Triple Club Carlson points for stays worldwide from January 8 to March 15, 2013 is a high value promotion in my opinion. In my review of hotel loyalty promotions of 2012 for InsideFlyer magazine, I realized the 60 points per dollar offer from Club Carlson last year was one of the best promotions that I did not earn.
Club Carlson offers a standard earn rate of 20 points per dollar for Radisson, Radisson Blu, Park Plaza, Park Inn and Country Inn & Suites brands. Triple points adds 40 bonus points/$1 for a total earn rate of 60 points/$1. Elite bonus points, online booking points, and credit card points, if applicable, are additional bonus points for stays.
Club Carlson Triple Points promotion registration.
Note: You need to register for this promotion offer prior to your stay to earn the bonus points. This promotion bonus points offer applies to Club Carlson properties worldwide.
Promotion Analysis
The reason I like this offer is Club Carlson already has the lowest spend to free night ratio among hotel loyalty programs.
The highest Club Carlson category level 6 hotels are 50,000 points for a free night. At the standard earn rate of 20 points/$1 this means $2,500 in hotel spend earns 50,000 points for one free category 6 award night.
Compare this to other hotel chains:
Hilton HHonors category 7 = 50,000 points ($3,333 in hotel spend for 50,000 points for Points & Points earner at 15 points/$1).
Hyatt Gold Passport category 6 = 22,000 points ($4,400 in hotel spend for 22,000 points at 5 points/$1).
Marriott Rewards category 8 = 40,000 points ($4,000 in hotel spend for 40,000 points at 10 points/$1; more if staying at Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites brands earning just 5 points/$1).
Priority Club night at InterContinental hotel for 50,000 points ($5,000 in hotel spend for 50,000 points at 10 points per dollar; more at Staybridge and Candlewood Suites brands when earning 5 points/$1).
Starwood Preferred Guest category 5 at 12,000 points ($6,000 in hotel spend for 12,000 points at 2 points/$1; $4,000 if Gold/Platinum elite earning 3 points/$1. SPG category 6 and 7 hotels require far more points and place these properties out of the ballpark in this comparison).
The simplicity of Club Carlson means all their hotel brands earn 20 points/$1 and with this promotion 60 points/$1. This is an advantage over Marriott and Priority Club.
The elite bonus factor is equivalent or higher for Club Carlson compared to most other chains.
- Club Carlson Silver earns 25% bonus (5 points/$1) compared to Priority Club at 10%, Hilton Silver and Hyatt Platinum entry level elite at 15% and Marriott Silver at 20%. SPG Gold members receive a 50% bonus, but the standard redemption rates are much higher comparatively for SPG.
- Club Carlson Gold elite earns 50% bonus (10 points/$1). HHonors Gold and Marriott Gold are only a 25% elite bonus.
- Top level Club Carlson Concierge is 75% elite bonus (15 points/$1). HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Priority Club Platinum and SPG Platinum are 50% bonus points. Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond is only 30% bonus.
Club Carlson’s new Visa card confers Gold elite (not an affiliate link). Club Carlson also offers a status match up to Gold elite if you have high elite with another program.
On top of all these factors is 1,000 points online booking bonus per stay for any member and 2,000 points for Silver and Gold elite members.
Pay $70 for a night at a Country Inn & Suites and earn 5,200 points or more:
- 1,000 points online booking bonus.
- 4,200 points at $70 x 60 points/$1.
Even a new member to Club Carlson with no elite status or credit card earns a good chunk of points needed for a Club Carlson award night.
5,200 points is 10% of the points needed for a top tier category 6 hotel that can be $200 to $400 per night.
5,200 points is 58% of 9,000 points needed for a Category 1 hotel award night.
Points + Cash award discounts start at 5,000 points per night with Club Carlson.
Frequent Miler shows how to combine cash back portals to also get a discount on the room rate while earning the bonus for your stays.
Club Carlson’s triple points promotion earns free night awards much faster with elite status and the credit card. Especially if you plan to redeem free nights as a credit card member where the last night of an award stay is free.
Triple Points is a 5-key promotion offer from Club Carlson.
Ric Garrido, writer and 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.
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