Major hotel brands have loyalty programs where you earn points for your stays, and these points can be used for free nights. Additionally, achieving status by accumulating qualifying stays with the chain’s properties entitles you to extra benefits.
I sign up for programs even if I’m not sure if I’ll stay with the hotel chain again. You never know when points may come in handy. Besides, just joining a program gives you perks like in-room internet or, at least (usually), prevents you from getting the worst room in the hotel (and trust me—years ago, I got that room on more than one occasion).
Keeping hotel points active requires effort. However, using a website like AwardWallet helps you track all your points and miles accounts.
Here are links to the sign-up pages for the major hotel programs, along with the expiration policy and perks each program gives to entry-level members:
Marriott Bonvoy (Marriott, Residence Inn, Courtyard, Fairfield, Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, Aloft & others)
https://www.marriott.com/rewards/createAccount/createAccountPage1.mi
Points in the Marriott Bonvoy program expire if you don’t have qualifying activity in your account in the prior 2 years. That includes earning or redeeming points. The following activities don’t count toward keeping your status active:
- Gifting or transferring points; however, converting points to miles or miles to points does count toward maintaining an active status;
- Receiving points as a gift or transfer;
- Earning points through social media programs, such as #MarriottBonvoyPoints.
All Marriott Bonvoy members get free in-room Wi-Fi when they book through Marriott’s website or apps.
IHG Rewards Club (Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, Intercontinental, etc.)
https://www.ihg.com/rewardsclub/us/en/join/register
Points expire after 12 months of no account activity (earning or redemptions). However, points of Elite members, including cardholders of the IHG Rewards Club Premier, never expire.
All IHG Rewards Club members get free internet and 2PM late checkout (subject to availability).
World of Hyatt (Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Andaz, Hyatt Regency, Park Hyatt)
Accounts that are inactive for 24 consecutive months will be closed and all points and benefits associated with the account will be forfeited at that time. These activities will keep your account open:
- Receiving points via authorized means
- Receiving credits with a partner in the program for a stay at a Hyatt hotel or resort
- Redeeming points (and, if applicable, completing any reservation for which such points were redeemed)
- Gifting a program award (in accordance with these terms)
- Converting points to Partner Loyalty Points (as defined in Appendix B),
- Purchasing or combining points
- Having a valid Hyatt co-branded credit card, including the World of Hyatt Credit Card and/or World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (collectively, “Hyatt-branded credit card”) associated with the member’s program account.
If a Member redeems points for an Award Reservation and either cancels that reservation or does not actually check-in on the appointed date (i.e., no-shows), that reservation will not count as a redemption of points pursuant to subsection (iii) of the preceding sentence and will not toll the measurement of that Member’s Program inactivity.
All Hyatt guests receive standard complimentary internet, and members pay no resort fees on award stays.
Hilton Hotels (Doubletree Suites, Conrad, Hampton Inn, Hilton, etc.) – Hilton Honors
https://secure3.hilton.com/en/hh/customer/join/joinHHonors.htm
To keep an account active, members can stay at one of Hilton’s hotels, or earn or redeem Honors points within 12 months. Here are some of the qualifying activities:
- Stay at a hotel within the Hilton Portfolio pursuant to the terms herein
- Earn Hilton Honors Points through any third party source of Hilton Honors Point accumulation, including a Hilton co-branded credit card, pursuant to its terms
- Purchase Hilton Honors Points
- Register for a Hilton Honors Promotion
- Donate Points through The Hilton Honors Giving Back Program
Members receive complimentary in-room and lobby standard internet access. They also receive late check-out (which must be requested and is subject to availability). Members do not pay resort fees on award stays.
Wyndham Hotels (LaQuinta, Days Inn, Super 8, Ramada Inn, Travelodge, Howard Johnson’s, etc.) – Wyndham Rewards
https://www.wyndhamrewards.com/trec/consumer/consumerEnroll.action?variant=
All accrued points in a member’s Wyndham Rewards account may be canceled or forfeited if the member has no account activity for eighteen (18) consecutive months. Wyndham Rewards points expire four (4) years after being posted to the member’s account unless the points are forfeited or canceled earlier due to membership inactivity or otherwise in accordance with these terms and conditions.
Wyndham Rewards members enjoy free Wi-Fi.
Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, EconoLodge, Rodeway Inn, etc.) – Choice Privileges
https://www.choicehotels.com/choice-privileges/account/enroll
You keep the points you earn as long as you stay an active Choice Privileges member. So, as long as you have a qualifying activity every 18 months, you keep your points.
Best Western – Best Western Rewards
https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/rewards/join.html
Best Western Rewards points do not expire for members of the North American club, which includes members who reside in North, Central and South America, Asia and South Africa.
There are no listed extra benefits of being a Blue (basic) member.
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