The Best Hotel Rewards Programs in 2024

This post, The Best Hotel Rewards Programs? contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support! Please also note that any prices, offers, and terms listed are subject to change at the discretion of the companies mentioned.

 

Being loyal to a hotel can pay off, especially if you travel more than occasionally. To maintain customer loyalty, hotel chains offer rewards programs that include a range of benefits. These can include free nights, specialty rates, and complimentary breakfasts, to late checkouts and the ability to earn bonus points. The more nights you stay, the more (and higher value) perks you can receive. And best of all, these hotel rewards programs are free.

Let’s take a look at some of the best hotel rewards programs, including those offered by Marriot Bonvoy, IHG Hotels, Best Western, Hilton, Hyatt, and Choice Hotels.

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Things to Keep in Mind About Hotel Rewards Programs

✔ The hotels listed on this page may change their policies at any time.

✔ Some offers vary by location and are subject to availability. The links below provide additional details.

✔  A hotel may be able to offer you a better rate if you’re a senior, first responder, or military member; or if you have a AAA or AARP membership. It pays to compare prices.

 

Are Hotel Rewards Programs Worth It?

Major hotel chains offer rewards programs as a way to encourage customer loyalty. These benefits, in my experience, make signing up for hotel rewards programs well worth it.

Although benefits differ by hotel, they might include:

• Points that can be exchanged for free stays
• Special member rates
• Price match guarantees
• Special member promotions
• Room upgrades
• Free breakfast
• Free early check in and late check out
• Dedicated customer service
• The option to transfer points to your airlines miles programs
• The option to exchange points for gift cards, car rentals, and merchandise

Hotel rewards programs are usually structured into tiers, each based on the number of nights you stay. Typically, the benefits increase in number and value the more nights you stay. Loyalty programs are usually free to join (they’re not the same thing as branded hotel credit cards) and shouldn’t incur additional fees.

 

How Do Hotel Rewards Programs Compare With Third Party Booking Sites?

In my experience, there isn’t a hard and fast rule about hotels or booking sites offering the better room rates. Most hotels do offer a price match guarantee plus an added bonus if you’ve found lower rates on a third-party site. Plus, with a hotel loyalty program, I can also receive perks that add value to my stay. These may include attentive customer service, room upgrades, bonus points for free nights, and free breakfast.

Whether you book through a hotel booking site or directly through the hotel, carefully examine all the fees (including taxes, resort fees, and Wi-fi fee) to make sure you’re truly getting a good deal.

 

The Best Hotel Rewards Programs

Here’s a snapshot of five of the best hotel rewards programs. I’ve highlighted just some of the benefits that each hotel chain offers. Be sure to read the hotel’s benefits page to see what other perks you may be entitled to. Note that some of these benefits may vary by location and are subject to availability.

 

Marriott Bonvoy Hotel Rewards Program

Marriott brands include Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Courtyard, Residence Inn, The Ritz-Carlton, and St. Regis.

Membership tiers and benefits highlights: 

Member: Up to 9 nights per year. Earn points. Member rates. Free in-room wi-fi. Exclusive member rates. Mobile check-in services.

Silver: 10 nights. Priority late checkout. Earn 10% more points on qualifying hotel purchases. Marriott will pay your stay at a nearby property if for some reason they can’t accommodate your reservation.

Gold Elite: 25 nights. Room upgrade. Earn 25% more points on qualifying hotel purchases. Late checkout (2:00PM).

Platinum Elite: 50 nights. Earn 50% more points on qualifying hotel purchases. Enhanced room upgrade. Welcome gift (examples are free breakfast and additional points).

Titanium Elite: 75 nights. Earn 75% more points on qualifying hotel purchases. Room upgrade, including a possible suite. Welcome gift.

Ambassador Elite: 100+ nights + $23,000 spent. Dedicated hotel ambassadors are available at any time, including to assist with your travel needs. Flexible check-in and checkout times.

Cost to join: Free

Do Marriott points expire?: Yes, if your account is inactive for 24 consecutive months.

Marriott Price match guarantee: Yes. Marriott will match the third party’s rate plus give you either 25% off the price of the room (or 20% for Design Hotels) or 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points.

Learn more about the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program.

 

IHG Hotel Rewards Program

IHG Hotels and Resorts brands include Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton hotels, Hotel Indigo, and Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts.

Membership tier highlights: 

Club member: Up to 9 nights per year. Earn points. Member rates. No blackout dates for reward nights. Free Wi-Fi. Late checkout (2:00PM).

Silver Elite: 10 nights. Earn 20% bonus points. Points don’t expire.

Gold Elite: 20 nights or 40,000 points. Earn 40% bonus points.

Platinum Elite: 40 nights or 60,000 points. Earn 60% bonus points. Reward night discounts. Complimentary upgrades. Early checkin.

Diamond Elite: 70 nights or 120,000 points. Earn 100% bonus points. Dedicated customer support.

Cost to join: Free

Do IHG points expire?: Yes, if there’s no activity for a 12-month period. Elite points don’t expire if membership is maintained.

IHG Price match guarantee: IHG will match the third-party’s rate and award five times the number of points.

Learn more about the IHG rewards program.

 

 

Choice Privileges Hotels Rewards Program

Choice Hotels brands include Radisson, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion, Cambria, and Econolodge.

Membership tier highlights: 

Member: Up to 9 nights per year. Points. Member rates. Reward nights. Exclusive promotions. Entertainment discounts.

Gold: 10 nights. Elite reserved parking. Earn 10% bonus points. Early checkin and late checkout. Welcome gift. Elite customer hotline. Room upgrades.

Platinum: 20 nights. Earn 25% bonus points.

Diamond: 40 nights: Guaranteed room availability. Free breakfast for you and a guest.

Cost to join: Free

Do Choice Hotels points expire?: Yes, if there’s no activity for 18 consecutive months.

Choice Hotels Price match guarantee: Choice will match the third-party’s rate and gift you with a $50 reward card. International guests will get their first night free.

Learn more about the Choice Hotels rewards program

 

Hilton Honors Hotel Rewards Program

Hilton brands include Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Signia by Hilton, LXR, and Waldorf Astoria.

Membership tier highlights: 

Member: Up to 9 nights per year. Points. Member rate. No resort fees on reward stays. Free WiFi. Choose your room. Digital check in and check out.

Silver: 10 nights. Earn 20% bonus points on stays. Get 5th night free on reward stays. Free bottled water. Spa discount.

Gold: 40 nights. Earn 80% bonus points on stays. Room upgrades. Daily food & beverage credit. Milestone bonuses.

Diamond: 60 nights. Earn 100% bonus points on stays. Access to executive lounge. Elite status gifting.

Cost to join: Free

Do Hilton points expire?: Yes, after 24 consecutive months of inactivity.

Hilton Price match guarantee: Hilton will match the third-party’s rate plus deduct an additional 25% off the room rate for each night of your stay.

Learn more about the Hilton hotel rewards program

 

Best Western Rewards Program

Brands include Best Western, BW, World Hotels, SureStay, and Executive Residency.

Membership tier highlights:

Blue: Up to 4 nights per year. Earn points. Exclusive reservation line. Points don’t expire.

Gold: 5 nights. Earn 10% bonus points. Complimentary water. Receive 500 bonus points at arrival.

Platinum: 7 nights. Earn 15% bonus points. Early check in and late check out.

Diamond: 15 nights: Earn 30% bonus points.

Diamond Select: 25 nights: Earn 50% bonus points.

Cost to join: Free

Do Best Western points expire: No

Best Western price match guarantee: Best Western will match the third party’s rate and give you a $100 USD Best Western Gift Card.

Learn about about Best Western Rewards Program

 

World of Hyatt Rewards Program

Brands include Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt, and Hyatt House.

Membership tier highlights: 

Member: Up to 9 nights per year. Save up to 10% off room. Earn points. Exclusive offers. Free night after staying at 5 different Hyatt brands.

Discoverist: 10 nights. Earn 10% bonus points on qualifying purchases. Free daily bottle of water. Late checkout (2:00PM).

Explorist: 30 nights. Earn 20% bonus points on qualifying purchases. Upgraded room.

Globalist: 60 nights. Earn 30% bonus points on qualifying purchases. Late checkout (4:00PM). Club lounge access or free breakfast.

Cost to join: Free

Do Hyatt points expire?: Yes, after 24 months of inactivity.

Hyatt Price match guarantee: Hyatt will match the third-party’s rate plus give you an additional 20% off or 5,000 bonus points.

Learn more about the Hyatt hotel rewards program

 

Are hotel rewards programs worth it? Hotel rewards programs are great if you’re loyal to the same hotels. For me, the free amenities these programs offer -like room upgrades and breakfast- coupled with exclusive discounts, the ability to earn free nights, and price matching make them a good option.

 

This post contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support!