How to maximize hotel loyalty programs
Frequent travelers like the Marriott rewards program because it has no blackout dates and can be used for airlines, cruises and car rentals. Credit: Mark LaMonica
Hotel loyalty programs are getting easier to use and more generous, often with no blackout dates, and consumers are flocking to them to earn free hotel rooms, room upgrades and many other perks.
A 2010 study of U.S. leisure travelers by YPartnership/Harrison Group found 69 percent were members of airline frequent-flier programs, and 50 percent were members of hotel frequent-guest programs.
"The frequent-flier program has devalued. It's hard to get a flight for free. With hotels, you can redeem the points much more easily," says Anne Banas, executive editor of Smarter Travel.
Here are tips to get the most from the rewards programs:
1. COMPARE PERKS Smarter Travel named InterContinental Hotel Group's Priority Club Rewards its editor's pick because the chain has more than 4,500 hotels in every major U.S. metro area and many international markets. The points needed for free rooms and other perks are relatively easier to earn than other programs.
For budget travelers, Smarter Travel liked Wyndham Rewards with 6,500 hotels under such brands as Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Super 8, Travelodge and Wyndham.
Marriott rewards recently took honors at the Frequent Traveler Awards. Travelers liked that Marriott rewards are easy to redeem, have no blackout dates and can be used for airlines, cruises and car rentals.
2. PICK A BRAND Focus on the hotel chain you use and like, get a co-branded credit card and use the services of that chain's business partners such as airlines or car rental companies to rack up points faster.
3. REDEEM SMARTLY To maximize rewards, consider when it makes sense to pay versus cash in. Peter Quinter, a Fort Lauderdale-based lawyer, favors Starwood's Preferred Guest program, which lets him qualify for free rooms based on either points or stays. He pays for less-expensive stays in U.S. hotels and takes free nights at more expensive spots like Rome, Florence and Milan.
4. TRACK OFFERS Whichever program you focus on, take advantage of its special promotions and tie-ins with other business partners, advises blogger Brian Kelly, founder of ThePointsGuy.com. Hyatt, for example, now offers Costco members 10 percent off and the third night free for stays three nights or longer. The chain is also offering a promotion this summer that lets you stay five nights and get 10,000 bonus points. Sign up for program email alerts to keep up to date.
