To earn lots of rewards quickly, welcome bonuses are obviously where you need to focus — as we mentioned in our infographic of the basics and will explain in our next beginners’ webinar soon. But hotel promotions are another way to earn a little bit more.
If you don’t want to rack your brain, you can simply focus all your efforts on maximizing the welcome bonuses you earn throughout the year. Simple.
But if you want to earn even more, even if it’s a lot slower, hotel promotions give additional rewards that are still free! We’ll now be covering these promotions regularly with our newly doubled team!
Here’s an overview of the current offers (some of which end tomorrow or soon), plus, to help you understand, a teaser of hotel promotions with an overview of the basics.
Basics of hotel promotions
Here are the basics of hotel promotions:
- Hotel rewards programs offer promotions
- Some good, some not so good (like all deals)
- Programs sometimes call promos offers or deals
- This is to give you bonus rewards
- In addition to rewards from the regular earn rate
- And in addition to your credit card rewards (up to 18.5%)
- It’s rarely worth planning a trip just for the promos
- But it’s sometimes worth changing hotels for the promos
- You can easily compare promotions for all your trips
- Promotions are offered all year round
- Or with short breaks between promotions
- Usually last a few months
- Promotions can be global or targeted
- Most promotions are global (open to all)
- Some are targeted (for certain members only)
- Bank rewards programs sometimes have hotel promos too
- Not open to all travelers
- Only to those with credit cards from these programs
It’s worth at least checking if the promos are good to get more rewards in just a few clicks. It’s free! For the same price, 2 hotels from different chains can give completely different returns, which means a very different real net cost, despite the same initial price!
Here are the basics of the logistics of hotel promotions:
- Free registration for the promo is almost always mandatory
- In just a few clicks on the program site
- So that only savvy travelers benefit from it
- Promotions always have a deadline
- Registration may have a different deadline
- Reservations and stays may have different deadlines
- Reservations must be made directly with the program
- Not on Trivago, Hotels.com, or other third-party sites
- Precise details vary by promotion
- Each program can be different, as always
- Each promotion from a same program may be different
- Sometimes there are a few conditions
- Minimum number of nights
- Only certain regions
- Certain brands excluded
- Etc.
It’s really not that complicated, and it’s something you shouldn’t overlook if you want more rewards! This is a good example of one of the 6 most important things in the whole world of travel rewards, which is to never earn just at the pathetically slow base earn rate of 1 pt/$ or 2 pts/$. Never.
Here are a few tips for maximizing hotel promotions:
- Some give a fixed bonus, regardless of the length of stay
- For example, 2000 bonus points worth $18
- Better to book less expensive hotels to maximize your bonus
- 2000 points on a $50 hotel means a 36% return
- 2000 points on a $100 hotel means a 18% return
- Some give a fixed bonus per stay (not per night)
- For example, 2000 bonus points worth $18
- Better to make short stays to maximize your bonus
- 2000 points for 1 night means a $18 return per night
- 2000 points for 6 nights means a $3 return per night
- Some promotions double or triple the points earned
- No way to maximize return
- Because it’s doubled or tripled no matter the stay
Be careful not to confuse hotel promotions with frequent sales, which give discount percentages. Those change even more frequently. Check the prices of your bookings every few weeks if you want to save.
Here are some examples of bonuses offered by hotel promotions:
- Points, free nights, gift cards
- To use for future stays
- At hotels in this program obviously
- Elite nights
- To qualify for elite status more quickly
- Especially interesting for the Marriott program
We’ll do a more detailed guide on each aspect, but here’s the list of hotel promotions now that you know the basics!
List of current hotel promotions
Here are the hotel promotions right now, from bank rewards programs and from major hotel rewards programs.
Amex Offers
Amex Offers are a benefit of American Express cards: discounts, credits, and offers throughout the year. Some offers are for hotels. However, almost all Amex Offers are targeted (not global) so you might not see them on your account.
Hyatt Canada targeted hotel promotion:
- $100 back
- If you spend $500 (can be cumulative)
- At a Hyatt hotel in Canada
- Expenses before May 14, 2024
- Free registration required
Chelsea Hotel Toronto targeted hotel promotion:
- $100 back
- If you spend $500 (can be cumulative)
- At the Chelsea Hotel Toronto
- Expenses before April 30, 2024
- Free registration required
Shangri-La Canada targeted hotel promotion:
- 20% back
- Maximum of $150 back (can be cumulative)
- If you book at Shangri-La hotels in Canada
- Expenses before May 31, 2024
- Free registration required
Hotels.com Rewards
It’s the best program for those who want to simplify their lives, with a 10% return at all times and no need to limit yourself to a specific hotel chain. But it offers very few promotions.
- Currently no hotel promotion with Hotels.com Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy
The best hotel program for Canadians, by far. The Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card is THE only card recommended for ALL travelers, without exception. Especially with its new increased offer since February 13. If you already have it, you can also get the business version, which doesn’t require you to have an incorporated business.
Marriott Bonvoy global hotel promotion:
- 1000 bonus points (≈ $9) and double elite nights
- Per night booked (no maximum)
- Great to reach Marriott elite status
- Stays before April 29, 2024
- Registration before April 15, 2024
- Free registration required
You can read the detailed post on the Marriott Bonvoy hotel promotion.
Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
It’s not for hotels, but it’s worth mentioning this promotion for those who prefer Airbnb/Vrbo-style private accommodation rentals.
Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy global promotion:
- 10,000 bonus points (≈ $90)
- On reservations of at least 3 days and US$1000
- Stays before May 31, 2024
- Reservations made before February 29, 2024
- Free registration required
You can read the detailed post about the Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy promotion.
Hilton Honors
The only other hotel program easily accessible to Canadians, because American Express points are transferable to Hilton points (not often a good use though). The great thing about Hilton is that promotions even apply to stays paid for with points! I’ve gotten some great deals with this!
Hilton Honors global hotel promotion:
- 2000 bonus points (≈ $10)
- Per stay (not per night)
- 500 extra points if you use the digital key in the app
- Stays before May 1, 2024
- Free registration required
Best Western Rewards
A program that regularly offers excellent, lucrative promotions and cheap hotels to take advantage of them easily! They often have promotions like the current one, which gives you outsized value: 2 cheap nights get you a certificate for a free night you can use at an expensive hotel!
Best Western global hotel promotion:
- Free hotel night certificate
- If you book 2 nights (Canada, USA, or Caribbean)
- Doesn’t have to be consecutive
- Stays made before May 5, 2024
- Maximum of 1 free night certificate during the promo
- Free night certificate expires August 25, 2024
- Free registration required
IHG One Rewards
A program that often offers good global promotions that apply to their 20 popular hotel brands. This isn’t the case right now because there’s only a very niche offer on just one of their brands.
There are currently 2 promotions.
IGH One Rewards spring systemwide global promotion:
- 2,000 bonus points (≈ $X) every 2 nights completed
- at IGH Hotels & Resorts worldwide
- in Canada & worldwide
- Nights don’t have to be consecutive
- Hotel night stay of at least US$30/night
- Stays to be completed between April 1st to May 31, 2024
- Free registration required
IHG One Rewards hotel promotion for the Iberostar brand:
- 40,000 points (≈ $200) every 4 nights
- If you book an Iberostar hotel at least US$30/night
- Nights don’t have to be consecutive
- Maximum 80,000 bonus points
- Stays made before May 20, 2024
- Free registration required
Choice Privileges
A program with more affordable hotels, and therefore promotions that can be very lucrative. But not right now.
- Currently no promotion with Choice Privileges
Wyndham Rewards
Another program with more affordable hotels and sometimes interesting promotions like right now!
Wyndham Rewards annual Member Month hotel promotion:
- 7,500 bonus points for 2 nights stay at Wyndham Rewards properties
- 5,000 bonus points after staying 2 nights for being a card member.
- Maximum 15,000 bonus points, 2 stays bonuses, and 1 cardmember bonus
- Stays before May 13, 2024
- Free registration required
Accor Live Limitless
A program that is not very lucrative in general. Of course, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the points if you stay at an Accor hotel! It’s free! It just means you can’t get outsized value with their points, which are of the more simple type with a fixed value!
Accor Live Limitless global hotel promotion:
- 3 times the points (up to 10% bonus depending on the brand)
- If you book an Accor hotel (North and Central America)
- Maximum of 5 stays eligible for promo
- Stays before April 30, 2024
- Free registration required
World of Hyatt
A program that’s less well-known to Canadians, but which often has very interesting promotions.
There are currently 2 minor promotions.
World of Hyatt hotel promotion for specific properties:
- 3,000 (≈ $45) bonus points for every 3 qualifying nights stays
- Selected properties only
- 18 global destinations
- Maximum 21,000 points
- Stays before April 30, 2024 (Booked before April 15th, 2024)
- Free registration required
World of Hyatt hotel promotion at Thompson and Dream Hotels:
- Earn double Hyatt night credits
- Register for the promotion between now and May 22
- Stays to be completed before June 10, 2024
- Free registration required
Coast Rewards
A more niche program, because this Canadian hotel chain is very small. But they sometimes have interesting promotions.
Coast Rewards hotel promotion:
- 2 times the Alaska Airlines miles (≈ 1.5% bonus)
- If you book a Coast hotel
- If you choose to earn lucrative Alaska miles
- Stays made before March 18, 2024
- Details on the Coast Rewards website
Learning how to travel for less
Join over 100,000 savvy Canadian travelers who already receive Flytrippers’ free newsletter so we can help you travel for less — including thanks to the wonderful world of travel rewards!
What would you like to know about hotel promotions? Tell us in the comments below.
See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights
Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards
Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration
Learn pro tricks: Travel tips
Featured image: Taganga Bay, Colombia (photo credit: Oscar Ivan Esquivel Arteaga)
