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REGISTER NOW for Marriott’s new ‘double points and double elite nights’ promotion

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UPDATE – APRIL 2024:  This article is now out of date, but don’t worry.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 1,000 bonus points per night and double elite night credits on stays between 13th February and 29th April. Click here to read more and click here to register.

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Marriott Bonvoy has launched its first promotion for 2021.

You can register here.

It is particularly attractive because you will earn double elite night credits on qualifying stays.

As we covered yesterday, Marriott has just posted your ‘bonus’ elite night credits for 2021 based on your earned status in 2020.

As a Platinum Elite member, I received a credit of 25 nights. I have also received 15 nights for having the Marriott Bonvoy American Express credit card. This means that I only need 10 more nights to retain Platinum Elite – and if I do them during this promotion, I will only need five nights.

What is the new Marriott Bonvoy promotion?

This is how it works in a nutshell.

  • the promotion runs from 16th February to 27th April
  • you receive double base points and double elite night credits
  • minimum stay to receive the bonus is two nights – you get nothing extra on a one-night stay
  • reward nights do NOT count for double elite night credits or double base points on incidental spend
  • nights at Homes & Villas by Marriott International, ExecuStay, Marriott Executive Apartments and Marriott Vacation Club do NOT count for double elite night credits or double base points
  • registration closes on 13th April

When I originally discussed this promotion with Marriott last month, I was told that reward nights would count as long as the stay contained at least one paid night. A stay of four reward nights and one paid night would therefore earn 10 elite night credits.

The rules published yesterday contradict this but this US article appears to confirm it will work. It only works if you make your reservation in a certain way which only requires one booking – it does NOT work if you book some cash nights and then a separate reward booking afterwards.

What sort of return do I get on my spending?

Double points would mean 20 points per $1 spent, excluding tax.

Converted into £, and adjusting for 5% VAT, this means that a UK stay would earn you around 26 points per £1 paid on your bill.

Based on my valuation of 0.5p per point, this means a minimum return of 13% on your spending.

If you have Marriott Bonvoy status, your return will be higher.

Earn 10 points per £1 spent on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express card

As a reminder, until 31st March you will earn 10 Bonvoy points per £1 spent on the Marriott American Express card at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

There is a cap of 20,000 bonus points available under this offer.

You would qualify for this offer if you applied for the card today, as well as qualifying for the 15 bonus elite night credits. These tend to post within a few days of your card being opened.

You can apply for the card here.

Conclusion

This is not a hugely generous promotion for earning bonus points, but it IS very generous if you are looking to earn or renew Marriott Bonvoy status.

It will be touch and go whether you will be able to squeeze in a few stays before the promotion ends on 27th April, unfortunately.

That said, I recommend you register now in case you forget – especially as Marriott is being naughty by closing registration early on 13th April.

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

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2024)

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 sign-up bonus 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.

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

and for small business owners:

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. 

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)

Category

Marriott Bonvoy

Comments (55)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Harry T says:
    3 Feb3 February 04:33

    As a titanium member spending on the UK Bonvoy amex card with the currently increased earnings rate, I’ll be positively brimming with points… if I manage any stay before the promotion ends!

    • BuildBackBetter says:
      3 Feb3 February 05:32

      The last line is key. The offers are there due to that.

      • Harry T says:
        3 Feb3 February 06:24

        Yep, although I assume many parts of of the US and the rest of the world are not subject to the same restrictions as we in the UK are.

  • The Streets says:
    3 Feb3 February 05:01

    Plus a brand new iPhone app design to go with it!

    • Harry T says:
      3 Feb3 February 06:27

      It’s very snazzy, thanks for the heads up. Hopefully doesn’t crash 40% of the time like the last one!

    • Chrisasaurus says:
      3 Feb3 February 07:51

      Oooh it’s nice isn’t it?

      And it shows progression to ambassador (spend) which I don’t recall the old one doing, at least not in the banner at the top showing nights)

  • Gtellez says:
    3 Feb3 February 05:12

    When I try to register I receive the following message:
    “A Note About This Promotion
    We’re sorry, but there was an error in directing you to this promotion.
    The reason for this error could be:
    You’re trying to access a miles promotion and are a points-earner, or vice versa
    You are not eligible for this promotion
    This promotion has expired
    Updating your earning preference is fast and easy; simply sign into your account. For all other issues, please contact Marriott Bonvoy Customer Support.”
    Has anyone else had the same issue?
    However, as a titanium member, I have already received the additional 38 elite nights.

  • Track says:
    3 Feb3 February 05:44

    Is it for new Bonvoy members or existing?

  • Britbronco says:
    3 Feb3 February 08:08

    I got to 25 nights last year, but so far have not had the 13 nights credit for this year. Any other golds not had the bonus nights yet?

    • Stu N says:
      3 Feb3 February 08:17

      Mine landed overnight.

    • Tim says:
      3 Feb3 February 08:20

      Nope. Gold here without credit card. No nights posted. Also the snazzy new app has been there for about, what, two years?!

      • TGLoyalty says:
        3 Feb3 February 08:28

        I think you haven’t updated yet because it wasn’t there yesterday.

        • Chrisasaurus says:
          3 Feb3 February 08:39

          My phone never seems to auto update, I had to go into App Store and search the Marriott app and select it and only then did it offer update. Mostly the banking apps tell you themselves when out of date, an I guess some just get there eventually

      • KBuffett says:
        3 Feb3 February 08:52

        I agree and mine seems to be up to date (iOS)

        • Chrisasaurus says:
          3 Feb3 February 08:57

          It was released 8 hours ago and is version 10, you need to check manually

          • Guernsey Globetrotter says:
            3 Feb3 February 11:43

            Yes – going to the iOS App Store it looked like I was up to date (no update available) but in the app settings I was on version 9.27. I deleted and reinstalled and now have the snazzy new app! Didn’t help with my bonus elite nights though as these still have not shown up yet…

      • meta says:
        3 Feb3 February 09:29

        The key feature is that they removed breakdown of points, so now you can only see total number of points per stay.👎

    • MD says:
      3 Feb3 February 09:19

      My 13 nights as a gold finally turned up overnight. 15 nights from the Marriott Annex have been there since Jan 1st.

    • WaynedP says:
      3 Feb3 February 10:28

      I earned Gold status last year but have not yet received the extra 13 nights credit that I’m expecting.

      Still only have the 15 nights posted earlier this year courtesy of Marriott Bonvoy Amex card, both on laptop and phone app.

      But have switched off my phone and will look to update iOS and any App updates when I switch it back on again.

      • WaynedP says:
        4 Feb4 February 09:59

        My 13 reward credit nights for earning Gold (with nights stayed, not via Amex Plat) finally posted overnight, so I guess that pushes my Gold status out from Feb 2022 to Feb 2023, with a chance to push for Platinum if I manage to squeeze in 22 nights before 31 Dec this year (or fewer if I can benefit from double night credit promotions).

        Now if only you could get status nights from hotel quarantine … I fear that by the time they finally get the plan operational, the policy will stick around for longer than strictly necessary/useful and impact my unavoidable trips to South Africa this year 🙁

  • Doug M says:
    3 Feb3 February 09:20

    I’m pretty sure I’m only Bonvoy Gold because of Amex and the 13 nights just posted for me. Assumed I’d not get them based on comments yesterday, but they appeared overnight I guess.

  • Tim says:
    3 Feb3 February 10:12

    This is a brilliant promotion. I’m Gold too & I’ve got 13 nights credit & 15 through Marriott Amex Card. So I only need 22 nights for Plat Elite. Just booked Moxy for 11 nights at a cost of £524 for the 22 nights credit. My points calculation is 5240 for paying with Marriott Amex + 17030 points (includes 25% gold bonus) for promotion. In total 22,270 points. Have I calculated this right or am I missing something?

    • Rob says:
      3 Feb3 February 11:03

      Sounds about right. If you don’t intend to stay in the hotel you might want to try to negotiate a better rate with the hotel directly – they save a lot of money due to lack of cleaning etc.

      • Tim says:
        3 Feb3 February 11:09

        Thanks Rob. You’ve really created something of amazing value with Head for Points. And free to use too! Users are lucky.

        • KBuffett says:
          3 Feb3 February 17:39

          I agree. I got Platinum and then Titanium in around 2017/2018 when Rob shared his Platinum challenge strategy with us. I’ve been Platinum since without having fully earning it and it looks like I will keep it until 2022/2023. That’s great value. I’ve had free half board upgrade at LRM Dubai for two of us for a week, upgrades and of course free breakfast.
          Thanks Rob.

  • Mike says:
    3 Feb3 February 10:34

    Does this work with status match from Hilton?

    • Rob says:
      3 Feb3 February 11:00

      Probably not, Marriott has carved out separate rules for that (eg reward stays don’t count).

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