I think lame is a poor term - other hotels are offering differing (imho better?) promos, but, Marriott is doing promotions when they wouldn't normally so its not all bad - and, if you stay at Marriotts more than other chains its nice to get a little extra for your stays. However, having said that, I think a better term might be uncompetitive - its better than a normal Marriott year, pre-credit crunch, when there were no summer promos at all, but doesn't really compete that well with their competitors (who might be more desperate for business). So, in which case just switch your business to them if thats what you wish (that's the whole point of promos after all!)

Personally, at the moment I'm more tempted by Hilton's promo, which is;
- Extra 1000 points per night. plus triple airmiles per stay
So, 20 nights at the Hilton gets me a bonus of ; 20,000 points and 40,000 bmi airmiles
20 nights at the Marriott for a bonus 20,000 points isn't as good (plus a few 'double' nights when I'm already Platinum isn't worth much, nor is them carrying on to next year as I'd expect to be Plat next year anyway)

However, as these promos don't quite coincide with their dates, and as the Hilton one has no limit (upper or lower) on the number of stays I'll just take advantage of them both - but I'd be surprised if I stay more than 20 nights at the Marriott during the time period. The only extra non-tangible that Marriott could offer is that I could make Plat Premier this year (I assume, this will be my third year of ~130-160 nights) but I'm not that bothered about it compared to those airmiles and having Hilton diamond as a backup.

I'm sure the SPG promos are better, but, I believe their free nights are time limited - at least Marriotts are just completely use as you wish free points, though 20k won't really even get you a free night at most Marriotts where you'd want to redeem if you are able to spend 20 nights in 3 months in Marriott hotels anyway.

20 nights = 60K BD miles if you stay at the properties that offer triple BD miles.

I mentioned a bonus, excluding any base points/miles I'd have got 20k anyway as this was a pure bonus comparison :)

Looks like you'll have to force yourself to stay in a lowly Courtyard. ;)

The Summer 2009 Promotion is not showing up on my Promotion Progress page. I called the Guest Services 1-800 number on the back of my MR Gold card. I went through the automated phone tree to the "Promotions" menu. The first promotion (of 3) listed was for the "Summer Time Out" promotion. The description didn't give details as to which offer I would get. I said "Sign Me Up" and got the 20,000 points for 15 nights offer. The recorded voice said I was signed up and described the promotion. 15 minutes later it is not yet showing up on my Promotion Progress page. I'll wait a day or two to see if it shows up.

FYI - The other two promotions listed were for the Credit Card offer and a Canadian-offer (which I'm not eligible for).

Update: The promotion is now appearing. Took somewhere between 30 minutes and a couple of hours to show up.

sorry for chiming in late but was away the last 10 days in OZ

I agree with those who say SPG has a better promo, but the SPG deal is good for free Weekend nights Only. While if I can get say the 15k for 6 stays although 15k is only a Cat3 its also 1/2 of whats needed for a Cat6, in which I can use it Weekdays unlike SPG.

So with SPG 6 different Stays = 3 free weekend nights, or 1 SPG stay of 6 nights = 0. While MR is 1 Stay of 6 nights = 15k or a free night Cat 1-4 (whatever 1 wants) and 6 different stays = the same

So although SPG is indeed I feel a better deal, for some MR will be a better deal all depending on what type of Stays a person will have

Ditto for me, it says I am not eligible........

Sorry, Marriott, one night for staying two at a Holiday Inn Express beats one night for staying three at at Fairfield Inn (June weekend trips). That is especially so when I can use the free HI night to stay at Hotel Indigo later in the year.

Art

I got the 25K point offer, and it is enough to give me the points to order a certificate for a prior award reservation (a week in London at a former category 7 property under the old redemption schedule).

Thanks for the heads up on this to the OP.

Last night got the "you arent eligible" even thou Im a Plat

A call to the Rewards desk took care of that I was assigned the 20k for 15 nights, was told I can always call up before its over to switch it. I kinda like the 5k for every 2 Stays up to 15k. It means 6 stays (6 nights) instead of 15 and the extra 9 nights isnt worth the extra 5k in pts, at least as long as SPGs promo of 2 Stays = I free weekend night is ongoing.

Add to that Wyndham Rewards promo of stay at any 3 different brands of theirs and get 10k in CO miles. So for most of June & July MR isnt the best promo. So although I have 3 stays already booked from 6/1, getting the other 12 wont be so easy, while getting the needed 3 more to max at 15k is a no brainer

Platinum and got 3 stays for cat 1-4 free night.

Bummer...I was given the 20K for 15 nights and was planning to call to see if I could be bumped up to the 25K promo before the Aug 31st deadline. My 15th night just posted the other day and so did my 20K points. Oh well, maybe I'll call tomorrow just to see what they say. I have another 12 nights planned for this month so will easily reach the 20 nights needed for the extra 5K.

We had 3 Fairfield Inn stays in June and July and just noticed the Free Night achieved notice in my awards account. How do I use it? I tried to make a reservation and neither using cash nor points brought up the option to use my free night.

You need to call the elite line and make the reservation to utilize that certificate.

50k for me deposited today
 

just got notified today of the 50k points earned with the summer promo for platinum members.

now if I can just figure out a way to pay with Visa for the fall promo, another 50k points, easy.

that makes 75k points earned for August with this promo so far, lol.