marriott Free nights promotion, but.....

it is a very bad promotion. unless u have to stay with Marriott, there is no reason to stay for this promotion.

EXPECTING Hyatt FASTER FREE NIGHT promotion in June

Log in ur marriott account ,you will see this promotion, register before June 30th and stay three times btw June 1 to August 31, 2009, earn one free night valid for cat 1-4 until Dec 31st,2009.

Hilton, Marriott, Intercontinental, Starwood and Hyatt 2009 promotions are here!

Hilton Double Base points Q1 2009:

Earn double points btw Jan 6 and Apr 6th,2009 at participating properties worldwide, must register here.

Marriott Mega bonus Spring 2009:
Offer valid between February 1 and April 30, 2009, you need to login your account to see which one you got, no need to pay with Visa card Here are some of them

• 2500 for each paid stay, beginning with the second stay. Max 25000 points
• 35K for 20 nights up to 50K total for 25 nights
• 25K for 15 nights up to 40K for 20 nights

If you are Gold member or above and do not like the promotion you received, you can call Marriott Reward desk to switch, as do it before promotion ends.

Intercontinental Priority Club up to 30,000 bonus points or 10,000 bonus miles:

From January 12 to April 30, 2009, earn 3,000 bonus points or 1,000 bonus miles for every 3rd qualifying night you stay, up to 30,000 bonus points or 10,000 bonus miles.

Starwood Night after Night:

Registration will be available on Jan 7th,2009. From Jan 7th to Apr 30th,2009. Earn 500 bonus points per night, and 5000 extra bonus for every 10th nights, no need to be consecutive and no upper limit for bonus.

Hyatt More Than a Bonus:
Between January 9 and April 30, 2009, up to 20000 bonus points

Stay two nights and earn 2,000 bonus points/miles
Stay four nights and earn an additional 4,000 bonus points/miles (totaling 6,000 bonus points)
Stay six nights and earn an additional 6,000 bonus points/miles (totaling 12,000 bonus points)
Stay eight nights and earn an additional 8,000 bonus points/miles (totaling 20,000 bonus points)

Registration link is not ready yet.

Someone asked me How did I get those marriott points even when I hate them so much

I am not big fan of Marriott, that's right,235K are all I have. I got most of those points(130K) in 11 months when I was working full time with a company 2 years ago, rest of them from online shopping, occasional stay with various bonus offers.

How to get Marriott points faster? bonus promotion is a key and also online shopping if you have large purchase. Before Marriott change its redemption policy on Jan 15th 2009, Travel package award will get points to miles on 1:1 ratio, which means online shopping bonus reward will be higher than most airlines.

From Bad to Worse, Marriott Reward Program Changes

Just got this email, effective Jan 15th,2009, Marriott rewards program will do following changes

1 eliminating blackout date like SPG and hilton currently doing(not exactly, still have blackout)

2 5th nights free when u redeem 4 nights

3 50% bonus for Platinum member instead of 30%

Looking good? after I read the term more closely and have to say "the change is actually to WORSE, not BETTER."

Why?
1 Under new redemption term, no blackout date, BUT "Hotels may limit the number of standard rooms available for redemption on a limited number of days"

2 The current system of reduced points per night for longer stays is replaced by a system where every 5 night redemption gets one free night. You will not get any discount for a 2 or 3 night stay at one property. e.g currently, you can redeem 5 nights at Cat 7 for 130,000, but with the new system, you will need 140,000

3 Create a new Cat 8 level, so 14 Cat 7 Hotels move to here.

4 Increase Travel package award level. Currently 7 nights at Cat 1-5 + 120K miles is priced at 235,000 points, but after the change, it will become 270,000

Unbelievable, with other big names changing their program to better, Marriott is making the Program even worse, No wonder I keep telling people they are the worst for past few years and will be in the future too.

one more credit card you should keep even with annual fee

Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature^® Card,

even there is $85 annual fee, but the annual free night certificate for Category 1-5 is worth more than $85. Also as I mentioned earlier, the 10% off Marriott Gift card purchase via this promotion is counted as Marriott purchase, so you will also earn 5 points for each dollar on ur credit card.

Possible Marriott Rewards Program Changes in 2009

I saw this from flytalk,

- No blackout dates for points redemption for standard rooms
- increase of Platinum member elite bonus from 30% to 50%
- 4th night free on a 3 night hotel redemption using points

However, soon after release from flytalk, a Marriott representative posted a comment:

"Earlier today, information about possible changes to the Marriott Rewards program was mistakenly published on Marriott.com.
Based upon your feedback regarding blackout dates and capacity controls, we are evaluating potential program enhancements. We have nothing to announce at this time. We’re sorry for any confusion this might have caused and we'll be sure to provide advanced notice of any future changes.

Regards,

Ira"

I am not a big fun of Marriott programs for many reasons, they provide the worst elite recognitions and award redemption inventory(especially after Hilton removed capacity controls on standard room redemption). If No blackout dates for points redemption for standard rooms can come ture for Marriott, it definitely helps the program, so let wait and see.

One improvement on Marriott website

Marriott has points saver award, which you can redeem points for hotel rooms at discounted level. However, they never publish when and which hotel have that kind of awards available, so we have to search around. Today when I check Marriott website, they finally have participating properties and dates listed on their website. A great improvement!

Marriott Gift card at 10%off and earn bonus Delta miles

You can purchase Marriott Vacation(Gift) card at here for 10% discount, you will also 1000 bonus Delta miles for each $1000 card you purchase up to 10000 miles. If you use your Chase marriott credit card, this purchase will show up as Marriott related purchase, so earn you 5 points per dollar spend on the card.

Pros and Cons of Marriott rewards program

Pros

1 lot of properties in North America, if you are business traveler, especially travel to some area where has no full service hotel around, Marriott chains other brand may be available.

2 As mentioned earlier, Travel package award and redemption at Ritz-Carlton hotels.

3 Consistence- All their rooms are very similar to each other and offer consistent service.

4 relatively low points requirement at its “high end” cat 7 properties

Cons
1. Very Very bad elite recognition at its properties and hard to achieve elite status. As a GOLD elite/PLAT elite (50 nights/75 nights), you will only get upgrade to lounge floor with access to lounge or breakfast coupon. No late checkout benefit or suite upgrades benefit like SPG. You only get one category upgrade as a PLAT member at some resort properties. That’s all you get.

2. All their properties look similar; you can not find any luxury properties excluding Ritz-Carlton hotels. As compared to other chains, they all come with some super luxury hotels. I exclude Ritz-Carlton because you can not accumulate points while staying here, therefore should not be considered as part of Chain.

3.Award rooms are capacity controlled; you will need to double ur points if there is no award rooms available. SPG and Hilton have no capacity for standard room redemption, as long as they have a standard room for sale, you can redeem it.

4 Bonus promotion is not as generous as Hyatt or Priority club.

5. No real difference between Gold and Platinum member.

I know some people may say you can use marriott Gift card and Bonus bucks to bring the total cost down, but the lack of elite reconginition and dump properties do not worth those few extra bucks saved.

Marriott Rewards

下面 说说Marroitt吧. 这个也是最大的酒店连锁之一了,全世界也有2000多家店,下面的品牌太多了包括,让我评介的话,elite benefits and treatments没有SPG的好,而且不好拿到. 奖励点数没有Priority Club 多, top hotel can not compete with Hilton, SPG and Hyatt.

它们的酒店集团包括如下知名酒店:Marriott Hotels & ResortsRenaissance Hotels & ResortsMarriott Conference CentersCourtyard by MarriottFairfield Inn by MarriottSpringHill Suites by MarriottMarriott Vacation Club InternationalResidence Inn by MarriottTownePlace Suites by MarriottHorizons by Marriott Vacation Club InternationalMarriott Executive ApartmentsMarriott ExecuStayNew Otani Hotels

每花1块钱在以下的酒店你会得10点,但只是房钱,其它都不算点SpringHill Suites by MarriottResidence Inn by MarriottTownePlace Suites by Marriott Courtyard by Marriott

每花1块钱在以下的酒店你会得10点,什么都可以算点Marriott Hotels & ResortsRenaissance Hotels & ResortsMarriott Conference CentersMarriott Vacation Club International

每花1块钱在以下的酒店你会得5点,带*号的是只算房钱Residence Inn by MarriottTownePlace Suites by MarriottHorizons by Marriott Vacation Club International

我个人不太喜欢他的一个原因,就是它的精英会员资格只能通过每晚入住(night)拿到,而不是 stay, 10晚银卡(sliver), 50晚 金卡(gold),75晚 白金卡(platinum). 太难拿了,一定要那种经常都在酒店住的人才能拿到. If its Elite program is really good and worth the 75 nights with them, I would do it, but its Elite program is the worst. I will talk about it in another post with more detail.

说怎么用他们的点吧, 最好的一点就是他可以用来换airlines miles on 1:1 basis up 120K, but you also need a 7 nights stay at one hotel together to redeem that offer, which is called “Travel package” Here is the detail. However, those 7 nights can not be Ritz-Carlton Hotels

In addition, you can redeem your Marriott points at Ritz-Carlton酒店, 但是住在那里不能拿点.虽然marriott好想已经买了他们大部分的股份, 但只能换,不然攒. Here is the detail on how to redeem at all partner hotels including Ritz-Calton.

Marriott also offer discount award redemption table for selected hotels, check here for award level. Ritz-Carlton is also included on the discounted level.

Every quarter, Marriott will offer additional bonus points for all accounts, login your account because everyone may got different.

Finally, Marriott has three affiliate credit cards, this one, Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature® Card is the best. You have get 20K points after ur first purchase, then 5K when u renew the card. In addition, you will get a electronic certificate good for cat 1-4 at first year and a certificate good for cat 1-5 every year after. You will also get 15 nights towards ur elite status every year, 5 points at Marriott hotel spending and 3 poitns elsewhere. Although you have to pay $85 annual fees, the cat 1-4/5 certificate gave ur $85 back already.

Marriott-the worst chain!

I hates Marriott lot for various reasons, buy primarily because of lack of elite recognition and identical properties. This past weekend, I stayed at Mystic Marriott Resort and Spa at CT, which suppose to be a better Marriott. Unfortunately, still bad. The room looks no difference than any other Marriott in the world. When I request for a late checkout for 1:00pm, I was told the latest is noon even for Gold members.

At Starwood properties, I can easily get a 4:00 pm checkout as Platinum member.

Too bad, this would be my second to the last stay at any Marriott properties, the last stay will be when I redeem my points.

Marriott Credit Card is offering 25K signup bonus now

This is a very good credit card, although you need to pay $85 annual fee every year, but you do get a free night certificate good up to cat 5. You will get the following benefit as a card member. apply here

• Up to 25,000 Bonus Points in celebration of the 25^th anniversary of Marriott Rewards^1,2
  • Receive 20,000 bonus points after your first purchase using your new card.
  • Receive 5,000 bonus points after your first account anniversary.
• Free Night Stay e-certificate^3,4
  • Receive a Free Night Stay e-certificate upon account approval and each year upon account anniversary, valid at over 2,400 hotels worldwide.
• Earn 5 points for every $1 spent at Marriott locations⁵
  • Use your Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature card to earn 5 points for every $1 spent at over 2,800 Marriott locations worldwide.
• Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on airline, dining, and rental car purchases⁵
  • With the Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature card you can earn points on your entire travel experience.
    
    
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on other purchases⁵
  • Earn points on your everyday spending! Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases with your card.
    
    
• 15 nights credit toward Elite status⁶
  • Whether you are almost Silver or almost Platinum, the Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature card will help you get to your next Elite level.