If you travel frequently – for business or for pleasure – joining a hotel loyalty program can save you a ton of money. Plan all your stays within a hotel group, and you’ll earn points towards free nights, special loyalty status and more.
But before you settle on the first hotel chain that pops into your head, do your research. Each one is unique, and not all will be a good fit with your lifestyle and travel preferences.
See the best airline loyalty programs here.
Don’t travel too often? If you don’t think you’ll collect enough rewards to be worth anything, don’t forget that Points.com can help you out. The site acts as a middleman that lets you buy, sell and exchange your loyalty program points. And it’s free to join!
Finding The Right Hotel Loyalty Program
The right hotel rewards program for you depends on several personal factors: where you travel, how often, and your preferred type of accommodation, of course. But you’ll also want to consider things like:
- Number of properties. A big portfolio means more for you to earn and choose from.
- Property locations. Look for destinations you’ll most likely visit.
- Earning potential. Collect your points quickly, and you’ll earn a free night in no time.
- Easy redemption. Your points aren’t worth much if they’re hard to cash in.
- Average point value. The more valuable the points, the more worthwhile the program.
- Hotel perks. Some programs offer extras, like free upgrades and complimentary WiFi.
- Elite status requirements. Know what it takes to unlock valuable VIP perks.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find the “perfect” hotel loyalty program. But each one has different strengths, and one or two might align well with your travel style. Once you sign up for a hotel rewards program, stick with it. With patience, you’ll see big returns in the long run.
The Top 5 Hotel Loyalty Programs
With the above factors in mind, I’ve combed through all major hotel rewards programs and handpicked five that offer the biggest perks for your loyalty. And they are:
Expedia Rewards
You might have heard of Expedia. It’s one of the biggest online travel agencies and just so happens to offer a very generous loyalty program. Expedia Rewards lets you earn and redeem points for both flights and hotel stays. And unlike most hotel loyalty programs, you’ll be able to collect frequent flyer miles and airline elite status as well. So it’s a good fit for those who don’t travel often, or those who aren’t particular to an airline carrier or hotel group.
| Number of properties | Over 1 million |
| Base earning rates | 2 points for every $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, cruises and vacation packages. 1 point for every $5 spent on airline tickets. |
| Redemptions start at | 1 point |
| Average point value | $0.007 / point |
| Elite status | Spend $5,000, or stay 7 qualifying nights, within a year. |
| Extra perks | Exclusive members-only deals and bonus offers, VIP Access hotel benefits, earn points when you book for others, no blackout dates |
| Drawbacks | Low point value |
IHG Rewards Club
IHG® REWARDS CLUB PREMIER CREDIT CARD
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card has an offer for 140,000 bonus points and 1 Free Night when you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months. Our valuation puts these 140k points at around $700 without considering the value of the Free Night.
This card earns up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
After each account anniversary year you’ll get a Free Night at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. Redeem points for any stay of 4 or more nights and you get a free reward night.
Also, get a Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Fee Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card.
Get automatic Platinum Elite status with this card. The annual fee is $89 a year.
Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) has several brands that range from lower-tier Holiday Inns to luxurious Intercontinental resorts. The loyalty program features PointBreaks properties every two to three months. With this promotion, you can book an award night with just 5,000 points. But you must stay at the PointBreaks property within the following couple of months.
Participating hotel brands include:
InterContinental Hotels Group properties include these familiar hotels:
| InterContinental Hotels & Resorts | InterContinetal Alliance Resorts | Kimpton Hotels |
| Crowne Plaza | Hotel Indigo | Holiday Inn |
| Holiday Inn Express | Holiday Inn Club Vacations | Regent Hotels & Resorts |
| Staybridge Suites | Candlewood Suites | EVEN Hotels |
| HUALUXE | Avid Hotels | Voco |
| AtWell Suites | Six Senses |
| Number of properties | Over 5,500 |
| Base earning rates | 10 points for every $1 spent on hotel stays at most IHG properties. 5 points for every $1 spent on hotel stays at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. |
| Free hotel nights start at | 5,000 points |
| Average point value | $0.005 / point |
| Elite status | 10,000 qualifying points, or 10 qualified nights, within a calendar year. |
| Extra perks | PointBreaks properties, complimentary WiFi, elite rollover nights, no blackout dates |
| Drawbacks | Small selection of luxury hotels, low point value, points expire within 12 months of inactivity |
Marriott Bonvoy
MARRIOTT BONVOY BOUNDLESS® CREDIT CARD
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase has an offer for 3 Free Nights after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
New to the card, you will earn 3x Bonvoy points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. The card is also offering an Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 spent.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card earns 17 points for every $1 spent at over 7,000+ participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. You’ll receive 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
You’ll get a Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every account anniversary year and automatic Silver Elite Status. Additionally, you’ll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
This card has no foreign transaction fees and the annual fee is $95.
The new and improved Marriott rewards program features incredible rewards flexibility with the ability to transfer to partner airline loyalty programs at a 3:1 ratio (with a few exceptions) for award flights or upgrades. Plus, get a 5,000 miles bonus when you convert 20,000 points.
Similar to IHG’s PointBreaks, Marriott Bonvoy offers PointSavers promotions. This discount program lets you book hotel properties for less than their normal award rates, but only for a limited time.
The Marriott loyalty program also offers another great deal: get one free night when you redeem for five consecutive nights. In other words, stay for five nights and pay for only four.
Participating hotel brands include:
Marriott properties include these familiar hotels:
| AC Hotels | Aloft Hotels | Autograph Collection Hotels |
| Courtyard by Marriott | Delta Hotels | Design Hotels |
| EDITION Hotels | Element | Fairfield Inn & Suites |
| Four Points | Gaylord Hotels | JW Marriott |
| The Luxury Collection | Marriott Hotels | Marriott Executive Apartments |
| Marriott Vacation Club | Moxy Hotels | Le Meridien |
| Protea Hotels | Renaissance Hotels | Residence Inn |
| The Ritz-Carlton | Sheraton | SpringHill Suites |
| St. Regis | Tribute Portfolio | TownePlace Suites |
| W Hotels | Westin |
| Number of properties | Over 7,000 |
| Base earning rates | 10 points for every $1 spent on eligible hotel charges at most Marriott Bonvoy properties. 5 points for every $1 spent on eligible hotel charges at Element, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites. |
| Free hotel nights start at | 6,000 points |
| Average point value | $0.009 / point |
| Elite status | 10 eligible nights within a calendar year. |
| Extra perks | PointSavers options, exclusive member rates, complimentary WiFi, mobile key, no blackout dates, points don’t expire |
| Drawbacks | Some luxurious Marriott brands do not participate in Marriott Bonvoy |
The World Of Hyatt
THE WORLD OF HYATT CREDIT CARD
The World of Hyatt Credit Card from Chase has an offer for up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. Get another 30,000 bonus points with 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent on purchases that earn 1 Bonus Point up to $15,000 in the first 6 months of account opening. Our valuations put 60k points at around $1,020 in value.
You’ll earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt with this card. That’s 4 bonus points per $1 with the card and 5 base points per $1 as a World of Hyatt member. The card also earns 2 bonus points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets bought directly from airlines, on local transit and commuting, and on fitness club and gym memberships.
This card has a $95 annual fee.
Although it has a relatively small global footprint, Hyatt is one of the best hotel chains in the world, with world-class brands like Park Hyatt and Andaz in its portfolio. If you prefer to stay at luxurious hotels in the United States, Mexico, Europe or Asia, then you’ll want to take a deeper look at the World of Hyatt.
The Hyatt rewards program has almost 30 airline partners, allowing you to choose between Hyatt points or partner miles for your hotel stays. If you transfer Hyatt points to airline miles – at a ratio of 2.5:1 – you’ll earn a 5,000 miles bonus when you convert 50,000 points.
Participating hotel brands include:
World of Hyatt properties include these familiar hotels:
| Andaz | Alila | Destination Hotels |
| Exhale | Grand Hyatt | Hyatt Centric |
| Hyatt Hotels | Hyatt House | Hyatt Place |
| Hyatt Regency | Hyatt Residence Club | Hyatt Zilara & Ziva |
| Joie de Vivre | Miraval | Park Hyatt |
| Thompson Hotels | The Unbound Collection by Hyatt | UrCove by Hyatt |
| Number of properties | Over 900 |
| Base earning rate | 5 points per $1 spent at Hyatt properties. |
| Free hotel nights start at | 5,000 points |
| Average point value | $0.017 / point |
| Elite status | 10 qualifying nights, 25,000 base points, or 3 qualifying events/meetings, within a calendar year. |
| Extra perks | Exclusive member rates, complimentary WiFi, free breakfast, room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, waived resort fees on award nights, exclusive reservations line, no blackout dates |
| Drawbacks | Limited coverage, award stays don’t count towards status, points expire after 24 months of inactivity |
Wyndham Rewards
In 2019, Wyndham Rewards gave its flat-rate awards the boot and replaced them with an award category system, similar to Marriott Bonvoy and the World of Hyatt. Instead of 15,000 points for a free stay, properties now range from 7,500 to 30,000 points per night. Along with the redemption changes comes 900+ additional La Quinta hotels in Wyndham’s catalog and new perks for military members.
Participating hotel brands include:
Wyndham properties include these familiar hotels:
| AmericInn | Baymont | Days Inn |
| Dazzler | Dolce Hotels & Resorts | Esplendor |
| Hawthorn Suites | Howard Johnson | La Quinta |
| Microtel | Ramada | Super 8 |
| Trademark Collection | Travelodge | TRYP |
| Wingate | Wyndham Garden | Wyndham Grand |
| Wyndham Hotels & Resorts |
| Number of properties | ~9,000 |
| Base earning rate | 10 points per $1 spent on qualified stays at participating Wyndham properties, or 1,000 points (whichever is greater). |
| Free hotel nights start at | 7,500 points |
| Average point value | $0.012 / point |
| Elite status | 5 qualifying nights within a calendar year. |
| Extra perks | Active and retired military members, veterans and their spouses: instant GOLD status, 12% discount off the best available rate, and 1,000 bonus points after one qualifying stay. |
| Drawbacks | Limited high-end properties, no extra perks for non-military members, points expire after 4 years |
Tips & Tricks
Hotel loyalty programs hold a good amount of value, especially if you master all their little nuances. To get the most for your money, follow my tips and tricks below:
Read the loyalty program paperwork and make note of the benefits you’ll likely take advantage of. Not all perks are clearly outlined, so make sure to ask. Some programs offer a food and beverage discount, a free breakfast, complimentary in-room WiFi or more.
Most programs will not reward bookings from online travel agencies or other third-party sites. If you want to earn points for your hotel stay, make sure to reserve your room and pay directly through the hotel website.
Give your earning potential a boost with a hotel rewards card. Not only will you receive additional points for brand-related products, you’ll often get thousands of points as a one-time, sign-up bonus. Some cards might even throw in a complimentary night, free late checkouts or other hotel-specific perks.
Bottom Line
Before you pledge allegiance to a hotel group, do your homework. Like most things in life, loyalty programs are not a “one size fits all.” Take the time to determine your own travel goals and research rewards programs thoroughly to find the one that fits your lifestyle best.
For those interested in tips on how to stay at a luxury hotel for cheap, click here. Take a look at the best luxury hotels in major cities across the U.S.
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