Dylan Efron Joins Marriott Bonvoy for $10 K Drop‑Pin Treasure Hunt Across North America

When Dylan Efron, the 33‑year‑old TV personality who just wrapped Season 32 of Dancing with the Stars, teamed up with Marriott International’s loyalty arm, Marriott Bonvoy, a continent‑spanning treasure hunt went live on September 20 2024.

The initiative, dubbed The Drop Pin Challenge, drops 20 physical pins at iconic outdoor sites from Yellowstone to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The first 50 members to locate each pin pocket 10,000 Bonvoy points – a total giveaway worth roughly $10,000 when you apply the program’s standard 100‑points‑equals‑$1 rate.

Why a Drop‑Pin Hunt Now?

Post‑pandemic travel data shows a 68% surge in demand for nature‑based experiences, according to a 2023 industry report. Marriott’s answer is Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors, a digital hub that lists 452 hotels, 50,000 homes and villas, and curated adventures across North America’s wildest corners.

By pairing a high‑profile personality with a gamified, point‑earning quest, the company hopes to capture the wanderlust of millennials and Gen Zers who crave both social media moments and real‑world payoff.

How the Challenge Works

The Drop Pin Challenge runs until October 31 2024, or until every pin is claimed – whichever comes first. Here’s the math:

• 20 pins × 50 winners per pin = 1,000 travelers
• Each winner receives 10,000 points → 10,000,000 points total
• At Marriott’s standard valuation, that equals about $10,000 in future stays or experiences

To qualify, participants must be active Marriott Bonvoy members, have the Marriott Bonvoy app installed, and verify their location on‑site before the pin is taken.

The first pin was hidden near Big Bear Lake in California, a fact confirmed by Marriott Bonvoy’s official Instagram story. Efron hinted at the next drop with a cheeky video: “I woke up in the middle of nowhere. Let’s go explore,” while paddling a kayak through a remote alpine lake.

Pin Locations and Their Appeal

Efron, a self‑described “global adventurer,” selected each spot. The list reads like a travel‑bucket‑list:

1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming – geysers and bison
2. Maui, Hawaii – volcanic cliffs and surf
3. Banff National Park, Alberta – turquoise lakes
4. Grand Canyon, Arizona – rim‑to‑rim vistas
5. Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia & North Carolina – winding trails
6. …and 15 other secret sites ranging from the Adirondacks to the Everglades.

Each location couples a natural wonder with a nearby Marriott‑affiliated property, be it a Postcard Cabin hidden in a fjord‑like forest or a Trailborn Hotel perched on a canyon edge.

Brands Behind the Adventure

Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors rolls out two distinct accommodation concepts:

• Postcard Cabins – Scandinavian‑inspired, off‑grid cabins with floor‑to‑ceiling windows that promise “no mosquitoes, total privacy.”
• Trailborn Hotels – Boutique hotels that pair luxe rooms with curated tours, from sunrise hikes at the Grand Canyon to guided night‑sky sessions in the Blue Ridge.

Both brands aim to keep guests outdoors longer, a strategy echoed by Flaunt magazine, which said the experience “lingers long after checkout.”

Reactions From the Travel Community

Social‑media chatter has been mixed but mostly enthusiastic. "Finally, a loyalty program that gets me out of the hotel lobby," wrote @wanderlust_jane on Twitter, citing the thrill of a real‑world scavenger hunt.

Industry analysts, however, caution that point inflation could dilute long‑term value. "Ten million points sound huge, but remember Marriott’s redemption rates vary wildly—some stays cost 30,000 points, others 70,000," warned travel‑economist Luis Martinez of TravelMetrics.

Marriott representatives, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that the points are a “marketing cost” meant to drive repeat bookings on the newly launched Outdoors platform.

What This Means for Marriott’s Future

The Drop Pin Challenge is more than a gimmick; it’s a litmus test for Marriott’s push into adventure tourism. If the pins are snapped up quickly, the company may double down on similar experiences, perhaps even turning the “1‑point drop moments” slated for October into a year‑round series.

Given that the loyalty program already spans 8,800 properties in 141 countries, adding a nature‑focused layer could attract a younger, experience‑hungry demographic while reinforcing brand relevance in a competitive market.

Background: Marriott’s Loyalty Evolution

Marriott Bonvoy launched in 2019, merging three legacy programs into a single point‑earning system. Since then, the brand has added over 1.2 billion points to member accounts, but growth slowed after the pandemic. The outdoors pivot reflects a broader industry shift: travelers now rank “access to nature” above “luxury amenities” in post‑COVID surveys.

Efron’s involvement also signals a trend toward using reality‑TV personalities to bridge entertainment and travel. His win on Peacock’s The Traitors and current stint on Dancing with the Stars give him a cross‑generational fan base that Marriott hopes to tap.

What’s Next?

Beyond October, Marriott plans to roll out “Efron‑hosted experiences” that cost as little as 1,000 points – essentially a souvenir‑level reward for completing a mini‑adventure. The company is also eyeing partnerships with national parks to create “protected‑zone” pins that require permits, adding a layer of sustainability compliance.

For now, the race is on. Travelers armed with GPS, hiking boots, and a healthy dose of competition are trekking from coast to coast, hoping to be among the lucky 1,000 who claim their points before the clock runs out.