Hotel Promotions February 2013 Guide

February 2013 has hotel loyalty program members wondering where the good promotions are this year. Hyatt Gold Passport has kept members low and dry so far. Award cost increases to SPG Cash & Points and Priority Club reassignment raising hundreds of hotels in popular destinations by 40% leaves a foreboding mood for the typical hotel award reassignments coming in 2013 for SPG and Marriott hotels globally.

Good news is Club Carlson has a triple points promotion and Best Western Rewards offers its US and Canada members one free night after three stays.

Wyndham Rewards offers 25% bonus points for purchases in the month of February 2013. $440 = 50,000 Wyndham Rewards points = 20,000 miles in several airline programs.

February 2013 hotel loyalty promotions

Le Club Accorhotels – Accor Hotels offers a variety of global regional bonuses and rate discounts. The program tends to have regionalized rate and bonus points promotions. The links currently show dozens of bonus and rate discount offers around the world.

Until February 28, 2013: Novotel in Canada or New YorkWinter discount at 10% off hotel rate and $15 daily credit.

Novotel Hotels are Le Club Accorhotels hotel loyalty program. The program is unique in that 2,000 points are redeemed for $60/40EUR hotel credit vouchers.

**** January 1-April 15 Triple Aeroplan Miles at Accor Hotels worldwide.

• 1 Euro = 2 points earned at Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure hotels.
• 1,000 EUR Accor hotel spend = 2,000 LeClub Accorhotels points
• Standard points-to-miles conversion: 2 Accor points = 1 frequent flyer mile.
• Aeroplan Triple Miles: 2 Accor points = 3 Aeroplan miles.
• 2,000 points = 3,000 Aeroplan miles or USD$60 or 40 EUR hotel credit voucher.

 

Best Western Rewards

***** Feb 11-April 14: Earn one free night after 3 Best Western hotel staysanywhere globally. Although you can earn the free night voucher with stays worldwide, the free night is only valid for US, Canada and Caribbean. Free night voucher expires June 30, 2012 so plan to use it quickly. Promotion registration required before first stay.

Best Western promotion link: www.bestwestern.com/spring

It is fairly easy to book three 1-night stays at different Best Western hotels or stay at one Best Western hotel on non-consecutive nights and earn the free night voucher for $200 to $250. Winter rates of $65 to $75 after tax can be found in many locations among the 2,000+ hotels in the USA. There are 4,100+ Best Western hotels globally.

There are Best Western hotels where the free night voucher can be worth $200 to $250 for one night in some resort areas and urban centers.

This promotion gets 5 stars, my highest value rating.  This offer has the potential to pay back what you put into it and get four hotel nights in the process. Loyalty Traveler post: Best Western free night after 3 stays Feb 11-Apr 14, 2013(Jan 28, 2013)

 

Choice Privileges

***** Dec 13, 2012 – February 20, 2013 Choice Privileges Triple Points, up to 50,000 bonus points, starting with second stay.

Effectively this means at least $2,500 in spend earns 20 bonus points per dollar at Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Cambria, Clarion, Ascend Collection and Sleep Inn or 15 points/$1 (5 points/$1 base points + 10/$1 bonus points) at EconoLodge, Rodeway, Suburban and MainStay hotel brands.

Think 8,000 points for a free night at many Choice brand hotels in Europe and this 3x points promotion equates to a free off-season award night in London or Paris for $267 in spend as an entry level member with no elite bonus. Even less spend for an elite member if Choice Hotels are your choice.

Feb 2013 Update: I am not seeing Choice Privileges discount award nights so far in 2013 for London or Paris center city hotels at the 8,000 points level like in 2012. There are still some 8,000 and 10,000 points hotels in the suburbs, but in 2012 there were many central city Choice hotels for 8,000 points. This Loyalty Traveler post shows the value of 8,000 Choice privileges points in Paris(March 26, 2012) was quite the hotel savings.

Choice Privileges Program Change: Barcelo Resorts partnership ended Dec 31, 2012. No more redemptions at Barcelo Resorts using Choice Privileges points. LT post Nov. 7: Choice Privileges redemption for Barcelo Resorts ends 12/31

 

Club Carlson

**** Club Carlson Triple Points January 8 – March 15, 2013. Earn 60 points/$1 at Club Carlson brand hotels worldwide for stays at Radisson Blu, Radisson, Country Inn & Suites, Park Inn and Park Plaza hotels. Registration required prior to bonus points for stays. Loyalty Traveler post Jan 8, 2013 Triple Club Carlson points Jan 8-Mar 15, 2013.

Credit Card Benefit: Club Carlson Visa by U.S. Bank launched December 1, 2012. This card is one to consider, if only for its awesome hotel award discount for last night free on award stays of 2 nights or more. Credit card members can book a 2-night award stay for the price of one award night for any Carlson Rezidor hotel worldwide. Loyalty Traveler post December 1, 2012: Up to 50 free award nights annually with Club Carlson Visa.

**** 3-Day Avis Rental earns 7,500 Club Carlson Points; valid through Dec 31, 2013.

 

Hilton HHonors

**** January 7-March 31, 2013 Double Your HHonors for 2x Points or 2x Miles.

Loyalty Traveler post – Double Your HHonors Points or Miles 2013 Q-1    (Dec 28, 2013)

 

Teacher Alert: Hilton HHonors $6,000 Teacher Treks Travel Grants(Loyalty Traveler post Jan 23, 2013) – Enter by March 15 for a chance to win an HHonors paid vacation for you and a $2,500 school site grant.

HHonors Program Change: HHonors Elite Status Qualification Program Change effective January 1, 2013. LT post Dec 4, 2012 Hilton HHonors increases Gold and Diamond elite tier qualification in 2013.

HHonors Gold elite requirements as of January 1, 2013:

• 20 stays, up from 16 stays.
• 40 nights, up from 36 nights.
• 75,000 base points ($7,500 in hotel spend), up from 60,000 base points.

HHonors Diamond elite requirements as of January 1, 2013:

• 30 stays, up from 28 stays.
• 60 nights, no change.
• 120,000 base points ($12,000 in hotel spend), up from 100,000 base points ($10,000).

 

Hotels.com Welcome Rewards

Welcome Rewards loyalty programfor hotels.com has a standard earning rate of 1 free night for 10 paid nights. The free night has a value equal to the average rate paid for the 10 qualifying nights.

 

Hyatt Gold Passport

Is Hyatt Gold Passport trying to move its members beyond points in 2013?

Hyatt Gold Passport is advertising its AAA rates with complimentary breakfast and AARPdiscounts instead of any promotions on February 4, 2013.

Hyatt Hotel Category Reassignment: 17 hotels change award category in Hyatt Gold Passport effective February 7, 2013. Award bookings made before changes can be modified at former rates through March 15, 2013. Loyalty Traveler post December 22, 2012 – 17 Hyatt hotels change category Feb 7, 2013.

Hyatt Stay Certificates expand to 7 award tiers. Loyalty Traveler has two Jan 14 posts on the value of buying Hyatt Stay Certificates. Hyatt Stay Certificates for cheaper rates and Finding Hyatt Stay Certificate Availability Online.

Hyatt Visa Card Enhancements: Effective October 1, 2012

Hyatt Gold Passport members receive elite nights and stays credit upon reaching $20,000 and $40,000 annual spend thresholds.

• Spend $20,000 = 2 stays and 5 nights elite credit toward Diamond status (new card feature as of October 1, 2012). Diamond status requires 25 stays or 50 nights in a Jan-Dec calendar year.
• Spend $40,000 = 5 stays and 10 nights elite credit toward Diamond status (new card feature as of October 1, 2012). Note: the 5 stays and 10 nights is total elite credit including the $20,000 elite credit stays and nights.
• Cardmembers earn 2 points for every $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets when purchased directly from the airline, and at car rental agencies (new card feature as of October 1, 2012).

Loyalty Traveler post October 9, 2012: Hyatt Visa big spenders get elite nights and stays credit as of Oct. 1, 2012.

Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond Challenge– Earn Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond elite status with 12 nights in 60 days (normally 25 stays or 50 nights in calendar year). As Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond for 2013 you receive 4 confirmed suite upgrades, each upgrade e-certificate good for stays up to 7 nights. Start the Gold Passport Diamond Challenge first and then get the credit card once you have Diamond status to get confirmed suite upgrades for your credit card free nights. FlyerTalk discussion threadon Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond challenge.

 

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Priority Club Rewards

Priority Club PointBreaks through March 31, 2013.

• PointBreaks are award nights at select hotels for 5,000 points. These award nights are one of the best values in hotel loyalty program awards.
• Loyalty Traveler post: Priority Club PointBreaks Hotels to March 31, 2013 (Jan 28, 2013).

Priority Club 2013-Q1 Night Bonuses January 7 – April 30, 2013.

Priority Club emails targeted quarterly nights bonus points offers. Sign up for only one offer and no changes allowed. Members are usually successful in earning points for one of the offers, even if you were not individually targeted for the specific offer.

Registration page for entering a Nights Bonus Points code.

• 5,000 bonus points. Stay 2 Nights for 2,500 bonus points. Stay another 2 nights for 2,500 more points (Code 5521).
• 5,000 bonus points. Stay 3 Night for 2,500 bonus points. Stay another 3 nights for 2,500 more points (Code 5528).
• 10,000 bonus points. Stay 4 Nights for 5,000 bonus points. Stay another 4 nights for 5,000 more points (Code 3411). [my offer]
• 15,000+ bonus points. Stay 5 Nights for 10,000 bonus points. Earn another 5,000 points for each additional set of 5 Nights. (Code 3414).
• 20,000+ bonus points. Stay 10 Nights for 15,000 Bonus Points. Earn another 5,000 points for each additional set of 5 Nights. (Code 3415).
• 25,000+ bonus points. Stay 15 Nights for 20,000 Bonus Points. Earn another 5,000 points for each additional set of 5 Nights. (Code 3416)

This FlyerTalk threadlists a set of other Priority Club bonus points promotion codes you may be able to earn from IHG hotel stays.

Priority Club restructured hotel award categories on January 18, 2012.The new system divides hotels into 9 award categories ranging from 10,000 points to 50,000 points.

Loyalty Traveler posts:

• Priority Club realigns awards to 9 categories (Jan 10, 2013).
• California is Big Loser in new Priority Club Rewards (Jan 18, 2013).

Loyalty Lobby posted a list of current and former Priority Club reward night ratesfor 4,300 hotels. Priority Club members can request the lower award rate until March 18, 2013 for hotels that increased in award points cost.

Priority Club Rewards Elite Qualification changes for 2013

Priority Club restructured the way it counts points for elite qualification as of January 1, 2013. Points are now categorized as “elite qualifying points†and “non-elite qualifying pointsâ€. Priority Club Platinum elite by points is far harder in 2013 on only cheap hotel stays without making points package purchases for elite qualifying bonus points.

Elite qualifying points are base points, bonus points package rates and partner activity points (includes credit card bonus points and points purchases via Points.com).

Non-elite qualifying points are all promotional and elite bonus points and purchased points like those bought for Points & Cash reward stays. Loyalty Traveler post December 13, 2012 – Priority Club makes earning Platinum elite more difficult in 2013.

 

La Quinta Inns & Suites

**** United Mileage Plus 1,000 miles per La Quinta stay to Feb 28, 2013Loyalty Traveler post: Jan 16, 2013. 

 

Marriott Rewards

***** Marriott Rewards – Winter MegaBonus 2013: February 1 – April 30, 2013. Earn one free night certificate at a category 1-4 hotel every two stays; maximum 3 free nights. Free night certificate is valid for 12 months from issuance. Some members may have been targeted with a different bonus points offer. Loyalty Traveler post December 21, 2012 – Four Marriott MegaBonus Offers Feb 1-Apr 30, 2013.

1. Stay 2 times, Get 1 CAT 1-4 Certificate (Maximum 3 free night certificates)

2. Stay 2 times, Get 1 CAT 1-5 Certificate (Maximum 2 free night certificates)

3. Stay 15 Nights Get 25,000 Points or Stay 20 Nights Get 40,000 Points

4. Stay 20 Nights Get 35,000 Points or Stay 25 Nights Get 50,000 Points

**** Marriott MegaMiles 2013: Double Miles with Marriott MegaMiles: February 1- April 30, 2013

Loyalty Traveler post: Marriott Rewards MegaMiles Feb 1-Apr 30, 2013(Jan 22, 2013) 

Note to members: You must have your Marriott Rewards account earning preference set to miles in order to see Marriott Rewards miles promotions. You may not see MegaBonus points promotions for your account when your account is set to earn miles. And you may not see MegaMiles offers when you account is set to earn points.

Marriott Rewards lowers Lifetime Elite qualifications

Lifetime Milestones as of January 1, 2013

• Platinum Elite: 750 nights + 2 million points (25% fewer nights)

• Gold Elite: 500 nights + 1.6 million points (37.5% fewer nights)

• Silver Elite: 250 nights + 1.2 million points (58% fewer nights)

For more details, visit MarriottRewards.com/Lifetime. Loyalty Traveler post: Marriott Rewards lowers lifetime elite qualification Jan 1, 2013(Dec 18, 2012).

Marriott Rewards makes elite rollover nights permanent program benefit for 2013. Loyalty Traveler post December 20, 2012 – Marriott Rewards elite rollover nights permanent benefit for 2013.

Gaylord Resorts are Marriott International’s 14th brand. Loyalty Traveler post Oct 31: Gaylord Resorts are Marriott’s new 14th brand.

 

Starwood Preferred Guest

SPG Program Changes: SPG Cash & Points awards increase effective March 5, 2013.

Loyalty Traveler analytical posts on SPG Cash & Points award changes:

• SPG Cash & Points analysis of changes March 5, 2013 (Part 1) Jan 18, 2013.
• Part 2 Analysis of SPG Cash & Points Upgrades and Suites options Jan 19, 2013.

** SPG Power Up earns 18,000 points after 20 nights January 15-April 15, 2013.

• Must register by February 15, 2013.

Earn 2,000 points after every four nights, up to 16 nights, and 10,000 bonus points after 20 nights. Seems to me like Hyatt and SPG are powering their way beyond promotion bonuses. This is a weak offer in my opinion.

Loyalty Traveler post: SPG Power Up: Earn 4K every 4 nights Jan 15-April 15(Jan 15, 2013).

***Le Meridien 2,000 bonus points per stay in US, Canada, French Polynesia December 3, 2012 to February 28, 2013. Must have registered by January 15. Retroactive credit for eligible stays. Loyalty Traveler post Dec 10, 2012: Le Meridien 2,000 bonus Starpoints per stay in USA.

***** SPG allows members to receive elite stay and night credit for up to 3 rooms per stay when they are reserved and paid by the SPG member. Loyalty Traveler June 19, 2012 post on earning SPG elite credit for multiple rooms.

 

Wyndham Rewards

Until February 28, 2013: Buy Wyndham Rewards points with 25% bonus points.Buy up 50,000 points for $440. Points can be exchanged into 20,000 miles in several frequent flyer programs. $22 per 1,000 miles is a reasonable rate.

 

Ric Garrido, writer and content owner of Loyalty Traveler, shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests. You can follow Loyalty Traveler on Twitter and Facebook and RSS feed.