When we travel, we try to stretch every dollar — not just on flights and hotels, but also on dining. And while we love supporting local spots when we travel, sometimes convenience wins and we end up eating at the hotel restaurant.
Here’s the problem most people don’t realize: Even if the restaurant is inside the hotel, your meal often won’t earn hotel bonus points. That’s because of something called a merchant category code (MCC). It’s how banks determine what type of purchase you’re making.
If the restaurant has its own MCC, your credit card will see the charge as “dining.” If the charge goes through the hotel, the MCC becomes “hotel.” And the difference can mean a lot more (or a lot fewer) points.
Real Example: When IHG Points Didn’t Post the Way I Expected
During a trip to Vero Beach, my wife and I met friends for dinner at the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa. I assumed using my IHG Premier card at the restaurant would earn 10X points, since it’s an IHG property.
Nope.
The charge posted as a standalone restaurant, not a hotel. I earned 2X dining points, which is exactly what I would’ve earned anywhere else.
It didn’t ruin the night — we were there to enjoy the company, not maximize points — but it was a missed opportunity.
Why Hotel Restaurants Don’t Always Code as Hotel Purchases
Because many hotel restaurants are operated by outside groups. Although the restaurant is physically located inside the hotel, it operates its own payment system. Your card issuer doesn’t know you were in the hotel lobby.
All it sees is: “Restaurant purchase.”
Which means… No hotel-category bonus points. And no extra elite night credit or hotel loyalty points.
The Fix: Charge Your Meal to Your Room
If you are staying at the hotel, this solves everything.
✅ Ask your server to charge your bill to your room
✅ Pay the final combined bill at checkout
Now the entire amount — room + restaurant — posts as hotel spend.
That means your hotel-branded credit card earns hotel bonus points (ranging from 6X to 14X). The hotel loyalty program may award points for the spend, and you may get elite credit depending on the program.
Best Cards to Use (Quick Cheat Sheet)
| If you’re… | Best card to use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Not staying at the hotel (restaurant bill paid directly) | Chase Sapphire Reserve (3X dining), Amex Gold (4X dining) | Because the spend codes as dining, not hotel |
| Staying at the hotel and can charge to room | Hotel co-brand card (IHG Premier, Hilton Surpass/Aspire, Marriott Brilliant, World of Hyatt Card) | Charging to the room changes the MCC to hotel, unlocking hotel-category multipliers |
| Not sure how it will code | Chase Sapphire Preferred (3X dining, 2x hotels), Amex Green (3x dining and hotels) | Dining category is a safe default if it doesn’t post as a hotel |
Additional Pro Tips
Always ask: “If I put this on my room, will it post as a hotel charge?”
Some hotel brands (especially Hyatt) will award loyalty points for dining even if you’re not a guest — if you provide your loyalty number when paying. Resort bars, pool bars, and coffee shops inside hotels almost always code as restaurants unless charged to the room.
Final Thought
Dining at the hotel restaurant doesn’t mean you’ll automatically earn hotel-category bonus points. However, you can earn extra rewards by simply asking to have the meal charged to your room.
A tiny change in how you pay can mean thousands of extra points.
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