Bits: Azimo £15 gift card, Kimpton hits Amsterdam, order room service by text

News in brief:

Get a £15 Amazon gift certificate with your first Azimo transfer

I mentioned this offer over Christmas, but I wanted to flag it again because it is still running until the end of the month.

Online money transfer group Azimo is offering a £15 Amazon gift certificate for new customers.  You need to use voucher code AZIMOGIFT when processing your transfer.

Azimo is especially good value for sending money to more ‘obscure’ countries which other online transfer firms do not cover.  For mainstream transactions, compare their prices with TransferWise who are their main competitior.

The promotion is not featured on their website.  In order for the AZIMOGIFT code to be accepted, you need to meet the following criteria:

• Be a new customer
• Excludes SWIFT, mobile top up, transfers made with a credit card and transfers from Euro to Euro or GBP to GBP
• Minimum £15 transfer required
• Amazon voucher will be sent within 60 days

The Azimo site is here.  The offer closes on the 31st.

Kimpton to open a hotel in Amsterdam

Here is a surprise.  IHG bought US boutique chain Kimpton back in January 2015, to howls of despair from its loyal guests.

We are talking about hotels which put yoga mats in every room, offer free bike rentals and run a free Wine Hour every night.  A Holiday Inn it is not.

The deal has not gone too well.  A number of hotels around San Francisco quit the chain, seven in total, which may have messed up the economics of the whole transaction.  IHG has also appeared wary of changing the Kimpton loyalty scheme, Kimpton Karma, which has not been integrated into IHG Rewards Club.

The big news yesterday was that Kimpton is expanding outside the USA.  The Crowne Plaza Amsterdam City Centre, photo above, is to close for a complete make-over, reopening next year as a 270-room Kimpton.

Amsterdam is a relatively ‘soft’ choice for the brand, of course.  However, converting a successful Crowne Plaza is a risky move for the hotel owners.  IHG will also not be making much additional revenue as it is simply switching one franchise fee for another.  Hopefully Kimpton will be available for IHG Rewards Club redemptions by the time it opens.

World’s first emoji room service arrives at Aloft Liverpool

Starwood’s ‘cheap boutique’ brand Aloft has launched the world’s first emoji-only room service menu at the Aloft Liverpool.

There is little I can do but quote the press release:

Guests are now able to order a fun selection of items from room service via text from the Aloft TiGi Emoji Room Service Menu – an emoji-led selection of packages that will offer essentials to guests that can be easily conveyed via pictures. Guests simply text the corresponding emojis from the Aloft TiGi Emoji Room Service Menu to the hotel dedicated TiGi phone line, along with their room number, to receive their chosen item. 

This is how it seems to work.  You look up what you want from the room service menu.  Each items has a different emoji next to it.  You text that emoji to a dedicated number, along with your room number, and your food will be delivered to your room.  No need to do anything as complex as ringing room service.

It would have been a shame to let such a ground-breaking event go unrecognised.  So they didn’t.

To celebrate the launch in Liverpool there has been an “emoji takeover” with local artists given the opportunity to showcase their work in a three day exhibition called EmojiExhibit. Artists include Graphic Designer, James Traynor who has designed a retro animated Emoji Pacman. 

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

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.