Marriott Bonvoy has just launched its fall 2023 promotion, which is the first global promotion we’ve seen from the program since the spring. Now that this promotion is live, I wanted to recap all the details. I’d say this promotion is better than nothing, though that’s about it…
In this post:
Marriott Bonvoy “Go Your Way” promotion details
With Marriott Bonvoy’s new global promotion:
- Members can earn 1,500 bonus Bonvoy points per paid stay
- Members can earn 3,000 bonus Bonvoy points for every three unique hotel brands they stay at
In other words, you’ll earn at least 1,500 bonus points per stay, and at most 2,500 bonus points per stay.
Registration is required for this promotion, and as you’d expect, there are some details to be aware of:
- The promotion is valid for stays between September 12 and December 6, 2023, regardless of when they’re booked
- Registration is required prior to your first eligible stay, and registration closes on November 22, 2023
- Only stays paid with cash qualify toward this promotion, so award stays (including Cash + Points stays) don’t qualify
- The bonus points will post within seven business days of checking out of a hotel
- There’s no limit to how many bonus points you can earn
- You must select Bonvoy points as your points earning preference (rather than airline miles)
- All hotels globally are participating, with the exception of stays at Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott Executive Apartments, and owner-occupied weeks at Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Sheraton Vacation Club Westin Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club, St. Regis Residence Club, and Luxury Collection Residence Club
How valuable is this Marriott Bonvoy promotion?
How useful is this new promotion from Marriott Bonvoy? A few thoughts:
- I value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each
- Since you earn anywhere from 1,500 to 2,500 bonus points per stay, that’s the equivalent of a $10.50-17.50 return per stay
- I at least appreciate that the offer kicks in starting with the first stay, unlike some of Marriott’s past promotions, which only kick in starting with the second stay
- I find it strange how strongly Marriott is discouraging award stays now for the purposes of promotions, as they don’t qualify
On balance I’d say this is a pretty weak promotion. It’s not bad if you’re frequently staying for one night at inexpensive properties, while for longer and more expensive stays, the value of this is so marginal.
Normal Marriott Bonvoy points earning rates
Not factoring in this promotion, Marriott Bonvoy members ordinarily earn:
- 10x Bonvoy points per dollar spent at most brands
- 5x Bonvoy points per dollar spent at Element, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites
Then there are elite bonuses:
- Silver Elite members earn 10% bonus points
- Gold Elite members earn 25% bonus points
- Platinum Elite members earn 50% bonus points
- Titanium Elite & Ambassador Elite members earn 75% bonus points
The above doesn’t include the points you can earn for credit card spending at hotels:
- You can earn up to 6x Bonvoy points per dollar spent on most co-branded Marriott cards, including the the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (review) and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (review)
- Otherwise, you can earn up to 3x transferable points on hotel spending (with Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Citi ThankYou)
As a Titanium member with a co-branded credit card, I ordinarily earn 23.5x Bonvoy points per dollar spent. At a valuation of 0.7 cents per point, that’s like a ~16% return on hotel spending.
Bottom line
Marriott Bonvoy has launched its final promotion for 2023, so make sure you register. With this, members can earn 1,500 bonus points for every paid stay, starting with the first stay. On top of that, they can earn 3,000 bonus points for every three brands they stay at.
Since this promotion offers 1,500-2,500 bonus points per stay, I value this at an incremental $10.50-17.50 return. That’s not bad for those who frequently make short and inexpensive stays, but it’s very uninteresting for longer and more expensive stays.
What do you make of Marriott Bonvoy’s new global promotion?
Hello.
I do have a question please.
I will have a 6 nights stay in a hotel if I do 6 separate reservations will I get the 1500 points 6 times?
Thank you.
I think from reading the fine print a stay is classified as consecutive nights. So that means a two night minimum is required to get any bonus points.
WEAK PROMO.
Any idea if Hyatt will be putting out a global promotion?
I'm not eligible because I earn United miles instead of Marriott points. I called in, the agent thought I could register for this promotion, but I just got an email explaining why not. I could change my preferences to points, but I doubt I'll bother.
this "global" promotion does not include me. I guess I live on a different planet.
Sorry, you’ve been disglobalized.
As someone who travels once a week for a one night stay in a value property (usually Fairfield) I can't complain... this is a pretty good value for a $103/night Fairfield stay. Especially since I already have stays at some upper end properties scheduled during the life of the promotion, so the three property goal is easy.
I have a 15 day stay coming up, should I bounce around to different hotels? What is the best way to get the most points?
Thanke for the advice!
I've done this before with Choice Hotels, stay one night at X and checkout and checking at a next door Choice Y hotel. Worked like a charm.
If you have access to a bunch of Marriott hotel brands nearby and don't mind hopping in and out of places, you can rack up the points.
I'm in, thanks for the heads up...
Error when trying to register...
1. the promotion has expired..
2. .or you're not eligible (which I am, residing in the US and being Titanium)
Euro when trying to register...
1. the promotion has expired..
2. .or you're not eligible (which I am, residing in the US and being Titanium)
Wow! How generous of Marriott to award 1500 points.
At least this one works from the first stay on. Usually I find the line saying something like "starting with the 2nd eligible stay" in Marriott offers. Which more than annoys me. But other than that, not a wow. Take it or leave it I will take it. But not go out of my way to make Marriott happen.
Does anyone know if I can double dip on this promo and the currently ongoing (targeted) promo where I stay 3 different stays earning up to 20k pts?
I'm registered with the latter promo, but if I can sign up for this promo, I wonder if I'll get 6k on the first stay plus 1500 with this?
It seems like this promotion is actually targeted? When I tried to register, it said i'm not eligible, but my husband was able to register.
I read elsewhere that you can call them and they’ll register you if you can’t do it online.
Same problem here. I'll call later.
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
I got the same
Same error. Glad it’s not just me.
For the last 2 years Marriotts promos have been weak sauce. Except the Double ENC/PTS in the spring. If they don't do that every year, they will lose ALOT of members.
Hotels are full these days. Marriott does have to entice people to stay with great promos. Marriott hasnt offered a promo all summer, yet occupancy is at record levels. They are not going to lose "alot" of members.
Wow I will get a whole 1500 bonus points for an upcoming 7 night stay.
I hate that Marriott has started excluding award, certificate and cash+points stays from their promos. Maybe it’s just me but I feel like this wasn’t always the case.