Get 1,000 free Avios for joining Marriott Rewards – no stay needed

UPDATE – APRIL 2025:  This article is now out of date, but don’t worry.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.

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.

Marriott Rewards, the loyalty scheme for Marriott, Renaissance, The Ritz-Carlton, Autograph and many other hotel brands, has launched a very attractive sign-up bonus.  To put it mildly.

Marriott will give you 1,000 Avios points, for free, purely for signing up to Marriott Rewards.  No stay is required.

This isn’t just for British Airways Executive Members.

You can also earn 1,000 miles in:

• Aeromexico Club Premier
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Avianca-TACA LifeMiles
• Etihad Guest
• Lufthansa Miles & More
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club

The offer runs until 2nd September.  The page to join is here.

There is also a second part to the deal.  If you choose to credit your Marriott stays to Avios, or any of the other airline programmes listed, you will earn double miles on all stays until 2nd September.

You can see the earning rates for crediting Marriott stays to Avios on this page of ba.com.

At most brands you earn 2 Avios per $1 spent, so that would double to 4 Avios per $1 under this promotion.

The snag ….

…. of course, is that the majority of Head for Points readers will already be members of Marriott Rewards.  However, there may be members of your household account, or other family members whose accounts you look after, who are not.  This is an excellent opportunity to ensure that they sign up.

You need to sign-up via this special page of the Marriott website.

PS.  Do not necessarily sign-up for Avios if you have miles in some of the other programmes included.  In some cases, this offer may help reset an upcoming expiry date for miles you have elsewhere.  It is also harder to earn, say, Air Canada miles than Avios if you live in the UK so that may be a better choice if you accounts with both.

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 (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.