Best Hotel Loyalty Programs to Travel Like a VIP

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March 25, 2023

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Life is expensive, and sometimes we want to receive something extra without too much effort. Joining a hotel loyalty program may be just the solution and is a fun way to get a little “extra” in our lives when we travel. Almost all hotel chains have some rewards program, but a handful goes above and beyond and provides everyday travelers with a chance to earn VIP treatment.

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Overview

Hotel loyalty program	Best for
Hilton Honors	Easy point accumulation
Marriott Bonvoy	Large portfolio of hotels
World of Hyatt	High point value
IHG Rewards Club	Elite status rewards
Wyndham Rewards	Most budget hotels
Choice Privileges	Hotel stays in small towns
Radisson Rewards	Multiple redemption options
Accor	European and Asian travel

Best hotel loyalty programs

Let’s look at our picks for the eight best hotel loyalty programs.

1. Hilton Honors

The Hilton Honors program includes an impressive 7,000+ properties in its portfolio, making it one of the most popular hotel brands. And if you choose to stay anywhere for at least four consecutive nights, you earn a fifth night free (if you have elite status).

What makes Hilton Honors so lucrative is how easy it is to earn points in multiple ways. For example, if you’re a Hilton Honors American Express Card cardholder, you earn up to 7x points for every dollar spent on the card. You can also enroll in the Hilton Honors Dining program and earn bonus points for dining at participating restaurants. Between the fifth night free and easy point accumulation, you can stretch your points for free hotel stays easily and without any blackout dates to worry about.

2. Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy also boasts an impressive list of over 8,000 hotel properties, which means you have plenty of choices to book rooms and earn points. Whether you need budget or luxury accommodations, Marriott has you covered.

Like Hilton, you earn a fifth night free after four consecutive stays. You can earn even more with a slew of Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards from American Express and Chase. You can convert the card rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy points or elite status (such as the PlatinumElite). If you need points for airline travel, the Marriott Bonvoy program offers over 40 airline transfer partners, so you can easily convert the hotel to airline points.

3. World of Hyatt

Although the footprint of World of Hyatt is small — it only covers about 1,600 hotels — the program offers unique benefits for its portfolio of (mostly) luxury properties. The points have high values, so you get the most bang for your buck. It’s also a partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards, so you can transfer any points you’ve accumulated from the Chase rewards program and transfer it to WOH. Plus, if you’re a member of Bilt Rewards, then you can use those points to transfer to WOH too.

Where WOH shines is when you earn elite status with the program. The elite status allows members to earn free breakfast, waived resort fees, room upgrades, free Wi-Fi, and more for the ultimate VIP treatment.

4. IHG Rewards Club

IHG offers a huge portfolio of hotels, making it ideal for almost any type of travel. It also offers three co-branded credit cards to boost your rewards earnings easily. Like other programs, if you’re a co-branded cardholder, you can add a free night if you book consecutive nights. However, earning a fourth night free only takes three nights, making it more valuable.

If you’re an elite status member, you’ll have access to even more perks, such as complimentary breakfast and a dedicated support line. You can even earn suite upgrades and annual lounge access too.

5. Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards covers most hotels, with over 9,000 and counting, especially within the budget category (although luxury hotels are available too). If you sign up for a co-branded credit card, you can greatly increase your points and earn bonus points for each calendar year of card renewal.

If you’re a cardholder earning the Capital One Miles rewards, you can easily transfer those points to the Wyndham Rewards program and quickly increase your earnings. One of the most unique features is the ability to transfer points to a Vacasa vacation property, where bedrooms start at only 15,000 points.

6. Choice Privileges

Choice Privileges covers many properties, including the Comfort Inn and Quality Inn. Most of the covered brands are found throughout small towns around the world. While there is only one co-branded credit card you can use to earn more points, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Mile, and Citi ThankYou points to this program.

While the program's elite status doesn’t necessarily offer any major upgrades, you can easily earn points toward future stays with numerous options. For example, you can take surveys to earn or book a rental car with Avis and Budget to earn more.

7. Radisson Rewards

The Radisson Rewards program encompasses the Radisson Rewards Americas, serving North and South America, and the rest of the world under Radisson Rewards. While you may not be a globetrotter, you can rack up points rather easily with this program, making it worth consideration.

Although no co-branded card is available to boost points, you can now redeem the rewards for airline miles. You can also redeem points for Priority Passes in select airport lounges. You can also use your points for reduced room rates if you’re not using them towards a free night.

8. Accor

For those who see a trip to Europe or Asia in their future (or are dreaming of it!), the Accor rewards program can help you earn free hotel stays. The hotels under this umbrella are more upscale or luxurious, but you can use your points to offset the cost of a room. You can also transfer points from the Capital One Miles program for further boosting.

The program offers four status tiers, including the elite Diamond tier. It’s worth noting Diamond status earns free breakfast, suite upgrades, and lounge access. Plus, some brands within the Accor portfolio offer their elite status perks, such as free bike rentals.

Hotel loyalty program

Program	Number of properties included	Co-branded credit cards available	Transfer partners available
Hilton Honors	7,000 plus	Yes	American Express
Marriott Bonvoy	8,000 plus	Yes	American Express, Chase, 40 airline partners
World of Hyatt	~1,600	Yes	Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards
IHG Rewards Club	6,000 plus	Yes	Almost 40 airline transfer partners, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Wyndham Rewards	9,000 plus	Yes	Capital One Miles
Choice Privileges	7,100 plus	Yes	American Express, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou
Radisson Rewards	~1,500	No	Airline partners
Accor	5,100 plus	No	Capital One Miles

FAQ

How can I maximize hotel rewards points?

One way to maximize hotel rewards points is to use a co-branded credit card. You can also look for programs that cover the most hotels, include the most transfer partners, and offer free nights with consecutive travel — allowing you to stretch your points further.

Are hotel rewards programs worth it?

Hotel rewards programs are a budget-friendly way to earn points towards future or free travel. The programs take little effort to enroll in (plus they’re free), and you can earn points in various ways. Even if you don’t book a particular hotel often, you never know when you’ll have enough points to earn discounted travel

What hotel loyalty program should I sign up for?

Almost all hotel loyalty programs are free to enroll in. Keep in mind, you might be able to earn points through other transfer partners, such as American Express Membership Rewards, and transfer to the hotel loyalty program.

The bottom line

If you have any plans to book a hotel room shortly, whether to attend your cousin’s wedding or trek across the globe, then joining a free hotel loyalty program is worth it. Most programs feature multiple earning opportunities and reward you for booking four or five consecutive nights. The hotel loyalty programs are a perfect way to earn perks, like late checkout or early check-in, or travel rewards towards future hotel stays, and get treated like VIPs.

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Sara Coleman is a former corporate gal turned creative entrepreneur. She began writing professionally several years ago and now contributes to multiple websites, blogs, and magazines. She’s also an avid reader and can’t resist a great historical fiction novel. Sara holds a BA in journalism from the University of Georgia and can be found supporting her Bulldogs every chance she has. She resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her wonderfully supportive husband and three children. When she’s not ushering her kids to sports and dance lessons, she can be found creating content for her own website, TheProperPen.com.

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