Maximize your hotel stay by using multiple loyalty programs

Use one hotel loyalty program For most, if not all, your stays are very appealing. You may find yourself primarily using a particular program because you have a high elite level, you feel comfortable earning and redeeming rewards, or your favorite resort is part of the program.

However, even if you have one of these best elite hotel levels With one program and staying loyal to it, you may also find it beneficial to have one or more additional programs. Here’s why and how you should use multiple hotel loyalty programs.

Why use multiple hotel loyalty programs?

Before discussing how to use multiple hotel loyalty programs, let me convince you why you should.

Take advantage of the best value stay

The main reason I use multiple hotel loyalty programs rather than just one is the value they can provide. Whether you’re redeeming points or booking a paid rate, some programs will offer better value than others for a particular destination and date. This is especially true when several hotel loyalty programs are fully dynamic bonus price while others still use the prize chart.

For example, I almost always redeem Hyatt points at one of two Category 1 airport hotels when I need to stay near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) before or after a flight. At Hyatt Hotel Category 1You must redeem between 3,500 and 6,500 points per night. TPG September 2024 valuation I estimate the value of these points to be between $60 and $111, which is less than the price I could get at a comparable hotel in the area on most days.

By considering the rewards and prices paid across multiple loyalty programs, I have more options to book a good deal. Additionally, when I have multiple programs to choose from for a particular vacation, I can often earn more points through current hotel promotions.

Related: 8 mistakes to avoid when redeeming hotel points

Stay at destinations not covered in your main program

Although major hotel loyalty programs like World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy Hotel, Hilton Honors And IHG One Rewards While there are properties all over the world, there are still some destinations where you won’t find any properties in one or more of these programs.

For example, if you want to visit Kanab, Utah, you can stay at an IHG or Hilton. But if you only want to consider a Marriott, you’ll need to stay an hour away at a hotel near Zion National Park (SpringHill Suites Kanab is expected to open next month). And if you only want to consider a Hyatt, you’ll need to drive 70 minutes to Page, Arizona, or at a Under Canvas real estate near Zion National Park.

Related: 8 tips for finding hotels in fully booked destinations

Enjoy a variety of elite benefits

If you have elite membership or other benefits with multiple hotel loyalty programs, you can choose a specific program for certain stays to enjoy specific benefits.

For example, let’s say I want to be guaranteed a 4pm late check-out for a particular stay. In that case, I would typically stay at the World of Hyatt (which offers a 4pm late check-out for most stays for its first-class hotels). Global members) or Marriott Bonvoy (offering guaranteed late check-out at 4pm for most stays Platinum Elite Member and higher).

Likewise, I generally avoid Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors hotels that offer food and beverage credit instead of breakfast for high-level elite members. However, for stays where I don’t plan to eat breakfast at the hotel but will enjoy a food and beverage credit, I will consider staying at a hotel that I know will offer such a credit as an elite perk. For example, I often use food and beverage credits at Moxy Hotel by Marriott for evening drinks in the lobby.

Related: What to do when a hotel doesn’t want to honor your preferential treatment

Protection against depreciation

If you use multiple hotel loyalty programs, you’ll be protected from devaluation in any one program.

For example, let’s say Marriott Bonvoy is your primary program, but you also occasionally use World of Hyatt and IHG One Rewards. In that case, you’d be less affected than someone who’s already on Marriott if that program loses its elite benefits or points value.

Related: Why Points and Miles Are a Bad Long-Term Investment

Use different transferable rewards

If you have Transferable Points – include Chase Ultimate Rewards point, American Express Membership Rewards point, Citi ThankYou Rewards point, Capital One Miles And Bilt Rewards Points — you can transfer these rewards to selected airline and hotel partners.

If you only consider World of Hyatt when looking for award stays, you can only transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards points. However, if you consider multiple hotel loyalty programs, you may get better value by transferring other rewards for some stays. For example, you can transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards points, Capital One miles, Wells Fargo Rewards points or Amex membership rewards points to Choice to book High value option to stay.

Related: Credit Card Transfer Partners: Guide to Transferring Points and Miles to Airlines and Hotels

Hotel Loyalty Program Strategy

If you have elite status with a major hotel loyalty program, you may be hesitant to stay with another loyalty program that won’t give you elite benefits. But credit cards offer plenty of ways to earn at least mid-tier hotel elite status with other programs.

Every traveler’s specific situation will be different, but here are three scenarios you can use to build your strategy.

Amex Platinum or Business Platinum cardholders

If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or American Express Business Platinum Card® — including the Platinum Card Plus — you can sign up for Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold memberships for free. If you have either of these premium cards American ExpressYou may find that these two statuses benefit you if you primarily stay at Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors hotels.

But if you want a higher level Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status Just by holding a credit card, you can add Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card into your wallet. After all, basic Bonvoy Brilliant card members get complimentary Platinum Elite status (and 25 elite night credits each year toward a higher status tier). If you prefer a higher Hilton Honors Elite Statusyou can get automatically Hilton Honors Diamond Basic card member status Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Registration required.

The information about the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Additionally, you can add IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or World of Hyatt Credit Card into your wallet to receive some benefits and bonuses for participating in these programs.

Related: Guide to Marriott and Hilton Elite Memberships with Amex Platinum and Business Platinum

Currently focusing on 1 program

If you’re currently focused on one hotel loyalty program, consider joining another. This can be as simple as considering which other hotel loyalty programs you can transfer your points to if you have a transferable rewards card. Or, you can take a bigger step toward diversifying your loyalty (and options) by having a co-brand. hotel credit card with another program.

For example, if you’re currently focused on World of Hyatt and have one or more Chase Ultimate Rewards cards, you might want to get IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. IHG Premier cardholders will automatically receive Platinum Elite status and enjoy Fourth Free Night Reward When Redeeming IHG Points for stays of four nights or longer. You can also Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to IHG in a 1:1 ratio.

Or, let’s say you’re currently focusing on a hotel loyalty program that uses dynamic rewards pricing. In that case, you might benefit from creating a rewards chart program, such as World of Hyatt, as your sub-program. You can add World of Hyatt Credit Card to your wallet to automatically receive a Discoverist membership and a free night at any category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort on each card member anniversary.

Related: Quick Take: 3 Reasons You Need a Credit Card with Your Favorite Hotel Brand

free agent

Perhaps you are a freelancer and tend to book the most convenient or best value hotel in each destination you visit. In this case, you may benefit from adding one or more of the following cards to your wallet:

• World of Hyatt Credit Card: Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Plus, earn up to 30,000 bonus points by earning 2 bonus points per dollar spent on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point (on up to $15,000 in spending) in the first six months of account opening.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Each of these card offers one free night annually that you can redeem significantly more than the card’s annual fee, and low-to-mid elite status will net you higher accrual rates and some perks during your stay.

Related: My Top 3 Picks for the Best Co-Branded Hotel Credit Cards

The last line

I’ve written a lot about the perks of hotel elite status. Between my husband and I, we have high elite levels with World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, and Wyndham Rewards through holding some credit cards that offer elite status and spend more than 200 nights per year at hotels. But even if you spend much fewer nights per year at hotels, it’s still a good idea to at least have a primary and secondary hotel loyalty program for all the reasons outlined in this guide.