Here is a data driven analysis for comparing hotel loyalty program credit cards as a follow-up to yesterday’s post on credit card benefits. Interestingly as annual spend goes up the Priority Club Visa drops in value while SPG American Express increases in value. It appears I shortchanged Goldpoints plus Visa in my earlier analysis when I placed it lowest of nine cards. This valuation analysis places Goldpoints plus above Marriott Rewards basic Visa, however, there is the consideration of higher value enrollment bonuses for Marriott Rewards and the size of the Marriott Hotel chain in the U.S.

Four Credit Card Spending Scenarios

The hotel loyalty program credit card spend tables show four scenarios for different levels of annual credit card spend in various categories for earning hotel points ($6,000, $13,000, $24,000, and $48,000).

One or none of these scenarios may apply to your particular spending pattern. Adjusting the spending categories to your specific situation will allow you to make your own individualized chart to determine the best hotel loyalty program credit card for your needs.

Methodology:

To minimize variables in these charts I only consider points earned from credit card spend and I do not consider additional base and bonus loyalty points earned from paid hotel stays or elite status gained from hotel cards. See yesterday’s post for details on each credit card’s benefits.  

The points earned with each credit card are based on annual spend scenarios and a set amount in different spend categories. The total points earned per year was tabulated based on the four spending scenarios.

The Value of Hotel Points

These tables use the numbers from Lucky’s One Mile at a Time blog post reprinted in the August 2010 InsideFlyer magazine, The Value of a Mile or Point.

Hilton HHonors = 0.7 cents per point or $7/1,000 points

Hyatt Gold Passport = 1.5 cents per point or $15/1,000 points

IHG Priority Club = 0.6 cents per point or $6/1,000 points

Marriott Rewards = 0.8 cents per point or $8/1,000 points

Starwood Preferred Guest = 2.5 cents per point or $25/1,000 points

In general these hotel point values seem to be reasonable working valuations for hotel points.

I could argue that Hilton is valued a little too high and Priority Club a little too low based on hotel reward categories and the actual cost of many hotels in these categories. These values could easily be reversed to Priority Club at $7/1000 and Hilton at $6/1,000. The fact that it is possible to get cheap points at the cost of  $60 for 10,000 Priority Club points by booking a Cash and Points award and then cancelling it does not lower the value of points in Priority Club to that level for most redemptions.

I will argue that it is much easier to find an InterContinental Hotel for 40,000 points that would cost more than $280 per night ($7/1,000 points) compared to finding a category 6 Hilton Hotel for 40,000 points that would have cost more than $280 per night ($7/1,000 points). But that is another discussion.

The hotel point values in Lucky’s article are sufficiently accurate to illustrate the value of points earned in the various programs from credit card spend.

Lucky did not include Carlson Hotels Goldpoints plus in his valuations.

Carlson Goldpoints Plus = 0.4 cents per point or $4/1,000 points

I used $4/1,000 points based on a category 2 hotel running around $80 for 20,000 points and a category 4 hotel for 40,000 points costing around $160. I think the value of Goldpoints are typically in the $4 to $5 range for 1,000 points. Goldpoints also has the feature of giving a 10% discount on the cost of free nights after the first night of a multi-night stay. The second night of a category 4 hotel stay is just 36,000 points.

Added-value of annual free nights with Priority Club Visa and Marriott Premier Visa

The points value for Priority Club Visa and Marriott Premier Visa need to be adjusted for the annual free night offer with card membership renewal. I converted the free night certificate to a cash equivalent value for these two cards.

Priority Club allows the free night to be redeemed at any hotel. I assume the value of the annual free night certificate is 40,000 points. This gives the Priority Club Visa card an additional annual value of $240. This value is added to the annual credit cards point value.

Marriott Rewards free night is worth 25,000 points at a category 5 hotel. I give the annual certificate a $200 added value in the tables.

Conclusion:

If I add the rankings for each of these scenarios and treat them like a golf score, then the hotel loyalty credit card rankings comes out to this:

1. HHonors Surpass American Express
2. HHonors American Express
3. Priority Club Visa
4. SPG American Express
5. Marriott Premier Visa
6. HHonors Visa
7. Hyatt Visa
8. Goldpoints Plus Visa
9. Marriott Visa

In light of the new Hyatt Gold Passport Visa card I thought it would be interesting to see how the hotel related benefits for regular card members stack up next to each other.

Forget the transitory enrollment offer gimmicks of megabonus points and no credit card interest for six months. Bonus offers change frequently and churning credit cards for enrollment bonuses is a game for the creditworthy few. In my opinion, the real comparison of hotel loyalty credit cards needs to focus on the revolving benefits received with each year of membership.

Loyalty Traveler Summary of Annual Hotel Loyalty Benefits for Hotel Rewards Credit Cards

• Carlson Hotels goldpoints plus
• Hilton HHonors
• Hyatt Gold Passport
• InterContinental Hotels Group Priority Club
• Marriott Rewards
• Starwood Preferred Guest

Carlson Hotels Goldpoints Plus

Carlson Hotels Goldpoints Plus Visa (U.S. only)

• 5 points per $1 spent at Carlson Hotels worldwide
• 4 points per $1 on all other purchases
• Sign-up bonus (9-1-2010) = 15,000 bonus points after first use within 90 days of opening account.

Loyalty Traveler comments: Goldpoints plus has one of the best exchange rates for hotel points-to-miles transfers where 100,000 points = 18,000 miles. Goldpoints plus gold elite member can earn 100,000 points for $3,334 in hotel spend at Radisson Hotels. Compare to Starwood Preferred Guest elites where $3,334 earns 10,000 SPG points. A person interested in miles will earn miles faster through Radisson hotel stays than SPG.  

However, compare SPG American Express card where $20,000 in spend outside of hotels earns 20,000 points = 25,000 miles in many programs. $20,000 on Goldpoints Plus Visa earns 80,000 points and Goldpoints Plus requires 100,000 points for 18,000 miles.  SPG is a better card for airline miles if you earn most of your points through credit card spend instead of hotel stays.

Hilton HHonors

Hilton HHonors has three different cobranded credit cards for residents of the U.S. There are also credit cards for residents of the U.K., Germany and Japan.

The two Hilton HHonors American Express cards for U.S. residents have more benefits than the Visa card. Top elite HHonors Diamond membership for $40,000 in annual spend on the HHonors American Express Surpass card is probably the highest value benefit of any hotel loyalty program credit card.

Hilton HHonors American Express (U.S.) – No annual fee

• Complimentary HHonors Silver VIP elite membership while a cardmember.
• Complimentary HHonors Gold VIP elite membership with $20,000 or more annual charges.
• 6 HHonors bonus points per US$1 spent at Hilton Worldwide hotels, grocery stores, gas stations, drugstores, home and wireless phone, cable, internet.
• 3 HHonors bonus points on all other purchases
• 500 points online booking bonus when charged to Hilton HHonors American Express
• AXON5/6 and AXON7 discount awards (Four Nights AXON 5/6  = 125,000 points; four nights AXON7 = 145,000 points and is lower cost than HHonors VIP rewards)
• Sign-up bonus (9-1-2010) = 20,000 points after first purchase within one year and 2,500 points per Hilton stay, up to 10,000 points after 4 stays within first 18 months of cardmembership.

Silver elite membership opens access to HHonors VIP rewards with a 15% to 25% discount on award extended stays of four nights or longer.

Hilton HHonors Surpass Card American Express (U.S.) – $75 annual fee

• Complimentary HHonors Gold  VIP elite membership for first year of cardmembership.
• Complimentary HHonors Platinum VIP elite membership with $40,000 or more in annual charges. Complimentary HHonors Gold VIP elite membership with $20,000 or more annual charges.
• 9 HHonors bonus points per US$1 spent at Hilton Worldwide hotels
• 6 HHonors bonus points per US$1 spent at grocery stores, gas stations, drugstores, home and wireless phone, cable, internet.
• 3 HHonors bonus points on all other purchases
• Priority Pass airport lounge complimentary membership (but still costs $27 per lounge visit)
• 500 points online booking bonus when charged to Hilton HHonors American Express
• AXON5/6 and AXON7 discount awards (Four Nights AXON 5/6  = 125,000 points; four nights AXON7 = 145,000 points and is lower cost than HHonors VIP rewards)
• Sign-up bonus (9-1-2010) = 40,000 points after first purchase within one year and 2,500 points per Hilton stay, up to 20,000 points after 8 stays within first 18 months of cardmembership.

Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature (U.S.) – no annual fee

• Complimentary HHonors Silver VIP elite membership while a cardmember.
• 6 HHonors bonus points per US$1 spent at Hilton Worldwide hotels.
• 3 HHonors bonus points at gas stations, grocery stores and drugstore.
• 2 HHonors bonus points on all other purchases
• 500 points online booking bonus when charged to Hilton HHonors American Express
• Sign-up bonus (9-1-2010) = 25,000 points after first purchase within four months of opening account.

HHonors credit card terms

Loyalty Traveler comments: Hilton HHonors is the clear leader in the credit card game with its array of benefits. The HHonors American Express cards allow you to earn high value bonus points for groceries, cable, internet, cellphone bills and gas.

The ability to earn HHonors VIP elite through HHonors American Express credit card spending, discounts on reward nights with VIP hotel reward access and exclusive American Express AXON award discounts, and the online booking bonus make HHonors American Express and particularly the HHonors Surpass card the best all around cards for hotel loyalty programs. 

The only drawback to the HHonors American Express is for someone who wants miles. Starwood American Express is a much better program than Hilton HHonors for points-to-miles exchange rates. 

The HHonors American Express Surpass card offers the highest value return for the big spender who wants free hotel stays with Hilton Worldwide.

Hyatt Gold Passport   

Chase Hyatt Visa Card (U.S. residents only) – $75 – link

• Complimentary Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum elite membership while a cardmember (platinum elite normally requires 5 stays or 15 nights).
• 3 Gold Passport bonus points per US$1 spent at Hyatt brand hotels worldwide.
• 1 Gold Passport bonus point per US$1 on all other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Sign-up bonus (9-1-2010) = 2 free nights after first purchase. Gold Passport Diamond members will receive complimentary suite upgrade on these two free nights. Gold Passport Platinum members will receive two complimentary suite upgrades for use on paid stays. (according to View from the Wing)

Loyalty Traveler comments: The Chase Hyatt card website advertises a card feature as award nights with no resort or internet fees. While this is a true statement, these benefits are available to any Gold Passport Platinum elite member. Hyatt Gold Passport does not charge resort fees on award nights at Hyatt Resorts and all platinum and diamond members receive complimentary internet at Hyatt brands globally. 

The two free nights is a nice sign-up feature, but I think the Priority Club Visa has better benefits with the annual free night.  

Starwood Preferred Guest American Express card is a hugely popular credit card for its points-to-miles exchange with a 25% bonus on points transfers in blocks of 20,000 points into 25,000 miles. Hyatt Gold Passport has the same 25% bonus when transferring 50,000 points into 25,000 miles. The earning rate of 1 point per US$1 for everyday purchases with both the Hyatt Visa card and the SPG American Express places the balance heavily in favor of SPG American Express for persons interested in maximizing credit card spending for airline miles.

InterContinental Hotels Group Priority Club Rewards 

Chase Priority Club Select Visa Card (U.S.) – $49 annual fee after first year free

• Complimentary Priority Club Gold elite membership while a cardmember ($50 value).
• Annual free night e-certificate (valid for any IHG brand hotel worldwide)
• 10% rebate on all free night redemptions up to 100,000 points rebate per year.
• 5 Priority Club bonus points per US$1 spent at IHG hotels worldwide.
• 3 Priority Club bonus points per US$1 at gas stations, dining and grocery stores.
• 1 Priority Club bonus point per US$1 on all other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Sign-up bonus (9-1-2010) = 30,000 points after first purchase or first use (includes balance transfers).
• Priority Club Select Visa Card link

Loyalty Traveler comments: The best benefit of the Priority Club Visa is the annual free night e-certificate. An InterContinental Hotel night will usually be a $200+ rate or even $400+ per night in some locations. 

10% rebate on reward nights is unique and can be a 10,000 to 20,000 points savings for an active Priority Club member. 

Priority Club Visa and Marriott Rewards Visa are the only cards with higher points earning for dining. That can be a big factor for the restaurant aficionado. 

Marriott Rewards 

Marriott Rewards Signature Visa from Chase – $30 annual fee with first year free 

• Complimentary Marriott Rewards Silver elite membership with 10 nights annual elite credit while a cardmember.
• Earn 1 additional elite night credit for every $3,000 in charges annually.
• 15,000 points rebate for reward stays of seven or more nights at category 7 or 8 properties.
• 3 Marriott Rewards bonus points per US$1 spent at Marriott brand hotels worldwide.
• 1 Marriott Rewards bonus point per US$1 on all other purchases
• Sign-up bonus (9-1-2010) = free night e-certificate (valid for any Marriott Rewards category 1 to 4 hotel worldwide) and 22,500 bonus points after first purchase or first use (includes balance transfers). 

Marriott Rewards Premier Visa from Chase – $65 annual fee with first year free

• Complimentary Marriott Rewards Silver elite membership with 10 nights annual elite credit while a cardmember.
• Earn 1 additional elite night credit for every $3,000 in charges annually.
• Annual free night certificate (category 1-5 hotels). First year is a category 1-4 e-certificate.
• 15,000 points rebate for reward stays of seven or more nights at category 7 or 8 properties.
• 5 Marriott Rewards bonus points per US$1 spent at Marriott brand hotels worldwide.
• 2 Marriott Rewards bonus points per US$1 spent on airlines, dining and rental cars.
• 1 Marriott Rewards bonus point per US$1 on all other purchases.
• Sign-up bonus (9-1-2010) = free night e-certificate (valid for any Marriott Rewards category 1 to 4 hotel worldwide) and 30,000 bonus points after first purchase.

Loyalty Traveler comments: The initial free night e-certificate is limited to the lowest four of the eight Marriott Rewards hotel categories. The annual Marriott Rewards Premier Visa e-certificate with cardmembership renewal is good for category 5 hotels and that is a significantly higher value. There are some really nice Marriott category 5 hotels. 

The Hyatt card gives you two free nights at any Hyatt hotel as an enrollment bonus. Priority Club gives one night at any IHG hotel for each year of cardmembership. 

The Marriott Rewards card has weak benefits compared to most of the surveyed cards (except for dining credit), however, Marriott Rewards has the best points-to-miles exchange rate of any hotel loyalty program when transferring over 100,000 points. Marriott Rewards has its benefits but this card may not be the best fit for you. 

Big spenders may prefer the Hilton American Express for elite status. Starwood American Express has a better earning rate for miles. 

Starwood Preferred Guest

Starwood Preferred Guest American Express – $45 (increases to $65 October 14, 2010)

• 2 bonus Starpoints per US$1 spent at Starwood Hotels and Resorts worldwide.
• 1 bonus Starpoints per US$1 per US$1 on all other purchases.
• Annual 50% off rack rate certificate (this benefit will be discontinued in October and replaced with five elite night credits annually and a 3^rd night free credit offer).
• Sign-up bonus (9-1-2010) = 10,000 bonus points after first purchase and 15,000 additional bonus points for $15,000 in credit card spending during first six months of cardmembership. 

Loyalty traveler comments: SPG is the program if you really want options to convert your hotel points to a variety of airline miles. Marriott Rewards and Goldpoints plus have better points-to-miles exchange rates for high transfers, but the SPG credit card favors the person who earns more points from credit card spending than hotel stays. United, Continental and Singapore Airlines offer a poor exchange rate with SPG. You might prefer the Hyatt or Marriott card for these airline programs. Hyatt has the same or a better exchange rate for many airline partners but the earning rate is better for general purchases using the SPG program card compared to the Hyatt card. 

If hotel stays are your primary interest and not miles, then consider the array of benefits offered by other cards, particularly the high annual value of Priority Club Visa free night and reward nights rebate or Hilton HHonors American Express award night discounts and elite status.

Loyalty Traveler Card Rank based on annual benefits

1. Hilton HHonors Surpass American Express card
2. IHG Priority Club Select Visa Card from Chase
3. Hilton HHonors American Express
4. Starwood Preferred Guest American Express
5. Hyatt Gold Passport Visa from Chase
6. Marriott Rewards Premier Visa from Chase
7. Hilton HHonors Signature Visa from Citi
8. Marriott Rewards Signature Visa from Chase
9. Carlson Hotels Goldpoints Plus

Enroll as a new member by September 6 in Goldpoints Plus using promotion code GPX2010 and receive 1,000 bonus points. Carlson Hotels Goldpoints Plus loyalty program covers the 1,000+ hotels in Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn and Country Inn & Suites hotel brands. Goldpoints plus new member registration link.

This offer is only valid for new members without an existing account.

Goldpoints Plus has lowest minimum transfer for airline miles

Goldpoints plus is a useful program for small mileage transfers. 2,000 goldpoints exchange into 250 miles with a variety of programs.

Goldpoints plus has the lowest minimum transfer rate for points-to-miles exchanges for a general member among the major programs (SPG Platinum members have no minimum transfer level):

• Hilton = 10,000 point block = 1,000 miles (1,500 AA miles)
• Marriott = 10,000 points minimum = 2,000 miles
• Priority Club = 10,000 point block = 2,000 miles
• Wyndham Rewards = 8,000 points minimum = 3,200 miles
• Hyatt = 5,000 points block = 2,000 miles
• Best Western = 5,000 points block = 1,000 miles
• Choice Privileges = 5,000 points block= 1,000 miles
• SPG = 2,500 points minimum transfer (non-elite members) = 2,500 miles
• Goldpoints Plus = 2,000 points = 250 miles

Goldpoints plus may not look like a great exchange at the 2,000 points rate compared to other programs. Keep in mind that you earn 20 points per US$1/1€ for Radisson hotel stays and 15 points per US$ for Country Inn & Suites. The points-to-miles exchange rate is variable and improves greatly with higher transfer levels.

At the 100,000 points = 18,000 miles rate, you will find Goldpoints Plus is consistently the best exchange rate among hotel loyalty programs with only Marriott Rewards offering a better exchange rate at its high transfer level of 125,000 points for 50,000 miles.

Here is a Loyalty Traveler post showing exchange rates for different hotel programs for U.S. airlines at various transfer levels.

Goldpoints plus also awards 1,000 bonus points for an online reservation.  After one stay in a Carlson Hotel booked online, you will have enough points for a points-to-miles transfer. This is a convenient way to keep airline frequent flier accounts active without flying.

Related links: Click on the categories link for Goldpoints Plus on the left side of Loyalty traveler blog and you will find a dozen or so articles on Goldpoints plus promotions and Carlson Hotels. This program slashed award night cost this past year, offered some high value bonuses and probably has made more program changes for the better than any other hotel loyalty program in 2010.

Goldpoints Plus is a good program for new members to check out. Perhaps you will find yourself checking in more frequently at Carlson Hotels.

A prize of 100,000 Starpoints will be awarded to two SPG members who download the Blackberry application between August 1 and September 30, 2010. Members receive one entry for downloading the Blackberry app at http://www.spg.com/BBapp. Only one entry is accepted per member for this sweepstakes. Drawing will be October 15.

TO ENTER: 

A. Mobile: Visit BlackBerry App WorldTM at www.spg.com/BBapp, download the SPG app for BlackBerry and log in to the app with your SPG.com username and passcode during the Promotion Period to receive one (1) free entry. While members may log in to the app numerous times during the Promotion Period, each member will only receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes.

B. Mail: To enter by mail, hand print your name, address, day and evening phone numbers, e-mail address (if any), SPG number, and age on a 3″ x 5″ piece of paper. Mail it in a hand-addressed envelope to SPG App for BlackBerry Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 3010, Rogers, MN 55374-3011. Mail-in entries must be postmarked no later than September 30, 2010 and received by October 5, 2010. Limit one (1) entry per person.

This sweepstakes is open to legal residents in 15 countries. 

ELIGIBILITY: SPG® App for BlackBerry® Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia), Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic, South Africa, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and New Zealand, who are at a minimum 18 years of age or older and have reached the age of majority in their respective jurisdictions at the time of entry. 

SPG Blackberry app sweepstakes Terms and Conditions

SPG Blackberry app features:

Members can browse and reserve stays at any of Starwood’s 1000+ hotels and resorts worldwide across nine brands: Sheraton®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Four Points by Sheraton®, St. Regis®, Element®, and Aloft®.

Key Features

• Access to SPG account, including Starpoints® balance, recent activity, stays needed to reach the next level and more.

• View upcoming stay information including map to hotel from your current location and call hotel directly from your BlackBerry.

• Search, book and view hotel information and photos for 1000+ hotels globally across nine brands.

• Access customer support around the globe.

• Browse TheLobby.com blogs to stay updated on the latest travel trends and insider information.

Related links: SPG Social Media Feed – stay connected with SPG on Twitter, Facebook, the Lobby, SPG Insider, FlyerTalk and mobile apps on one page.

More than 60 Starwood hotels in 12 countries from Mexico to Argentina and Chile are running a 20% discount on Best Available Rate offer when using MasterCard to pay for stays. Book by September 30, 2010 for hotel stays through December 15, 2010. This is the second year for Starwood hotels and MasterCard in this Latin America hotels promotion. Use SET/Corporate Account # 200654 to check rates or use this Starwood Hotels/MasterCard link.

Two additional benefits to the MasterCard rate are kids under 12 eat free and either two cocktails per person per stay or a welcome amenity gift like cheese and wine for your room. These should be value-added amenities whether traveling as a couple or a kid-toting family.

As always, you need to compare rates for your specific hotel and dates with AAA and other hotel special offers. In my search of hotels the MasterCard rate was the lowest rate found for Sheraton Colonia. The MasterCard rate is open for cancellation until 24 hours prior to arrival day.

Westin Los Cabos had a much lower rate offer using Starwood’s BirthYear promotion found through the hotel special offers link.

Loyalty Traveler analysis and rate tests:

Sheraton Colonia Golf & Spa Resort, Colonia, Uruguay

Starwood MasterCard Package Rate is lowest rate found for Sheraton Colonia 

The Sheraton Colonia is a one to two hour ride across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires. The fast boat makes the journey across the river in around 45 minutes. This is one wide river separating Argentina from Uruguay.

Rio de la Plata view from space. Buenos Aires, AR is city at bottom right, Uruguay is on left

If you haven’t been to Buenos Aires, perhaps you are thinking this is a third world river crossing experience. You will be pleasantly surprised at the low fare and high quality accommodations. In June 2007 I spent the first five minutes on a large modern ferry ship struggling to find a seat among the hundreds of passengers in the lowest priced tier of a three tier ship. After paying an additional $5 to upgrade my fare, I moved up to the premier class level upstairs and sat in a bar room and café with three other passengers in a room designed to hold dozens. I had a full window view and relative quiet which seemed a relief after spending time wandering the streets of BA.

Duty free shopping and exclusive First Class ferry seating up top

Loyalty traveler’s hotel review of Sheraton Colonia from a visit in June 2007.

Westin Los Cabos, Mexico

Starwood BirthYear Rate is better deal for Westin Los Cabos

The MasterCard rate at the Westin Los Cabos is not the best deal for the dates I checked. Under the special offers link was the Starwood Hotels BirthYear rate which is good for two or three night stays. You pay a set rate for the first night and then your birthyear is the rate you pay for the second and third night.

I was born in 1960 so my rate is $60 per night after the first night. This rate offer works out to be $50 per night less than the AAA rate best deal for these dates.

 Even if you were born in 1985, the BirthYear rate is the best rate for these dates.

Starwood Pay Your BirthYear Special Rate Offer link

Starwood Resort Hotels 3rd Night Free and other MultiNight Stay Discount Links

Starwood Hotels 3rd Night Free and other MultiNight Stay Discount Links (Different hotel set than resort links)

Loyalty Traveler post on Starwood BirthYear rates

Best Western Rewards has a limited time offer for 315 hotels in the southeast states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee to earn 2,000 bonus points per night, up to four nights for 8,000 bonus points for hotel stays between August 24 and September 26, 2010.  

Registration is required.

The lowest category Best Western hotels cost 8,000 points for a free night. Properties increase in points for seven higher levels from 12,000 to 36,000 points for a free night. 

6,000 points is sufficient for a $25 Best Western hotel credit. A $25 gas credit card is 6,500 points. A free night is likely the highest value exchange for points.

Best Western Rewards points are normally earned at the rate of 10 points per $1. This bonus is an equivalent number of points normally earned for a $200 hotel stay.

Best Western on the Beach, Gulf Shores, Alabama (free night = 24,000 points)

• Sep 8-10, 2010 (Wed-Fri) $108 per night for oceanfront room.
• $216 x 10 points/$1 = 2,160 points
• 2,000 points/night x 2 nights bonus = 4,000 points
• 6,160 total points for this two-night stay at the beach.

Loyalty traveler promotion rating = 3 keys of 5. Good rebate on hotel spend.

Choice Privileges promotion advertises “Stay two separate times, earn a free night at over 1,500 Choice Hotels.” The bonus is actually 8,000 total points for two hotel stays at Choice Hotels brands including Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites and Ascend Collection during the promotion period from Thursday, August 26 through Wednesday, November 3, 2010.

The promotion bonus may be earned four times during the promotion period for 32,000 points after 8 hotel stays. There is no earning limit for Choice Privileges Platinum and Diamond elite members. Platinum and Diamond elites may also choose an alternative offer for triple points for every stay starting with your second stay.

Normally you earn 10 points per $1 with Choice Privileges for stays at these hotel brands. This promotion takes your total earned points from two stays and adds bonus points to match 8,000 total points.

Sample Hotel Rates:

Clarion Oakland City Center, Oakland, California – Friday, Oct. 1, 2010

• $69.15

Villa Montes Hotel, Ascend Collection, San Bruno, California – Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010

• $89.10

Sample Points Earning:

• Clarion Oakland = 691 points
• Villa Montes, San Bruno = 891 points
• 1,582 base points earned for $158.25 in hotel charges.
• 1,582 base points + 6,418 promotion bonus points =

 8,000 points hotel stay promotion bonus for two stays.

Choice Privileges Award Night Cost

The two lowest hotel reward categories in Choice Privileges are 6,000 points and 8,000 points per night. A top level hotel in Choice Privileges can be 35,000 points, or even 75,000 points per night in Australia. This offer is capped at four bonuses or 32,000 points after 8 stays for general members. Choice Privileges elite platinum (25 nights) and diamond members (40 nights) can earn unlimited bonus points with this offer.

Interesting facets of Choice Privileges: Rewards nights count and peak season rates

One of the better features of Choice Privileges is reward nights count towards elite status qualification. Hilton HHonors is the only other loyalty program that counts reward nights for elite qualification.

Another unique aspect of Choice Hotels is variable peak-season reward rates. Choice Privileges only publishes the reward category level for a five or six month period at a time. Reward levels do not fluctuate too greatly in Choice Privileges.

Villa Montes Hotel peak season reward night rates

Most hotel loyalty programs place a hotel in a reward category and the hotel category placement determines loyalty points needed for a free night. Starwood Preferred Guest has a peak season reward surcharge for upper category hotels, but the peak season dates have been eliminated for the past two years. Hilton HHonors has peak season dates for the 20 or so Waldorf-Astoria Collection luxury class hotels.

A huge drawback of Choice Privileges is you can only book reward stays 30 days in advance as a general member and up to 90 days in advance as a top elite Choice Privileges Diamond member.

Perhaps Hyatt Gold Passport should have advertised their “Great 10K” promotion as “Stay 5 nights and earn two free nights at 25% of Hyatt Hotels globally” to get better promotion feedback.

Choice Privileges 8,000 points Fall 2010 promotion rating = 3 of 5 keys (4 keys for platinum/diamond elites)

The fall 2010 Priority Club promotion title Sweet Dilemma probably encapsulates the feelings of many members for this offer. Promotion registration is required by December 20, 2010. You must register for either free nights or double miles/points.

The good news:

• You can earn one free night after two stays, up to five free nights during the promotion period September 20-December 31, 2010.
• You can redeem free nights beginning November 1, 2010 for hotel stays from December 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011. Free nights can be booked at http://www.priorityclub.com/bookfreenights
• Sweet Dilemma free nights offer appears to be combinable with the Crack the Case promotion.

 The bad news:

• Asia-Pacific region IHG hotels are not participating in the free nights portion of this Priority Club promotion. You cannot earn free night credit or redeem free nights in Asia-Pacific hotels. Stays in Asia-Pacific region are eligible only for double points or miles portion of this promotion offer.
• If you register for free nights, then you will not earn any base or elite points or miles during the promotion period from September 20 through December 31, 2010, even after you maximize the free night offer of five nights. So if you complete 10 IHG hotel stays by October 1, you will earn five free nights but you will be ineligible for earning base points and elite points on all your paid stays for the remainder of 2010.
• Free night reservations may not be cancelled without forfeiting free night credit.
• Double points or miles begins with second stay at any IHG hotel worldwide.

Loyalty Traveler Analysis:

Two stays at a Holiday Inn and you can have a free night at an InterContinental Hotel. Most Priority Club members will likely get the best value from free nights. A free night is worth 30,000 or 40,000 points for an InterContinental Hotel. This promotion is potentially worth an equivalent 200,000 points for someone who maximizes the use of free nights at upper tier InterContinental Hotels.

The general consensus among Priority Club members on the value of points is $6 per 1,000 points. The five free nights offer has a potential $1,200 promotion bonus value. Redeeming your free night for a $240+ InterContinental Hotel night is likely an easy exchange to find considering the high cost of luxury class InterContinental Hotels.  Just remember that you cannot use free nights for Asia-Pacific region hotels.

I see this IHG offer as a low entry promotion given the easy access to over 3,000 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels with rates under $100 per night. Earning a high value luxury class hotel night for two stays costing under $200 is a great value promotion opportunity.

Earning five free nights for under $1,000 over the next few months is a way to meet your hotel needs this fall while earning enough nights for a high-value vacation in 2011. Five nights at a hotel like the InterContinental Amstel in Amsterdam next spring can easily be a $2,000 value.

I recommend throwing as many short hotel stays to Priority Club as your top alternative to your primary hotel program. And if Priority Club is your primary hotel program, then you may want to get your five free nights and shift some hotel stays over to another hotel program for extra bonuses this fall. The exclusion of base and elite points through December 31, 2010 for all stays completed after maximizing the free nights offer is a real drawback for high frequency Priority Club members.

You may have a not so sweet dilemma if Priority Club is your main program. Choosing free nights as a Priority Club platinum member means forgoing 25 points per $1 for your stays from Sep 20-Dec 31, 2010. It will take you $6,000 to $8,000 in hotel spend to reach the equivalent value of 150,000 to 200,000 points you will receive with free nights.

This IHG fall 2010 promotion announcement leaves only Hilton HHonors left to announce its major fall 2010 promotion. Starwood went with double base points based on nights and triple base points with 10 or more nights. Hyatt has 10,000 points per 5 nights. Marriott has MegaBonus offers for up to two free nights, but the free nights are only valid for the lowest 4 of 8 hotel award categories. Marriott also has triple miles. Compared to the other bonuses this is a high-value, low hurdle to earn promotion offer from IHG Priority Club.

Loyalty Traveler promotion rating = 5 keys (one of best promotions of 2010)

Links: IHG Priority Club Sweet Dilemma Promotion

Sweet Dilemma FAQ

Terms & Conditions clause shows combinability of Sweet Dilemma with Crack the Case promotion offer:

14. Frequency Credits:

(a) During Free Nights Promotion Period: Once registered for the Free Nights Promotion and during the Promotion Period, Members will not earn base or elite Priority Club points, airline miles, or any other frequency credit earning preference Members have chosen (“Frequency Credits”) for the room rate, food and beverage charges or any other incidental charges for any stays at any IHG hotel (except at hotels in those countries in which the Promotion is void), whether pursuant to this Promotion or otherwise, even if the Member has previously registered for, or is otherwise qualified for, another promotion and even if the Member has already earned the maximum of five Free Nights during the Promotion Period. In other words, participation in this Free Nights Promotion excludes the receipt of base and elite Frequency Credits for stays from the date of registration for this Free Nights Promotion until December 31, 2010. Bonus Frequency Credits, however, will be awarded pursuant to the terms of any other promotion in which Member is participating.

InterContinental Hotels Group Priority Club Sweet Dilemma Fall 2010 Promotion

It is another weekend in Monterey, California.  I never know what to expect when I walk down to the waterfront in Monterey.

Yesterday I saw the “A” anchored in Monterey Bay. The mega-yacht owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko has been cruising up and down the California coast this month. The Philippe Starck designed 390-foot yacht is a $300 million dollar floating palace built just two years ago. The unique submarine style shape makes this ship design one of the most talked about yachts of the seas. The opening in the rear of the ship is actually the garage.

“A” is not the largest private yacht in the world. In fact, the Blohm + Voss built yacht currently ranks 12th in length. Apparently Blohm + Voss or Lurssen, both German manufacturers,  are the builders of premier mega-yachts these days.

Here is a 4-minute video tour of the “A” yacht from a Wall Street Journal piece reposted in the LA Times.

My photos of the yacht were taken from the working wharf in Monterey. The tourist Fisherman’s Wharf is loaded with restaurants and trinket shops. That is where you go to eat restaurant fish and take a whale watching tour. The working wharf is the location to buy fresh fish in Monterey.

And just to add a little hotel info to this post I have included the view of downtown Monterey from the Monterey wharf showing the Marriott Monterey.

Two 3-day passes to the 2010 Austin City Limits Music Festival and a free night at any Super 8 motel can be yours by entering the Super 8 Sweepstakes by September 5, 2010. You need to fill out the entry form on the Super 8 Facebook page found under the Sweepstakes tab.  One entry is allowed per day. Winner may choose $500 cash in lieu of the music festival tickets.

The Super 8 Music Festival Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry. 

Prize winner will be selected September 6. 

Austin City Limits Music Festival Prize:  One Winner will receive two 3-Day Wristband Passes to the 2010 Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL)  at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. Passes are valid for Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10, 2010, allowing festival entrance and exit throughout the weekend and access to all activities offered to ACL attendees.  Prize also includes one free night stay (one room; single or double occupancy) at a Super 8 location of winner’s choice in the U.S., subject to availability. Total Approximate Retail Value:  $590.00.

How to Enter: During the Promotion Period, click on the “Sweepstakes” tab on the Super 8 Facebook page. This will link you to the Super 8 Music Festival Sweepstakes entry page. Participants in the Promotion will be required to complete an online entry form, providing full legal name, valid e-mail address, complete home address (street address only; P.O. Boxes are not permitted) and date of birth. Completing and submitting an online sweepstakes entry form is the only means of participating in the Promotion.

Links: Super 8 Sweepstakes Official Rules

Super 8 Facebook Page – Sweepstakes tab on Facebook page has entry form link.

Super 8 is a Wyndham brand and member of Wyndham Rewards hotel loyalty program.

Marriott has a new offer of triple airline miles for fall 2010 travel. You will find this offer when you set your Marriott Rewards account earning preference to miles instead of points. Registration is required.

Triple miles begin with your second stay. This offer applies to all Marriott properties and brands worldwide.

Marriott Rewards members may earn miles with 30 airlines.

The regular earning rate is 2 miles per US$1 on all qualifying charges at Marriott Hotels, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Autograph Collection and Marriott Vacation Club. This means your room service, restaurant purchases, spa services and such will count for miles. Earn 6 miles per $1 with the “Triple Miles” promotion this fall.

Other Marriott brands earn 1 mile per US$1 spent on room rate only. Earn 3 miles per $1 with the Triple Miles promotion at Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites and Marriott Executive Apartments. These six Marriott brands do not earn any miles for food and incidentals hotel spend.

So don’t count your miles when you order that fine bottle of wine at the Napa SpringHill Suites.

SpringHill Suites Napa, California