Radisson Hotels Business Class has a room rate discount offered for participating hotels in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean through October 31, 2010. The Business Class upgrade rate is normally $30 over Best Available Rate (BAR) for same room type. For a limited time Business Class rate is available for just $5.

Business Class rate includes:

• Upgraded room

• Breakfast and drink vouchers for one (breakfast voucher US$20 or CAD $23 in Canada)

• Early check-in

• Week day newspaper delivered to your room

• 1,000 bonus Gold Points® per night

Loyalty Traveler Real Deal?

This can be a good deal to try out Business Class and see if you find the added benefits worth the extra cost.  The $5 special offer makes this rate competitive to AAA rates at some properties.

There is no doubt that $5 for a room upgrade and $30 in daily breakfast, drink and 1,000 bonus points value is a good deal, however, the normal $30 premium for Business Class is not a significant rate discount for the benefits value aside from the room upgrade. You may just want to book a higher category room using a better rate plan like AAA if the room upgrade is more important than the breakfast and drink benefit.

Radisson Hotels Business Class rate  offers 1,000 bonus points per night, and the drink voucher is also a daily benefit of Business Class rate. This is certainly a better value than per stay if you have a multinight booking.

I estimate the value of gold points at $4 to $5 per 1,000 points. Breakfast has a $20 value. The drink is likely a $5 to $8 value.

The catch though is the Business Class rate is typically a much higher rate than the lowest available rate.   Best Available Rate is an unrestricted rate with liberal cancellation policy up to day of arrival. Business Class and AAA rates have the same day of arrival cancellation policy for hotels I checked.    

Prepaid, nonrefundable, no changes rates were significantly lower for San Francisco and Los Angeles Radisson Hotels on dates I checked.

Radisson Hotel Los Angeles Midtown at USC (Tue Oct 5 – Thu Oct 7)

• $194  Business Class Special Promo
• $141.75 Advance Purchase (21-day advance) ($52 less)
• $170.10 Guest Room (AAA rate) ($24 less)
• $179.10 Deluxe Room (AAA rate) ($15 less)
• $188.10 Junior Suite (AAA rate)  ($6 less for guaranteed room upgrade)
• $209 Junior Suite (BAR-Best Available Rate) ($15 more, but no breakfast/drink/1,000 bonus points)
• Regular Business Class rate $219 ($25 more)

The Business Class upgrade is $52 more per night than the lowest prepaid rate. The AAA rate for a Deluxe room is $25 less per night and has the same cancellation policy (4pm day of arrival) as the Business Class promo rate. I assume the Business Class upgrade is to the Deluxe category room which is a $9 value compared to AAA rates. You can actually just book a Junior Suite for $188 if room size is your most important factor. Are daily breakfast and one drink worth an extra $16 per night? Certainly they are if you use these benefits. Early check-in may also be a factor to sway your rate decision.

New members to Carlson Hotels goldpoints plus loyalty program can earn 1,000 points sign-up bonus.

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.

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.

In recognition of Hilton Worldwide becoming the official hotel partner of Little League Baseball and Softball, DaddyForever.com is giving away a free night for any Hilton Worldwide hotel brand.

Simply leave a comment on this DaddyForever blog post by September 7, 2010 telling your favorite Little League team for the 64th Little League World Series (currently happening in Pennsylvania) or a youth sports memory.

After months of sharing mommy blog hotel giveaways, lo and behold, here is an actual “daddy” blog giveaway.

The baseball prize pack from DaddyForever.com consists of:

• A free night at any Hilton hotel on earth
• $100 Ticketmaster gift card
• $100 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card

Giveaway is limited to USA entrants.

There is also a link for a 15% discount of the Best Available Rate using the Hilton Little League booking link.

Links: Little League Baseball and Softball Hilton Worldwide Partnership

Hilton Worldwide -Little League partnership Press Release

Starwood Hotels in Europe, Africa and Middle East have a promotion through December 31 for the third night free at a city hotel or two free nights on a six night resort hotel stay when paying with a Mastercard. Nonrefundable, prepaid advance reservations are required.

EMEA MasterCard promotion registration is required. Promotion code = MTA for rate searches.

EMEA Participating Starwood Hotels.

Promotion Terms & Conditions. 

MTA promotion code hotel rate search link.

This promotion is similar to Starwood’s Exclusive Hotel Escapes and Resort Escapes ongoing promotions for discounted multi-night stays, except you need a MasterCard for this EMEA offer and there are no day of week restrictions for your three night stay. The third night free offer using Z3H (Exclusive Hotel Escapes) requires a Thursday-Saturday check-in date for your stay. I found 3^rd night free rates using the MTA promotion for a Monday-Thursday stay at some hotels.

Bottom line is that I did not find any lower rates using this EMEA MasterCard offer for five hotel checks, but there may be some discounted rates considering over 200 hotels are participating in this offer.

Sheraton Bratislava, Slovakia showed availability for a three night Monday-Thursday Aug 23-26 stay using the MTA code. The Exclusive Hotel Escapes link using Z3H offer stated promotion unavailable. But the MTA rate availability was a moot point considering the 3^rd night free MTA rate was 200€/night or 133.33€ per night for a 3 night stay. A default search returned a prepaid 119€ nightly rate for the same room category. The 3^rd night free offer was not the best deal for these dates at the Sheraton Bratislava.

Sheraton Luxor Resort, Egypt showed incredibly low rates for a six night stay August 23-29, 2010 at just $54 per night for four nights and two nights free. $216 + 24% tax for six nights at the Sheraton Luxor Resort. After tax the nightly rate is just $45 per night for a six night stay. This rate was found using the MTA link, however, the rate code used was Z6R, the same rate used for Resort Escapes which does not require a MasterCard payment.

Promotion analysis conclusion: The MTA MasterCard payment rate for 3^rd night free or two free nights with a six night stay at an EMEA resort may not necessarily be the best deal, but you should at least give this rate search a whirl to see if there is a bargain to be found for your hotel stays through the remainder of 2010 in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Starwood Preferred Guest’s newest brands have a promotion through September 30, 2010 for a free night with every three stays at an Aloft Hotel or Element hotel. Stay three times at any Aloft or Element Hotel globally between August 9, 2010 and September 30, 2010 and earn one free at an Aloft or Element Hotel to be redeemed by December 19, 2010.

52 Aloft and Element Hotel locations

There are currently only seven Element Hotels. There are 45 Aloft Hotels open for this promotion with 40 in the US/Canada and 5 international hotels with two in Chennai and Bengaluru India, and one in Beijing, Brussels, and Abu Dhabi. There are probably high value redemption opportunities available after October when the two New York Aloft Hotels open in Harlem and Brooklyn.

Promotion Registration Required

Register for this promotion by September 30, 2010 at www.SPG.com/aloftandelementfreenights.

 

Aloft Hotels ranked #4 out of 15 Upscale Hotel Segment brands on the JD Power 2010 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study released two weeks ago. Personally I do not think the brand should be in the upscale segment of hotels. They are colorfully catchy, but in a midscale hotel sort of way as far as the room goes. The limited room seating is a major drawback. I prefer the standard Hyatt Place room myself for a comfortable room design with a big couch separated from the bed. The lobby socializing is the best aspect of Aloft hotels in my opinion.

Element Hotels are an eco-design extended stay brand with kitchen area. I find the Element Room design very comfortable and a good place to hang out for an extended time.

Loyalty Traveler Hotel Reviews:

Aloft Portland Airport (PDX) Cascade Station

Element Hotel Summerlin (Las Vegas)

Overall promotion value: This is a good promotion (4-key) if you are in the right places with these hotel brands. The rebate of a free night will be a high value.

For many of us like me who live hundreds of miles from the nearest participating hotel, this is just a 3-key promotion due to limited time offer for the promotion and limited availability of hotels.

Harrah’s Total Rewards members can earn points with two loyalty programs for Starwood stays in North America through the end of 2010. This deal is best for those invested in Harrah’s Total Rewards to earn 2 bonus points per $1 spent at Starwood Hotels. Harrah’s members also earn Starpoints at the regular rate for Starwood stays, so this is a double dip opportunity. 

This offer has limited value for Starwood Preferred Guest members who do not actively use Harrah’s Total Rewards. There is no Starwood credit for staying at any of more than 40 Harrah’s properties. This is only a one-way offer for Harrah’s points for Starwood stays. The value of 1,000 Total Rewards points is $10 if used for a Starbucks gift certificate or around the same value when used for a free hotel room.

The main problem with Harrah’s Total Rewards is points expire after six months if no activity earns new points in your account. Also, these are Harrah’s Total Rewards Bonus Points and these bonus points do not count for elite Tier Credits in the Harrah’s loyalty program. Bonus Points are only valid for redemption and do not count for Harrah’s elite credit which requires about $20,000 in annual gambling spend, so don’t plan on getting complimentary upgrades at Harrah’s hotels based on your extensive Starwood spending. This link explains the difference between Harrah’s Tier Credits and Bonus Reward Credits.

Basically SPG members who are also Total Rewards members can receive an additional $10 value for every $500 in Starwood Hotels spending through the end of 2010. There is no downside to this offer for Starwood members if the Starwood rate is comparable to other rates available. Just plan to spend your Harrah’s points within six months before they expire.

A free Harrah’s night in Las Vegas is 11,500 points for Sunday through Thursday so you need $5,750 in Starwood spend by the end of 2010 to earn a free hotel night in Vegas at a Harrah’s property.

Some FlyerTalk members suggest rates are higher using Harrah’s Set/Corporate Acct # 393098 to book the rate for earning Total Rewards points along with Starpoints. My searches indicated the Harrah’s rates were discounted on Best Available Rate and comparable to some AAA rates.

San Francisco Westin St. Francis

August 6, 2010

• Harrah’s Rate $252.86 Traditional Room
• BAR $255.55

 

St. Regis San Francisco

August 6, 2010

• Harrah’s Rate $487.86 King Deluxe
• AAA rate $467.10

 

Westin Palo Alto

August 6, 2010

• Harrah’s Rate $130.66 Traditional king
• AAA rate $132.05
• Prepaid, nonrefundable $129
• BAR $139 

SPG-Harrah’s Total Rewards Link: https://www.spgpromos.com/totalrewards/

PointsWizard posted yesterday about the 50% off Starwood Resorts special offer with free breakfast or dining discounts for Hawaii and French Polynesia good for stays through the end of 2010. Half off rack rates are usually not the best deal. My initial look at the offer indicated this might be a good sale. Then I found better rates with rate comparisons for the two hotels I checked for three to six night stays.

The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas on Maui had a lower priced 3^rd night free special offer that comes with free breakfast just like the 50% off rate, yet also includes a potential room upgrade. Westin Princeville Ocean Resorts Villas on Kauai had a better AAA rate with breakfast.

Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Maui

October 10-16, 2010

Oceanview 1 bedroom villa, full kitchen, whirlpool, 1 King Bed + 1 Queen Sofa

• $425/night = SPG50F rate (50% off resort special offer includes breakfast for two each day)
• $448/night = AAA ($100 resort credit per stay)
• $560/night = AAA (daily breakfast)

The SPG50F 50% off resort special offer looked like a good deal here. Then I clicked on the Hotel Special Offers link and found the 3^rd night free rate that also includes daily breakfast and a complimentary room upgrade if available. Use Starwood drop-down rate menu and enter ZS3 in SET/Corporate Account # for 3^rd night free rates.

$360 per night (ZS3 = 3^rd night free rate) at ($540/night x 4 nights) + (2 nights free) = $2,160 for six nights.

$425/night (SPG50F rate = 50% off resort rate) x 6 nights = $2,550 for six nights.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resorts Villas, Kauai

October 10-16, 2010

Premium Island view 1 bedroom suite 799sf, full kitchen, whirlpool, 1 King Bed + 1 Queen Sofa

• $350/night = SPG50F rate (50% off resort special offer with 35% discount on dinner)
• $306/night = AAA breakfast rate (daily breakfast included)
• $299/night = AAA parking rate (free parking, no breakfast)
• $343/night = ZS3 3^rd night free rate + complimentary daily breakfast ($515 x 4 nights + 2 nights free).

The best rate for this hotel is the AAA with breakfast rate at $44 per night less than the 50% off resort rate. After tax the AAA rate will save about $50 per night on your hotel stay. Daily complimentary breakfast may be more value than a 35% discount on the hotel restaurant for dinner only using the SPG50F rate.

Favorite these Starwood Links

Anytime you are considering a multi-night Starwood Hotel stay you should check rates using these special offer links for two to six night discounts. Many times, but not always, these special rates will provide the lowest rate available for your stay.

Starwood Hotel Multiple Night Discount Offers: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/promotions/promo_landing.html?category=GENDRE_H

Starwood Resort Multiple Night Discount Offers:

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/promotions/promo_landing.html?category=GENDRE_R

5,000 point award nights are now available with PointBreaks through Priority Club Rewards at 51 international hotels and 79 USA hotels through October 30, 2010. There are only four InterContinental Hotel locations on this list with InterContinental Phnom Penh, Cambodia; IC Real San Pedro Sula, Honduras; InterContinental Amman, Jordan and InterContinental Presidente Guadalajara, Mexico.

Remember – award nights have limited availability and hotels drop off the list once allocated bookings are reserved. Don’t delay if you want one of these deals. Here is the full list posted August 2. Priority Club PointBreaks link.

United States

Alabama

HOLIDAY INN DOTHAN-SOUTH

HOLIDAY INN HUNTSVILLE-W I-565 (MADISON)

Arkansas

HOLIDAY INN LITTLE ROCK-AIRPORT-CONF CTR

STAYBRIDGE SUITES FAYETTEVILLE

Arizona

CROWNE PLAZA RESORT SAN MARCOS GOLF RESORT

California

CANDLEWOOD SUITES NORTH ORANGE COUNTY

HOLIDAY INN SACRAMENTO-CAPITOL PLAZA

HOLIDAY INN SAN DIEGO NORTH MIRAMAR

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES BARSTOW

Colorado

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DENVER/LAKEWOOD

Connecticut

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES SHELTON-TRUMBULL

Florida

CANDLEWOOD SUITES JACKSONVILLE

HOLIDAY INN CLEARWATER-ST PETERBURG ARPT

HOLIDAY INN TALLAHASSEE-CAPITOL-EAST

HOLIDAY INN WEST PALM BEACH-TURNPIKE

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES LAKE CITY

Georgia

CROWNE PLAZA ATLANTA PERIMETER AT RAVINIA

HOLIDAY INN ATLANTA-GWINNETT PLACE AREA

HOLIDAY INN ATLANTA NORTHEAST

STAYBRIDGE SUITES ALPHARETTA-NORTH POINT

Illinois

CANDLEWOOD SUITES CHICAGO/HOFFMAN ESTATES

HOLIDAY INN CHICAGO-COUNTRYSIDE/LAGRANGE

HOLIDAY INN CHICAGO OAKBROOK

HOLIDAY INN CHICAGO-WILLOWBROOK-HINSDALE

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES CHICAGO-O’HARE (ROSEMONT)

HOLIDAY INN SELECT CHICAGO-NAPERVILLE

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CHICAGO-PALATINE/N ARLNGTN HTS

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES SPRINGFIELD

STAYBRIDGE SUITES GLENVIEW

Indiana

HOTEL INDIGO FISHERS-INDY’S UPTOWN

STAYBRIDGE SUITES INDIANAPOLIS-FISHERS

Louisiana

CROWNE PLAZA NEW ORLEANS-AIRPORT

Massachusetts

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS BOSTON-WALTHAM

Maine

HOLIDAY INN BATH (BRUNSWICK AREA)

Michigan

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DETROIT-SOUTHFIELD

CROWNE PLAZA DETROIT-METRO AIRPORT

Minnesota

HOLIDAY INN MINNEAPOLIS-METRODOME

STAYBRIDGE SUITES MINNEAPOLIS-MAPLE GROVE

Missouri

CROWNE PLAZA ST. LOUIS – CLAYTON

HOLIDAY INN ST. LOUIS-SOUTH (I-55)

Montana

CROWNE PLAZA BILLINGS

North Carolina

CANDLEWOOD SUITES RALEIGH CRABTREE

CROWNE PLAZA RESORT ASHEVILLE

HOLIDAY INN ‘RALEIGH NORTH – CAPITAL BLVD

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES WILMINGTON-UNIVERSITY CTR

STAYBRIDGE SUITES CHARLOTTE BALLANTYNE

New Jersey

CROWNE PLAZA CLARK

HOLIDAY INN HOTEL AND SUITES PARSIPPANY FAIRFIELD

New York

HOLIDAY INN LONG ISLAND-ISLIP AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN WESTBURY-LONG ISLAND

Ohio

CROWNE PLAZA CLEVELAND AIRPORT

CROWNE PLAZA COLUMBUS – DUBLIN OHIO

STAYBRIDGE SUITES CINCINNATI NORTH, OH

Oklahoma

HOLIDAY INN ARDMORE

STAYBRIDGE SUITES OKLAHOMA CITY-QUAIL SPRINGS

Oregon

CROWNE PLAZA PORTLAND-DOWNTOWN CONV CTR

Pennsylvania

CROWNE PLAZA PHILADELPHIA-BUCKS COUNTY

HOLIDAY INN CLARION

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS EXTON-LIONVILLE

STAYBRIDGE SUITES ALLENTOWN AIRPRT LEHIGH VALLEY

Rhode Island

CROWNE PLAZA PROVIDENCE-WARWICK (AIRPORT)

Tennessee

HOLIDAY INN OPRYLAND-ARPT (BRILEY PKWY)

STAYBRIDGE SUITES MEMPHIS-POPLAR AVE EAST

Texas

CANDLEWOOD SUITES HOUSTON-CLEAR LAKE

CROWNE PLAZA NORTH DALLAS-ADDISON

HOLIDAY INN DALLAS-FORT WORTH AIRPORT S

HOLIDAY INN DALLAS-RICHARDSON

HOLIDAY INN FRISCO (PLANO/STONEBRIAR)

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS SUGAR LAND

HOTEL INDIGO HOUSTON AT THE GALLERIA

STAYBRIDGE SUITES DALLAS-LAS COLINAS AREA

STAYBRIDGE SUITES HOUSTON-CLEAR LAKE

Virginia

HOLIDAY INN GOLF & CONF CTR-STAUNTON

HOLIDAY INN UNIVERSITY-BLACKSBURG

HOLIDAY INN WINCHESTER SE-HISTORIC GATEWAY

Vermont

HOLIDAY INN RUTLAND-KILLINGTON AREA

Washington

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES CHEHALIS-CENTRALIA

West Virginia

HOLIDAY INN OAK HILL-NEW RIVER GORGE

Wyoming

HOLIDAY INN ROCK SPRINGS

Offer and participating hotels are subject to change at any time, valid for booking through October 30, 2010.

Canada

ALBERTA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES EDMONTON-INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

NEW BRUNSWICK

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES EXP-MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK

BRITISH COLUMBIA

HOLIDAY INN VANCOUVER-CENTRE (BROADWAY)

ONTARIO

HOLIDAY INN GUELPH

STAYBRIDGE SUITES OAKVILLE-BURLINGTON

 

Mexico 

CROWNE PLAZA VERACRUZ TORREMAR

CROWNE PLAZA XALAPA, VER

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS GUANAJUATO

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS SILAO-AEROPUERTO BAJIO

HOLIDAY INN MEXICO DALI AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN URUAPAN

INTERCONTINENTAL PRESIDENTE GUADALAJARA

Central & South America

BRAZIL

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS NATAL

CHILE

CROWNE PLAZA SANTIAGO

HONDURAS

INTERCONTINENTAL REAL SAN PEDRO SULA

PARAGUAY

CROWNE PLAZA ASUNCION

Europe

CZECH REPUBLIC

CROWNE PLAZA PRAGUE CASTLE

GERMANY

HOLIDAY INN HAMBURG

HUNGARY

HOLIDAY INN BUDAPEST-BUDAÖRS

ITALY

CROWNE PLAZA VENICE EAST-QUARTO D’ALTINO

POLAND

HOLIDAY INN KRAKOW CITY CENTRE

SPAIN

EXPRESS BY HOLIDAY INN ALICANTE

UNITED KINGDOM

CROWNE PLAZA NOTTINGHAM

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS WARWICK M40, JCT.15

HOLIDAY INN LONDON-ELSTREE M25, JCT.23

HOLIDAY INN IPSWICH

HOLIDAY INN LUTON-SOUTH M1, JCT.9

HOLIDAY INN BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT

Africa 

SOUTH AFRICA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS SANDTON-WOODMEAD

 

Middle East

EGYPT

HOLIDAY INN RESORT SAFAGA PALACE

JORDAN

INTERCONTINENTAL AMMAN (JORDAN)

SAUDI ARABIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL AL KHOBAR

HOLIDAY INN YANBU

HOLIDAY INN RESORT HALF MOON BAY

 

Asia 

CAMBODIA

INTERCONTINENTAL PHNOM PENH

CHINA-PEOPLES REPUBLIC

CROWNE PLAZA CHENGDU

CROWNE PLAZA SHENYANG PARKVIEW

CROWNE PLAZA QINGDAO

CROWNE PLAZA SHANGHAI

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CHANGSHU

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HANGZHOU GRAND CANAL

HOLIDAY INN DOWNTOWN HEFEI

HOLIDAY INN LUSHAN

HOLIDAY INN ‘ZHUHAI

HOLIDAY INN CENTRAL PLAZA BEIJING

INDIA

HOLIDAY INN MUMBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

JAPAN

CROWNE PLAZA ANA – ANA NARITA

HOLIDAY INN SENDAI

PHILIPPINES

CROWNE PLAZA – CROWNE PLAZA GALLERIA MANILA

 

Oceania  

AUSTRALIA

HOLIDAY INN DARWIN

NEW ZEALAND

CROWNE PLAZA CHRISTCHURCH

The frequent guest has the choice of many hotel loyalty promotions with little guidance to their relative value. Here is Loyalty Traveler’s summary of current hotel loyalty promotions and limited time rate offers for the frequent guest. Newly added offers since the last June 10 update are marked with an asterisk (*).

Loyalty Traveler ranks the consumer value of hotel loyalty promotions on a Five Key Scale.

Five Keys = one of the best hotel loyalty promotions of the year.

Four Keys = high value rebate on the cost of hotel stays.

Three Keys = good value hotel loyalty promotion or rate offer

Two Keys = a bonus value if you play, but not necessarily worth going out of your way.

One Key = There is limited or no value. You are likely paying more than the bonus value.

Rate discounts and loyalty program bonuses are two types of hotel chain incentives to consider when booking travel. 

Rankings are subjective and subject to change. Your specific travel pattern may result in some promotions ranking more favorably for you. When assigning a key rank I take into consideration the following factors and probably more: 

• The opportunity for a significantly high-value return on hotel spend in terms of a hotel rebate in free nights and discounted  hotel nights. 
• Current loyalty program promotions and offers from other hotel chains.
• Past loyalty program offers and rates for the specific hotel chain and loyalty program.
• Current economic conditions in the travel industry and hotel location.

 

Accor A-Club

Limited Time Offer: Motel 6 is accepting A-Club $60 vouchers at over 1,000 North America hotels for stays from June 1-October 31.

 

Best Western Rewards 

5-key Promotion One Free Night in US or Canada after two stays between June 20 and August 15, 2010. Limit of One free night during promotion unless Best Western rewards elite member, then limit is two free nights. (See elite status match offer.) Registration is required and limited to residents of USA, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. Free night voucher expires December 25, 2010. (June 1)

*3-key Promotion – Earn 500 American AAdvantage bonus miles for every $50 Best Western Travel Card purchase through August 31. There is no limit to the number of bonus miles you can earn.

Elite Status Match Offer (February 19, 2010)

 

Carlson Hotels – Goldpoints Plus

5-Key promotion: June 1-August 31 Stay two times at any Carlson Hotel (Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn, Country Inn & Suites) and earn one free night at any property. Earn limit is seven free nights. Redeem nights at any Carlson Hotel September 1 – February 28, 2011. Registration is required. (May 25)

2-key promotion Triple Points rates through July 31 Earn 45 or 60 points per US$1 or EUR. Unfortunately the rates for this offer are higher than other rates available. This is a decent offer if you find the added cost comes out to less than $5 per 1,000 points. I did not find that value, hence the low promotion rank. Appears to be a combinable offer with two stays = free night promotion. (June 18)

*Goldpoints Plus program change – elite members earn 2,000 points for online booking. This change doubles the regular 1,000 online booking bonus for goldpoints elite members. (LT post July 18)

 

Choice Hotels – Choice Privileges

3-key promotion Earn 8,000 points for two stays between May 20 and August 5, 2010. After two stays points will be added to your account up to 8,000 total points. Choice Privileges members normally earn 10 points per $1 at most brands. Spend $75 for each hotel night and the 1,500 base points ($150 @ 10 points /$1) will be boosted up to 8,000 points. This promotion favors the low spender. A general member who spends $400 for a five night stay will earn 4,000 points for the stay. Two stays like that and you do not earn a bonus at all. Keep this promotion in mind for those $50 one night stays.

The Choice Privileges advertisement is for a Chili’s card, but you will receive points in your account for spending on whatever you choose. And 8,000 points is good for a free night at over 1,000 Choice Hotel members.

 

Hilton HHonors 

*4-key promotion Hilton Golf Vacation Sweepstakes – Grand Prize is 3 nights with two rooms at a Hilton Golf Resort in Scotland, Mexico, Hawaii, Arizona, or Orlando, three rounds of golf, economy airfare for four persons with United Airlines, check for $3,370 and 100,000 HHonors points. Three Grand Prizes awarded. Prize value is $8,000 to $11,000.

HHonors members get one online sweepstakes entry by registering at www.hhonors.com/golf between June 15 and September 6, 2010. Sweepstakes is limited to US 50 states + DC legal residents.

Additional entries: Each night you stay at a Hilton brand hotel through September 6, 2010 will create an additional entry into the golf sweepstakes.

Loyalty Traveler post July 15.

*4-key promotion – Hilton Top Chef Culinary Sweepstakes for a 6-Night Barcelona, Spain Vacation and $5,000 cash. Prize value $9,080. Enter sweepstakes by September 15. Only open to USA residents. LT post July 19.

4-key promotion Nine bonus airline miles promotions that may be combined with free night promotion (April 13, 2010) [Note: most airline offers end June 30, some go to July 15 or 31, and some longer.]

3-Key promotion Double Points or Double Miles July 7-September 30, 2010. This is the standard promotion for HHonors. There are some good miles opportunities. You must remain with your choice for the duration of the promotion once you select double points or double miles. (July 6)

 

Hyatt Gold Passport

*4-key Promotion – 1,000 bonus miles per night for up to 30,000 bonus miles through September 30, 2010 with a choice of nine airlines. Amtrak, ANA, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Lufthansa Miles & More, Southwest, Thai, United, US Airways. Southwest Airlines earns 1 bonus Rapid Rewards credit per night. Bonus miles are in addition to regular 500 miles per hotel stay (or 0.5 Southwest credit). Member must choose miles as earning preference which excludes earning most G bonuses or hotel specific points bonuses.

*4-key promotion = 60,000 AAdvantage miles. 2,500 bonus miles per stay with American Airlines AAdvantage through October 15, 2010. This offer may be repeated for up to 20 stays. Bonus miles are in addition to regular 500 miles per stay. 60,000 AAdvantage miles registration link. Loyalty Traveler post July 16.

*4-key rate offer – Park Hyatt Aviara, Carlsbad, California 4th night free, $100 hotel credit per stay and 10,000 bonus points for stays through December 31, 2010. Advance reservations must be made by July 31 using special offer code PHA10K. This property was a Four Seasons rebranded to Park Hyatt in June. This offer is a good deal for the hotel since there are very few discount rates available at this time. LT post July 21.

*2-key promotion – 5,000 bonus points for two-night stays at northern California Hyatt Hotels through September 12, 2010. Rate code NCA5K  includes 20% off spa, 20% off lunch and dinner dining and 5,000 bonus points. You need to compare rates as most hotels return a higher daily rate than otherwise available when using this code. LT post July 19.

$5,000 Art Scholarship Contest – Canvas Artist Series sponsored by Hyatt. Design a Hyatt Canvas Wines label and submit your entry by August 15 to win a $5,000 college scholarship. Must be enrolled in an accredited art school or program to win. (July 4)

4-key offer: $100 in Hyatt gift certificates for $80 at Costco. Many Costco stores carry these. Two $50 certificates cost $79.99. These certificates do not provide change. Effectively these certificates save up to 20% on room rates, but are not good on prepaid rates. 

3-key offer: Hyatt offers a COSTCO discount rate (use Group/Corporate # 13365) that is equivalent or even better than AAA rate for many hotels. The Costco discount rate is up to 25% for North America hotels. Bookings must be made between May 7 – September 9 for stays from May 7 through September 12.

There are several different codes being tossed around for this offer.

Inserting 13365 in the Group/Corporate # has worked best for me in retrieving the $25 per night credit rate and the rate tends to match the prepaid rate, but with cancellation policies equivalent to AAA rates. For a one night stay the AAA full breakfast rate may be a better deal. Compare prices.

• North American Park Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, and Andaz up to 25% + $25 nightly stay credit.
• Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites up to 15% discount.
• International Hyatt properties – up to 10% discount. 

Hyatt Gold Passport hotel award categories increased for 25% of hotels as of June 4, 2010. Loyalty traveler post.

 

InterContinental Hotels Group – Priority Club

*3-key promotion: 5,000 Bonus Points for stays at two different Hotel Indigo locations through September 17. This offer may be repeated five times for up to 10 different hotel locations in the USA and Canada. Promotion registration is required. LT post July 21.

Europe IHG Rate Discount: 2 nights for the price of 1 for hotel stays through September 27, 2010. The InterContinental Budapest was available for $83 per night when I first posted this offer. These rates are prepaid and nonrefundable, but there are some fantastic savings if you want to prepay your hotel stay. (May 25)

5-key offer Priority Club PointBreaks 5,000 points per night awards to August 30 (June 7, 2010)

4-Key Promotion Priority Club $50 gift card for any IHG brand hotel stay worldwide including a Friday or Saturday night. Gift card offer is valid with second hotel stay between May 14 and July 31. There is a maximum earn limit of $500 in gift cards. Registration is required. This offer is mutually exclusive from the Double Points or Double Miles offer listed below. (May 21)

3-Key promotion Priority Club Double Points or Double Miles May 14-August 31 (April 15)

3-key promotion Ambassador members receive up to 10,000 points after stays in four different InterContinental Hotels. May 10-July 31. Registration required. (May 11)

*3-key promotion – 1,000 Points for Android Application Bookings through September 30.                            (LT post July 17)

2-key promotion: Ambassador members receive 25,000 points for a two-night stay at participating InterContinental Hotels (June 1-September 30). Unfortunately most hotels are asking a significantly higher rate ($50 to $100 per night over lowest available) for this offer. Bonus may be earned three times for 75,000 points.  (May 11)

IHG Friend & Family Hotel Rates (Dec 26, 2010)

*Program Change: Ambassador Annual Membership Fee Increased from $150 to $200 as of July 1, 2010. You can also buy Ambassador membership for 32,000 Priority Club Rewards points (formerly 24,000).

 

Joie de Vivre Hotels – Joy of Life Club

*3-key promotion - Earn both Virgin America Elevate points and Joy of Life points for the remainder of 2010. LT post July 22.

Kimpton Hotels In Touch

*4-key promotion – Bring Your Own Wine to a Kimpton Restaurant. Through Labor Day you can bring up to two bottles of your own wine to a Kimpton Restaurant and receive complimentary corkage. This offer is only valid in the more liberal states of California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and the U.S. capital city of Washington, D.C. Loyalty Traveler post July 16.

Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) – Leaders Club Rewards 

3-key promotion – Earn 1 free night after every 5 hotel stays in 2010. Must stay in at least two different hotels. Bellagio in Las Vegas is LHW member. (April 13, 2010)

 

Marriott Rewards

5-Key promotion – May 1-July 31 New members of Marriott Rewards earn a free night after two stays  (April 5, 2010)

4-key promotion – Up to 60,000 Delta Skymiles. Earn 5,000 Skymiles per stay beginning with your second stay from May 1 through September 6, 2010. Registration required. Note: Your Marriott Rewards account earning preference must be set to miles for this offer to load correctly on your web browser.

1-Key offer – Marriott Rewards Instant Redemption Awards (March 24, 2010)

 

Starwood Preferred Guest

*4-Key Promotion – SPG Rewarding Returns offers members a choice after 5 stays by December 31, 2010. Promotion choices are 25% off an award up to five nights at any category 1 to 5 hotel for redemption by July 31, 2011. Discount may be combined with “5th night free award”. Other choices are $50 hotel credit certificate or 4,000 Starpoints. Loyalty Traveler post July 14.

There are variations of this offer including only requiring one stay by August 31 for targeted members. Points offer ranges from 2,000 to 8,000 points, and some members may have a free night choice. Offers are targeted.

Promotion registration is required at https://www.spgpromos.com/rewardingreturns/index.cfm.

4-Key Award Discount – Le Parker Meridien Palm Springs Cash & Points $15 + 4,800 points through September 2. Friday and Saturday night rate is $30 + 4,800 points. You must call 866-912-1169 to book this offer. (July 5)

4-Key Promotion – Win One Million Starpoints for most stays at Africa Starwood Hotels in 2010. Must register by July 31. The 2^nd prize is 300,000 Starpoints. 3^rd Prize 200,000 points. Stays between June 8 and December 31, 2010 are counted. A single stay in an Africa Starwood Hotel earns an entry into alternate prize contest for 50,000 points. (June 22)

4-Key promotion – Earn 1,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for every stay with Sheraton Hotels in North America (US, Canada, and Caribbean) through July 31. No limit. This offer may be combined with the stay three earn a free weekend night.

3-key promotion SPG link: Pay Your Birthyear Rate (This promotion can be an incredible savings or no savings depending on the hotel and your birthyear.) LT post 4/28/2009

3-key discount rates Starwood Hotel Rate Discount Codes for Multiple Night Stays

These offers are for rate discounts on stays of 2 to 6 nights. Third night free tends to be one of the best discount rates. Important to check other rates (AAA, Senior, Special Offers) as these discounts are generally based on the Best Available Rate (BAR) and may not be the lowest overall rate for some hotels. 

1-key promotion Four Points Breakfast for a Buck (April 12, 2010)

Starpoints Airline Direct Deposit is Better for United, Continental, and Singapore miles (March 25, 2010)

 

Wyndham Rewards

4-Key promotion: Earn up to 25,000 American AAdvantage miles after 9 stays from April 30 to September 30, 2010. Wyndham, Wingate, and Hawthorn Suites brands only. Earn 3,000 bonus miles after 3 stays. Earn 7,500 miles bonus after 6 stays. Earn 10,000 bonus miles after 9 stays. Along with normal 500 miles per stay, you can earn 25,000 AAdvantage miles after 9 stays. (June 15, 2010)

Wyndham Hotels Game Prizes: Wyndham Mission: Save Summer campaign offering gift card prizes and a five night Wyndham Hotel stay. Register and play weekly for a chance to win prizes. There are also discount rate links for most Wyndham Hotel brands in this thread.

 

Hotel Points to Airline Miles Conversion Tables

Hotel Points-to-Miles Conversion Tables for 9 hotel programs and 7 U.S. airlines (March 30, 2010)