Value Added Relax

Wallet-friendly UK, popular Thailand and affordable Eastern Europe are among this season’s travel hotspots.

- Dominic Ellis

Loyalty-linked promotions, favourable exchange rates and extend-your stay offers should make summer 2017 a good one for travellers from the Middle East. Marriott Rewards’ members are basking in rates which are down as much as 30 per cent across 17 brands and 200 hotels. The newly enlarged hotel operator is running three key promotions:

Marriott Rewards MegaBonus Infinite Points: Up to 4,000 Marriott Rewards bonus points per stay (beginning with the second stay)

The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Summer Sojourns: Double Ritz-Carlton bonus points for stays longer than two nights

SPG Take Three: Triple Starpoints for stays that include a weekend, or double Starpoints for weekday stays at participating hotels

Registrations for all three programmes can be made until August 30 and the earning period runs until September 4. However a Marriott International spokesperson says members need to register for the specific promotion they would like to participate in and “there is no crossover”, which perhaps will change in future when loyalty is fully integrated.

Regular guests can book up to August 31 for stays until September 9 and enjoy 20 per cent off on the best available rate and 30 per cent off on food and soft beverages at participating restaurants – which rises to 30 per cent off on best available rate for loyalty members and 30 per cent off on their next stay (between September 10-December 31).

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts’ Summer 2017 promotion, which applies to bookings of two nights or more, offers guests who book their stay online a US$20 voucher to spend at any participating hotel restaurant.

POUND VALUE