Choice Hotels Choice Privileges Hotel Loyalty 2013-Q2 promotions

Choice Privileges 8,000 points for two stays May 23–Aug 21, 2013

Choice Privileges brings back 8,000 points for two stays disguised as a $50 gift card offer.

Earn 8,000 points after two qualifying stays from May 23 through August 21, 2013.

Choice Privileges promotion registration required prior to completion of first stay.

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The offer is promoted as “Take Two Trips and Earn a $50 Gift Card.” What actually happens is after two stays the Choice Privileges members receives bonus points added to base points earned for the two paid stays to reach 8,000 total points. Generally there is a minimum bonus of 5,000 points for members who earn more than 3,000 base points from the two paid hotel stays ($300 to $600 in spend.)

All Choice Hotels properties globally are participating (except Nordic Choice countries which have their own separate loyalty program).

Trips must be a minimum of two consecutive nights at:

  • Econo Lodge®,
  • Rodeway Inn®,
  • Suburban Extended Stay Hotel®, or
  • MainStay Suites® hotels

 

$50 Gift Cards

The price to redeem points for a $50 Gift Card from a variety of merchants is reduced during this promotion to 8,000 points per card.

$50 Gift Card Options

U.S. Resident Options
Amazon.com
BP
Bahama Breeze
Chevron/Texaco
Chili’s
Exxon/Mobile
LongHorn
Macaroni Grill
Macy’s
Maggiano’s
Olive Garden
On The Border
Red Lobster
Seasons 52
Shell
Sunoco
Canada Resident Options
Canadian Tire
Esso
FutureShop
The Gap
Harvey’s
Kelsey’s
Milestones Restaurant
Montana’s Cookhouse
Petro Canada Gift Card
St- Hubert
Swiss Chalet

Take Paris rather than the gift card

The better redemption option, in my opinion, is saving points for international travel. Through June 30, 2013 there are dozens of hotels in Europe for 8,000 points per night in places like Paris and London where the published room rates are in the $200 per night range.

Great Paris value Choice Hotels 8,000 points reward nights (4-15-13)

 


*Terms and conditions: Member must register at ChoiceHotels.com before arrival and book their trips at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE at qualifying rates. Member may also book through a travel agent or corporate online booking system. Choice Privileges member number must be provided upon check-in. After a second qualifying trip with arrival between 5/23/13 and 8/21/13, member will be awarded enough bonus points to reach the 8,000 point level, which can be redeemed until 11/1/13 for one (1) $50 gift card at defined retailers on ChoiceHotels.com/giftcard. Only members earning this bonus qualify to redeem for the $50 gift card. Only members that register for the promotion are eligible to earn the defined promotional gift cards during the promotion. Terms and conditions apply to $50 gift card options. See card for details. Choice Privileges Diamond and Platinum members who register and book through ChoiceHotels.com will receive an additional 100 Choice Privileges bonus points with every qualified trip during the promotional period. For Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites or Ascend Hotel Collection hotels, a trip is defined as a stay that is any number of consecutive nights at one hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs. For Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, or MainStay Suites hotels, a trip is defined as a stay that is two (2) or more consecutive nights at one hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs. Allow 72 hours from check-out for points to post. You must maintain an address in the U.S. (including U.S. territories) or Canada to be eligible for this promotion. For Choice Privileges program details, eligible rates, eligible countries and point redemption rules, visit choiceprivileges.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the “Two Stays Pays. Earn a $50 Gift Card.” promotional offer?
Choice Privileges® members will receive enough Choice Privileges points to redeem for a $50 gift card of their choice for a participating dining, shopping, or gas retailer after completing their second qualifying trip when booking at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE. Members must register at ChoiceHotels.com/giftcard in advance of their trip to be eligible.
What are the dates for the “Two Stays Pays. Earn a $50 Gift Card.” promotion?
This promotion applies for trips with arrival between May 23 and August 21, 2013.
Is registration required to participate in the “Two Stays Pays. Earn a $50 Gift Card.” promotion?
Yes. Choice Privileges members must register at ChoiceHotels.com before their first trip to earn an unlimited amount of gift cards during the promotion.
How is a “Trip” defined?
For Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, Cambria Suites® or Ascend Hotel Collection® hotels, a trip is defined as a stay that is any number of consecutive nights at one hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs.  For Econo Lodge®, Rodeway Inn®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel®, or MainStay Suites® hotels, a trip is defined as a stay that is two (2) or more consecutive nights at one hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs.
Is there a booking requirement to be eligible for the “Two Stays Pays. Earn a $50 Gift Card.” promotion?
Yes. Trips must be booked at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE with arrival between May 23 and August 21, 2013.
Are bookings made through my mobile device on ChoiceHotels.com eligible for the “Two Stays Pays. Earn a $50 Gift Card.” promotion?
Yes, bookings made through your mobile device are eligible for this promotion.
As a corporate traveler, are bookings made through a travel agent or corporate booking system eligible for the “Two Stays Pays. Earn a $50 Gift Card.” promotion?
Yes, bookings made by Choice Privileges members through a travel agent or corporate booking systems are eligible for this promotion.
Is there a booking requirement for Elite Diamond and Elite Platinum Choice Privileges members?
Elite Diamond and Elite Platinum members can book directly with a hotel, however if they book through ChoiceHotels.com and are registered for the promotion, these members will receive 100 additional Choice Privileges points with every qualifying trip.
How do I redeem my Choice Privileges points for a $50 gift card for dining, shopping, or gas?
You can redeem your Choice Privileges points for a $50 gift card for a participating dining, shopping, or gas retailer only through your online profile at ChoiceHotels.com or by calling Choice Privileges Reservations. During this promotion, a $50 gift card for a participating dining, shopping, or gas retailer is discounted to an 8,000 Choice Privileges point level.
Can any guest earn a $50 gift card for a participating dining, shopping, or gas retailer?
Choice Privileges members must maintain an address in the U.S. (including U.S. territories) or Canada and register at ChoiceHotels.com/giftcard in advance of trip to be eligible for this promotion.  Only members earning this bonus qualify to redeem for a $50 gift card for a participating dining, shopping, or gas retailer.
Is there a deadline to redeem a $50 gift card for participating dining, shopping, or gas retailers?
Yes. Members have until November 1, 2013 to redeem their Choice Privileges bonus points for a $50 gift card for a participating dining, shopping, or gas retailer.
What are the participating retailers included in the “Two Stays Pays. Earn a $50 Gift Card.” promotion?
For U.S. resident members, the participating retailers includes: Amazon.com, BP, Bahama Breeze, Chevron/Texaco, Chili’s, Exxon/Mobil, LongHorn, Macaroni Grill, Macy’s, Maggiano’s, Olive Garden, On The Border, Red Lobster, Seasons 52, Shell, and Sunoco.
For Canadian resident members, the participating merchants includes: Canadian Tire, Esso, FutureShop, The Gap, Harvey’s, Kelsey’s, Milestones Restaurants, Montana’s Cookhouse, Petro Canada Gift Card, St-Hubert, and Swiss Chalet.
How many times can I receive a $50 gift card bonus during the promotion?
Choice Privileges members can earn an unlimited amount of gift cards during the promotion. A $50 gift card bonus can be earned after completed each second qualifying trip with arrival between May 23 and August 21, 2013.
Can I use the Choice Privileges points earned any way I choose?
You may redeem the Choice Privileges points earned for any redemption option you wish, however during the promotion you can redeem your bonus points earned through November 1, 2013 for a $50 gift card for a participating dining, shopping, or gas retailer for 8,000 points.  You can use the points as soon as you receive them, or retain them until you accumulate enough points for higher reward levels or other redemptions.
Are international trips included in the promotion?
Yes.  All hotels included in the Choice Privileges program will count towards the promotion, as long as a qualifying trip is booked at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE.
When will the bonus points post to my account?
After completing your second qualifying trip, allow 72 hours from check-out for the bonus points to post to your Choice Privileges account.
When do my Choice Privileges points expire?
Choice Privileges points expire on December 31, two years after the year in which they were deposited into your account unless forfeited or canceled earlier due to membership inactivity or otherwise in accordance to these rules and regulations.
Who do I contact if I have further questions?
If you have further questions please contact Choice Customer Support.
Where can I learn more about the Choice Privileges program? 
To learn more about the Choice Privileges program visit choiceprivileges.com.
What is the Advanced Purchase Rate?
Advance Purchase Rate means that the reservation must be made on ChoiceHotels.com using your Choice Privileges number and must be made at least 7, 14, 21 or 30 days in advance, which will vary based on the hotel for which a reservation is being made. The rate starts at 15% off Best Available Rate, is non-cancellable, non-changeable and non-refundable. Your credit card will be charged for the total reservation amount within 24-48 hours of booking. Learn more.

10 Comments

  • Ernest May 21, 2013

    Do stays at Comfort Hotels in Japan count towards the promo? When I try to book for a hotel in Sapporo, I get the following message:
    Note: The Choice Privileges® program is currently not available at hotels outside of the U.S., Canada, Europe, Middle East, Mexico, Central America, Australasia and the Caribbean.

  • Ric Garrido May 21, 2013

    @Ernest – good question. I am teaching in a kindergarten class all day beginning in 5 minutes. I’ll have to research this and get back to you.

    I noticed the T&C don’t address Nordic countries. Says to check Choice Privileges T&C. I’ll check into Japan or maybe another reader already knows the answer.

  • GC May 21, 2013

    Ric, what do you mean by “Generally there is a minimum bonus of 5,000 points for members who earn more than 3,000 base points from the two paid hotel stays ($300 to $600 in spend.)”?

    Explain..?

  • Ric Garrido May 21, 2013

    @GC – For a couple of years I made the argument that Choice Privileges earn 8,000 points after two stays penalized big spenders.

    Example A:

    Hotel Stay 1: $75 hotel stay at Quality Inn earns 750 points.
    Hotel Stay 2: $75 hotel stay at Comfort Inn earns 750 points.

    Two hotel stays earn 1,500 base points.
    Member receives 6,500 points for a total 8,000 points.

    Example B:

    Hotel Stay 1: $250 hotel stay at Quality Inn earns 2,500 points.
    Hotel Stay 2: $300 hotel stay at Comfort Inn earns 3,000 points.

    Two hotel stays earn 5,500 points.

    Choice Privileges typically gives a minimum 5,000 bonus points for this promotion. So instead of receiving 2,500 bonus points for a total 8,000 points, the member should get 5,000 bonus points for atotal of 10,500 points for the two stays.

    That is how the offer has worked in the past and I assume this one will work the same with the 5,000 points minimum, however, the T&C and FAQ do not state that.

    Only in the last couple of rounds of 2 stays = 8,000 points has the 5,000 points minimum been mentioned so I am not surprised this term was not added to the current offer.

    I might be wrong, but I think the 5minimum 5,000 bonus points after two stays also applies to this current promotion.

  • John May 22, 2013

    Does AAA rate qualify for this promotion?

  • Ric Garrido May 24, 2013

    @John – Yes. AAA rates count. I received 8,000 points for my two stays this month when I booked AAA rates.

  • R.W. May 28, 2013

    @Ric The points needed to redeem a $50 gift card is still 16,000 for me. Do I have to complete two stays first in order to see the discount gift card exchange rate?

  • Ric Garrido May 29, 2013

    @R.W. – I think you do have to complete the two stays to get the discounted gift card.

    I prefer points and I’ve never really looked into the gift card aspect of the promotion.

  • Ric Garrido May 29, 2013

    @Ernest – Japan is not an earning country for Choice Privileges.

    From T&C “Earning Points: Australasia (including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Fiji).”

    http://www.choicehotels.com/en/choice-privileges/gp/rules-regulations#earn_points

    Sorry to take so long to respond. I spent three days teaching kindergarten last week and that kind of work empties my brain for Loyalty Traveler work.

  • […] Choice Privileges 8,000 points for two stays May 23–Aug 31, 2013 (Loyalty Traveler post May 21). The big value with this promotion is the ability to find high quality hotels in Europe and other international locations at 8,000 points at a higher market segment than hotels in the U.S. offered for 8,000 points. […]

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