Choice Hotels has launched their winter promotion for triple points or miles beginning with your second stay for stays with arrival date from December 10, 2009 to February 28, 2010. The promotion gives members 30 points per US$1 on hotel room rate spending. My analysis shows there is good value in using this promotion to earn Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credits.
You must maintain a U.S. (including U.S. territories) address to earn Choice Privileges® points with this promotion.
Triple Points or Miles promotion registration also enters you into a Hawaii sweepstakes for a 6 night Choice Hotels vacation and $2,000 cash to buy your airfare ($3,800 prize value).
Choice Privileges Triple Points or Miles Registration page link.
Choice Hotels is the second largest hotel chain in the world with over 5,000 properties globally. (Wyndham Hotel Group is #1). Choice Hotels is a franchise hotel organization.
Earning points is possible in these locations:
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U.S.,
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Canada
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Mexico
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Caribbean
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Europe (excluding Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden)
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Australasia (including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Fiji).
A quick check of new hotel openings reveals new properties in Japan, India, and Brazil. According to the earning terms these hotels appear to be nonparticipants for earning points.
Earning Points in Choice Privileges
Choice Hotels Privileges members earn 10 points per $US1 for room rate charge only at these Choice Hotels brands.
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Comfort Inn
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Comfort Suites
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Quality
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Sleep Inn
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Clarion
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Ascend Collection
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Cambria Suites
In Australasia (including Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji), you earn 10 points for each whole U.S. dollar. Eligible charges include: accommodation, tax, restaurant, bar charges, laundry and phone calls.
Choice Hotels Privileges members in U.S. and Canada earn 5 points per $US1 for room rate charges, excluding tax, restaurant, and other incidental charges at these Choice Hotels brands:
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MainStay Suites
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Suburban Extended Stay Hotel,
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Econo Lodge
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Rodeway Inn
You must choose either Choice Privileges points or Airline Rewards for this triple points or triple miles promotion offer and notify the hotel of your preference upon check-in.
Earning Miles with Triple Airline Miles Promotion is Valid with these Airline Partners
250 miles per stay (750 miles with triple miles promotion)
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Air Canada Aeroplan,
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Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan,
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American Airlines AAdvantage,
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Continental Airlines OnePass,
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Czech Airlines OK Plus,
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Delta SkyMiles,
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MexicanaGO,
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Spirit Airlines FREE SPIRIT,
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United Mileage Plus or
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US Airways Dividend Miles
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards is the best earning value during this promotion
Choice Privileges members normally earn 0.5 credits with Southwest Airlines per stay, but will receive 1.5 credits with triple miles promotion.
A free flight on Southwest requires 16 credits (11 Choice brand hotel stays by February 28, 2010 with 3x miles promotion).
Consider that a $55 per night average room rate or $605 in hotel stays can result in a free $250 Southwest airline ticket. Southwest Airlines frequent flier credit is clearly a good value for return on your investment in Choice Hotels.
Comparison of Choice Privileges Points Earning to Southwest Airlines credits
$600 in hotel spending will earn 18,000 points with the 3x points earning preference. Free hotel nights range from 6,000 points to 35,000 points with Choice Privileges. 18,000 points will likely earn a free night at a mid-level hotel for perhaps a $100 value. A free cross-country Southwest airline ticket can have a $200 to $300 value.
Choice offers points-to-miles exchange with Southwest at the ratio of 6,000 points = 1.5 credits. This is only 4.5 Southwest credits with a points-to-miles exchange of 18,000 points.
The 3x miles promotion earns 16.5 Southwest flight credits on 11 stays costing around $600 for economy brand hotels. A member with numerous low cost stays will probably get higher value from earning Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit compared to points.
Choice Privileges is the best program during this promotion for earning Southwest credits in comparison to other hotel loyalty programs after Hyatt Gold Passport’s promotion ends December 31, 2009.
16 Southwest credits from 11 Choice Hotel stays is equivalent to:
Hyatt Gold Passport = Earn: 0.5 credit per stay normally, but currently can earn 2.5 additional bonus credits after every two nights, up to 25 bonus credits through December 31, 2009. 12 nights at Hyatt Hotel brands by December 31 will earn 18 Southwest credits. Burn: 40,000 points = 16 credits.
Marriott Rewards = Earn: 0.5 credit per stay; Burn: 70,000 points for 16 credits
IHG Priority Club = Earn: 0.5 credit per stay; Burn: 80,000 points for 16 credits
Hilton HHonors = Earn: 0.5 credit per stay; Burn: 160,000 points for 16 credits
Choice Hotels Triple Miles Promotion is a good value for Southwest Airlines flyers.
