Apple is easy to reach by air from most U.S. airports either nonstop or with one connection. Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card Members earn points which could be later converted to miles with the Air+Car Transfer Program.

Once there, enjoy office amenities like printing, Wi-Fi and refreshments from the comfort of your guest room. Depending on the hotel, Card Members can receive a Marriott Bonvoy Room Rate Discount off of a standard guest room (excluding Premium rooms) at hotels which participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly.

If you prefer to work in the lobby, consider a centrally located spot like the New York Marriott Marquis, where views of action-packed Times Square entertain those dining, relaxing or working on their laptops. In between emails, you can grab a bite to eat in Koreatown, south of Times Square, or at the hotel itself.

Don’t forget: It’s possible to earn 6X points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy with the Card on top of what you receive for being a Marriott Bonvoy member.

After a productive day, walk over to the TKTS booth in Times Square to treat yourself to a same-day Broadway show. Or walk a few blocks to Fifth Avenue for a little retail therapy after a day of working in a new place.

Los Angeles

sheraton grand los angeles club lounge
Relax after a long work day in a lounge with a view. (Photo: Marriott International)

Remote working in L.A. can mix beach time with city-center meetings all on the same trip. Sheraton Grand Los Angeles, a great example of Sheraton’s global rebirth and renovation project, is the perfect spot if you want to be in downtown Los Angeles. Enjoy the lobby’s free Wi-Fi and innovative workspaces, order a drink from its lounge bar or make use of its meeting rooms.

After all, Sheraton’s brand promise is bringing the world together, especially when it comes to networking and connecting with others. Whether you’re entertaining clients, using a rental car to explore or planning next month’s budget, there are ways to rack up points.

For instance, when you travel with the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you can earn 4x points at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.

If you’re trying to catch a sports game or concert, it’s only a short walk away to the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, a perfect home base if you want to spend the night close to the Crypto.com Arena. There’s plenty of exciting dining options in the neighborhood, too. Both Chinatown and Little Tokyo are packed with family-owned restaurants at all price points.

London

lobby with poof seat and tables and mid-century lighting
Earn points as you work and explore in London. (Photo: Marriott International)

For those who want to cross the pond, London is a buzzworthy destination with plenty to see, do, eat and explore. The Westin London City is the perfect home base for combining some well-being with remote work.

It offers the brand’s signature RunWestin program, where guests can start their day with a guided jog around the neighborhood with a staff member (sometimes even the general manager).

It is close to many financial offices, as well as popular attractions like the Globe Theatre, making it easy to sneak away between phone calls to explore something local or grab a bite to eat.

Not far from The Westin London City is Borough Market, where you can use your Card at various food stalls offering authentic British products and souvenirs while accumulating Marriott Bonvoy points by earning 2X points on all other eligible purchases. It’s well worth the short walk from the hotel, but great public transport makes it easy to seek out London’s hidden gems throughout the city.

No matter where you set up your remote office, your own bleisure travel or that of your employees becomes an ideal way to earn more points. That next vacation will be here sooner than you realize.