Marriott is out with their new global promotion. You have to log into your Marriott Rewards account to see it.
This is, as regular readers are familiar with the expression my grandfather used to use, “better than a hole in the head.”
2000 points per stay that you don’t even start to get until your second stay isn’t particularly rich. Marriott points aren’t among the more valuable currencies.
If you wish though you can get hand cramps filling out sweepstakes entries without staying at Marriott properties. But without an ‘everybody wins’ component I wouldn’t personally do this and pay postage.
[H]and print your name, Marriott Rewards number, address, city, state/province, zip/postal code, country, telephone number, date of birth, and email address on a plain 3″ x 5″ piece of paper, insert it into an envelope, affix postage and mail it to:
Marriott Rewards Global Summer Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 7650 Melville, NY 11775-7650 USA
to receive one (1) additional entry into the Sweepstakes. Entries must be hand-addressed, postmarked by September 5, 2016 and received by September 15, 2016 to be eligible for the Sweepstakes random drawing.
Mechanically reproduced or photocopied mailed entries are automatically void. Incomplete entries are void.
Limit one (1) mailed entry per envelope. Mailed entries received from anyone who has not registered for the Offer are void.
Limit one (1) additional entry (via stay or mail-in) per person/Marriott Rewards account per day for a maximum of one hundred four (104) additional entries per person/Marriott Rewards account, regardless of method of entry.
(Additional line breaks are mine)
Having a promotion is better than not having a promotion, but I consider what other chains are doing currently to be richer than this new Marriott offer.
Hyatt is offering up to 75,000 bonus points for progressively more stays through June 30.
That’s enough for 5 nights at the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.
IHG should let you register either for Accelerate or Share Forever. I’m registered for the latter, rather complicated but also relatively rewarding with bonus points after first stay, plus additional rewards on subsequent stays — and the ability to gift rewards to friends and family.. or to yourself.
Hilton is offering straight up double points from your first stay and for all stays through August 31.
Through July 31 Starwood is offering triple points at Sheraton and double points at other brands plus 1000 points for a weekend night included as a stay of 2 nights or more.
View from the Sheraton Iguazu Falls
I view Starwood’s offer as weak because it doubles relatively weak earn for in-hotel spend. So roughly speaking I’d argue that for the frequent traveler generosity of promotions this quarter ranks:
- Hyatt
- IHG
- Hilton
- Starwood
- Marriott
Although there are reasonable arguments to be made otherwise. Bear in mind that much of this comes down to how much each currency is worth in the first place.
I have no analysis of those offers. I’m just here to say that I have stayed at that Grand Hyatt in Kuala Lumpur – on points (my husband’s points that time) – and it was a wonderful experience.
In general I have always considered Hyatt to be a cut above the other hotels in its tier. Even Hyatt Place is a nicer, more upscale/urbane experience than the midrange affiliates of the other brands, in my experience.
Who out there can afford to spend spend 25 nights at Hyatt properties in 3 months without going to the poor house? See? As usual, ranking Hyatt’s promo first is a knee-jerk reaction and not the result of a realistic and unbiased assessment…
The new Marriott promo is infinitely better than their last summer’s promo.
I’m top tier with other programs, but have been a Marriott Gold for many years. I’ve only made it by the UA 1K free comp for the last few years, however. This is the third consecutive promotion that I haven’t been eligible (targeted) for, including MegaBonus (??). I’m annoyed enough to have pushed my next few mid-range biz stays to HH and HG Inns and Hamptons. Is anyone else being left behind by MR?