Marriott is offering 2,000 US Airways Dividend Miles per stay at over 270 participating hotels for stays through December 26 that are booked by October 31. Registration is required and the bonus can be earned a maximum of five times.

It’s not the best promotion ever, but I’m not a Marriott guy and don’t really collect Marriott points, so if I were to stay at one of those Marriott properties, this would be my preferred earning method. Besides, this is also a way to get a “hit” for US Airways’ Grand Slam promotion.

(Tip of the hat to @TravelSort)

Kudos to Marriott. They have announced that wireless internet will now be free for all Marriott Rewards members at all of their brands in Asia Pacific and Australia.

I do wonder what they’re reasoning is, though. On one hand they’re losing out on revenue, though will it really draw people to Marriott? If they’re doing it for business travelers, well, they can usually expense internet, so I’m not sure how much additional business it will get them.

That being said, free internet is slowly becoming a trend, and while it will likely take another 10 years before the concept of paying for internet at a hotel is unheard of, this is another step in the right direction.

(Tip of the hat to Loyalty Traveler)

As part of the Discover America promotion, Marriott will be selling gift cards for a percentage off the face value tomorrow, Monday, April 11, starting at 12PM eastern.

Via Loyalty Traveler, they will be selling gift cards in the following increments:

  • $50 Marriott Travel Card for $44.   (Maximum purchase = 5 cards)
  • $100 Marriott TravelCard for $89.   (Maximum purchase = 5 cards)
  • $250 Marriott TravelCard for $222.   (Maximum purchase = 2 cards)
  • $500 Marriott TravelCard for $445.   (Maximum purchase = 2 cards)
  • $1,000 Marriott TravelCard for $890.   (Maximum purchase = 1 card)

While those amounts are only a little bit more than 10% off of face value, they’re offering an additional 10% discount for making the purchase with an American Express credit card. In other words, if using an American Express, the $1,000 gift card is really costing you $801, or about 20% off.

If you’re a frequent Marriott guest, this is a pretty unbeatable deal.

Keep in mind that there are very limited quantities, so if you want to take advantage of this offer, be ready at 12PM eastern sharp with your credit card ready to go.

Per USA Today, Marriott has announced that they’ll begin to eliminate in room porn at the hotels they’re building over the next several years. While I have no vested interest in the subject, I actually find this to be an interesting development on a couple of levels. They seem to suggest this “coincides with a pending shift to new, in-room entertainment technology.” Yet, interestingly enough, they’re only eliminating the adult selection of their pay per view movies, and keeping the rest of the selection. Are they trying to say that people are no longer willing to pay for adult movies, while they are willing to pay for regular movies, both of which are available elsewhere at a (much) lower cost?

Somehow, given that this is Marriott, I suspect it has more to do with “morals” and being “family friendly” than anything else (which I certainly don’t hold against them). At the same time, if you’re going to keep pay per view movies, I’m not entirely sure what the point of eliminating the adult entertainment selection is. I mean, it doesn’t cost them much (if anything) to have the movies in the selection if no one purchases them, right? I assume they’re losing out on at least some revenue with this move…

InterContinental better not do the same, or some Ambassadors/Royal Ambassadors may no longer have an incentive to stay at InterContinentals! ;)

For the third year in a row, Marriott has announced that they will once again offer Elite Rollover Nights. Through Elite Rollover Nights, all nights earned beyond the status level qualified for will count towards next year’s elite status. It’s certainly a nice reward which doesn’t dilute status, since Marriott has by far the highest number of nights required for their middle and top tier status levels, and they don’t let you qualify based on stays. Sadly I don’t expect we’ll see any of the other major chains match, as status is much easier to earn with them. For example, Platinum (top tier) status with Marriott takes 75 nights, while Diamond (top tier) status with Hyatt takes only 25 stays or 50 nights.

(Tip of the hat to Loyalty Traveler)

Through February 28, Marriott is offering Air China PhoenixMiles members instant Gold Elite status for 90 days, with 12 nights required in that period to retain Gold Elite status for the year. Apparently the promotion is for existing and new Marriott Rewards members.

Yep, I find this to be as random as you do!

(Tip of the hat to TMtravelworld)

Delta is offering 5,000 SkyMiles per Marriott stay between November 1 and January 31, 2011. Now, the slight twist they’ve added to the promotion is that you need a Delta flight in conjunction with your stay. I don’t know what exactly that means, and neither does the Marriott representative on FlyerTalk. Logic would suggest that you need a single Delta flight during the promotion period credited to Delta in order to earn as many 5,000 mile bonuses as you want, as I can’t imagine they have a way of correlating stays and flights.

Registration is required.

(Tip of the hat to TMtravelWorld)

It’s about time. Starting in January of next year, Marriott will offer all Gold and Platinum members free internet. Since May 7, Gold and Platinum members have received free internet in the US, though even there, Marriott was late to the game.

I’m always amazed by how happy most Marriott elite members are, despite the program having the highest elite tier qualifications, fewest elite benefits, and a limited number of promotions. I guess more power to them if they can maintain a loyal customer base without throwing ‘em too many bones!

(Tip of the hat to Loyalty Traveler)

Via Gary:

Hat tip to bhatnasx on Flyertalk, you’ll receive 200 free Marriott Rewards points if you become a fan of the Fairfield Inn Las Vegas Airport on their Facebook page by August 31st and send an email to fairfieldinnrewards@hotmail.com with your Facebook Name and Marriott Rewards number. They promise points to be credited in 4-6 weeks.

Free points are free points!

If you join Marriott Rewards and stay twice between May 1 and July 31 you can earn a free night certificate good for a stay at a category 1-4 hotel. This is a very nice deal if you’ll be staying at Marriott properties anyway, although I don’t think it’s worth switching stays from other brands for since the certificate can’t be redeemed at the highest end hotels. I’d rather stick to Hyatt’s Big Welcome Back.

(Tip of the hat to Loyalty Traveler)

Beginning May 7, Marriott will start offering Gold and Platinum elite members free internet, but only in the US (excluding Hawaii and US territories) and Canada. Obviously they’re following Hyatt and Starwood’s lead here, although both of those chains provide free internet globally. This is better than nothing, although Marriott has a long way to go before they have a competitive loyalty program, in my book.

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