Choice Privileges Elite Member Enhancements for 2011

Choice Privileges Platinum mid-tier elite is achieved with just 20 nights in calendar year 2011 rather than the former 25 nights qualification threshold. Diamond elite members receive 50% elite bonus points which is an increase from 40%. Diamond elite qualification remains unchanged at 40 nights. Gold elite is also unchanged at 10 nights in a calendar year. Choice Privileges counts reward nights for elite qualification (like HHonors).

Choice Privileges also increased the reward night advance booking window for elite members.

Gold = 50 days (formerly 40 days)
Platinum = 75 days (formerly 60 days)
Diamond = 100 days (formerly 90 days)Â

Choice Privileges Reward Nights Advance Booking Window

One of the most restrictive features of Choice Privileges is a limited advance booking window of 30 days for reward nights in the U.S. (excluding Hawaii) and Canada for general (non-elite) members. Â Members in other global regions have a similar restriction for hotels in their home region.

Members in each region may only book reward nights within 60 days for hotels outside of their membership home region.

Choice Privileges Member Regions

U.S., U.S. Territories and Canada
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Australasia (including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Fiji)

2011 changes give Platinum members an additional 45 days advance booking window for domestic rewards (75 days compared to 30 days) and 15 days for international rewards over general and Gold elite members (75 days compared to 60 days).

Diamond members have 100 days advance booking window for domestic rewards and 40 days more than the standard 60 day advance window for international and Hawaii reward bookings.

I assume these advance booking windows for elites also apply to Preferred Hotels Group and Barcelo bookings, but the program rules and regulations page has not yet been updated to reflect the 2011 changes.

Choice Privileges Elite Membership Levels benefits chart has been updated to reflect the changes, however, the Rules and Regulations webpage still shows the old information.

These are truly program enhancements for Choice Privileges elite members.Â