Cooper Kupp, Jordan Mailata, Jerry Rice and other current and former players share local recommendations as Marriott links football travel with destination discovery, hotel stays and loyalty experiences.
Marriott Bonvoy and the NFL will unveil a season-long campaign featuring 37 player-curated City Guides with insider recommendations from NFL stars across every NFL host city.
- Marriott Bonvoy has launched 37 player-curated City Guides covering every U.S. and international city scheduled to host an NFL game in the 2026 season.
- Current and former NFL players including Cooper Kupp, Jordan Mailata, Jerry Rice, Mark Ingram II and Todd Gurley contribute recommendations tied to cities where they have personal or professional connections.
- The program extends beyond digital guides with a 10-episode content series, on-property activations and select Marriott Bonvoy Moments packages combining game tickets, hotel stays and local experiences.
- The campaign arrives as the NFL stages a record nine international regular-season games across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums in 2026.
(NEWS) BETHESDA, Maryland, United States, 2026-Aug-31 — /Travel PR News/ — For football fans turning an NFL game into a city break, Marriott Bonvoy is adding a player-led layer to trip planning. The travel platform has launched 37 City Guides covering every U.S. and international destination scheduled to host an NFL game during the 2026 season, using recommendations from current and former players to steer visitors toward local places and traditions beyond the stadium.
The guides are part of a season-long collaboration between Marriott Bonvoy and the National Football League that blends destination content, hotel stays, loyalty redemptions and fan experiences. According to details released by Marriott, the project spans all 2026 NFL host cities, including international stops such as Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, London, Paris and Madrid.
Players turn local knowledge into travel itineraries
The first group of guides draws on the personal connections of players whose careers or histories are closely tied to particular destinations. Cooper Kupp shares recommendations for Seattle, Jordan Mailata for Philadelphia, Jerry Rice for Mexico City, Mark Ingram II for Rio de Janeiro and Todd Gurley for Melbourne. Additional guides are due from Fred Warner in San Francisco and Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore, with more player contributions scheduled throughout the season.
Each guide was designed by social media artist Jeff Cole and highlights local traditions, favorite places and lesser-known stops that helped shape the featured player’s connection with the destination. The format gives Marriott a way to turn a game ticket into a broader itinerary, particularly for visiting supporters who may be spending only a few days in an unfamiliar city.
A record international schedule raises the travel stakes
The timing is notable because the NFL’s 2026 season carries its largest international schedule to date. The league’s official international games slate comprises nine regular-season games across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums, with Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro and Paris hosting NFL regular-season games for the first time.
The overseas schedule begins in Melbourne in September and continues through Rio de Janeiro, London, Paris, Madrid, Munich and Mexico City. That expanded footprint increases the number of supporters who may be combining long-haul travel with football, giving destination guides, hotel planning and packaged local experiences a more prominent role in the game-day journey.
Guides are only one part of the season-long program
Marriott says the City Guides will be supported by on-property experiences and a new 10-episode content series featuring selected players in their home destinations. The company is also using Marriott Bonvoy Moments to offer selected fan experiences, while curated City Guide packages in certain host markets are expected to combine game tickets, hotel stays and local activities.
Peggy Roe, executive vice president and chief customer officer at Marriott International, said the initiative is intended to help traveling supporters see NFL destinations through the perspective of the players they follow, extending the company’s broader strategy of linking loyalty membership with travel built around personal interests.
The campaign also revives Marriott Bonvoy’s Super Bowl Sleepover Suite promotion. One winner will receive the opportunity to spend the night before the Super Bowl inside a luxury suite at SoFi Stadium that has been converted into a hotel-style room. Marriott says the sweepstakes closes on 15 December 2026, with eligibility subject to country and age requirements; full conditions are available in the official rules.
Football fandom becomes a destination-marketing platform
Alongside the guides and experiences, Marriott Bonvoy has launched an NFL advertising campaign called Long-Distance NFL Relationships. The campaign sits under the company’s Where Gameday Checks In platform and focuses on supporters who live far from the teams they follow, positioning hotel availability near NFL venues as part of the practical infrastructure of away-game travel.
Fans can browse the complete collection through the Marriott Bonvoy NFL Travel Hub, which also connects visitors with Marriott Bonvoy Moments and the Super Bowl promotion. Taken together, the program illustrates how professional sport is increasingly being used not only to fill stadiums but also to encourage spending on accommodation, dining and destination experiences around the event itself.
