With travel at a virtual standstill, travel providers are having a hard time bringing in much needed cash. We’ve seen hotel chains sell points to card issuers (Hilton and Marriott) and we are starting to see more travel providers attempting to boost immediate cash flow by launching promotions for future travel by discounting or bonusing products that can give them cash right now.
The latest offer came this morning from Marriott who are offering 20% off e-gift cards that you can use to pay for future stays at any time since these cards don’t expire. This is a great way to get some savings for your future travels or even close in if you have essential travel that is required. The cards are sold in US$ but can be used at any Marriott Hotel worldwide. The gift cards come in $50, $100, $250, $500 or $1000 options and you can buy up to $5,000 in cards per day. Also you should be aware that you cannot use Marriott gift cards on prepaid stays.
Marriott also announced that once the gift card sale is done they will be offering a bonus on selling Marriott Bonvoy points starting on May 18. The bonus will be 60% which is the highest ever seen from Marriott. The points sale bonus will run until June 30 so there will be some time to contemplate the offer to see if it makes sense for you. At 60% you are buying Marriott Points at about C$ 1.1 cents each. On the lower end we value Bonvoy points at 1 cent each so you can take that into account but there are many award night opportunities that are worth a heck of a lot more than 1.1 cents so you can come out ahead with the bonus.
Learn more about the Marriott gift card offer here
Here are the full terms and conditions:
- Marriott’s GiftCard promotion is limited to eGiftCards in denominations of $50, $100, $250, $500 and $1,000 (United States Dollars). Offer is valid from May 11 through May 17 while supplies last.
- Marriott GiftCards may be used at Hotels operating under the following Marriott brands and at participating retail, spa, golf and food and beverage outlets:
AC Hotels by Marriott®, Aloft®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Courtyard®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, EDITION®, Element®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Gaylord Hotels®, JW Marriott®, Le Méridien®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Hotels®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Moxy Hotels , Protea Hotels by Marriott®, Renaissance® Hotels, Residence Inn®, Sheraton®, SpringHill Suites®, St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, The Ritz-Carlton, The Ritz-Carlton Reserve® hotels, TownePlace Suites®, Tribute Portfolio™, W®, Westin® - The following brands in the Marriott portfolio DO NOT accept Marriott GiftCards:
Bvlgari Hotels and Resorts, Design Hotels™, Homes & Villas by Marriott International™, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club®, The Ritz-Carlton Residences. - Marriott GiftCards and the Marriott Shop Retail Gift Cards may be redeemed on participating retail sites toward the purchase of Marriott retail branded merchandise:
Marriott Hotels, shopmarriott.com; Courtyard Hotels, shopcourtyard.com; JW Hotels, curatedbyjw.com; Gaylord Hotels, gaylordhotelsstore.com; Renaissance Hotels, collectrenaissance.com; Fairfield Inn & Suites, shopfairfieldinn.com - Card carries no value until activated. Card is a prepaid card, not a credit card or debit card, and is the property of and issued by MI Fulfillment Services, LLC.
- Card is available in United States Dollars only.
- Card does not expire.
- Card is not redeemable for cash in any amount except when otherwise required by applicable law.
- Card becomes inactive upon use of all card value.
- Card may not be used for deposit, advance purchase or to secure or confirm a reservation.
- Each transaction will be debited against card balance, if transaction exceeds balance, user must pay the difference.
- Lost, stolen or damaged cards will be replaced only if previously registered on gifts.marriott.com. Value of replaced card will equal balance on card at the time it was reported lost, stolen or damaged.
- To check card balance, visit gifts.marriott.com.
- For Customer Service call +1 800.442.6132 or email Gifts@marriott.com.