The competitive advantage of Choice Privileges is the number of hotels in remote locations where road travelers will find no other loyalty program hotels. My recent trek into the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California revealed small towns with options for Choice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels and Best Western where Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn and Courtyard had no presence.

Choice Privileges advertises this recurring promotion as “Stay Twice, Earn a Free Night”, but actually the member earns 8,000 points which are sufficient for a free hotel night at the two lowest tier reward levels of 6,000 and 8,000 points. Two thirds of Choice properties are in the 10,000 to 20,000 points categories.

There are about 1,500 hotels in the 6,100 member hotel chain franchise offering free nights at the 6,000 and 8,000 points level. Loyalty Traveler published a hotel reward category analysis of Choice Privileges on May 1.

This bonus offer is valid for stays from May 19 through August 11, 2011 and only for US and Canada residents. Choice Privileges General members and Gold elite members may earn the bonus up to four times for 32,000 points. Platinum and Diamond elite members may earn this bonus up to 10 times during the promotion period for 80,000 points.

Loyalty Traveler analysis:

Choice Privileges promotions are different from most hotel loyalty promotions in that the total points earned will be 8,000 points after two stays, regardless if your two hotel stays cost $140 or $770. Elite member bonuses are additional points earned to the promotion bonus points.

Example 1: Earning is based on $140 in hotel spend.

Assume one $80 stay at Clarion Hotel and one $60 stay at Comfort Inn = $140 hotel spend.

$140 earns 1,400 Choice Privileges base points. Member will receive 6,600 bonus points for 8,000 total points after two stays.

Example 2: Earning is based on $770 in hotel spend.

Assume one 6-night stay for $420 ($70/night) at MainStay Suites = 2,100 points ($420 x 5 points/$1)

Assume one 5-night stay for $350 ($70/night) at Quality Inn = 3,500 points ($350 x 10 points/$1).

Member earns 5,600 base points from these two stays and receives 2,400 bonus points to reach 8,000 total points for two qualifying stays.

Despite the member staying 11 nights in two stays and spending five times the hotel spend in the second earning example, the total points earned is the same 8,000 points as the member earns who stays two nights at two hotels for $140. This makes Choice Privileges promotions a good hit-and-run deal for the one-night stand Choice Privileges member.

Bottom line: Choice Privileges has the best value promotion for summer travel compared to Wyndham Rewards and Best Western Rewards. My road trips this summer will take me to several places where my only choices are Best Western, Choice and Wyndham or no loyalty program.  I view Choice Privileges as the most rewarding option for best bonus points promotion for this summer’s travel.

Choice Hotels – Choice Privileges

Choice Privileges free night promotion link.

Hotel Brands: Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban, EconoLodge, Rodeway Inn, Ascend Collection.

Hotel Reward Partners: Preferred Hotels Group, Barcelo Resorts 

Comfort Inn Monterey Bay

Promotion Terms & Conditions: 

Reservations must be made at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE at qualifying rates and Choice Privileges member number must be provided upon check-in. After a second qualifying stay with arrival between 5/19/11 and 8/11/11, you will be awarded enough bonus points to redeem at the 8,000 point Choice Privileges reward night level. For Econo Lodge®, Rodeway Inn®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel®, or MainStay Suites® hotels, a stay is defined as two (2) or more consecutive nights at one hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs. For Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, Cambria Suites® or Ascend Collection® hotels, a stay is defined as any number of consecutive nights at one hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs at any property included in the Choice Privileges program. Members that register for this promotion may earn up to four (4) free nights, Platinum and Diamond members that register for this promotion may earn up to ten (10) free nights, and members that do not register for this promotion may earn up to two (2) free nights. Allow 72 hours from check-out for points to post to your account. A free night at most Choice Privileges locations requires more than 8,000 points. You must maintain an address in the U.S. (including U.S. territories) or Canada to be eligible for this promotion. For program details, eligible rates, eligible countries and point redemption rules, visit choiceprivileges.com.

Related Loyalty Traveler post: 100% Bonus Miles for Choice points to United Mileage Plus through June 6.

2,500 Choice points = 1,000 UA miles.

I am developing a new interest for Choice Privileges. Why my interest in Choice Hotels?

Yesterday I located a spreadsheet created by FlyerTalk member “SC Flier” in May 2010. The spreadsheet is one year old now and I am just happy to finally have seen it.  SC Flier is a name I come across frequently on FlyerTalk with good value information and now I learn he has some great computer skills too.

I added country and state columns to allow an easy sort by point levels and geography. Several observations from these sorts give me a much clearer picture of how Choice Hotels compares with other major hotel loyalty programs.

Choice Privileges covers 11 hotel brands with seven hotel brands earning 10 points per $1 in hotel spend, and four budget brands and extended stay brands earning 5 points/$1.

• Ascend Collection
• Comfort Inn
• Comfort Suites
• Quality Inn & Suites
• Clarion
• Cambria Suites
• Sleep Inn
• EconoLodge (earn 5 points/$1)
• Rodeway Inn (earn 5 points/$1)
• Suburban Extended Stay (earn 5 points/$1)
• MainStay Suites Extended Stay (earn 5 points/$1)

Driving from Monterey to Las Vegas for Easter week also opened my eyes to to the fact that the 500 mile drive offers only one Starwood Hotel with Four Points Bakersfield and there are no Hyatt Hotels on this route. IHG, Marriott and Hilton options averaged around $100 or more per night while many of the towns along the way offered Choice Hotels options for under $60 per night.  

Reward Challenges with Choice Privileges

One difficulty with Choice Privileges is the lack of a master list for hotel reward tiers with a list of hotel properties in that tier.

Another anomaly with Choice Privileges is seasonal variation in reward cost.

For example, Choice Privileges Hotels currently show reward cost for April 16 to June 30, 2011 and July 1 to September 15, 2011. The cost of a free night can swing wildly in those two seasons.

Monterey, California EconoLodge is 8,000 points from April 16 to June 30, 2011 and then increases to 20,000 points for July 1-September 15, 2011. Clarion Collection Rendezvous Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand is 40,000 points from April 16 to June 30 and then drops to just 8,000 points from July 1 to September 15, 2011.

The third unique aspect of the Choice Privileges program is short booking windows for hotel rewards using points. Choice Privileges members with no elite status can only book reward nights for U.S. and Canada hotels within 30 days of stay. Hawaii and International hotels allow 60 days advance booking using points. Elite status is valuable for Choice Privileges members traveling U.S. and Canada and planning to use points for reward nights with extended booking windows for Gold elite to 50 days, Platinum elite to 75 days and Diamond elite to 100 days.

Unlikely this will become my primary program, but there is great utility in accumulating Choice Privileges points for locations where there are no Starwood or Hyatt hotels and the rates of Marriott, Hilton, and IHG are twice the cost of a Choice Hotels option.  

Some statistics based on the 2010 reward levels.

I have never seen a distribution of Choice Privileges reward tiers posted anywhere. Analyzing one year old 2010 reward levels in Choice Privileges is useful as a benchmark for what value in points the Choice Privileges hotels had in recent time and see how trends evolve in reward changes for 2011 and beyond.

The only general trend I noticed is many hotels in Canada appeared to increase in reward cost from 2010 to 2011. The Canadian dollar is worth about 6 cents more than the U.S. dollar right now (USD $1 = CAD 94 cents), so an increase in points is an expected adjustment.

Fortunately the rates have not increased across the board for international hotels.

SC Flier spreadsheet shows 5,236 hotels in Choice Portfolio from mid-2010. Here are some numbers derived from hotel sorts using mid-2010 data. I checked about 50 hotels for 2011 Q2 (April 16-June 30, 2011) reward rates and 2011-Q3 (July 1 – September 15, 2011) reward rates. I found mixed results, but most hotels were within 4,000 points of 2010 levels, and about evenly up and down. 

While the distribution of hotels across reward categories may be essentially similar between 2010 and 2011, individual hotel reward rates may be up, down or the same depending on local economic conditions. Check hotel properties individually for current Choice Privileges hotel reward rates. 

Choice Hotels in this analysis = 5,236 hotels worldwide.

• USA = 4,263 hotels in Choice Privileges (81.7% of worldwide total).
• International = 973 hotels in Choice Privileges (18.3% of worldwide total).  

Q2-2010 Choice Privileges reward levels: 

• 30% of hotels were 6,000 or 8,000 points.
• 36% of hotels were 10,000 to 12,000 points.
• 28% of hotels were 16,000 to 20,000 points.
• 6%  of hotels were 25,000 points, 30,000 points or 40,000 points.

Reward Tiers and Number of Properties based on 2010 Q2 (April 16 -June 30, 2010) and Q3 (July 1-September 15, 2010) point levels:  

Choice Privileges had over 1,500 hotels in the lowest tiers for 6,000 points or 8,000 points per night. This can be as little as $100 in spend to earn 8,000 points during Choice Privileges recurring promotion for 8,000 points after two stays. When Choice Privileges offers double points then these low tier rewards take just $300 to $400 in hotel stay spend to earn a free night at any of 1,500+ hotels. 

6,000 Points Reward Tier Q2-2010 = 624 hotels (11.9%) and Q3-2010 = 471 hotels (9.0%).

• 6,000 Q2 and 6,000 Q3 = 420 hotels
• 6,000 Q2 and 8,000 Q3 = 176 hotels
• 6,000 Q2 and 12,000 Q3 = 4 hotels
• 6,000 Q2 and 16,000 Q3 = 3 hotels
• 6,000 Q2 and 20,000 Q3 = 1 hotel 

8,000 Points Reward Tier Q2-2010 = 977 hotels (18.7%) and Q3-2010 = 1,187 hotels (22.7%). 

• 8,000 Q2 and 6,000 Q3 = 48 hotels
• 8,000 Q2 and 8,000 Q3 = 759 hotels
• 8,000 Q2 and 10,000 Q3 = 120 hotels
• 8,000 Q2 and 12,000 Q3 = 34 hotels
• 8,000 Q2 and 16,000 Q3 = 11 hotels
• 8,000 Q2 and 20,000 Q3 = 4 hotels
• 8,000 Q2 and 25,000 Q3 = 1 hotel 

10,000 Points Reward Tier Q2-2010 = 968 hotels (18.5%) and Q3-2010 = 972 hotels (18.6%).

Earning a free night takes $1,000 in hotel spend at 10 base points per dollar for most brands except extended stay brands of MainStay and Suburban and budget brands EconoLodge and Rodeway Inn that earn 5 points/$1 in hotel spend. 

• 10,000 Q2 and 6,000 Q3 = 2 hotels
• 10,000 Q2 and 8,000 Q3 = 213 hotels
• 10,000 Q2 and 10,000 Q3 = 573 hotels
• 10,000 Q2 and 12,000 Q3 = 134 hotels
• 10,000 Q2 and 16,000 Q3 = 27 hotels
• 10,000 Q2 and 20,000 Q3 = 19 hotels

12,000 Points Reward Tier Q2-2010 = 889 hotels (17.0%) and Q3-2010 = 821 hotels (15.7%).

$1,200 in hotel spend for free night or far less spend when taking advantage of promotion bonus points.

• 12,000 Q2 and 8,000 Q3 = 32 hotels
• 12,000 Q2 and 10,000 Q3 = 224 hotels
• 12,000 Q2 and 12,000 Q3 = 428 hotels
• 12,000 Q2 and 16,000 Q3 = 146 hotels
• 12,000 Q2 and 20,000 Q3 = 55 hotels
• 12,000 Q2 and 25,000 Q3 = 4 hotels

16,000 Points Reward Tier Q2-2010 = 942 hotels (18.0%) and Q3-2010 = 787 hotels (15.0%).

$1,600 in hotel spend for a free night. This tier has some of the higher quality Choice Hotels properties in the U.S.

• 16,000 Q2 and 8,000 Q3 = 5 hotels
• 16,000 Q2 and 10,000 Q3 = 25 hotels
• 16,000 Q2 and 12,000 Q3 = 203 hotels
• 16,000 Q2 and 16,000 Q3 = 525 hotels
• 16,000 Q2 and 20,000 Q3 = 167 hotels
• 16,000 Q2 and 25,000 Q3 = 17 hotels

20,000 Points Reward Tier Q2-2010 = 534 hotels (10.2%) and Q3-2010 = 640 hotels (12.2%).

Top tier hotels in U.S. cities and resort locations fall in the 20,000 points to 25,000 points range. These hotels require $2,000 to $2,500 in hotel spend or as little as $300 for an elite during an 8,000 points per two stays promotion that is not limited to one or two bonuses. 

• 20,000 Q2 and 8,000 Q3 = 3 hotels
• 20,000 Q2 and 10,000 Q3 = 5 hotels
• 20,000 Q2 and 12,000 Q3 = 15 hotels
• 20,000 Q2 and 16,000 Q3 = 72 hotels
• 20,000 Q2 and 20,000 Q3 = 377 hotels
• 20,000 Q2 and 25,000 Q3 = 62 hotels

25,000 Points Reward Tier Q2-2010 = 228 hotels (4.4%) and Q3-2010 = 290 hotels (5.5%).

• 25,000 Q2 and 6,000 Q3 = 1 hotels
• 25,000 Q2 and 8,000 Q3 = 2 hotels
• 25,000 Q2 and 10,000 Q3 = 2 hotels
• 25,000 Q2 and 12,000 Q3 = 3 hotels
• 25,000 Q2 and 16,000 Q3 = 3 hotels
• 25,000 Q2 and 20,000 Q3 = 17 hotels
• 25,000 Q2 and 25,000 Q3 = 199 hotels
• 25,000 Q2 and 30,000 Q3 = 1 hotels

Most hotels 25,000 points and above are located in New York City and international countries. The spreadsheet by SC Flier shows many hotels in Italy at 40,000 points and these hotels were all 6,000 or 8,000 points for Q2 and Q3 reward nights in 2011. Australia and New Zealand comprise most hotels 30,000 points and more. Peak rates are only for select seasons. Many of the 40,000 points hotels in Australia and New Zealand drop to 8,000 points in July and August 2011. 

30,000 Points Reward Tier Q2-2010 = 49 hotels (0.9%) and Q3-2010 = 41 hotels (0.8%). 

• 30,000 Q2 and 25,000 Q3 = 7 hotels
• 30,000 Q2 and 30,000 Q3 = 40 hotels
• 30,000 Q2 and 40,000 Q3 = 2 hotels 

40,000 Points Reward Tier Q2-2011 = 24 hotels (0.5%) and Q3-2010 = 26 hotels (0.5%).

75,000 Points Reward Tier Q2-2011 = 1 hotel 

75,000 Q2-2011 and 8,000 Q3-2011 = 1 hotel (Clarion Collection Edgewater Palms, Paihia, New Zealand)

I spent a week in Paihia at Bay of Islands in New Zealand in August 2005 and I thought it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I loved it. I didn’t stay at the Clarion Edgewater Palms, but at 8,000 points per night I’d give it a go.

Bay of Islands, New Zealand (outside Russell, near Paihia)

Choice Privileges spring promotion allows members to earn 8,000 points after two hotel stays between March 3 and May 4, 2011. This promotion also lets members redeem 8,000 points earned after two stays for a free $50 gas card through July 31, 2011. Normally a $50 gas card requires 16,000 Choice Privileges points.

Choice Hotels is currently at 11 hotel brands:

1. Comfort Inn
2. Comfort Suites
3. Quality Inn and Suites
4. Sleep Inn
5. Clarion
6. Cambria Suites
7. Ascend Collection
8. MainStay Suites
9. Suburban
10. EconoLodge
11. Rodeway Inn

There are several fine print details to this offer.

All Choice Hotels brands participate, but stays at EconoLodge and Rodeway Inn economy brands or MainStay Suites and Suburban extended stay brands only qualify for the two-stay 8,000 points with individual stays of two or more consecutive nights. This sort of makes sense since these brands earn points at 50% the rate ( 5 points/$1) of other Choice Hotels brands (10 points/$1).

• Members who do not register for this offer may earn the bonus only one (1) time for one $50 gas card.
• Members who register for this offer may earn the bonus two (2) times for two $50 gas cards.
• Choice Privileges Elite Platinum and Elite Diamond members may earn this bonus up to five (5) times for five $50 gas cards.

Loyalty Traveler analysis:

Choice Privileges promotions are different from most hotel loyalty promotions in that the total points earned will be 8,000 points after two stays, regardless if your two hotel stays cost $140 or $770.

Earning Example 1 is based on $140 in hotel spend.

 Assume one $80 stay at Clarion Hotel and one $60 stay at Comfort Inn = $140.

$140 earns 1,400 Choice Privileges base points. Member will receive 6,600 bonus points for 8,000 total points after two stays.

Earning example 2 is based on $770 in hotel spend.

Assume one $420 6-night stay ($70/night) at MainStay Suites = 2,100 points ($420 x 5 points/$1)

Assume one 5-night stay for $350 at Quality Inn ($70/night) = 3,500 points ($350 x 10 points/$1).

Member earns 5,600 base points from these two stays and receives 2,400 bonus points to reach 8,000 total points for two qualifying stays.

Despite the member staying 11 nights in two stays and spending five times the hotel spend in the second earning example, the total points earned is the same 8,000 points as the member earns who stays two nights at two hotels for $140. This makes Choice Privileges promotions a good hit-and-run deal for the not-so-loyal Choice Privileges member.

Keep the Points or Redeem for Gas Cards

Choice Privileges members may either keep the points or redeem 8,000 points for a $50 gas card. This promotion offers $50 gas cards for half the points. The $50 gas card normally requires 16,000 points. The discounted gas cards are available until July 31, 2011 to members who earned points through this promotion.

You are not required to redeem your points for gas cards. Hotel rewards start at 6,000 points and the Choice Privileges website actually provides a list of hotels at 8,000 points or less. (Is this a new website feature? I do not recall seeing it before.)

You may find better redemption value by using 8,000 points for a free hotel night rather than a $50 gas card.

Choice Gas Card Promotion Registration link.

Choice Privileges has a new member referral offer for 500 points. This deal rewards both the existing Choice Privileges member who makes the referral and the new member who receives 500 bonus points after first hotel stay. That is equivalent to the bonus points for $50 in hotel spend.

I’ll be your referrer, if you want a referral.

If you would like a Choice Privileges referral and 500 bonus points after your first stay, then email me at ricgarridolt@gmail.com and include only your first name.

All I need for this Choice Privileges Refer-a-Friend is your email and first name to include in the form shown below.

Choice Privileges refer-a-friend form

I pledge not to use your email for any other purpose than filling out this form. My ricgarridolt@gmail.com email account is only used for Loyalty Traveler promotions and then I delete all the emails after the promotion ends. Do not use this email for contacting me for any other purpose. You will find my contact email on this page.

Choice Privileges Overview 

When your travel budget does not fit the price segment of Marriott Courtyard and Residence Inn, Hilton Hampton Inn or IHG Holiday Inn Express, then Choice Privileges has a loyalty program with good rewards benefits at a lower price point. And if price is your main factor you should look right past Starwood and Hyatt Hotels with limited low cost hotels for weekday business travel.

One of my favorite features of Choice Privileges is its partner awards with Preferred Hotels Group and Barcelo Resorts. These can be high value reward stays at relatively low cost through Choice Privileges. A recently ended promotion offered 50% off reward nights using Choice Privileges points for Preferred Hotels Group stays. These upper-upscale and luxury hotels around the world are sometimes an incredible Choice Privileges points bargain.

Barcelo Resorts offers all-inclusive Mexico and Caribbean hotel stays at relatively few points for what you get. Dreams of an all-you-can-eat-and-drink beach vacation may fill your head as you fall asleep at the next Comfort Inn.

That is what I am dreaming as I write this post and think of the possibility of a couple hundred referrals. Although I must admit that 500 points incentive is not as desirable as last year’s offer on Loyalty Traveler for instant SPG Gold promotion with my referral. I still receive a request every week for a referral 11 months after that SPG deal ended.

Choice Privileges hotel brands with number of hotels and average daily rate

(Source: Choice Hotels 10Q Sep 30, 2010)

Choice Hotels brands and average room rates

Travelers will stay for less at Choice Hotels with an overall chain average hotel rate of $74.79. That is only 2 cents more than the ADR from September 2009.

Choice Privileges is currently running a triple points promotion. Here is data from my Loyalty Traveler blog Current Promotions page. Another great feature of Choice Privileges is elite stay credit for award stays. Choice Privileges and Hilton HHonors are the only two loyalty programs for earning elite credit when spending points for free nights.

Choice Hotels – Choice Privileges

Hotel Brands: Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban, EconoLodge, Rodeway Inn, Ascend Collection.

Hotel Reward Partners: Preferred Hotels Group, Barcelo Resorts  

* Jan 6 – March 2, 2011: Choice Hotels Triple Points beginning with second stay for online bookings or phone direct bookings at 800-4CHOICE (800-424-6423). Offer only eligible for USA members. Platinum and Diamond elite members earn an additional 500 bonus points per stay. General and Gold elite members earn double points for stays booked through third-party sites. Registration required.

Loyalty Traveler post 1-4-11.  

* Choice Privileges Program Changes for Elite Members effective January 1, 2011:

These are truly program enhancements for elites. 

Platinum elite qualification = 20 nights in a calendar year (formerly 25 nights).

Diamond elite bonus increased to 50% base points (formerly 40%).

        Reward night booking window extended for Choice Privileges elite members:

• Gold = 50 days (formerly 40 days)
• Platinum = 75 days (formerly 60 days)
• Diamond = 100 days (formerly 90 days) 

* Dec 1, 2010 – February 28, 2011: Choice Privileges offers Air Berlin TopBonus Double Miles

Preferred Hotels Group Reward Nights up to 50% off. Upper-upscale, luxury and boutique hotel room nights 20,000 to 30,000 points. Book between November 3, 2010 and January 19, 2011. (5-key promotion). This offer has ended, but this seems like a nearly annual promotion at some point during the year.

Related Post: Choice Hotels for Economy Rates, Choice Privileges for Luxury Hotels (July 14, 2009)

Choice Privileges offers triple points beginning with the second stay between January 6 and March 2, 2011. There is an additional 500 points per stay bonus beginning with second stay for Choice Privileges Platinum and Diamond members who register here.

Choice Privileges calls this their “spring” offer. Choice Hotels must be working off the global warming calendar if spring is now considered January and February in the USA?

By the way this offer is only valid for members with a USA address.

Eligible Dates: Jan 6, 2011 – March 2, 2011

Book at ChoiceHotels.com or by phone at 800-4CHOICE and earn triple points beginning with second stay.

Choice Privileges Platinum and Diamond members earn an additional 500 points per stay, beginning with second stay. Registration required.

The unique aspect of this offer is the ability for Choice Privileges general members and Gold Elite to earn double points for stays booked through other channels like Expedia, Travelocity and such.

I find it a curious target group for general members and gold elite, but not including Choice Privileges Platinum and Diamond elite members for the third-party booking bonus. Registration is required before your stay to earn double points with third-party bookings.

Choice Privileges Triple Points 2011-Q1 "Spring" Promotion

Most Choice Privileges hotel brands earn 10 points per dollar. Triple points is 30 points per dollar at these brands:

• Comfort Inn
• Comfort Suites
• Quality Inn
• Sleep Inn
• Clarion
• Cambria Suites
• Ascend Collection

5 points per dollar are earned for stays at these brands:

• MainStay Suites
• Suburban
• EconoLodge
• Rodeway Inn

Triple points is 15 points/$1 at these four hotel brands.

I will spare readers a base points equivalent value analysis for this offer. The redemption opportunity to remember with Choice Privileges is partner hotel rewards for Preferred Hotels Group and Barcelo Resort stays.

Earn 5,000 Choice Privileges bonus points for every two hotel stays worldwide at any Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, Ascend Collection with arrival date August 26 through November 3, 2010.

*Registration is limited to Choice Privileges members who maintain an address in Europe.

5,000 Choice Privileges bonus points for two stays

August 26 – November 3, 2010

Eligible Hotel Brands worldwide

• Comfort Inn
• Comfort Suites
• Quality
• Sleep Inn
• Clarion
• Cambria Suites
• Ascend Collection

Promotion registration is restricted to European residents.

*Residents of North America have a promotion for 8,000 points every two stays Aug 26 – Nov 3, 2010)

Who is the Madman across the Water?

While it may appear Europeans are getting a lesser deal than Americans, there also appears to be a difference in the way the points are added to the account with these two promotions.

European version of Choice Privileges promotion states 5,000 bonus points after two stays.

(Points are earned in dollars even for European members.)

Two stays for $200 total earns 2,000 base points + 5,000 bonus points for 7,000 points.

Europe Promotion: $100 per stay x 2 stays = $200 (Points are earned in dollar equivalents even for European members according to the website.)

• 2,000 base points
• 5,000 bonus points (promotion for two stays)
• 7,000 points total points for two stays as Europe member

The Americas version for 8,000 points is actually the difference between base points earned from two actual stays and 8,000 points.

U.S.A. Promotion: $100 per stay x 2 stays = $200

• 2,000 base points
• 6,000 bonus points  [8,000 points – base points earned] = promotion bonus points.
• 8,000 total points for two stays as U.S. member

But watch what happens if you have two stays of 3 nights at US$90 or equivalent per night

Europe Promotion: $130 per night x 3 nights x 2 stays = $780

• 7,800 base points
• 5,000 bonus points (promotion for two stays)
• 12,800 points total points for two stays as Europe member

USA Promotion: $130 per night x 3 nights x 2 stays = $780

• 7,800 base points
• 200 bonus points   [8,000 points – base points earned] = promotion bonus points.
• 8,000 points total points for two stays as U.S. member

Choice Privileges members earn points for hotel stays at more than 5,500+ hotels all over the world – with the exception of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. Nordic Choice Club is a separate hotel loyalty program for more than 140 hotels in the Clarion, Comfort Inn and Quality Inn brands and some other hotels in this region. Membership is free and open to U.S. members.

There is a difference in the hotel award levels for Choice Privileges redemptions and Nordic Choice Club redemptions. Some hotels costing 16,000 points per night with Choice Privileges are only 10,000 points per night with Nordic Choice Club in summer season and weekend nights.

Since it is possible to earn Nordic Choice Club 750 points on stays outside Scandinavia, there may be potential to leverage stays to earn Nordic Choice Club points for stays in the U.S. and get a better redemption value for free nights using points in Scandinavia than you will find with Choice Privileges.

Nordic Choice Club has four membership levels: Blue, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

• Blue = free membership
• Silver elite = 10 nights in membership year
• Gold elite = 35 nights in membership year
• Platinum elite = 60 nights in membership year
• Nordic Choice Club membership year is 12 months from enrollment date and is not based on the calendar year.

Benefits: Membership includes complimentary restaurant vouchers based on elite level. Rate discounts, liberal cancellation policies, late checkout, additional bonus point options and complimentary upgrades are other benefits of elite membership. Click on the link above to see membership benefits for different elite levels.

Earning Points:

• Members receive 1 point per krone for room rate.
• Norway and Denmark hotels earn 1 point per krone for restaurant charges, up to 4,000 points per stay.
• Members earn 750 points for Choice Hotel stays outside Scandinavia and Baltic region.
• Points expire 36 months after earned.

Redeeming Points:

• 10,000 points for a weekend night (Fri or Sat) at Comfort, Quality, or Clarion in Scandinavia, Estonia or Lithuania.
• 20,000 points for a weekday night (Sun-Thu) at Comfort, Quality, or Clarion in Scandinavia, Estonia or Lithuania, except from June 24-Aug 15 when rates drop to 10,000 points per night.
• 10,000 points for a weekday night (Sun-Thu) at a Quality Resort in Scandinavia, Estonia or Lithuania, except from June 24-Aug 15 when rates drop to 10,000 points per night.
• 20,000 points for a weekend night (Fri or Sat) at a Quality Resort in Scandinavia, Estonia or Lithuania.
• Summer discount rates will likely have slightly different dates for 2011 to those shown above .
• Points may be redeemed for “Be My Guest” room night vouchers at same rate for others.

While your Choice Privileges points may get you into a Scandinavian Choice hotel for free, visitors to Scandinavia and the Baltic may also find Nordic Choice Club a good supplementary program for earning and burning hotel loyalty points when traveling in this region.

Nordic Choice Club has over 140 hotel properties in Scandinavia and Baltic region

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)

Choice Privileges Double Points Promotion

Choice Privileges economy/budget hotel brands EconoLodge, MainStay Suites, Rodeway Inn and Suburban Extended Stay  have  a double points promotion for every stay during the same period of August 26-November 3, 2010.

While air travelers can usually find a nice upscale hotel in airport locations and big cities, the road warrior and highway driver will likely be familiar with the midscale hotel segment when staying in smaller cities. This is the world of Hilton Garden Inns, Marriott Courtyards and Hyatt Place cookie cutter hotel design so dominant in current hotel construction for a traveling world. Midscale full service hotels offer truly functional rooms with the options of food and a bar. Business centers are common for basic office needs. Exercise facilities, usually with a pool, offer standardized style at mid-price rates ($65 to $125 in most places) and super-sized geographic distribution.

JD Power’s 2010 Guest Satisfaction Survey ranks Midscale Full Service hotel brands. This type of hotel is usually designated Midscale with Food and Beverage (Midscale F&B) in hotel market segment data. The JD Power survey categorizes two classes of Midscale Hotels with the Full Service Segment and Limited Service Segment.

JD Power 2010 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index - Midscale Full-Service Hotel Brands

Graphic is from JDPower.com 2010 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Press Release

JD Power Midscale Full Service  Ratings report 

Nine major hotel loyalty programs are represented in the midscale full service segment. Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and Starwood make the four and five circle ratings for their Midscale F&B brands. 

Hilton Garden Inn and Hyatt Place ranked high with a top Power Circle Rating 5 from JDPower.com ratings. Marriott Courtyard and Starwood’s Four Points come in at the level 4 rated brands. IHG Priority Club is not represented until level 3 Power Circle Rating with Holiday Inn. 

I have stayed frequently in these brands and I guess I prefer Hyatt Place for the room design over a typical Hilton Garden Inn room but I’ll take HGI for the food. Some Four Points have great beer deals. The basic Marriott Courtyard is usually a comfortable lobby. In general I favor the upscale hotels, but I drop down to visit these brands when the price is right and the option works out best for the location. 

Wyndham, Holiday Inn, and Best Western receive three circles in the JD Power ratings.

Holiday Inn has been going through a $1 billion make-over for the past two years. At over 800 hotels in North America the brand is iconic in the hotel world and still growing strong. The disparity between Holiday Inn hotels around the U.S. is a concern, however, international Holiday Inn properties tend to be more in the upscale market in many locations. 

Wyndham Garden Hotels have a three circle rating although this brand is limited in number of hotels with fewer than 20.

Best Western is a solo hotel brand with over 2,200 hotels in the U.S. alone and almost 200 hotels in Canada. Best Western is midscale franchise brand with a wide variety of hotel properties mostly in the form of conversions of existing hotels.

Choice Hotels and Wyndham vie for least desirable mid-scale hotel brands with each representing two of the bottom four ranked chains in the mid-scale full service market. Quality Inn and Clarion Hotels are Choice Privileges brands.

Curiously the Clarion brand ranked slightly lower in guest satisfaction than the Quality Inn brand. Clarion Hotels as a brand was created in the 1980s from the high-end Quality Inn properties.  

Ramada Inn and last ranked Howard Johnson are Wyndham Rewards brands.

Hotel Brands Ranked by Number of Hotels in North America

Best Western (Best Western Rewards) = 2,400+ hotels in North America; 4,000+ globally. 

Quality Inn (Choice Privileges) = about 984 hotels in North America. Quality Inn and Suites locations.  

Holiday Inn (IHG Priority Club Rewards) = 880 Americas; 1,300+ hotels globally

Courtyard by Marriott (Marriott Rewards) = 780 hotels US; 850+ globally.                                                                              Marriott Courtyard Hotel Directory (pdf) 

Ramada Inn (Wyndham Rewards) = 910 hotels globally

Hilton Garden Inn (Hilton HHonors) = 500+ hotels globally; almost all in North America. Hilton Garden Inn Hotel locations: Downloadable PC or Mac HGI e-directory.

Howard Johnson (Wyndham Rewards) = 500+ hotels; almost all in North America.

Clarion Hotels (Choice Privileges) = 175 hotels in North America; 250+ globally. Clarion hotel locations.

Hyatt Place (Hyatt Gold Passport) = 160 hotels. Hyatt Place Hotel Locations 

Four Points by Sheraton (Starwood Preferred Guest) = about 113 hotels North America; 166 hotels globally. Four Points Hotel locations. 

Wyndham Garden Hotels (Wyndham Rewards) = about 20 hotels. Wyndham Garden locations.

Links to Related Loyalty Traveler commentary for different hotel market segments covered in JD Power 2010 North America Hotel Satisfaction Index:

Overview JD Power 2010 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study (Aug 10)

Comments on JD Power 2010 Upscale Hotel Satisfaction Index (Aug 11)

Comments on JD Power 2010 Luxury Hotel Satisfaction Index (Aug 11)

Comments on JD Power 2010 Midscale Limited Service Hotels Satisfaction Index (Aug 15)

Loyalty Traveler comments on JD Power 2010 Economy/Budget Hotel Brand Ratings (August 16, 2010)

Comments on JD Power 2010 Extended Stay Hotel Satisfaction Index (Aug 17)

Choice Privileges has made a significant change to its hotel loyalty program for 2010 with the inclusion of reward nights as elite qualifying nights for membership status. Hilton HHonors has counted reward nights for elite membership qualification for years and now Choice Privileges is another hotel loyalty program offering elite qualification nights for hotel stays using points.

For the traveler who desires lower average room rates on paid stays and wants additional elite credit for reward nights, this is great news for Choice Privileges members. Reward nights just might be the difference you need to move up an elite level.

The primary benefit of a higher elite status in Choice Privileges is the extended advance booking window for reward nights. One of the restrictive limitations of Choice Privileges is the short booking window using points for hotels in the USA. General members residing in the US may only use Choice Privileges points for a hotel in the US within 30 days of the hotel stay. The booking window is extended to 60 days for free night bookings at international properties.

Choice Privileges Gold members can book up to 40 days in advance and Platinum members up to 60 days in advance for US hotel stays. There is no advantage for international reward bookings since General members, Gold elite, and Platinum elite can all book up to 60 days in advance for hotels outside the USA.

Only the highest elite level diamond members of Choice Privileges have a longer advance booking window of 90 days for using points. Diamond elite requires 40 nights in a calendar year. Diamond is the elite goal for Choice Privileges members seeking improved access to reward nights as this membership level gives the Diamond elite an additional 30 days for exclusive reward inventory among the nearly 10 million Choice Privileges hotel loyalty program members.

Choice Privileges Reward Nights Count for Elite Qualification

http://www.choicehotels.com/ires/en-US/html/GPEliteMembership

Choice Privileges Offers a Luxury Side

Hilton HHonors loses another hotel loyalty program exclusive advantage, although Choice Privileges is a different market segment of travelers and will likely have limited impact on luring Hilton HHonors members from the fold.

The eleven hotel brands of Choice Privileges may cater to the budget and mid-market hotel traveler, but there are many free night redemption options for luxury hotels with hotel partners in the Preferred Hotel Group for 30,000; 45,000; or 60,000 points per night. (link to Choice Privileges Preferred Hotel Group partner hotels)

Barcelo Resorts in Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic are one of the best values for free nights using Choice Privileges points with rates starting at 10,000 points in off-season (8.5 months of the year) or 16,000 points per night in high season (Dec 19, 2009-April 1, 2010).

Choice Privileges Barcelo Hotels link: http://www.barcelo.com/BarceloHotels/en-GB/Choice/Barcelo-Choice

Military Members Receive Instant Elite Status in Choice Privileges

Choice Privileges Armed Services program offers complimentary Gold elite membership to active duty or reserve military members, retired military, National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, and eligible spouses and dependants. Link to Choice Privileges Armed Services program.

Choice Privileges Hotel Brands

• Cambria Suites

• Clarion

• Quality Inn

• Comfort Suites

• Comfort Inn

• Sleep Inn

• MainStay Suites

• Suburban

• Econo Lodge

• Rodeway Inn

• Ascend Collection

Related Loyalty Traveler posts:

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/loyaltytraveler/2009/07/14/choice-hotels-for-economy-rates-choice-privileges-for-luxury-hotels/

2009 Choice Hotels Brands: http://boardingarea.com/blogs/loyaltytraveler/2009/07/13/choice-hotels-international-profile-by-numbers/