Sufficient analysis to say most Marriott Rewards members would earn more points with a double points offer compared to the April 16-July 20 Megabonus offer for 750 bonus points per night. I generally think double points offers are weak promotions. MegaBonus 2018-Q2 is even weaker than double points.Â
Update April 8: Marriott updated their promotion page to align the dates for this promotion. April 16 -July 20 are the only dates now showing throughout the promotion page and terms. This offer originally showed July 30 in one place and July 20 in another.
Marriott’s new 2018-Q2 MegaBonus earns 750 bonus points per night, starting with your third night. The promotion bonus is capped at 36,000 points for the period. You need 50 nights to max out this offer for 36,000 bonus points. This is little incentive to entice prospective guests with Marriott Rewards bonus points.
SPG More Nights, More Points for 250 bonus points per night posted April 16-July 20 consistently as the promotion dates.
Marriott Rewards did not even get the dates of the promotion in alignment in their promotion copy. One part of the promotion states the dates as April 18 – July 30, while the T&C state promotion dates as April 16-July 20, 2018.
Starting with your third night, earn 750 bonus points on every night of every stay, up to 36,000 points. Register through June 30, 2018.
- Register by June 30, 2018
- Stay at any of our participating hotels and resorts worldwide between April 18 and July 30, 2018.
- Get 750 bonus points on every night of every stay, up to 36,000 points – starting with your third night.
- Book direct to get our lowest rates worldwide. When you’re ready, redeem points for free nights, flights, exclusive experiences and so much more.
Registration is required. Marriott Rewards members who register for this promotion by June 30, 2018 will earn 750 bonus points per night beginning with their third night, up to a maximum of 36,000 bonus points. This promotion is for nights stayed between April 16, 2018 and July 20, 2018, at participating Marriott® properties. The member receiving this offer has been targeted and the offer is not transferable. Bonus points will be awarded to the member’s account within 3-5 business days after the qualifying stays. ExecuStay, Marriott Executive Apartments and Marriott Vacation Club® owner-occupied weeks are not eligible for credit and nights spent while redeeming an award are not eligible for credit. Only one room per hotel is counted toward a member’s nights or stay. Members electing to earn miles are not eligible for this promotion. For a list of current Marriott Rewards participating brands, visit http://www.marriott.com/marriott-rewards/earn/hotels.mi. Stays at our exclusive luxury hotel partner, The Ritz-Carlton®, will count toward achievement. Rooms booked through most third party online retailers and select travel agency bookings are ineligible to earn for this promotion. All Marriott Rewards program terms and conditions apply. See http://www.marriott.com/rewards/terms/earning.mi for more information. Visit www.MarriottRewards.com/MegaBonus or call 888-MARRIOTT (888-627-7468) for complete details.
Why I would prefer to see double points!
Assume you spend $100 per night. You earn 750 bonus points with MegaBonus, whereas you would earn 1,000 bonus points at most Marriott brands if you were earning double points. Unless you are staying at Residence Inn or Townplace Suites or on a really cheap under $75 per night room rate, this promotion is likely less generous than double points.
Is this really equivalent to SPG 250 bonus points per night?
Many bloggers have stated this Marriott Rewards Megabonus offer is equivalent to the SPG offer for 250 bonus points per night. I don’t see it that way.
While the exchange rate for Starpoints to Marriott Rewards points is 1 Starpoint = 3 MR points, the earn rate for these promotions is what should be compared based on the normal earn rate within each respective hotel loyalty program.
$100 in hotel spend at Starwood Hotels earns 200 base points, while $100 in hotel spend at most Marriott brands earns 1,000 base points.
Earning 250 bonus points per night with SPG over the next three months is equivalent to $125 in hotel spend. 750 bonus points for each Marriott brand hotel night is equivalent to $75 in spend at most Marriott hotel brands.
Residence Inn or Townplace Suites only earn 5 points per $1 in room rate. 750 bonus points per night is a better deal at these brands since that is equivalent to $150 in room rate.
I’ll try to remember not to complain loudly when the next Double Points promotion offer returns. Turns out there are worse promotion offers like Marriott MegaBonus 2018-Q2.
Loyalty Traveler – SPG 250 bonus points per night April 16-July 20.
Â
