REGISTRATION ENDS: Marriott’s ‘1000 bonus points and double elite nights’ hotel promotion

For the last two months, Marriott Bonvoy has been running a bonus promotion.

It ends on 28th April but registration closes TODAY, 14th April.

I am re-running this article in case you may be having a Marriott stay in the next two weeks (perhaps encouraged by the new American Express cashback deal). If so, you can register here.

It is particularly attractive because you will earn double elite night credits on qualifying stays, as well as 1,000 bonus points per night.

What is the current Marriott Bonvoy promotion?

This is how it works in a nutshell:

• the promotion runs from 11th February to 28th April

• registration closes TODAY, 14th April

• you must register in advance via this link

• you receive 1,000 bonus points per night and double elite night credits

• there is no minimum stay required

• existing bookings are OK

• reward nights do NOT count for double elite night credits or bonus points – this includes ‘cash and points’ bookings

• nights at BVLGARI, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Marriott Executive Apartments do NOT count for double elite night credits or bonus points

• however, unlike last year, nights at Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy do count although it may take up to six weeks for the bonus element to post

What sort of return do I get on my spending?

The standard earning rate in Marriott Bonvoy is 10 points per $1 spent, excluding tax. (Some limited service brands earn at half this rate, including the new Four Points Flex.)

Converted into £, adding in 1,000 bonus points and assuming a Bonvoy point is worth 0.5p (as we do), your return would be:

• 16.2% on a £50 night before taxes
• 11.2% on a £100 night before taxes
• 9.5% on a £150 night before taxes

If you have Marriott Bonvoy status, your return will be even higher due to your 10% to 75% base points bonus.

The real value may be in the double elite night credits

For a lot of Marriott Bonvoy members, the real focus will be on the double elite night credits.

The Marriott Bonvoy status levels are:

• Silver Elite – requires 10 nights. Benefit is a 10% bonus on base points and priority late checkout (based on availability)

• Gold Elite – requires 25 nights. Benefits are a 25% bonus on base points, room upgrade, high-speed internet, 2pm late check-out (based on availability, not at resorts and conference hotels) and welcome gift.

• Platinum Elite– requires 50 nights. Benefits are a 50% bonus on base points, room upgrade to best available room or suite, high-speed internet, lounge access (or breakfast if the lounge is closed), guaranteed late check-out until 4pm (not at resorts) as well as an annual ‘choice benefit’ from five options including 5 elite night credits or 5 Nightly Upgrade Awards and welcome gift.

• Titanium Elite – requires 75 nights. Benefits are a 75% bonus on base points, an annual ‘choice benefit’ from six options as well as all the benefits enjoyed by Platinum.

• Ambassador Elite – requires 100 nights and $23,000 of annual spending. Benefits include all those of Titanium Elite (there is no increase in points bonus) as well as a 24/7 personal assistant service, the ability to choose the exact 24 hours of your stay.

The full table of elite benefits is here.

Platinum Elite is the sweet spot

For most people, Platinum Elite is the sweet spot.

It triggers the guaranteed 4pm check-out (at most hotels), the annual choice benefit (which most people take as five Nightly Upgrade Awards), a decent upgrade and lounge access / free breakfast.

Whilst 50 nights is a lot, if you could put stays towards Marriott Bonvoy by 28th April you could make a dint in that number with double elite night credits.

Don’t forget to get the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card if you are pushing for status

If you are going for Marriott Bonvoy elite status, you’d be crazy not to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card.

The card comes with 15 elite night credits, for each and every year that you hold it. This means that Platinum Elite status only requires 35 nights per year, and if you did them all during this ‘double elite nights’ promotion you could do it in 18 nights.

Our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card is here. You can apply for the card here.

It may even be worth a mattress run

With 1,000 bonus points per night, on top of your standard base points, there may even be some merit in a few mattress run nights if you have a cheap Courtyard or Moxy hotel near you. Check in, ruffle the sheets and walk straight out.

If you have the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card, you’d also be earning 6 points per £1 on your Marriott hotel spending.

The addition of Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy this year adds an extra twist to the mattress run calculations if you can find a low cost property near you.

IMPORTANT: Remember that the new Four Points Flex brand only earns one elite night for every two nights you stay. Avoid Four Points Flex if you planning a mattress run, or indeed are booking any stay primarily to earn double elite night credits.

The only snag is that we are still very early in the year. These sort of offers work best in Q4 when you have a clear view of how many nights you need to retain status before 31st December.

Conclusion

This is not a hugely generous promotion for earning bonus points, unless the bulk of your stays are at lower end properties, but it IS very generous if you are looking to earn or renew Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

If you haven’t registered but might have a Marriott stay in the next two weeks, click here to register now in case you forget.