Is Starwood’s autumn hotel promotion worth a look?

UPDATE – MARCH 2025:  This article is now out of date, but don’t worry.  We produce a monthly summary of the top hotel bonus point offers – please click HERE or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ menu above.

Marriott Bonvoy is offering double elite night credits and 1,000 bonus points per night on all stays between 11th February and 28th April 2025. Click here for our HfP article and click here to register.

Marriott Bonvoy is offering a 45% bonus when you buy points by 30th March 2025. Click here to buy.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

Keep up to date with new hotel offers by signing up for our free daily or weekly newsletters.

I have already written about the Autumn promotions from Hyatt and Marriott.  Now it is the turn of Starwood Preferred Guest.  (Hilton’s current promo runs until 30th September, Priority Club has yet to announce any Autumn offering.)

SPG’s Autumn effort is called Better by the Night.  It certainly wins prizes for simplicity:

• Earn double base points (2 per $1) on every 1-2 night stay
• Earn triple base points (3 per $1) on every 3+ night stay

In addition, you will earn 250 bonus points for booking via spg.com and 500 bonus points for booking via the Starwood iphone or ipad app.

The promotion runs from October 1st to December 20th.  Not all Starwood properties are participating, so you should check the exclusions list if making a special effort to take advantage of this deal. Registration is not yet open, but will be via this website.

Note that registrations are only allowed up to the end of November, even though the promotion runs into late December. This is clearly not an earth-shattering promotion (I need to see something like ‘stay 2 nights, get 1 free night’ to get really excited!).  However, it is certainly better than nothing and it may be worth moving a 3+ night stay to an SPG property.

Whilst top-end SPG hotel redemptions are (to my mind) astronomically priced and poor value, there are some good deals – especially using ‘cash and points’ rates – at many hotels which makes having a stash of SPG points worth having.

PS. If you are not a regular Head for Points visitor, why not sign up for our FREE weekly or daily newsletters? They are full of the latest Avios, airline, hotel and credit card points news and will help you travel better. To join our 65,000 free subscribers, click the button below or visit this page of the site to find out more. Thank you.

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (March 2025)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (50,000 bonus Amex points)

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 60,000 points. You receive 40,000 points when you spend £6,000 within three months and a further 20,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to 120,000 points. You receive 80,000 points when you spend £12,000 within three months and a further 40,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.