As recently as August 2013, I also received the 500 American Express points on reward stays if I had zero folio and gave the American Express upon check in for incidentals. However, I had a reward stay at a Hampton October 2013 and another at an Embassy a few weeks ago, used the American Express for incidentals, and did not get the 500 point bonus. On both reward stays, I did get the my way bonus points and the quarterly promotion this quarter for the Embassy stay as it qualified (the Hampton stay was not subject to any promotion bonus as it did not meet the requirements).
I am wondering now if the bonus posting is contingent on if you actually pay them something using the American Express card or if they have stopped granting the American Express bonus on reward stays.
Has anyone received the 500 point American Express bonus recently on a points and money stay?