Vancouver has one of the most scenic locations of any major city in North America. Ringed by snow-capped mountains and surrounded by water, it’s like the sexy love child of Hong Kong and Alaska. It’s blessed with terrific food, tons of activities and one of the best urban park systems in the world.
If that wasn’t enough to get you to visit, here’s one more reason: they’ll pay you. Every year, the awkwardly named Vancouver Hotel Destination Association (VHDA) runs a promotion that gives folks a Mastercard gift card when they stay at one of a few dozen downtown hotels.
The only condition is that you have to stay for two nights, and the stay has to take place between November 14th, 2025, and the end of March 2026.
The Deal
- The Vancouver Hotel Destination Association is again running its annual promotion, where it provides a Mastercard gift card between CA$100 – CA$250 ($200 – $350 during Black Friday sale) in value for staying two nights at a participating hotel
- Valid for stays between 11/14/25 – 4/15/26
- Must use promo code PrepaidCard at booking
- Can be used up to three times per guest
Terms and Conditions
- Bookings are non-cancellable and non-refundable
- Book through StayVancouverHotels.com using promo code “PrepaidCard”.
- Booking consecutive nights as separate reservations will be treated the same as a single reservation for multiple nights.
- The 2-night stay qualifies for a total of $150, $200, $225 or $250 in a Prepaid Mastercard® card depending upon the hotel booked.
- Stay must be between November 14, 2025 and March 31, 2026
- Prepaid Mastercard® cards will be delivered at check-in.
- Prepaid Mastercard® Terms and Conditions Apply. Click for details. The card has an expiry date and fees imposed after an inactive period. We recommend using the card within 30 days of receipt.
- Maximum 3 bookings per guest. Any bookings made after 3 will be cancelled.
- This offer is limited and may end at any time.
Quick Thoughts
This is a regular promo that that Vancouver Hotel Destination Association runs at least once per year. I’ve actually done it a couple of times, and it was pretty straightforward. You make a booking through the provided portal, and the amount of the free gift card varies from property to property: either CA$100, CA$150, CA$200, or CA$250 (US$70, $105, $140 or $210 at current exchange rates). Anyone who’s ever gone out for a drink in British Columbia knows that $100 will buy you about three beers, but hey, it’s better than a kick in the toque.
The promotion can be used up to three times, and you get the gift card upon checking into the hotel, the idea being that you then get to spend it painting the town Red Maple leaf. Both times that I used it a few years ago, I also received elite credit and points, but your mileage may vary.
The prices on the participating hotels that I looked at were largely the same as what I found on online travel agencies like Expedia and Hotels.com, but it’s worth double-checking the property that you’re interested in to make sure. Also, note that reservations made through the promo are non-refundable and non-cancellable.
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Anyway you might be able to stack this with the chase Edit $250 credit? Or not because you are booking via a different site instead of going thought chase travel?
The sexy love child of Hong Kong and Alaska! Well said! LOL
Hi;
Love listening to the podcasts and receiving emails, such as the one about the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association promotion for 2025-26. However, I have lived in Vancouver my whole life and have never paid $100 for 3 pints of the good stuff. Don’t know where this number could have come from. The average cost of beer on tap is between $8 and $12 Canadian which is about $5.70 and $8.50 US. The price would depend on the brand, location of libation, etc. There is no doubt that food and drink prices have risen since Covid but Americans should remember that they are getting about a 35% discount due to the currency conversion rate. I made several trips through the Pacific Northwest this year (Washington, Oregon, etc.) (and San Francisco) and have been surprised at the increase in restaurant prices the last couple of years, to the point where posted prices mirror Canadian prices but in US $.
This promotion was great for a trip with friends last year. Able to stay in the original Fairmont downtown for a net of just over $200 CAD per night, then drove up to hike to some waterfalls and see the snow in Whistler right after opening ski weekend. Awesome city and surrounding nature. Went at American Thanksgiving which is just another week in Canada and all the Christmas markets and holiday attractions were going already. Weather was not as bad as random internet posters would claim it is that time of year.
Interesting tidbit, StayVancouver’s OTA portal can vary widely in room rate results based on the search parameters. We found properties that got cheaper by adding kids to the stay. Scored what seemed to be mistake pricing where this resulted in a One Bedroom Suite at the Fairmont coming out $20CAD cheaper than a standard room, and it booked through and worked for our stay.
Is the booking prepaid, or can you use the MCGC to pay for part of it? For some possible dates the cheapest I found was CAD 390 – 150 for a net of CAD 120/night.
Rates I used last year were pay at property, and it does code as the property not an OTA (triggered an AMEX Fairmont offer from the stay for an extra stack).
Does the MCGC have to be used in Canada? I’m assuming yes.
It’s a MC – they are universal. I live in Vancouver and usually do this promo once or twice a year – I typically use the card online to ensure the full amount can be used and have had zero issues using it on US sites.
Vancouver is the only city I’ve ever been in that makes my own home town of San Francisco seem cheap.
I’m currently in Zurich.
Whew…
Using this promo twice would be a great way to bookend a visit to Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort about 2 hours north of Vancouver. While Whistler Mountain’s last day of winter operations in 2025 is today (April 21). Blackcomb Mountain’s last day for spring operations is posted as May 19. A late April visit makes for some great spring skiing and snowboarding.
Both mountains offer sightseeing operations with a longer season through September 21, 2025. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola also operates through September 21. This is a really cool experience for everyone!
Yes the Vancouver promo site says non-cancellable and non-refundable. However, after booking, I called the hotel (Holiday Inn) to add my IHG number to the reservation. Now IHG.com shows my booking as “Best Flexible Rate – Change or cancel for free any time before 6:00 pm on [day before arrival].
Is it possible to earn Hyatt nights from the bookings?
Could you do consecutive nights at different hotels to get multiple gift cards?
4 nights at two different hotels?
I haven’t done it, but I don’t see why not based on the terms.
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Vancouver is my home town and I take advantage of this promo 3-4 times per year. For Marriott Bonvoy it’s very easy to contact the hotel to get my Bonvoy number added and then all privileges apply (this doesn’t count as a third-party booking in their system). I find the prepaid MC awkward so I purchase AC gift cards with them.
Thanks for highlighting this promo and our city Tim!
Vancouver is my home town and I take advantage of this promo 3-4 times per year. For Marriott Bonvoy it’s very easy to contact the hotel to get my Bonvoy number added and then all privileges apply (this doesn’t count as a third-party booking in their system). I find the prepaid MC awkward so I purchase AC gift cards with them!
Thanks for highlighting this promo and our city Tim!
Just to avoid others the needless click, no, this isn’t a money maker. (How I interpreted the headline “get paid.”) you will still on net pay to visit Vancouver.