The Complete Guide to Sheraton Hotels

As part of Marriott International since 2016, Sheraton is Marriott’s third-largest brand and now has more than 430 hotels and resorts in 75 countries.

Sheraton is one of Marriott’s premium brands along with Marriott, Delta Hotels, Westin, Le Méridien, Renaissance Hotels, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels and The Marriott Vacation Clubs.

Here's what to know before you book a stay at a Sheraton hotel.

The chain has always been innovative. In 1947, Sheraton became the first hotel traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Then in 1958, Sheraton became the first hotel chain to have an automatic hotel reservation system, called Reservatron. In 1970, it was the first to have a toll-free phone number for people to call.

In 1985, Sheraton became the first international hotel chain to have a hotel in China. Now, there are 156 hotels in Asia, most of which are in China.

Sheraton became part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. in 1998. Starwood, which included St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Design Hotels, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft, Element and Tribute Portfolio, became part of Marriott in 2016, creating the world’s largest hotel company.

Shortly after, Marriott began a plan to “transform” Sheraton, focusing on refreshing the guest experience, design and hotel operations.

That vision debuted in early 2021 and focuses on Sheraton being a place where locals and guests want to hang out, be productive and feel comfortable.

When Sheraton Hotels outlined its transformation plan in 2018, the company estimated that owners in the United States had planned to spend $500 million on renovations and that a quarter of the hotels worldwide had committed to the plans.

According to Marriott, it took some time to restart the momentum for transformation after COVID-19, but things are accelerating.

New updates to hotels

New and updated hotels are continuing to roll out.

At the end of 2023, more than 50 hotels worldwide had transformed their lobbies and other public spaces, including 20 in the United States and Canada. The company expects about 20% of Sheraton’s global portfolio will be transformed by the end of 2024 and more hotels in 2025.

Unlike some hotels that have taken the focus away from their lobbies, Sheraton calls the lobby the heart of the brand’s new experience and a “public square” to create energy and a sense of belonging.

Updated lobbies have:

• The Community Table: Areas that include charging stations where people can work or relax. 

• The Studios: Flexible spaces similar to conference rooms guests can book.

• Soundproof booths: Booths throughout the lobby so guests can enjoy some privacy.

• &More by Sheraton: This part bar, part coffee bar, part market offers coffee, daytime food and beverages and evening cocktails. 

Community events

To further foster the sense of community, a new program, Gatherings by Sheraton, recently partnered with Reese’s Book Club at some Sheraton locations around the world to create Reese’s Book Club x Sheraton Lobby Library.

The goal of the Gatherings program is to allow guests and locals to connect during hosted experiences that are tied to the local area.

Guest room updates

Up in the guest rooms, the brand has also had a refresh that focuses on productivity.

The updated rooms at Sheraton Hotels and Resorts have:

• Bright lighting with soft finishes, light wood tones and black accents. 

• Adjustable work tables with power and lighting. 

• Walk-in showers and bath amenities by Gilchrist & Soames.

Beds and bedding

One thing that remains of the older Sheraton days is the focus on the bed and bedding. The “Sheraton Sleep Experience” has gotten quite a following, and the bed, pillows, sheets, duvets and more are available to buy online either with Marriott Bonvoy points or cash.

Lounge access

Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite members of Marriott Bonvoy and people who book club level rooms have access to the Sheraton Club Lounge — a place to work and snack.

Sheraton hotels are part of Marriott’s Bonvoy rewards program, allowing you to earn points for stays and in other ways and redeem them for free nights and other things.

Base members earn 10 points for every dollar they spend at Sheraton Hotels. The earnings power increases based on the level of elite status: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium or Ambassador.

» Learn more: The guide to Marriott Bonvoy

A good rewards redemption means different things to different people. It can be when a great hotel is in an equally great location, or one that is simply available when you want it for the points you have.

According to the team at Marriott Bonvoy, Sheraton properties at leisure destinations have the largest number of redemption stays.

Here’s an example for a trip to Hawaii, where there are five Sheraton hotels. The Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort just underwent $200 million in renovations to all 1,636 rooms and suites, and most of the rooms have views of Diamond Head.

For a four-night stay in September 2024 beginning Sept. 14, the rate was 371,000 points, or 92,750 per night.

The same room for late May was 268,000 points or 67,000 points per night.

So by extending that September stay by one night, it becomes 372,000 points total or 74,400 points per night.

The total number of points changed because the free night is the cheapest of the nights selected.

The extended May stay becomes 270,000 points total or 54,000 points per night.

Keep in mind that resort bookings often involve resort fees and taxes, which are not included in points bookings.

Some Marriott co-branded credit cards are a way to instantly get higher-level Marriott Bonvoy status and therefore Sheraton Club Lounge access.

Marriott Bonvoy offers a total of five credit cards: four personal cards and one business card, issued by Chase or American Express. All but one card provides elite status, and most cards give you at least one free night each year with the opportunity to earn even more through spending.

There is one additional consumer card and one business card in the Marriott credit card portfolio.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card has a $250 annual fee. It comes with complimentary Gold elite status and earns 6x points at Marriott hotels. It also includes 1,000 bonus points per stay, a free night worth 50,000 points (after spending $15,000) and 15 Elite Night Credits.

• The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card has a $125 annual fee. It grants Gold elite status and 6x points at Marriott hotels. The card also provides a free night award up to 35,000 points with the option to earn a second night, a 7% room rate discount and 15 Elite Night Credits.

Terms apply.

» Learn more: The best hotel credit cards right now

Chances are if you’re looking for a Marriott-related property abroad, you’ll find a Sheraton hotel. There are more than 430 hotels and resorts in 75 countries.

Sheraton is one of Marriott International’s classic premium brands and is known for its welcoming lobbies and comfortable beds. The brand is undergoing a “transformation” that began in 2018.

The information related to Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.