Higher-end hotel chains are known for offering executive lounges inside premium hotels. But one global accommodation brand is tempting tennis fans with a private lounge inside the grounds of a major sporting event. At this year’s Australian Open, set your sights on the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge as an escape from the crowds.
As the official hotel partner of the Australian Open, Marriott is the only hotel chain with a lounge presence at the year’s first tennis Grand Slam. It primarily serves invited guests. Think, those who spend far more than others on hotels. But there’s also a way that any Marriott Bonvoy member can visit by redeeming points.
Whether you’re on the VIP list or turn a stash of spare Marriott Bonvoy points into a ticket to this private lounge, here’s what you can look forward to inside.
Location and seating in the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge at the Australian Open
The Marriott Bonvoy Lounge at this year’s Australian Open sits on River Terrace within the grounds of Melbourne Park. Practically speaking, this places it on the far side of Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Area, somewhat nestled between the two.
Guests are first greeted by a branded Marriott Bonvoy wall, perfect for a quick photo stop. Then, after signing in, guests can explore the space. The main indoor area is filled with seating, mainly designed with pairs in mind. That makes sense, because those using points for access can redeem for a minimum of two entry tickets. There’s also an outdoor terrace.
On the day I stop by, the late afternoon weather is particularly pleasant. This makes the outdoor terrace the place to be – and comfortably so. I arrive promptly once the main gates are opened to those with night tickets, and initially find the space quite empty. Within half an hour, it’s filled up, without being uncomfortably full. That’s one benefit to a limited guest list – you won’t need to jockey for a seat.
As access to the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge is primarily by invitation only, expect to see some familiar faces among the mix. I’ll use my discretion and not name those who were also enjoying the space during my visit, except to say that those who enjoy ‘celebrity spotting’ are unlikely to be disappointed.
Food and beverage in the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge at the Australian Open
Think of what you might expect during the evening service at a major hotel executive lounge and you’ll have a good idea of the offerings here. Along with the tranquillity and exclusivity of the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge, all-inclusive food and drinks are the other drawcard for Australian Open VIPs.
There’s an open bar serving up wine, beer, spirits and cocktails. An Aperol Spritz is an easy choice to begin. Take my suggestion and order a ‘Lemon Ace’ after that (not pictured – I must admit, I was too busy enjoying it!). That’s the ‘signature cocktail’ of the Australian Open, blending Grey Goose vodka, sparkling lemonade and passionfruit syrup.
On the food front, expect canapé-style bites. But recognising that the lounge is more of a networking-style space than a hotel chillout zone, these nibbles are served up by waiters who do the rounds.
There’s a decent variety of food, not all of which is photographed. Highlights for me include the arancini balls, skewers of citrusy tuna, meatballs with toasted bread and the octopus salad.
My only dislike? That these more substantial bites only began arriving closer to 7 pm, which is when play at Rod Laver Arena is shortly to begin. It becomes a choice on whether to eat enough to serve as dinner, or catch the first set of the match. But if you do remain in the lounge during play, you’ll find multiple TVs within to keep up with all the action.
Extra features of the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge for tennis fans
The Marriott Bonvoy Lounge at the Australian Open has a few extras tucked away to keep tennis fans occupied. It starts at reception, where the suite is decorated with a tennis racquet used in competition at Wimbledon in the 1960s. That continues with a photo wall that’s themed in a similar style.
At various times throughout the day and early evening, interviews and photo opportunities are also available with career tennis players of the past and present. During my visit, Katie Boulter drops in for a hosted Q&A. (If you’re not up to speed with your tennis players, Boulter is currently ranked #25 in the WTA and made it to the second round of the Australian Open). There’s enough time during the pop-in for photos and 1:1 chit chats. Boulter tells me that she has a strong preference for winning the first set during play because it sets her up for success for the rest of the match.
Away from the tennis-themed perks, the lounge is also home to a spa. If you’re interested in a treatment, you’ll want to put your name down promptly as it’s quite popular among attendees. Alternatively, you might find it easier to land a treatment once play has begun… but you came to the AO to watch the tennis, right?
Accessing the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge inside the 2025 Australian Open
Keen to visit the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge at this year’s Australian Open? It helps to be on the VIP list. Perhaps, by being one of Marriott’s most frequent hotel guests, or controlling the hotel spend of a large company. Otherwise, you’ll need to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for a pass.
You can swap 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a pair of tickets to the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge. There’s no option to redeem for just one ticket, so plan to bring a companion.
The best way to secure your place is to jump onto the Marriott Bonvoy Moments website. That’ll show if any seats are available. Realistically, you’ve likely missed your chance this year. But it’s something to keep in mind for 2026. Just note, a pass to the lounge doesn’t serve as an entry ticket to the AO itself. You’ll still need your own AO ticket to enter Melbourne Park. That can be a ground pass or an allocated seat in one of the key arenas.
Marriott Bonvoy members can also redeem points for packages that include AO tickets as well. Keep your eyes peeled to the Marriott Bonvoy Moments website in around November to early December. The most sought-after experiences operate as an auction rather than an outright redemption. This year, members bid over one million points for a premium experience including tickets to the men’s final.
The verdict
So, is it worth spending points to visit the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge at the Australian Open? If you’re a diehard tennis fan, perhaps.
Frequent travellers can notch up serious tallies of points, after all. But with that travel likely to be work-related, the last thing that many road warriors want is yet another hotel stay. In contrast, being able to use points for an experience can have strong appeal to the right people.
Having experienced the lounge, I’d happily swap 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to share the experience with a +1. Considering the price of food and drinks at the tennis, it’s not difficult to get the value back, so to speak. It’s also just quite cool having a lounge to visit at a major event like this. There’s more X-factor than a typical Qantas Club.
You’ll get the most use of the lounge if you have a day pass to the tennis, rather than an evening-only ticket. That’s because you can pop in and out of the lounge all day. With a night session ticket, you’ll only be able to enter the grounds after 5 pm, and evening play generally kicks off a little after 7 pm.
In my case, I enjoyed having access to the lounge before the match. But even though the Marriott Bonvoy Lounge remained open for a couple of hours after play began, I didn’t see a need to return. Staff will happily prepare cocktails ‘to go’, so I happily enjoyed a gin and tonic while watching Djokovic win in straight sets.
Also read: Redeem points for lounge access at the Australian Open
Except where otherwise credited, photography by Chris Chamberlin, who attended as a guest of Marriott Bonvoy.
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