Marriott Rewards is big on targeted promotions for their recurring MegaBonus. The current promotion offer runs September 15 thru January 15, 2010 and hotel stays must be paid with VISA credit card.

Registration is required by October 31. Marriott rewards members need to log into account or call to register for promotion.

Here are some of the MegaBonus variations received by different Marriott Rewards members:

1.       Double points and double night elite credit.

2.       Earn 50,000 points (35,000 for 20 nights; additional 15,000 points after 25 nights).

3.       25,000 points at 2,500 points per stay, beginning with second stay.

4.       25,000 points at 5,000 points every other stay.

5.       40,000 points (25,000 after 15 nights and additional 15,000 after 20 nights).

The promotion requirement for VISA card payment is a major obstacle to many travelers who must use a different brand credit card for corporate travel.

FlyerTalk evangelist Craz posted a method on FlyerTalk for getting around VISA credit card requirement for Marriott Rewards members who prefer to use a different brand credit card.

Link to Delta/Northwest Marriott Rewards Vacation Card 10% promotional discount

Marriott Rewards Vacation Card is a VISA gift card that can be purchased with a $1,000 face value for just $900 + 5.75 shipping fee (10% savings through Delta/Northwest promotional link + earn 1,000 airline miles).

You pay $905.75 for a $1,000 Marriott Rewards Vacation Card that can be used for VISA payment of hotel stays and make your stays eligible for the Marriott Rewards MegaBonus.

According to Craz, the Vacation Card works for Marriott Rewards MegaBonus credit. I did not see anything on the Marriott Rewards Vacation Card webpages stating it is a VISA card, but I assume Craz is familiar with the cards and is more familiar with the Marriott Rewards MegaBonus promotion.

Readers should research this Vacation Card option in more detail if interested.

FlyerTalk thread on current Marriott Rewards MegaBonus.

Delta/Northwest Promotion for Marriott Rewards Vacation Card

There is a lot of consternation in the hotel industry about hotel room rate cuts. Red Roof Inn is embracing low rates with the “One Cent Event”.

http://www.redroof.com/landingpages/one-cent-event

Red Roof Inn One Cent Event

Red Roof Inn in Woburn, Massachusetts is offering rooms for a penny for one night only on Sunday, August 23. Rooms were available at time of this posting.

Red Roof Inn Woburn, MA One Cent Rate

Joining the RediCard hotel loyalty program for Red Roof Inn will give you members-only 48 hour advance notice of future one cent event rates prior to public release.

RediCard is a points based hotel loyalty program. Members earn 10 points per US$1. A free night at Red Roof Inn is 5,000 points. Redicard member receives a certificate valid for a free night at a Red Roof Inn. Free night certificates expire after one year from date of issue.

Redicard hotel loyalty program link: http://www.redroof.com/redicard#

Red Roof Inn has 345 locations in 36 states.

Red Roof Inn Woburn, MA for one cent on Sunday Aug 23

Earn 2,500 bonus Lufthansa Miles & More miles in addition to 500 miles per stay, beginning with your 2nd stay at Marriott brand hotels from August 15 through November 15, 2009.

Registration required.

You must also change earning preference in your Marriott Rewards account to earn miles instead of earning points.

5 stays during promotion period earns total 12,500 miles with Miles & More.

Miles & More is the frequent flyer program for Lufthansa Airlines, Austrian Airlines, SWISS, LOT Polish, Air One, Adria Airways, Croatia Airlines, and Brussels Airlines.

Stay 1 = 500 miles

Stay 2 = 500 miles + 2,500 miles bonus

Stay 3 = 500 miles + 2,500 miles bonus

Stay 4 = 500 miles + 2,500 miles bonus

Stay 5 = 500 miles + 2,500 miles bonus

Total Miles and More earning is 12,500 miles for 5 stays.