Marriott Bonvoy's New Promotion: 2,025 Bonus Points Per Stay (Register Now)

Marriott Bonvoy has launched its second (and likely final) global promotion for 2025, offering members the chance to earn 2,025 bonus points per eligible stay – with the potential for even more if you're willing to venture into the great outdoors.

Here's what you need to know about Marriott's "Celebrate 2025" promotion:

Let's be honest – this isn't the most generous promotion Marriott has ever run. Valuing Bonvoy points at around 0.7p each (fairly standard in the points and miles community), we're looking at roughly £14 per stay at standard properties, or £28 per stay at Outdoors properties.

The real value comes down to your stay patterns. If you're planning short, relatively inexpensive weekend breaks, this could work out to a decent return. A two-night stay at £100 per night with this bonus would effectively give you about 7% back in points (on top of your regular earnings). Not earth-shattering, but certainly better than nothing.

The three-stay cap is frustratingly low, though. I suspect Marriott is being cautious about their promotion spend after what's been a challenging year for hotel loyalty programmes across the board.

The additional 2,000 points for stays at Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors properties (Postcard Cabins and Trailborn brands) is genuinely intriguing. These are Marriott's newer lifestyle brands aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, and they're actually quite different from your typical Marriott property.

If you were already considering a cabin getaway or outdoor adventure this winter, timing it to fall within the promotion period could net you an extra £28 worth of points per stay. That's not insignificant, particularly if you're combining it with elite status bonuses and credit card earning.

As someone with Marriott Bonvoy Titanium status, I'm always looking at ways to stack earnings. Here's how you can maximise this promotion:

First, make sure you're using a Marriott co-branded credit card for payment. In the UK, we don't have access to the same range of Marriott cards as our American cousins, but the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card can earn you additional points on top of your stay earnings.

Second, if you're close to hitting a status milestone, consider whether these three stays could push you over the edge. The combination of elite night credits plus the bonus points might just be enough to justify booking directly with Marriott rather than through other channels.

Third, remember that a 'stay' is defined as one or more consecutive nights at a single participating property, where you personally register, pay for, and stay in the guest room. This means that multiple bookings for consecutive nights at the same hotel are counted as a single stay, not as separate stays. If you're planning a longer trip, breaking it up across different Marriott properties (if feasible) could allow you to claim multiple bonuses instead of just one.

This promotion falls firmly into the 'nice to have' rather than 'game-changing' category. I've already registered (it takes about 30 seconds), but I'm not restructuring my travel plans around it.

That said, if you've got Marriott stays already booked for the next few months, you'd be leaving money on the table by not registering. The fact that it applies to existing bookings (as long as you register before your stay) makes this a no-brainer for anyone with upcoming Marriott reservations.

Registration is straightforward, but Marriott's systems can be temperamental. If you're having issues with the registration link, try logging into your Marriott Bonvoy account and navigating to the 'Promotions' tab instead. Alternatively, switch browsers or use the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app.

Remember, you must register before your first eligible stay, and registration closes on 27 December 2025. Don't leave it until the last minute – set a reminder now if you're prone to forgetting these things.

This promotion is Marriott's second global offer of 2025, following their spring double elite nights promotion. It's worth noting that we typically only see one or two major Marriott promotions per year these days, which is a far cry from the frequent offers we saw a few years ago.

The hotel loyalty landscape has shifted significantly. With occupancy rates remaining strong across most markets, hotel chains have less incentive to offer aggressive promotions. We're in an era where we need to be grateful for whatever bonuses come our way, rather than expecting the generous offers of the past.

That said, there's still value to be extracted from hotel loyalty programmes if you're strategic about it. Combining promotions like this with status benefits, credit card bonuses, and smart redemption strategies can still result in significant value – you just need to work a bit harder for it than you used to.

Is this promotion going to change your life? Absolutely not. Will it add a nice little bonus to your existing Marriott stays? Absolutely yes.

My advice: register now, then forget about it until you're actually booking a Marriott stay. Don't let the promotion dictate your travel decisions, but do let it enhance the value of trips you were planning anyway.

Have you registered for this promotion yet? Are you planning any Marriott stays before 10 January that will qualify? Let me know on Instagram @smartwithpoints – I'm always interested to hear how readers are maximising these offers.