The frequent guest has the choice of many hotel loyalty promotions with little guidance to their relative value. Loyalty Traveler’s summary of current hotel loyalty promotions and limited time offers for the frequent guest are shown below.
April 22, Loyalty Traveler Current Hotel Loyalty Promotions
New Promotions added:
American Express Membership Rewards has a limited time offer for a $100 savings certificate towards a two-night stay at Hyatt for just 1,500 points through May 31. These certificates are normally 5,000 points. Click on the link and look for the certificates tab.
Hyatt is adding a new Park Hyatt property when Four Seasons Avaria, Carlsbad, California rebrands June 21. Park Hyatt Avaria will be another Hyatt resort for free nights this summer.
IHG Priority Club – May 14 to Aug 31, 2010 – Double Points or Double Miles starting with your second qualifying stay at any hotel or your first stay at Candlewood Suites or Staybridge Suites. Registration required.
Priority Club Enroll a Friend – March 1 – May 31, 2010 – New member can earn 7,500 points after first stay at Candlewood Suites or Staybridge Suites within 90 days of Priority Club enrollment. Earn 5,000 points for first stay at InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express worldwide. Offer is restricted to US and Canada members. Referral member receives 5,000 bonus points. Contact me at ricgarrido@live.com for a referral link.
Starwood Preferred Guest Free Weekend Nights – Earning period: May 1 – July 31, 2010; Redemption Period through December 19. Earn one free weekend night (Fri, Sat, or Sun) for every three stays at any Starwood Hotel worldwide. Free weekend nights are valid for up to category 6 hotels. This is all but about 15 hotels worldwide.
SPG Registration required and registration link will be activated May 1.
Canada – See It Now Sweepstakes, March 27 – May 31. One entry per day allowed for a choice of five $5,000 Canadian vacations. Only U.S. residents in lower 48 states and D.C. are eligible. One prize will be awards around June 1. I have included this promotion since the Urban Fare prize includes three nights at the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto.
Best Western $100 Travel Card, March 30-May 31. Buy a $100 Best Western travel card by May 31 and stay in a Best Western between June 1 and August 31 to earn 3,000 bonus points. Promotion link.
Best Western is also running their elite status match promotion. Members on FlyerTalk report the elite status match may come with 5,000 bonus points after first stay.
Loyalty Traveler Key Rankings
Rankings are subjective and subject to change. Your specific travel pattern may result in some promotions ranking more favorably for you. When assigning a key rank I take into consideration the following factors and probably more:
- The opportunity for a significantly high-value return on hotel spend in terms of a hotel rebate in free nights and discounted hotel nights.
- Current loyalty program promotions and offers from other hotel chains.
- Past loyalty program offers and rates for the specific hotel chain and loyalty program.
- Current economic conditions in the travel industry and hotel location.
Loyalty Traveler ranks the consumer value of hotel loyalty promotions on a Five Key Scale.
Five Keys = one of the best hotel loyalty promotions of the year.
Four Keys = high value rebate on the cost of hotel stays.
Three Keys = good value hotel loyalty promotion or rate offer
Two Keys = a bonus value if you play, but not necessarily worth going out of your way.
One Key = There is limited or no value. You are likely paying more than the bonus value.
April 22 Summary of Current Hotel Loyalty Promotions by Program
Best Western Rewards
3-key Promotion $50 gift card after two stays by May 30 (March 30, 2010)
Elite Status Match Offer (February 19, 2010) FlyerTalk members are stating there is an accompanying offer for 5,000 bonus points after first stay.
3-key promotion – Best Western $100 Travel Card, March 30-May 31. Buy a $100 Best Western travel card by May 31 and stay in a Best Western between June 1 and August 31 to earn 3,000 bonus points. Promotion link.
Carlson Hotels – Goldpoints Plus
5-Key promotion: Award Nights On Sale through May 31: Radisson 50% off, Country Inn and Park Inn 25% off
4-Key promotion Country Inn & Suites Third Night Free is Truly a Free Night -March 1 – May 15 (March 18, 2010)
3-key promotion Up to Quadruple Points for stays through May 28, 2010 (March 31, 2010) This can be a 4-key or 5-key promotion if you have 4-night stays at a Radisson which combined with 50% free nights can be one or two free nights earned. 4x points is 80 points/$1. Top category hotel awards for a Radisson Blu or Regent Hotel in places like London and Paris at 50% discount are just 30,000 points. $800 on a 4-night stay will earn 65,000 points with online booking bonus.
Choice Hotels – Choice Privileges
3-key promotion Spring Promotion Stay Twice and Earn 8,000 points Feb 22-April 30
(8,000 points are sufficient for a free night at 1,500 hotels in the two lowest award night categories.)
Hilton HHonors
5-key promotion Fast Ways to Free Stays (Earn a free night after every 4 stays or 10 nights through June 30) (April 7, 2010) I have raised this offer from 4-key to a 5-key promotion since the free night certificate is valid at any hotel and good for one year from issue date. A property like Hilton Bora Bora Nui is a $700+ per night hotel.
Hilton HHonors earn unlimited free nights through June 30 – Fast Ways to Free Stays promotion (April 4, 2010)
4-key promotion Nine bonus airline miles promotions that may be combined with free night promotion (April 13, 2010)
Hyatt Gold Passport
5-key promotion – Big Welcome Back promotion for one free night after every two stays March 26-June 30 (March 26, 2010)
5-key promotion – Hyatt Gold Passport Instant Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite Fast-track (Feb 21, 2010)
3-Key Limited Time Offer American Express Membership Rewards Hyatt $100 certificate for 2-night stay for 1,500 Membership Rewards points through May 31, 2010. Certificate valid in US, Canada, and Caribbean through December 30, 2010.
Costco, the wholesale discounter, offers $100 in Hyatt gift certificates (two $50 certificates in a package) for $79.99.
Limited Time Offer – American Express Membership Rewards has a limited time offer for a $100 savings certificate towards a two-night stay at Hyatt for just 1,500 points through May 31. These certificates are normally 5,000 points. Click on the link and look for the certificates tab.
InterContinental Hotels Group – Priority Club
2-key IHG Priority Club – May 14 to Aug 31, 2010 – Double Points or Double Miles starting with your second qualifying stay at any hotel or your first stay at Candlewood Suites or Staybridge Suites. Registration required.
Priority Club Enroll a Friend – March 1 – May 31, 2010 – New member can earn 7,500 points after first stay at Candlewood Suites or Staybridge Suites within 90 days of Priority Club enrollment. Earn 5,000 points for first stay at InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express worldwide. Offer is restricted to US and Canada members. Referral member receives 5,000 bonus points. Contact me at ricgarrido@live.com for a referral link.
3-Key promotion Earn 200 miles or 1,000 points per night up to 20,000 points or 4,000 miles through April 30, 2010 (Dec 22, 2010)
Priority Club PointBreaks 5,000 points per night awards to June 30 (March 29, 2010)
IHG Friend & Family Hotel Rates (Dec 26, 2010)
Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) – Leaders Club Rewards
3-key promotion – Earn 1 free night after every 5 hotel stays in 2010. Must stay in at least two different hotels. Bellagio in Las Vegas is LHW member. (April 13, 2010)
Marriott Rewards
5-Key promotion – May 1-July 31 New members of Marriott Rewards earn a free night after two stays (April 5, 2010)
1-Key offer – Marriott Rewards Instant Redemption Awards (March 24, 2010)
Marriott Rewards Triple Airline Miles through April 30 (Feb 18, 2010)
Marriott Rewards 2010 MegaBonus Feb 1- April 30, 2010 (Dec 22, 2010)
Starwood Preferred Guest
5-key promotion – Starwood Preferred Guest Free Weekend Nights – Earning period: May 1 – July 31, 2010; Redemption Period through December 19. Earn one free weekend night (Fri, Sat, or Sun) for every three stays at any Starwood Hotel worldwide. Free weekend nights are valid for up to category 6 hotels. Free weekend nights are valid for all but about 15 hotels worldwide of the 1,000 hotels in the Starwood chain.
SPG Registration required and registration link will be activated May 1.
4-key promotion $100 Amazon Gift Card for 2 Westin Stays in US/Canada by May 13 (Feb 20, 2010)
3-key promotion SPG link: Pay Your Birthyear Rate (This promotion can be an incredible savings or no savings depending on the hotel and your birthyear.) LT post 4/28/2009
3-key limited time offer Buy up to 20,000 Starpoints at 20% discount = $28/1,000 points. Offer valid April 9 – May 31, 2010. SPG link.
1-key promotion Four Points Breakfast for a Buck (April 12, 2010)
Starpoints Airline Direct Deposit is Better for United, Continental, and Singapore miles (March 25, 2010)
Wyndham Rewards
2-key promotion Lufthansa Miles & More 1,000 miles per stay, up to 4,000 miles March 15-May 15.
Hotel Points-to-Miles Conversion Tables for 9 hotel programs and 7 U.S. airlines (March 30, 2010)
Other Offers:
5-key offer – Condé Nast/Competitours – Condé Nast/Competitours 250,000 miles giveaway for 200 words by April 30 (LT post April 9, 2010)
Frequentflyerbonuses.com – Five Years, Five Ways to Win (2005-2010)
Frequentflyerbonuses.com 5th Anniversary Contest through May 31 – Prize is $250 Marriott Gift card or 10,000 Spirit Airlines miles.
Canada – See It Now Sweepstakes, March 27 – May 31. One entry per day allowed for a choice of five $5,000 Canadian vacations. Only U.S. residents in lower 48 states and D.C. are eligible. One prize will be awarded around June 1, 2010. I have included this promotion since the Urban Fare prize includes three nights at the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto.
