May 2016 Hotel Promotions Page Update

Best Western Hotels – Best Western Rewards

Best Western Hotels USA website link

Best Western Rewards Hotel Brands:

1. Best Western
2. Best Western Plus
3. Best Western Premier
4. BW Premier Collection (as close to luxury as BW gets. Five of 14 are in Sweden, so I might see one soon in my travels).

Best Western Rewards primary summer 2016 promotion:

Best Western 2 stays earn $50 Gift Card May 23–August 28, 2016.

[Expired] February 8 to May 8, 2016: Receive a $25 Best Western Travel Card after two stays.

[Expired] Loyalty Traveler – Best Western $25 Travel Card every 2 stays Feb 8-May 8 (Feb 4, 2016).

Best Western Bonus Offers is a page with hotel specific bonus points promotions like double points.

 

Choice Hotels – Choice Privileges

Choice Privileges Hotel Brands U.S. website link.

1. Comfort Inn
2. Comfort Suites
3. Quality Inn
4. Sleep Inn
5. Clarion Hotels
6. Cambria Suites
7. Ascend Hotel Collection
8. MainStay Suites
9. Suburban Extended Stay
10. Econo Lodge
11. Rodeway Inn
12. Partner hotel chain: Preferred Hotels & Resorts (reward nights available using Choice Privileges points; no earning).
13. Partner hotel chain: Nordic Choice Hotels (reward nights available using Choice Privileges points; no earning).

Primary summer 2016 promotion for Choice Privileges:

Choice Privileges stay two times for 8,000 points May 12-Aug 18, 2016

[Expired] Global Promotion: Earn 8,000 points every two stays March 3 – May 5, 2016 Loyalty Traveler – Choice Privileges Stay Twice Earn 8,000 points Mar 3 to May 5, 2016 (March 3, 2016).

Loyalty Traveler – New Choice Privileges Points Expiration Policy: inactive accounts forfeit all points Aug 1, 2017 (New policy effective February 1, 2016).

Choice Privileges 2016 main changes:

• All Choice Hotels brands now earn 10 points per USD. Previously, economy brands EconoLodge and Rodeway Inn, and two extended stay brands, MainStay Suites and Suburban, earned only 5 points per USD.
• Points do not expire as long as there is member account activity every 18 months.
• FlexRewards: lower the reward rate at over 1,500 hotels globally for either weekdays or weekends, depending on specific hotel’s busier period.
• Weeknight Extras: Stays including a Sunday through Thursday night stays earn a bonus, like 500 bonus Choice Privileges points.

Loyalty Traveler – Choice Privileges 2016 program changes (Feb 17, 2016).

Choice Privileges Points Plus Cash Reward Nights – the concept is simple. You need 6,000 points in your account and you can pay $7.50 per 1,000 points for additional points needed. A hotel reward night at 16,000 points can be bought for 6,000 points + $75.

Loyalty Traveler – Choice Privileges launches Points Plus Cash rewards (Jan 23, 2015)

Loyalty Traveler – Choice Privileges Points Plus Cash Trick (Jan 30, 2015)

Loyalty Traveler – Choice Privileges expands Points Plus Cash rewards for Preferred Hotels & Resorts partner rewards requiring 10,000 points per night + cash copay. Buy up to 250,000 points per year with Choice Privileges Points Plus Cash (March 2, 2016)

Choice Privileges Points Plus Cash model is similar to IHG Rewards Club Points + Cash model. This also means members can build points balances at the rate of $7.50 per 1,000 points in Choice Privileges buying and canceling hotel reward stays. Normal purchase price for Choice Privileges points is $11 per 1,000 points. Members can buy up to 250,000 points per year using Points Plus Cash Rewards.

Nordic Choice Club is the loyalty program for Nordic Choice Hotels in Scandinavia and Baltic region. Choice Privileges members in North America can redeem points for Nordic Choice Hotels, however, earning points requires membership in Nordic Choice Club. There are more Nordic Choice Club hotels than any other hotel chain in the Norway and Sweden. Sokos Hotels in Finland are a partner chain to Nordic Choice and together these hotel chains provide over 230 hotels in Nordic Europe for earning loyalty points in Nordic Choice Club.

Loyalty Traveler – Nordic Choice Club Guide for North Americans

Choice Hotels BRG free night claim

Choice Hotels free night with approved Best Rate Guarantee. Here is a post on my experience claiming a successful Best Rate Guarantee with one free night.

Loyalty Traveler – Choice Hotel BRG free night claim (Feb 28, 2014).

 

Carlson Rezidor Hotels Group – Club Carlson

Club Carlson US website link

Club Carlson Hotel brands:

1. Radisson Blu
2. Radisson
3. Radisson Red
4. Park Plaza
5. Park Inn
6. Country Inn & Suites
7. Quorvus Collection

Club Carlson primary summer 2016 promotions:

Club Carlson 5,000 to 50,000 bonus points Apr 18-Jul 31 for 2 to 15 nights

• 2 Eligible Nights earn 5,000 bonus Gold Points
• 5 Eligible Nights earn an additional 10,000 bonus Gold Points
• 10 Eligible Nights earn another 10,000 bonus Gold Points
• 15 or more Eligible Nights earn a final 25,000 bonus Gold Points

Loyalty Traveler – Club Carlson 5,000 to 50,000 bonus points Apr 18-Jul 31 for 2 to 15 nights (April 18, 2016).

Club Carlson 2-for-1 and 4-for-2 rates are real deal for weekends in Europe, Middle East and Africa

http://www.clubcarlson.com/2for1

https://www.clubcarlson.com/4for2

Radisson Hotel MegaPoints rate for 10,000 bonus points per night allows Club Carlson members to potentially pick up 10,000 bonus points for as little as $20 more per night. My post lists all the participating Radisson Hotels for this offer. I used the MegaPoints rate at Radisson Vancouver Airport on April 18 to earn over 20,000 points when stacked with triple points promotion on a $132 rate.

Loyalty Traveler – List of Radisson hotels with Club Carlson MegaPoints rate for 10,000 bonus points.

Club Carlson Program News

Reward Alert: Club Carlson announced on April 3, 2015 the elimination of the Club Carlson Visa member free reward night on reward stays of 2 or more nights. Members had until May 31, 2015 to book reservations for stays from June 1 and later using the free night benefit. The new benefit changes to one free night in the USA with $10,000 in Club Carlson Visa card spend. Big blow to probably the best value loyalty benefit in the hotel industry for the past couple of years. This remains here on the deals page since many members have reservations into late 2016. I have four reward nights in Stockholm July 2016 for 100,000 Club Carlson points. Those room nights cost 280,000 points now.

Loyalty Traveler – Club Carlson Visa eliminates bonus award night benefit June 1, 2015 (April 6, 2015)

Club Carlson Hotel Brands Profile by Loyalty Traveler (Jan 8, 2014).

Club Carlson Hotel Loyalty Program Basics by Loyalty Traveler (Jan 8, 2014)

Analysis of Club Carlson award category increases at 114 hotels on March 15, 2014 (Feb 24, 2014)

 

Hilton Worldwide – Hilton HHonors

Hilton Worldwide USA website.

Hilton HHonors website.

Hilton HHonors Brands

1. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
2. DoubleTree by Hilton
3. Embassy Suites
4. Hilton Garden Inn
5. Hampton Inn
6. Waldorf-Astoria
7. Conrad
8. Homewood Suites
9. Home2 Suites
10. Curio Collection
11. Canopy
12. Tru
13. Hilton Grand Vacation

Hilton HHonors May 1 – August 31, 2016 Global Promotion

Loyalty Traveler – Earn Double Points (20 points per $1) worldwide May 1-August 31, 2016.

[Expired] Hilton HHonors Jan 1 – April 30, 2016 Global Promotion

Loyalty Traveler – Hilton HHonors Double Points or Miles Jan 1 to Apr 30, 2016

HHonors category 1 and category 2 hotels around the globe (Feb 2016 lists).

Loyalty Traveler – Where 53 HHonors category 1 hotels in 2016 are located

Loyalty Traveler – Hilton HHonors category 2 hotels USA and Americas 2016 list

Loyalty Traveler – Hilton HHonors category 2 hotels in Asia

Loyalty Traveler – Hilton HHonors 28 category 2 hotels in Europe, Middle East and Africa

HHonors News:

Loyalty Traveler – First Canopy by Hilton hotel Reykjavik, Iceland opens early 2016

Hilton HHonors announced in January 2015 it will only run two global promotions per year and focus on targeted member promotions.

Hilton purchased Parc 55 San Francisco in February, along with four other hotels in Florida for $1.76 billion using the proceeds from the sale of Waldorf Astoria New York to Chinese investors.

Loyalty Traveler – Parc 55 San Francisco Hilton Hotel part of Hilton $1.76 billion purchase of five hotels

Hilton free internet access

Loyalty Traveler – Hilton Free Wi-Fi for all HHonors members begins August 2015 (March 2, 2015)

@Play – Hilton HHonors lined up with Live Nation to bring concert tickets as an option for your points.

Loyalty Traveler – Hilton and LiveNation band together for five years (Jan 16, 2015)

Hilton HHonors Loyalty Traveler Guide (July 16, 2014)

Loyalty Traveler Hilton HHonors Points and Money Rewards table (July 16, 2014) – Hilton does not post a table for Points and Money Rewards on its website.

Loyalty Traveler post: Warning: Do Not Trust HHonors Rewards Pricing Tool (July 3, 2014)

Loyalty Traveler post: Marriott beats Hilton for category 1 and 2 hotels in USA (July 7, 2014)

Loyalty Traveler post: Hilton HHonors Seasonal Reward Rates clarified (Jan 24, 2014).

Loyalty Traveler post: Tutorial: Finding HHonors Points & Money and Standard Rewards (Jan 28, 2014).

Loyalty Traveler table: Hilton HHonors Points & Money Rewards table (there is no table on the Hilton HHonors site showing the cost of Points & Money Rewards by hotel category. I created this one.)

 

Hyatt Hotels – Hyatt Gold Passport

Hyatt Hotels USA website.

Hyatt Gold Passport USA website.

Hyatt Hotel Brands

1. Hyatt Regency
2. Grand Hyatt
3. Park Hyatt
4. Andaz
5. Hyatt House
6. Hyatt Place
7. Hyatt Centric
8. Unbound Collection
9. Hyatt Ziva All-inclusive
10. Hyatt Zilara All-inclusive
11. Hyatt Residences

Hyatt Gold Passport primary summer promotion

Hyatt Gold Passport April 1–June 30, 2016 earn 5,000 to 75,000 bonus points with 5 to 25 nights

Hyatt Hotels News – Hyatt launches new hotel marketing brand Unbound Collection (March 2, 2016).

Hyatt Gold Passport Change: Hyatt announces Diamond Suite Upgrades actually expire on their expiration date (Jan 22, 2016).

Hyatt Hotels – Free Wi-Fi for all Hyatt guests around the world as of February 2015. Free internet benefit does not require Hyatt Gold Passport membership and there are no Hyatt booking channel restrictions. All Hyatt guests get free Wi-Fi access on an unlimited number of devices. Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond and Platinum elite members receive complimentary upgrade to premium Wi-Fi service, where available. Hyatt’s reach is 573 hotels.

Really Big Deal: Hyatt Guest of Honor Diamond elite benefit

Hyatt introduced new benefits for Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond members on March 1, 2015. Hyatt’s Guest of Honor benefit allows guests staying on a reservation booked with a Diamond member’s points to receive the Diamond member benefits for the hotel stay. This means I can book my parents into a Hyatt Hotel using my points and they will receive Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond benefits like late check-out, room upgrade and free breakfast.

Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond members also receive two United Airlines one-time Club Passes annually.

Loyalty Traveler – Hyatt New Diamond Benefits (February 18, 2015)

Hyatt Gold Passport News: Loyalty Traveler – Hyatt Award category changes Jan 22, 2015 with 22 hotels up and 48 down (December 10, 2014)

Hyatt Gold Passport News: Loyalty Traveler – Hyatt drops My Elite 20% Discount Rate and 5,000 points Bed Type Guarantee (Dec 11, 2014)

Hyatt Mobile app promotion page and download links Expired bonus points offer, but I’ll keep the link up for Hyatt mobile app download. Hyatt mobile app earned 1,000 points per booking Oct 1- Dec 31, 2014.

Loyalty Traveler – Mobile apps for hotel discounts and bonus points: Hyatt, Club Carlson, Expedia, TravelPony (Oct 5, 2014)

Loyalty Traveler Guide to Hyatt Gold Passport – Overview

Guide to Hyatt Gold Passport Airline Partners

Guide to Hyatt and Las Vegas M life benefits

Hyatt beats Starwood in USA for category 1 and 2 hotel awards

Hyatt Gold Passport introduced Points + Cash Rewards Jan 7, 2014.

Loyalty Traveler – Hyatt Points + Cash Rewards post Jan 7

 

InterContinental Hotels Group – IHG Rewards Club

IHG.com USA website.

IHG Rewards Club Hotel Brands

1. InterContinental Hotels
2. Crowne Plaza
3. Holiday Inn (Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Club Vacations)
4. Holiday Inn Express
5. Hotel Indigo
6. Staybridge Suites
7. Candlewood Suites
8. EVEN
9. HuaLuxe (China)
10. Kimpton Hotels (not currently participating in IHG Rewards Club)

Current IHG Rewards Club Promotions

Americas-residents-only summer promotion: Share Forever for up to 65,000 bonus points + free night (targeted member tasks)

Loyalty Traveler – IHG Share Forever 65K + free night takes too many nights May 1-Sep 5, 2016 (April 13, 2016).

IHG PointBreaks to July 31, 2016, 2016 offer 5,000 points reward nights at participating hotels worldwide.

Loyalty Traveler – IHG Rewards Club PointBreaks list April 26 – July 31, 2016

[Expired] IHG Accelerate 2016 ( targeted member tasks)

Loyalty Traveler – IHG Rewards Club Accelerate 2016 Jan 1-April 30 promotion open for registration

Loyalty Traveler – IHG mobile app and bonus points breakfast package for Into the Nights. This post has the link for finding bonus points and breakfast package rates for hotels where they may not appear in a regular search. Some hotels offer 5,000 points for as low as $10 more than Best Flexible Rate.

IHG link to find hotel package rates for Bonus Points with Breakfast. Offers are generally 1,000 bonus points + breakfast; 5,000 bonus points; 5,000 bonus points + breakfast. These are often a good deal for a one-night stay to buy 5,000 points at a discount (rate is generally $20 to $40 more) if you need breakfast for the hotel stay.

Loyalty Traveler – IHG Rewards Club adds elite tier at 75 nights, lowers qualification for Gold and Platinum and adds points expiration policy (April 13, 2015).

IHG hotel reward category changes in February 2016

Loyalty Traveler – IHG Rewards Club list of 200 hotels up in points cost Feb 17, 2016

Loyalty Traveler – IHG Rewards Club list of 200 hotels down in points cost Feb 17, 2016

Loyalty Traveler – 300 hotels up, 150 down in IHG Reward Night Points Changes May 1, 2015 (April 27)

Loyalty Traveler Overview of IHG Rewards Club (Jan 6, 2014) – IHG Rewards Club in 2014: History, Award Nights and Elite Status

 

Kimpton Hotels and Kimpton Karma Rewards

Kimpton Hotels website.

Kimpton Karma Rewards website.

Kimpton Hotels was purchased by InterContinental Hotels Group in December 2014. There are currently no plans to merge Kimpton Karma Rewards with IHG Rewards Club. The two loyalty programs continue to function separately and IHG Rewards Club members receive no elite recognition at Kimpton Hotels. It remains to be seen how closely Kimpton Hotels will integrate with IHG loyalty programs.

Kimpton Karma Rewards Exclusive Offers provide some good discount hotel rates across the USA for bookings made in August.

Loyalty Traveler – Kimpton Karma Member Exclusive Rates offer good discounts (August 10, 2015)

Kimpton offers evening wine social, complimentary bicycle usage, pets stay free and now has introduced Nightcap Program for 17 hotels with more to join program in 2015.

Loyalty Traveler – Kimpton Hotels Nightcap Program free liquor social

Kimpton News – most of the San Francisco hotels dropped out of Kimpton Hotels in July 2015.

 

Marriott International – Marriott Rewards

Marriott International website.

Marriott International Brands

1. Marriott Hotels & Resorts
2. Renaissance Hotels
3. JW Marriott
4. Courtyard by Marriott
5. Residence Inn by Marriott
6. Fairfield Inn
7. TownePlace Suites
8. SpringHill Suites
9. Autograph Collection Hotels
10. Ritz-Carlton
11. Delta Hotels & Resorts
12. Gaylord Hotels
13. AC Hotels
14. Moxy
15. Protea Hotels (Africa)
16. Edition
17. Marriott Vacation Club
18. Marriott Executive Apartments
19. Bulgari (exclusive hotel brand does not participate in Marriott Rewards)

Marriott Spring 2016 MegaBonus [Expired].

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott Rewards MegaBonus free night after two stays Feb 1-May 15 (one free night certificate per member limit.

Marriott Protea Hotels in Africa

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott Rewards 2,000 bonus points per Protea Hotel stay to May 30, 2016 (Feb 6, 2016).

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott Rewards 100 Protea Hotels in Africa are mostly category 1 and 2 hotels (Jan 5, 2016).

Marriott Rewards New Music Fridays

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott Rewards New Music Fridays 10 free downloads (Feb 26, 2016) from Universal Music Group catalog. Free for Marriott Rewards members.

Marriott Rewards Hotel + Air Packages

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott Rewards Hotel + Air Package Rewards for United and other airlines (Feb 5, 2014)

Marriott Points & Miles Deals – http://www.marriott.com/specials/mesSearchResults.mi

Marriott PointSaver Hotels Reward Night Discount

Marriott PointSavers hotels currently has about 7 hotels in USA, Caribbean and UK offering reward nights at one category discount. A category 5 hotel at 25,000 points per night is only 20,000 points with PointSavers award. These award discount rates also apply to 5th night free.

Marriott Rewards News:

Marriott International buys Starwood Hotels (Nov 16, 2015)

Marriott Rewards counts reward nights on points and certificates for elite nights starting Nov 1, 2015

Loyalty Traveler – New Marriott Cash + Points Guide and reward analysis

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott International hotel brands room rate data 2015 Q3  (Oct 29, 2015)

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott Rewards 100 Protea Hotels in Africa are mostly category 1 and 2 hotels

Marriott Rewards 2016 hotel category changes, effective March 24, 2016.

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott and Starwood 2016 hotel reward category changes (Feb 19, 2016).

Marriott Rewards category changes effective March 19, 2015

Some 1,400 Marriott Rewards hotels, about 1 in 3 hotels worldwide, are changing category with 75% up in reward category and 25% down. Of those going up, nearly 90% are located in the USA.

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott Rewards March 19, 2015 hotel category changes are bad news.

Loyalty Traveler – Checking out 52 Marriott brand hotels going down March 19, 2015 in reward night category

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott Rewards category increases March 19, 2015 are 90% USA hotels

Loyalty Traveler – 26 South Africa hotels joined Marriott Rewards February 23, 2015

Marriott announced its plans to double size in Europe by 2020 primarily through Moxy and Courtyard brands. Loyalty Traveler – Marriott to Moxy and Courtyard Europe

Marriott Rewards Points Expiration Policy Announced

Marriott introduced a policy that points expire after two years of inactivity beginning January 1, 2016. This means you will lose your points earned before January 1, 2014 if you do not have any Marriott Rewards activity in your account between then and next January 1.

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott Rewards points expire after two years of inactivity effective February 1, 2016

Marriott Rewards Free WiFi Policy

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott Rewards free WiFi worldwide begins January 15, 2015 (December 10, 2014)

Marriott and Hilton low category hotels compared.

Loyalty Traveler – Marriott beats Hilton for category 1 and 2 hotels in USA (July 7, 2014)

 

Ritz-Carlton Hotels – Ritz-Carlton Rewards

Ritz-Carlton Hotels website.

Ritz-Carlton Rewards website.

Ritz-Carlton is a Marriott International luxury hotel brand. Members may choose whether to belong to Marriott Rewards or Ritz-Carlton Rewards. Both programs earn and redeem the same reward chart. Ritz-Carlton Rewards has more lucrative promotions, but only better value if you stay at Ritz-Carlton Hotels.

Double Elite Nights Credit in 2016

Ritz-Carlton Rewards members earn two elite nights credit for every stay at Ritz-Carlton properties during calendar year 2016.

2016 Ritz Carlton Rewards changes and offers.

Ritz-Carlton Rewards NEW POINTS EXPIRATION POLICY

Starting February 1, 2016, members who do not have qualifying activity in the prior 24 months will forfeit all accumulated points. If you have not engaged in qualifying activity since January 31, 2014 you have until January 31, 2016 before the policy is enforced. Learn More.

2015 ANNUAL REWARDS HOTEL TIER/CATEGORY CHANGES

View the full list of hotel changes.

ANOTHER YEAR. ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY: RECEIVE CREDIT FOR TWICE THE NIGHTS

If you have yet to experience the benefits of Elite status or are looking to elevate your membership to the next level, 2016 could be your year. As a member of The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, you will earn two Elite night credits for each night stay at participating Ritz-Carlton properties between January 1 and December 31, 2016.

 

Starwood Hotels – Starwood Preferred Guest

Starwood Hotels website.

Starwood Preferred Guest website.

Starwood Preferred Guest Hotels Brands

1. Westin Hotels
2. Sheraton Hotels
3. Four Points by Sheraton
4. W Hotels
5. Luxury Collection
6. Tribute Portfolio
7. Le Meridien
8. Design Hotels
9. St. Regis
10. Element
11. Aloft

SPG Triple Up May 9 – July 31, 2016 is primary summer promotion

Loyalty Traveler – SPG Triple Up Promotion May 9 to July 31, 2016

SPG BirthYear Discount Rate

Pay Your Birth Year Rate (Pay fixed rate for first night and pay your birth year for nights 2 and 3.) Example, 1970 means $70 per night. Rate is adjusted at check-in.

Loyalty Traveler – When Starwood Birth Year Rate is a deal and an upgrade (May 9, 2015)

Starwood News: Best Rate Guarantee changed to a 20% discount on lower rate for approved claims or 2,000 bonus Starpoints and match lower rate.

Loyalty Traveler – Starwood Best Rate Guarantee now cuts 20% off lower rate (Jan 6, 2015)

Starwood Hotels added a new 10th hotel brand named Tribute Portfolio in 2015. Think Luxury Collection without the historical building setting. The idea is to have a Starwood brand for newer independent hotels to match Marriott Autograph Collection and Hilton Curio Collection. Luxury Collection hotels as a brand tend to be older restored buildings. We won’t know the scope of Tribute Portfolio until there are more properties to compare.

Design Hotels 11th Starwood Hotels brand.

In 2016 Starwood Hotels added a new partner chain Design Hotels.

SLS Las Vegas becoming Starwood Tribute Portfolio and W Hotel (Nov 9, 2015)

Starwood Preferred Guest And Caesars Total Rewards Partnership

SPG has teamed up with Caesars Entertainment to reward points to each other’s members. This deal allows members to earn SPG points at Caesars properties. Redemption rates are generally poor using SPG points for Caesars Hotels.

Loyalty Traveler – Caesars and Starwood Preferred Guest partner for points earning (Jan 21, 2014)

Loyalty Traveler – Redemption Value analysis using SPG points for Caesars award stays in Las Vegas (Jan 21, 2014).

Loyalty Traveler – Tutorial: SPG Browse Dates and Rates Feature (Jan 30, 2014)

Loyalty Traveler Guide to SPG Airline Partners, Transfers and Airline Direct Deposit program (July 1, 2014)

Loyalty Traveler – Starwood Preferred Guest Cash and Points Awards Guide

Loyalty Traveler – Hyatt beats Starwood in USA for category 1 and 2 hotel awards (July 3, 2014)

Loyalty Traveler – Hyatt and Starwood Hotels compared by brand room rates (Nov 5, 2015)

 

Wyndham Worldwide – Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Worldwide website.

Wyndham Rewards website.

Wyndham Rewards Hotel Brands

1. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
2.  Wyndham Grand
3. Wyndham Garden
4. Dolce Hotels & Resorts.
5. Tryp by Wyndham
6. Wingate by Wyndham
7. Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham
8. Microtel Inn & Suites
9. Ramada
10. Baymont Inn & Suites
11. Days Inn
12. Super 8
13. Howard Johnson
14. Travelodge
15. Knights Inn

Wyndham Rewards primary summer promotions:

Wyndham Rewards Visa Checkout 5,000 points per stay to Aug 1

Wyndham Rewards 2 stays earns 4 $25 gift cards Apr 18-Sep 6 USA/Canada only

Wyndham Rewards 2015-16 loyalty program changes:

Loyalty Traveler – I will Go Fast to Wyndham Rewards elite status in 2016 (May 18, 2016) description of new Wyndham Rewards elite tiers and benefits. I still think GoFast reward nights are the best value in the program and I will lilely be elite for 2017 from reward nights in Europe this summer.

Loyalty Traveler – New Wyndham Rewards elite status program coming in 2016 (Dec 28, 2015).

Wyndham Rewards GoFree and GoFast Rewards

More changes were made to GoFast Rewards in recent months, including increasing the maximum copay to $150 and adding the GoFast and GoFree option to Wyndham Vacation properties.

Loyalty Traveler – Value in Wyndham Rewards Bonus Points rates Feb 8, 2016.

Loyalty Traveler – Wyndham BRG claims earn 3,000 points Jan 18, 2016.

Loyalty Traveler – Wyndham Rewards GoFast $150 copay hotels in New York and other places Jan 1, 2016.

Loyalty Traveler – Wyndham Rewards Vacation Properties GoFast and GoFree reward nights Dec 28, 2015.

Wyndham Rewards made major changes to its hotel loyalty program in May 2015. The value of Wyndham Rewards points for hotel stays greatly improved with the changes.

I wrote a series of articles in May 2015 analyzing the changes.

Loyalty Traveler – Loyalty brilliance in the new era of Wyndham Rewards (May 12, 2015) – a look at how the changes in Wyndham Rewards make lower end hotels more desirable for points stays with new GoFast reward nights for 3,000 points + cash payment of $25 to $150 per night.

Meet the New Wyndham Rewards (May 2015 loyalty program relaunch)

One of the biggest hotel loyalty program developments of the past month is the restructured Wyndham Rewards hotel  loyalty program. The two primary changes are all hotel reward nights are 15,000 points per night, regardless if the hotel is a $40 average rate Super 8 in the middle of nowhere or a $500 per night weekend room at the Wyndham Santa Monica on the beach in Los Angeles. More useful for hotel discount savings are the new GoFast reward nights, a cash and points reward for 3,000 points + $25 to $95 per night. The GoFast rewards can be high value for points with savings in the $20 to $30 per night range easy to find. For me, the value of Wyndham Rewards points has changed from an average of about $6 to $9 per 1,000 points in the old program to $20 to $30 per 1,000 points with the new rewards choices.

 

Accor Hotels USA website.

LeClub Accorhotels website.

Accor Hotels Brands:

1. Sofitel
2. Pullman
3. MGallery
4. Grand Mercure
5. Novotel
6. Mercure
7. Suite Novotel
8. The Sebel
9. Ibis
10. Ibis Styles
11. Adagio
12. Thalassa Sea & Spa.

Accor Hotels bought Fairmont, Raffles, Swissotel chain in late 2015.

Accor Hotels Brand Profile – Loyalty Traveler

Accor Hotels offers numerous promotions by global region and country that can be found on their website. I don’t cover many promotions from Le Club Accorhotels since it has such a small footprint in the USA. My primary hotel stay strategy is earn points in USA and spend points for most international hotel travel. I pass by lots of nice looking Accor Hotels in Pullman and Mercure brands and I have seen some not so nice looking Ibis hotels in my European travels.

Normal earn rate for Le Club Accorhotels is 10 EUR = 25 points for all brands, except Ibis and Adagio earn 50% rate. 500 bonus points is equivalent to spending an extra 200 EUR for the stay.

2000 points = 40 EUR as a fixed rate value in Le Club Accorhotels that can be used to pay for Accor hotel stays.

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Loyalty Traveler Airfare Deals

For current airfare deals, see Loyalty Traveler’s Airfare Deals page.

Airfare deals are low economy prices to travel to airports of the world. I try and only publish airfares that tend to be in the lowest 25% available during the year based on the typical price for airline routes. The best deals in air travel generally are gone within 24 hours in the constantly changing gamble of actually buying an airline ticket that is essentially nonrefundable.

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Ric Garrido of Monterey, California is writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler.