Moxy Hotels: A Marriott Bonvoy Guide

Marriott Bonvoy has nearly 30 hotel brands, each serving a different type of traveler. Guests looking to earn or redeem Bonvoy points for the ultimate in luxury and service choose Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis. Travelers on longer stays choose Residence Inn by Marriott or TownePlace Suites by Marriott.

And now, the guests Marriott calls “fun hunters” — Gen X and Y travelers looking for great value without skimping on style — have a Marriott Bonvoy brand too: Moxy.

What are Moxy Hotels all about?

More than 70 Moxy Hotels are currently spread across Europe, North America and Asia, with at least 129 more in the works. Designed to compete with properties like Yotel and Citizen, Moxy’s accommodations are affordable because they’re small.

What you can expect

Think: A snug 155-square-foot room in New York’s East Greenwich Village for just over $100 off-peak or just under $250 during peak summer travel, or 40,000 to 60,000 Bonvoy points. There’s also a Quad Bunk room with four single bunk beds fit compactly into 189 square feet for the same price. Instead of big dressers and cabinets, you’ll find versatile, space-saving wall hooks. Public areas in the hotel blend the bar with the front desk to maximize space.

But it would be a mistake to think of Moxy as a typical budget stay. Instead, the brand focuses on what’s really important for fashionable Gen X and Y travelers: conveniences like ample USB and power outlets, fast Wi-Fi, high-quality toiletries and keyless Bluetooth entry accessible from your smartphone. These curated perks are available amid an atmosphere that showcases modern design and hip dining and entertainment options.

History

Marriott collaborated with Ikea to create Moxy furnishings that balance low cost, functionality and style. Yabu Pushelberg-designed pieces made especially for the Moxy NYC Times Square property inspired the space-conscious interior design of other Moxy properties. For instance, folding tables and chairs can be hung on wall pegs, while the under-bed storage makes use of space wasted in other hotel rooms.

The first Moxy opened in 2014 at Milan Malpensa airport in Italy, and it became an example for other Moxy properties to follow: multizone public spaces are designed for communal gatherings — whether for work or to enjoy cocktails and snacks from the kitchen.

Most Moxy Hotels mix in local culture, for example the nod to Italian fashion with mannequins and design pieces at the Milan Malpensa property.

» Learn more: Marriott Bonvoy program: The complete guide

Get to know a Moxy

Moxy properties save you money, or points, by saving space. And there’s no place this matters more than pricey New York City, where Moxy has four hotels: Moxy Times Square, Moxy East Village and Moxy Chelsea are all Bonvoy Category 6 properties. Moxy NYC Downtown is Category 5.

To help you decide whether a Moxy stay should be in your future, here’s a closer look at one of those properties: Moxy East Village.

Moxy East Village, New York City

Rockwell Group, the designers of the Moxy East Village, incorporated the neighborhood’s history into the interior, with different East Village themes highlighted on each floor to create a vertical trip through time.

When you enter Moxy East Village, you’ll notice individual check-in desk stands fashioned out of repurposed desks and cabinets by a local artist.

Further inside is a living room with movable seating to let you work solo or gather with friends. There’s a Skee-Ball machine in the corner and a wall lined with vintage audio and video cassettes, books and board games.

Designers purchased all of these from local shops, and they even partnered with a local bookshop to re-create their streetfront carts where books are sold at a discount. Moxy East Village provides books for free to guests that they can take home with them, and they are encouraged to leave one behind.

Another nod to the Village’s musical history comes in the form of vintage records. Guests can have them delivered to their room along with an old-fashioned turntable to jam out old-school style.

Moxy East Village has a meeting space with thick curtains that can be drawn closed for privacy or left open to hotel guests when the space isn’t booked.

Many dining outlets at Moxy’s New York properties are operated by the Tao Group, which is known for creating sought-after nightclubs and restaurants in Las Vegas, New York and other destinations.

At Moxy East Village, Tao’s French-Mediterranean-inspired Cathédrale restaurant was inspired by the Fillmore East music hall, once known as “The Church of Rock ’n’ Roll.”

The East Village Moxy is also home to speakeasy-style nightclub Little Sister. A chic rooftop bar is slated to open in 2021.

» Learn more: Which Marriott Bonvoy credit card should I choose?

The bottom line

While that is just one example of a Moxy, you'll find the characteristics it embraces to be similar to other Moxy properties around the world. If you value style over space and you like the idea of a youthful vibe with a heavy dose of local culture, Moxy Hotels could have what you’re looking for. Bonvoy members can earn or redeem points for stays at Moxy Hotels at home and abroad. But because cash prices can be so low, compare both the cash rate and the points rate to make sure you’re getting the most value for your points.