Priority Club posted new lists of PointBreaks hotels for reward nights at only 5,000 points available for stays to January 31, 2012. These are some of the highest reward night values available to members with the cost of 5,000 points being equivalent to about $30 for a hotel night. InterContinental O’Hare Chicago is the only IC in USA on list. There are several airport hotels to keep in mind if winter travels have you stuck on the ground.

Guaranteed the InterContinental Santiago Chile will be a significant savings at 5,000 points compared to the published hotel rate. These hotels drop off the list once allocated rooms are booked so booking sooner is always your best bet.

Oceania tends to have scant participation in PointBreaks this past year.

United States

ALABAMA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES HUNTSVILLE

ARKANSAS

CANDLEWOOD SUITES ROGERS/BENTONVILLE

CALIFORNIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL FULLERTON

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SACRAMENTO NORTHEAST

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SAN JOSE-SILICON VALLEY

HOLIDAY INN FRESNO-AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES SAN JOSE-INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

COLORADO

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DENVER/DTC

CONNECTICUT

CANDLEWOOD SUITES WINDSOR LOCKS BRADLEY ARPT

FLORIDA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL TAMPA EAST

HOLIDAY INN PORT ST. LUCIE

GEORGIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL ATLANTA PERIMETER GALLERIA

STAYBRIDGE SUITES ALPHARETTA-NORTH POINT

ILLINOIS

HOLIDAY INN CHICAGO-WILLOWBROOK-HINSDALE

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS ROLLING MDWS-SCHAUMBURG AREA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES SPRINGFIELD

INTERCONTINENTAL CHICAGO O’HARE

INDIANA

STAYBRIDGE SUITES INDIANAPOLIS-FISHERS

KANSAS

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL KANSAS CITY – OVERLAND PARK

LOUISIANA

HOLIDAY INN MORGAN CITY

MASSACHUSETTS

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL BOSTON – NEWTON

MICHIGAN

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DETROIT-AUBURN HILLS

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DETROIT-SOUTHFIELD

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL DETROIT- NOVI

STAYBRIDGE SUITES DETROIT – NOVI

STAYBRIDGE SUITES DETROIT-AUBURN HILLS

MISSOURI

CANDLEWOOD SUITES ST. LOUIS

MISSISSIPPI

CANDLEWOOD SUITES FLOWOOD, MS

NORTH CAROLINA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES RALEIGH CRABTREE

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL HICKORY

NEW JERSEY

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SECAUCUS-MEADOWLANDS

STAYBRIDGE SUITES PARSIPPANY

STAYBRIDGE SUITES PRINCETON SOUTH BRUNSWICK

NEW YORK

HOLIDAY INN BUFFALO-AMHERST

HOLIDAY INN LONG ISLAND-ISLIP AIRPORT

OHIO

CANDLEWOOD SUITES COLUMBUS AIRPORT

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL CLEVELAND AIRPORT

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL COLUMBUS NORTH

PENNSYLVANIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL HARRISBURG-HERSHEY

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL READING

SOUTH CAROLINA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL GREENVILLE-I-385-ROPER MTN RD

TENNESSEE

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL KNOXVILLE DOWNTOWN UNIVERSITY

TEXAS

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DALLAS-BY THE GALLERIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL HOUSTON NEAR RELIANT – MEDICAL

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL HOUSTON-DOWNTOWN

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT

HOTEL INDIGO HOUSTON AT THE GALLERIA

STAYBRIDGE SUITES DALLAS-LAS COLINAS AREA

VIRGINIA

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL RICHMOND WEST

HOLIDAY INN RICHMOND SOUTH-BELLS ROAD

STAYBRIDGE SUITES HERNDON-DULLES

WISCONSIN

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL MADISON

 

CANADA

ALBERTA
HOLIDAY INN CALGARY-AIRPORT

ONTARIO
HOLIDAY INN MISSISSAUGA TORONTO WEST
STAYBRIDGE SUITES GUELPH

QUEBEC
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL MONTREAL AIRPORT
HOLIDAY INN POINTE-CLAIRE MONTREAL AIRPORT

Europe

BELARUS

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL MINSK

FRANCE

HOLIDAY INN STRASBOURG CITY CENTRE

GERMANY

HOLIDAY INN BERLIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN NÜRNBERG CITY CENTRE

ITALY

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL MILAN – MALPENSA AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN ROME – AURELIA

KAZAKHSTAN

INTERCONTINENTAL ALMATY

RUSSIA

HOLIDAY INN MOSCOW – VINOGRADOVO

SLOVAKIA

HOLIDAY INN ZILINA

SPAIN

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MADRID – ALCOBENDAS

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MADRID-SAN SEBASTIAN D/L REYES

TURKEY

HOLIDAY INN ISTANBUL AIRPORT

UNITED KINGDOM

HOLIDAY INN AYLESBURY

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS BRADFORD CITY CENTRE

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL LIVERPOOL -JOHN LENNON AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN LONDON – BRENT CROSS

HOLIDAY INN LONDON – SHEPPERTON

HOLIDAY INN MAIDENHEAD/WINDSOR

 

Central & South America

ARGENTINA

INTERCONTINENTAL MENDOZA

CHILE

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS ANTOFAGASTA

INTERCONTINENTAL SANTIAGO

COLOMBIA

INTERCONTINENTAL MEDELLIN

EL SALVADOR

INTERCONTINENTAL REAL SAN SALVADOR

GUATEMALA

HOLIDAY INN GUATEMALA

 

MEXICO

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL VILLAHERMOSA, TAB.

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CIUDAD JUAREZ

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MORELIA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MERIDA

HOLIDAY INN MORELIA

 

ASIA

CHINA-PEOPLES REPUBLIC
INTERCONTINENTAL BEIJING BEICHEN
HOLIDAY INN BEIJING DESHENGMEN
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS BEIJING MINZUYUAN
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL BEIJING PARKVIEW WUZHOU
INTERCONTINENTAL DALIAN
INTERCONTINENTAL HUIZHOU RESORT
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL NANJING HOTEL & SUITES
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SHANGHAI FUDAN
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS SHANGHAI JINQIAO
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SHANGHAI PUDONG
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS SHANGHAI WUJIAOCHANG

JAPAN
HOLIDAY INN – ANA SENDAI

VIETNAM
INTERCONTINENTAL HANOI WESTLAKE

OCEANIA – no properties

AFRICA – no properties

Middle East 

EGYPT
INTERCONTINENTAL TABA HEIGHTS

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
HOLIDAY INN DUBAI – DOWNTOWN DUBAI

The column I wrote for InsideFlyer October 2011 is Matching Hotel Promotions to Your Travel Style. The problem with writing an article about hotel loyalty promotions for a magazine are new offers typically come out between the due date for the article (Sep 8) and the time the article is published and online. My Loyalty Traveler column on InsideFlyer.com is free for nonsubscriber readers.

The Travel Styles I matched with end-of-year promotions include:

Best Low Spend Bonus — Marriott

Best Luxury or Hotel Suite Bargain — Hotels.com

Best Long Weekend Getaway — Starwood

Best Upscale Hotel Extended Stay Bonus — Hyatt

Best Midscale Hotel Extended Stay Bonus — Choice

Best Miles Bonuses — Marriott

Best Road Warrior Bonus — IHG

Links to all these offers are in the InsideFlyer.com column.

In the past three weeks there have been additional high value loyalty offers that fit into the mix of best value hotel loyalty promotions for upcoming hotel stays.

Hilton HHonors free night after every four stays or 10 nights is the highest potential value offer for Q4-2011 hotel stays. $2,500 in hotel stays can potentially provide a $4,000 luxury hotel vacation on free nights. Almost all the other non-spend based hotel offers have a limit to the number of bonus points, miles, and free nights that a member can earn during the promotion. The exclusion list is the main impediment to making this Hilton offer a truly outstanding offer for the quarter. San Francisco Bay Area is severely impacted by the nonparticipating Hilton properties list.

I add Hilton’s Fast Ways to Free Stays offer to the Best Road Warrior Bonus and actually would rank this ahead of the IHG 4x points offer listed in my InsideFlyer article.

Other recent loyalty promotion offers:

Club Carlson for a free night after two stays at Country Inns & Suites Oct 2- Dec 1 for stays from Sunday to Thursday.

Wyndham Cash back and Double Points Sep 15-Nov 18.

Both of these offers fit well in Best Low Spend bonus category. But I still favor Marriott as the best low spend offer although Country Inn offers a free night with a two-night midweek stay and might be a better offer than Marriott for the person needing just one hotel stay.

Best Mileage Bonus seekers who fly Southwest can add Hyatt’s 1,800 Rapid Rewards points per stay October 1-Jan 15, 2012 to the list of high value offers, especially since this offer can be combined with the Gold Passport 5,000 bonus points every three nights.

Best Car Rental Bonus didn’t fit in my InsideFlyer column word limit. Club Carlson offers 9,000 points for a three day car rental from Avia or Budget for stays through the end of the year. 9,000 points is sufficient for a free hotel night at a Club Carlson category 1 hotel. Or you can exchange 8,000 points for 1,000 airline miles. Not bad for a car rental.

 

Hyatt Gold Passport offers Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards members 1,800 points per Hyatt stay worldwide from October 1 to January 15, 2012. This is triple points compared to the normal earning rate of 600 Rapid Rewards points per stay. A maximum 10 hotel stays may earn triple Rapid Rewards points for 18,000 Rapid Rewards points.

The value of 1,800 Rapid Rewards points has a set $30 value (60 points = $1) when redeemed for Southwest Airlines Wanna Getaway fares.

Hyatt Promotion Registration Required

Hyatt Gold Passport Triple Rapid Rewards points with Southwest Airlines registration page. You may also register by calling 1-800-30-HYATT (provide promotion code WN002).

How to Request Miles from Hyatt Gold Passport

Hyatt Gold Passport does not have a way to change your earning preference to airline miles instead of Hyatt points through online account preferences. Gold Passport members need to request Southwest Rapid Rewards points (or any airline miles) at check-in and provide your frequent flyer number rather than earn the normal 5 Gold Passport points per dollar. Even when you request miles at the hotel there is the likelihood your account will post Gold Passport points instead of miles.

Don’t panic if you earn Hyatt points instead of Southwest points (miles) when your hotel stay posts. This is common for miles earners. A call to Hyatt Gold Passport customer service can easily get the Gold Passport points changed to Southwest Rapid Rewards points.

Loyalty Traveler Analysis

Triple points with Southwest Airlines promotion can be combined with the 5,000 Gold Passport points every three nights promotion that runs concurrently through November 15, 2011. The ability to combine the 5K per 3 nights with airline promotions was confirmed by Gold Passport Representative, Hyatt’s company concierge on FlyerTalk.

Hyatt Gold Passport points are typically worth $20 per 1,000 points.

The combination of 1,667 Gold Passport points per night and 1,800 points per stay can be a rebate value around $190 after three one-night Hyatt stays between October 1 – November 15 when both of these offers are in effect.

Hyatt Gold Passport offers good value hotel rebates for frequent guests this fall 2011.

InterContinental Hotels Group has offered one of the best discounts on hotel rooms in Europe for several years with 2 nights for the price of 1 rates at select hotels. These are prepaid, nonrefundable rates, and most of these rates will not earn Priority Club points, but at these room rate savings the risk can be worthwhile and the lack of points earning justified.

I recall finding a great deal for the InterContinental Carlton Cannes on a 2-for-1 rate a few years back, but these days the 2-for-1 deal is primarily limited to Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and HI Express. I took the 2-for-1 IHG link off my Current Hotel Promotions page this last round since the link I had expired June 30, 2011. A Google search turned up a different link for current IHG discounts at hotels in Europe and the UK.

IHG Green Room Discounts

The Green Room is an IHG site for discount rates at Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels in the UK and Europe.

2 Nights for the Price of 1 and 35% off weekends promotional offers are valid for stays through December 31, 2011.

The burbs of London are almost always available for low rates and during holiday periods the rates in Central London typically drop as low as US$100 per night in my 2-for-1 rate analyses of the past several years.

Here is an example of the 2-for-1 rate at the Crowne Plaza Wiesbaden, Germany (aside: I attended 9th grade in Wiesbaden in 1975 at the U.S. Armed Forces High School. A school year wasted or should I say a wasted year of school?)

Crowne Plaza Wiesbaden November 3-5, 2011

2-for-1 rate (tip: click on graphic and image loads in separate webpage as full size image).

The 2-for-1 rate at Crowne Plaza Wiesbaden is 75EUR per night. The rate is prepaid, nonrefundable and no reservation changes allowed.

Compare the 75EUR rate to other rates at the hotel and you see this 2 Nights for the Price of 1 is a pretty good deal.

A rate check of the Crowne Plaza Wiesbaden hotel on the U.S. Priority Club site shows the lowest rate is a 21-day advance purchase, prepaid rate at 111 EUR per night. The cancellation policy refunds 10% of the room rate if you need to cancel or no-show. You will lose 100EUR per night if you cancel this 21-day advance purchase prepaid reservation compared to losing 75EUR per night with the 2-for-1 prepaid rate.

The lowest flexible cancellation rate is 149EUR per night. This rate allows you to cancel up to 6pm day of arrival with no penalty. The 2-for-1 rate is truly a 50% discount compared to the Best Flexible penalty-free cancellation rate.

This is why you Better Know an IHG Rate for Europe. These IHG discount rates can extend your hotel travel budget substantially when touring Europe.

Terms and Conditions for IHG Europe and UK discount rates:

Up to 35% Discount Terms and Conditions

• Offer applicable for stays taken up until the 31st December 2011 at participating IHG hotels in the UK.
• Stays are available over Fri, Sat and Sun nights (some hotels may offer limited midweek availability – please check when booking).
• Discount represents a saving against our Best Flexible rate per room, per night for two adults sharing a standard double/twin room (inclusive of VAT). Room only, breakfast not included.
• Up to 2 children under the age of 18 stay free when sharing a room with up to 2 adults.
• Offer valid on new bookings only, full payment must be made at time of booking; no cancellations or amendments permitted; no refunds given.
• All bookings are subject to availability of rooms allocated to this offer at participating hotels.
  Rates may vary by date of booking.
• A maximum of 2 rooms can be booked under any one reservation.
• This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or special promotions.
• Priority Club points do not apply.

 

Half price Discount Terms and Conditions

• Offer applicable for stays taken up until the 31st December 2011 at participating IHG hotels in the UK.
• Stays are available over Fri, Sat and Sun nights (some hotels may offer limited midweek availability – please check when booking).
• Discount represents a saving against our Best Flexible rate per room, per night for two adults sharing a standard double/twin room (inclusive of VAT) for a minimum of two consecutive nights. Room only, breakfast not included.
• Up to 2 children under the age of 18 stay free when sharing a room with up to 2 adults.
• Offer valid on new bookings only, full payment must be made at time of booking; no cancellations or amendments permitted; no refunds given.
• All bookings are subject to availability of rooms allocated to this offer at participating hotels.
  Rates may vary by date of booking.
• A maximum of 2 rooms can be booked under any one reservation.
• This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or special promotions.
• Priority Club points do not apply.

2 Nights for the Price of One – Terms and Conditions

• Offer applicable for stays taken up until the 31st December 2011 at participating IHG hotels in the UK & Europe.
• Stays are available over Fri, Sat and Sun nights with many hotels offering midweek availability – please check at time of booking.
• 2 for 1 offer is based on the Best Flex Rate and consists of two consecutive night stays for the price of one, based on two adults sharing a standard twin/double room (max. 2 adults per room) at participating hotels only.
• Full payment must be made at time of booking; no cancellations or amendments permitted; no refunds given.
• Up to 2 children under the age of 18 stay free when sharing a room with up to 2 adults, if suitable accommodation is available.
• Single supplement will be charged at the full room per night price.
• All rooms are subject to availability with a limited number of rooms available at these offer rates. Rates may vary by date of booking. Limited availability may be applicable over public holidays.
• Offer not available to groups and can not be used in conjunction with any other offers or special promotions.
• A booking made pursuant to this offer is non transferable.

 

3 nights for the price of 2 Terms and Conditions

• Offer applicable for breaks and reservations made from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2011.
• Stays are available over Fri, Sat and Sun nights with many hotels offering midweek availability – please check at time of booking.
• 3 for 2 offer is based on the Best Flex Rate and consists of three consecutive night stays with the 3rd night at no charge, based on two adults sharing a standard twin/double room (max.2 adults per room) at participating hotels only.
• Full payment must be made at time of booking; no cancellations or amendments permitted; no refunds given.
• Up to 2 children under the age of 18 stay free when sharing a room with up to 2 adults, if suitable accommodation is available.
• Single supplement will be charged at the full room per night price.
• All rooms are subject to availability with a limited number of rooms available at these offer rates. Rates may vary by date of booking. Limited availability may be applicable over public holidays.
• Offer not available to groups and can not be used in conjunction with any other offers or special promotions.
• A booking made pursuant to this offer is non transferable.
• Priority Club points do not apply.

IHG Green Room Discount Rates

Drury Hotels has a double points offer for stays booked online at druryhotels.com by Drury Gold Key Club members. Registration is required for this offer. Bonus points will post in December 2011. Terms indicate this offer is for new reservations booked since September 20.

Drury Gold Key regular rate for earning points is 10 points/$1. Double points is 20 points/$1. Free rooms start at 7,500 points; equivalent to $375 in hotel spend with this double points offer. Most Drury Hotels offer free nights for 10,000 points while some of the premier properties go for 20,000 points.

New Drury Gold Key members earn 1,000 points for loyalty program enrollment.

Drury Hotels have been ranked  #1 in guest satisfaction for the past six consecutive years in the annual J.D. Power and Associates  North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Studies for limited service midscale hotel chains in the U.S.

The map of Drury Hotel locations shows 125 hotels in the U.S.

Here is a link to a Loyalty Traveler previous article on Drury Hotels with more descriptive information on the hotel brand.

Drury Gold Key Club Triple Points Promotion April 1-May 31, 2011.

IHG Priority Club has another clever promotion to support the launch of its new Best Rate Guarantee policy. There is a five day Tweet-to-Win contest on Twitter giving away 50 free hotel rooms each day in the form of 40,000 Priority Club points per winner. Contest runs from Tuesday, September 20 through Saturday, September 24. This is a 10 million points giveaway.

Twitter followers of @PriorityClub (currently at 3,495 followers at the time of this post) enter the contest with a tweet answering the question ”What would you do with a free night?” 

Today is Day 1 of the contest and there are still a few hours left to enter for the Tuesday, September 20 giveaway of 50 free room nights. Read the rules carefully before submitting your tweet to improve your chances of winning 40,000 points and the value of those points if you redeem your free night for a top tier InterContinental Hotel.

IHG launched a new Best Rate Guarantee (BRG) policy today that offers the first night free with an approved claim for a same room, same terms, lower rate  found on a third party online travel agency site. I’ll write up the BRG policy in a post tomorrow. The Twitter contest is simply a PR promotion for the new BRG policy and a good odds opportunity for winning a free hotel night.

Link to Priority Club Contest description.

Link to detailed Twitter Contest Terms and Conditions.

• Contest runs as five separate days of giveaways for 50 room nights each 24 hour period.
• Day 1 is Tuesday September 20 12:00am ET and ends September 20 11:59pm ET. The contest continues for each day through Saturday, September 24.
• Follow @PriorityClub on Twitter.
• Tweet a response in English to the question “What would you do with a free night?”
• You may enter once each day of the contest.
• This is a contest. Tweets will be judged on originality (50%), Creativity (40%) and Enthusiasm (10%).
• Winners will be notified by Twitter Direct Message.
• Read the rules yourself before making a submission as these are just some of the rules I thought relevant to readers.
• The short rules state you must add “#bestrateguarantee” to the end of the tweet and the detailed rules state you must have #BestPriceGuarantee http://bit.ly/rulesihg  at the end of the tweet.   I added the rules link just to be sure the submission is eligible, but that shortens the available characters for a question response in the 140 character Twitter limit for the total message.

This Twitter contest is open to residents of the U.S.  (including D.C.), the U.K (excluding Northern Ireland) and Canada (excluding Quebec).

 

Hat tip to AJ, a new BoardingArea blogger with Live from a Lounge.

Note: This post was updated September 21 to reflect the fact that Priority Club Tweet-to-Win prize winners receive 40,000 points rather than a free night credit.

Priority Club’s “Up to 4x More” promotion started this week and runs from September 15 through December 31, 2011. The basic offer allows points earners to receive 500 bonus points per night and miles earners to receive 100 bonus miles per night for up to 40 nights during the 15 week promotion period. The maximum bonus is 80,000 points or 16,000 miles during the promotion. Bonus points or miles are in addition to regular earning for Priority Club stays.

Registration Page for ‘Up to 4x More’ 80,000 Points Fall Promotion.

Registration Page for ‘Up to 4x More’ 16,000 Miles Fall Promotion.

• No retroactive bonus points or miles are permitted for stays completed before promotion registration.
• Only one room per member per night will count for this promotion.

Up to 4x More refers to the ability to double, triple or quadruple the nightly bonus points or miles with stays in two, three or four different IHG brands during the promotion.

• Bonus Level 1 = 500 points or 100 miles per night, up to 40 nights from September 15-December 31.
• Bonus Level 2 = 1,000 points or 200 miles per night with stays in two different IHG brands.
• Bonus Level 3 = 1,500 points or 300 miles per night with stays in three different IHG brands.
• Bonus Level 4 = 2,000 points or 400 miles per night with stays in four different IHG brands.

Priority Club members registered for the promotion earn 500 bonus points or 100 bonus miles per night for stays through December 31, 2011. In January 2012 the number of different brands stayed will determine the multiplier and bonus points or miles will post in January.

Priority Club represents eight IHG brands:

• InterContinental Hotels – luxury hotel market segment
• Crowne Plaza – upscale hotel market segment
• Hotel Indigo – upscale hotel market segment
• Holiday Inn – upper midscale hotel market segment
• Holiday Inn Express – upper midscale hotel market segment
• Staybridge Suites – upscale extended stay hotel market segment
• Candlewood Suites – midscale extended stay hotel market segment
• Holiday Inn Club Vacations are six U.S. timeshare resort destinations. (The link web page states this is newest IHG brand.)

Market segment classification is based on 2011 STR U.S. Hotel Chain Scale.

The Priority Club Rewards Elite Qualification Factor

Priority Club Rewards counts all points earned as elite qualifying points with very few exceptions like points purchased for a Points + Cash reward. The ‘Up to 4x More’ bonus points multiplier happens in January 2012 and provides an elite status jumpstart for Priority Club members when these bonus points post in January. This is one reason to go for points rather than miles since the bonus miles for different brand stays posting in January will do nothing for Priority Club elite status qualification.

Brand multiplier bonus points posting in January 2012 count for 2012 Priority Club elite qualification.

20,000 points earns Gold elite for 2012 and 2013. Stay 14 nights in four different IHG brands and you earn 21,000 Brand Multiplier bonus points in Janary 2012 and two years of Gold elite. Max out this promotion for 40 nights with four different brand stays and the January 2012 posting of Brand Multiplier Bonus Points for 60,000 points earns Platinum elite for 2012 and 2013.

Earning Points at IHG brands

IHG Priority Club Rewards has three different earning rates for points depending on IHG hotel brand.

• InterContinental Hotels = 2,000 points per stay.
• Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn Club Vacations earn 10 points per US$1.
• Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites earn 5 points per US$1.

Participating Airlines for Miles Earners

Miles earning base rates vary between hotel brand and airline partner. Check the Priority Club link for miles earning structure. International airlines tend to have a higher earning base rate for members spending less than $250 per hotel stay.

• American Airlines
• Aeromexico
• Aeroplan (Air Canada)
• AIR MILES Reward Program
• AirTran
• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Continental Airlines
• Delta
• Lanchile
• United Airlines
• US Airways
• Varig Brasil
• Asia Pacific Airlines
• Air China
• Air New Zealand – Airpoints
• All Nippon Airways
• Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific)
• Asiana Airlines
• China Airlines
• China Eastern
• China Southern
• Eva Air
• Hainan Airlines
• Japan Airlines
• Jet Airways
• Korean Airways
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas Airways Limited
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Airways International

Europe, Middle East and Africa airline partners are not participating in Up to 4x More promotion.

 

Jared Blank at Online Travel Review posted a Hyatt gift card giveaway on his blog today. All you need to do is leave a comment stating your favorite hotel on his Online Travel Review post for “Win a $200 Hyatt Gift Card” by 5pm Eastern time Friday, September 23. There are 35 comments at the time of my post.

I subscribe to Online Travel Review in my blog feeds. Jared has good travel information worth keeping your eyes on.

 

 

Priority Club PointBreaks are posted for hotel stays through November 30, 2011. InterContinental Dallas and InterContinental Malta are two hotels that stand out as particularly good redemption opportunities at 5,000 points per night. There are several Crowne Plaza Hotels for airport locations in California including SFO, LAX and SNA. Several other airports have Crowne Plaza hotels on this list. This list looks like a Crowne Plaza showcase. Have you stayed in a Crowne Plaza lately?

Vermont has seen its share of troubles lately, but the Holiday Inn Rutland at 5,000 points is one Fall Foliage tourist deal.

United States (82 hotels)

ARKANSAS

HOLIDAY INN NORTH LITTLE ROCK

ARIZONA

CROWNE PLAZA PHOENIX-AIRPORT

CALIFORNIA

CROWNE PLAZA LOS ANGELES HARBOR HOTEL

CROWNE PLAZA IRVINE-ORANGE COUNTY AIRPORT

CROWNE PLAZA SAN FRANCISCO-INTL AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN FRESNO DTWN-CONVENTION CENTER

HOLIDAY INN LOS ANGELES-INTL AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN SAN DIEGO-RANCHO BERNARDO

STAYBRIDGE SUITES SACRAMENTO NATOMAS

COLORADO

HOLIDAY INN SUMMIT COUNTY-FRISCO

STAYBRIDGE SUITES DENVER TECH CENTER

CONNECTICUT

CROWNE PLAZA HARTFORD-DOWNTOWN

CROWNE PLAZA HARTFORD SOUTH CROMWELL

HOLIDAY INN ENFIELD-SPRINGFIELD

 

FLORIDA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES LAKE MARY

HOLIDAY INN CORAL GABLES – UNIVERSITY

HOLIDAY INN TALLAHASSEE CAPITOL CENTER

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES MIAMI-HIALEAH (MIAMI LAKES)

GEORGIA

CROWNE PLAZA ATLANTA-AIRPORT

CROWNE PLAZA ATLANTA PERIMETER AT RAVINIA

HOLIDAY INN COLUMBUS-NORTH I-185

IDAHO

CANDLEWOOD SUITES BOISE-MERIDIAN

IOWA

HOLIDAY INN SIOUX CITY

ILLINOIS

CANDLEWOOD SUITES CHICAGO-WAUKEGAN

CANDLEWOOD SUITES CHICAGO-O`HARE

CROWNE PLAZA CHICAGO OHARE HOTEL & CONF CTR

CROWNE PLAZA GLEN ELLYN/LOMBARD

CROWNE PLAZA SPRINGFIELD

HOLIDAY INN CHICAGO WEST-ITASCA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CHICAGO-PALATINE/N ARLNGTN HTS

STAYBRIDGE SUITES AURORA/NAPERVILLE

INDIANA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES INDIANAPOLIS

KANSAS

CANDLEWOOD SUITES KANSAS CITY-OVERLAND PARK

HOLIDAY INN TOPEKA-WEST

HOLIDAY INN WICHITA EAST I-35

KENTUCKY

HOLIDAY INN UNIVERSITY PLAZA-BOWLING GREEN

LOUISIANA

CROWNE PLAZA LAFAYETTE AIRPORT

MAINE

HOLIDAY INN BANGOR

HOLIDAY INN BATH (BRUNSWICK AREA)

MICHIGAN

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DETROIT-TROY

CROWNE PLAZA GRAND RAPIDS – AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN DUNDEE-WATERPARK

HOLIDAY INN MUSKEGON-HARBOR

MINNESOTA

CROWNE PLAZA MPLS/ST PAUL ARPT-MALL OF AMER

MISSOURI

HOLIDAY INN SAINT LOUIS – SOUTH (I-55)

NORTH CAROLINA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DURHAM-RTP

HOLIDAY INN RALEIGH (CRABTREE VALLEY MALL)

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES WILMINGTON-UNIVERSITY CTR

NEBRASKA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES OMAHA

NEW JERSEY

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL PHILADELPHIA-CHERRY HILL

HOLIDAY INN PHILADELPHIA SOUTH-SWEDESBORO

HOLIDAY INN SADDLE BROOK

HOLIDAY INN SECAUCUS MEADOWLANDS

HOLIDAY INN SELECT CLINTON

NEW YORK

HOLIDAY INN BUFFALO-INTL AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN MT. KISCO (WESTCHESTER COUNTY)

HOTEL INDIGO BUFFALO – AMHERST

OHIO

CROWNE PLAZA CLEVELAND CITY CENTRE

CROWNE PLAZA DAYTON

CROWNE PLAZA TOLEDO

HOLIDAY INN CINCINNATI-I-275 NORTH

OKLAHOMA

CROWNE PLAZA OKLAHOMA CITY

PENNSYLVANIA

CROWNE PLAZA PHILADELPHIA-BUCKS COUNTY

HOLIDAY INN ALLENTOWN CENTER CITY

HOLIDAY INN HARRISBURG (HERSHEY AREA) I-81

SOUTH CAROLINA

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND SUITES GREENVILLE-I-85 & WOODRUFF RD

TEXAS

CANDLEWOOD SUITES DALLAS/MARKET CENTER

CANDLEWOOD SUITES SAN ANTONIO NW MEDICAL CENTER

HOLIDAY INN BROWNSVILLE

HOLIDAY INN HOUSTON-SW-HWY 59S@BELTWY 8

HOLIDAY INN SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

INTERCONTINENTAL DALLAS

UTAH

CANDLEWOOD SUITES SALT LAKE CITY-AIRPORT

VIRGINIA

CANDLEWOOD SUITES RICHMOND AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN RICHMOND AIRPORT

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS RICHMOND NORTHWEST I-64

HOLIDAY INN SELECT NORFOLK AIRPORT

VERMONT

HOLIDAY INN RUTLAND-KILLINGTON AREA

WASHINGTON

HOLIDAY INN SEATTLE-RENTON

WISCONSIN

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MILWAUKEE-WEST MEDICAL CENTER

STAYBRIDGE SUITES MILWAUKEE WEST-OCONOMOWOC

WYOMING

HOLIDAY INN SHERIDAN-CONVENTION CENTER

Canada (3 hotels)

ALBERTA

HOLIDAY INN CALGARY-MACLEOD TRAIL SOUTH

BRITISH COLUMBIA

HOLIDAY INN VANCOUVER-CENTRE (BROADWAY)

ONTARIO

HOLIDAY INN BARRIE-HOTEL & CONFERENCE CTR

 

Central & South America (4 Hotels)

BRAZIL

CROWNE PLAZA BELEM

CHILE

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS IQUIQUE

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

INTERCONTINENTAL V CENTENARIO SANTO DOMINGO

PUERTO RICO

HOLIDAY INN MAYAGUEZ & TROPICAL CASINO

 

Europe (16 hotels)

BELGIUM

CROWNE PLAZA ANTWERP

CZECH REPUBLIC

CROWNE PLAZA PRAGUE

GERMANY

HOLIDAY INN FRANKFURT-CITY SOUTH CONF CTR

HOLIDAY INN MÖENCHENGLADBACH

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS DORTMUND

IRELAND

CROWNE PLAZA DUBLIN-BLANCHARDSTOWN

MALTA

INTERCONTINENTAL MALTA

SPAIN

CROWNE PLAZA ESTEPONA – COSTA DEL SOL

HOLIDAY INN ALICANTE – PLAYA DE SAN JUAN

UNITED KINGDOM

HOLIDAY INN BRENTWOOD M25, JCT.28

HOLIDAY INN COVENTRY M6, JCT.2

HOLIDAY INN HEMEL HEMPSTEAD M1, JCT. 8

HOLIDAY INN NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

HOLIDAY INN PRESTON

HOLIDAY INN SOUTHAMPTON-EASTLEIGH M3,JCT13

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS BRISTOL – NORTH

 

Africa

There are no properties available at this time

Middle East (2 hotels)

BAHRAIN

INTERCONTINENTAL BAHRAIN

JORDAN

CROWNE PLAZA RESORT PETRA

 

Asia (11 hotels)

CHINA-PEOPLES REPUBLIC

CROWNE PLAZA BEIJING ZHONGGUANCUN

CROWNE PLAZA CHANGSHU

CROWNE PLAZA CITY CENTER NINGBO

CROWNE PLAZA HANGZHOU GRAND CANAL

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL & SUITES LANDMARK SHENZHEN

HOLIDAY INN CENTRAL PLAZA BEIJING

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS SHANGHAI MEILONG

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS SHANGHAI NEW HONGQIAO

INTERCONTINENTAL CHONGQING

NEPAL

CROWNE PLAZA KATHMANDU-SOALTEE

PHILIPPINES

CROWNE PLAZA MANILA GALLERIA

 

Oceania (1 hotel)

HOLIDAY INN ROTORUA

Accor Hotels had a global press conference September 13, 2011 to announce a new strategic plan for rebranding a large portion of its economy and midscale segment hotels among the 4,200+ hotels in the French based chain. A new hotel loyalty program name with Le Club Accorhotels replaces A|Club.

The major change in the Accor brands structure is the creation of an Ibis Mega Brand with over 1,500 hotels by rebranding midscale all seasons to Ibis Styles and the Etap brand becomes Ibis Budget.

• Ibis
• Ibis Styles (currently all seasons)
• Ibis Budget (currently Etap)

Accor Hotels has global reach with over 15 brands from economy (etap, Formule 1, Motel 6) to its flagship luxury brand Sofitel Hotels.

The Accor Hotels chain is proportionally far heavier in the economy hotel market segment with about 2,200 hotels in brands like etap, Formule 1, Hotel F1 and Motel 6. The two upscale hotel brands of Novotel and Mercure at 1,100 hotels are far larger than the global Hyatt chain at under 500 properties and match the total hotel presence of Starwood Hotels.

Sofitel was divided up into separate brands when Accor added Pullman Hotels and MGallery Hotels and these upper upscale and luxury brands hold about 220 hotels.

Le Club Accorhotels, formerly A|Club is the loyalty program for Accor Hotels that excludes several hotel brands from the economy segment of the Accor family. Only about 2,300 hotels participate in the loyalty program and more than 1,700 hotels in Motel 6, Etap and Formule 1 are excluded from A|Club for earning points.

It remains to be seen what the loyalty program changes might be, if any.

Etap hotels are not currently included in A|Club points earning. The Ibis Budget hotel brand could be added to Le Club Accorhotels and increase the earning potential for members by 400 hotels globally. No word on that aspect of the loyalty program came out of the press conference.

Moderator StarFlyerGold of the FlyerTalk Accor forum  states Le Club will launch beginning 2012.

 

A|Club Loyalty Program Basics

A|Club operates differently from other points-based major hotel loyalty programs. The earning side is similar in that members earn points based on hotel spend at the rate of 2 points/1€ at Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure and Adagio Hotels. Ibis and all seasons earn 1 point/1€. Global and property specific promotions offer bonus points for member stays just like other loyalty programs.

A|Club Earn Rate

2 points per EUR

• Sofitel,
• Pullman,
• MGallery,
• Novotel,
• Suite Novotel,
• Mercure,
• Adagio Hotels

1 point per EUR

• Ibis
• all seasons (to be rebranded Ibis Styles)

The different aspect of A|Club is the redemption side of points. Points can be exchanged for hotel cash vouchers to redeem for hotel stays. Hotels are not divided into hotel redemption categories, the system used in most major hotel loyalty programs.

2,000 A|Club points can be exchanged for one US$60 voucher or in a variety of other currencies.

• 2,000 points = US$60
• 2,000 points = 60 AUD (Australia) =US$62.18
• 2,000 points = 30 GBP (UK) = US$47.36
• 2,000 points = 40 EUR =US$55.19
• 2,000 points = 90 BRL (Brazil) = US$51.95

There is room for currency leverage when traveling with Accor Hotels. Even with a hotel currency exchange rate somewhat lower than a credit charge rate, I’d think the 60AUD voucher would be worth more than the 30GBP voucher.

The past two years A|Club has run a summer special allowing redemption of A|Club cash certificates for payment at Motel 6.

Redeeming a voucher at a Motel 6 is not going to earn loyalty points, however, when redeeming a loyalty hotel voucher at a Motel 6 you are getting the same US$60 cash discount that you would get when redeeming the voucher for a paid room at the Sofitel Chicago.

 

Accor Hotels Brands

• Sofitel (120 luxury segement hotels)
• Pullman (60 hotels in upper upscale market)
• MGallery (40 hotels in upper upscale market)
• Novotel (400 hotels in upscale market)
• Suite Novotel (30 hotels in upscale market)
• Mercure and Grand Mercure (700+ hotels in upscale market)
• Adagio (33 extended-stay apartment hotels)
• Ibis (900+ hotels in midscale market)
• Ibis styles (formerly all seasons brand – 140 hotels in midscale market with about 30 in Australia)
• Ibis budget (formerly etap – 430 hotels in economy market)
• Formule 1 (360 economy hotels with 80 outside France)
• Hotel F1 (260 budget hotels in France)
• Motel 6 and Studio 6 (1,100+ economy hotels in U.S. and Canada)

Loyalty Traveler Analysis

What changes will be made to A|Club as it becomes Le Club Accorhotels remains to be seen. Potentially the number of properties available to members for earning loyalty points could increase. The multifaceted loyalty programs among Accorhotels could be consolidated. No details have emerged in the strategic plan for the evolution of Le Club Accorhotels.

Motel 6 still  remains mostly neglected as an Accor family brand in the loyalty program. Remember that pets stay free in Motel 6 and a US$60 A|Club voucher is worth as much at a Motel 6 as a Sofitel Hotel.

Story Update: Sep 19 – This morning I just saw the Bloomberg News story from September 13 stating Accor is interested in selling Motel 6/Studio 6 brand.

Wyndham Rewards fall promotion offers double points or double miles and up to $60 cash back on hotel stays from September 15 to November 18, 2011. The double points or miles offer is limited to first three stays.

The “Cash Back every Two Stays” component of the promotion provides a $20 Visa gift card for every two stays during the promotion, up to $60 cash back after six stays.

Wyndham Rewards $20 Cash back with every two stays terms:

• Wyndham Rewards members must register for promotion at wyndhamrewards.com/cash or call 1-866-996-7937 to register.
• Complete two separate stays between September 15 and November 18, 2011.
• Earn a US$20 VISA gift card after the second (2nd), fourth (4th) and sixth (6th) stays.
• Member will receive an email after each qualifying stay with instructions to complete an online redemption form for $20 VISA gift card.
• VISA card online redemption form must be completed within 60 days of email.
• Maximum $60 in VISA gift cards per member.
• Checkout date after November 22, 2011 will not count for this offer.
• Double points or miles can be earned for up to three rooms for each of first three stays.
• Only residents of the U.S., Canada and Mexico are eligible for this offer. See below for a separate European residents promotion.
• Super 8 China properties are not participating in this offer.
• Double miles are only available with select airlines: American, Aeroplan, Aeromexico, Amtrak, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, United, US Airways.

Loyalty Traveler Analysis:

Wyndham Rewards has more hotel members than any other hotel loyalty program with over 6,500 hotels in the following brands:

• Wyndham Resorts
• Wyndham Garden
• Wingate
• Days Inn
• Ramada
• Super 8
• Baymont Inn & Suites
• Microtel Inn & Suites
• Howard Johnson
• Travelodge (Hotels in Canada do not participate in Wyndham Rewards)
• Knights Inn
• Hawthorn Suites

Too bad this offer is limited to double points or miles for only three stays and a cash back rebate for six stays. The ability to earn double points for up to three rooms on the first three stays is probably the most valuable feature of this promotion.

The high exchange rate of points-to-miles transfers with Wyndham Rewards generally makes earning points the better value during promotions.

Earning Double Miles vs. Double Points Comparison

Assume you spend $400 for three stays during this promotion. Wyndham Rewards members earn 10 points/$1 at all Wyndham hotel brands, except Hawthorn Suites at 5 points/$1.

• $400 in hotel spend with double points earns 8,000 points = 3,200 miles.
• $400 in hotel spend with double miles earns 1,600 miles.
• Choosing double points and exchanging points-to-miles earns miles at twice the rate of double miles.

Wyndham Rewards points to miles exchange rate is static meaning the rate is the same regardless of the number of points transferred to miles. 10 points = 4 miles in most programs. Points-to-Miles transfers must be made in 8,000 or 17,500 or 30,000 blocks of points. Wyndham Rewards has the best exchange rate for points-to-miles transfers of any hotel loyalty program for smaller points transfers.

17,500 Wyndham Rewards points = 7,000 miles for American, Continental, Delta, United, US Airways.

 

European Version of this offer

European residents of Wyndham Rewards have a slightly different offer during the same promotion period of September 15 – November 18 for 8,800 bonus points after every two stays and bonus may be earned three times. The promotion advertises this as bonus points that may be exchanged for a 20GBP or 30EUR VISA gift card.

As shown above the points have better value for points-to-miles exchange or hotel stays. A European member in the states can get six stays at inexpensive Wyndham hotel brands for under $500 and earn over 30,000 points. Wyndham brands in New York City like Wingate and Ramada often have rates over $300 per night and the points can be redeemed for one or two nights at these locations.

Register at wyndhamrewards.com/freegift or wyndhamrewards.de/freegift.