Don’t think twice, it’s alright.

These two promotions are actually nearly identical. Complete two stays at Choice Hotels from May 17 to August 15, 2012 and you will earn a total 8,000 Choice Privileges points.

The only difference in this offer from the previous Choice Privileges promotion that ended earlier this month is this time members have the option of redeeming 8,000 points for a $50 gift card that normally requires 16,000 points through Choice Privileges. You do not have to redeem your points for a gift card. These points will be available for any redemption option you choose through Choice Privileges, including that free night for 8,000 points at over 1,500 hotels.

Choice Privileges Summer Promotion May 17-August 15, 2012

• Choice Privileges promotion registration required before stays.
• This offer is only available to residents of the U.S. (including U.S. territories) or Canada.
• Discount gift cards for 8,000 points are only available to members who complete this promotion and redeem points for gift cards by September 30, 2012.
• Bonus may be earned unlimited times during promotion period.

This is a promotion that favors the low spender since Choice Privileges adds the number of points needed to reach 8,000 points after your two stays. Two stays earn 8,000 total points in your account, not 8,000 bonus points.

These are the participating gift card retailers:

U.S. Resident Options

• BP
• Chevron/Texaco
• Darden
• ExxonMobil
• Macy’s
• Sears
• Shell
• Sunoco
• Uno Chicago Grill

Canada Resident Options

• Cara Foods
• Cineplex
• FutureShop
• Esso
• Home Hardware
• Sears
• St. Hubert’s

Remember four brands require 2-night stays to count

The main thing to be aware of is Choice Hotels extended stay and budget brands require two consecutive nights to constitute a stay for the bonus. These Choice  Hotels brands include EconoLodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites and Suburban.

Choice Privileges 5,000 Points Minimum

For the past couple of years I used an example that a person who normally earns 5,600 base points from two stays will only get 2,400 additional points, whereas, a person who earns 2,000 base points gets a 6,000 points bonus after two stays.

I received an email from a Choice Hotels manager after my March 2012 post on the Choice Privileges promotion stating there is a 5,000 points minimum so the member in my example would actually get 10,600 points. There are more details on Choice Hotels in that March 2012 article I will not repeat here.

I see there is still no official wording to this effect in the Choice Privileges promotion FAQ. Can anyone out there confirm a 5,000 points minimum bonus in your account from one of these perennial Choice offers for 8,000 points?

Choice Hotels currently has 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

Choice Privileges also partners with Preferred Hotels Group and Barcelo Resorts where you can use Choice Privileges points for hotel stays.

You can like Choice Hotels on Facebook to get the pre-sale code that will be posted shortly before noon to allow access to the noon pre-sale.

Choice Hotels Facebook post 8pm eastern Wednesday May 2.

Daily Getaways Offer #1 Thursday May 3

32,000 Choice Privileges points – Comfort Suites Stay 2 Nights for $134.

• 465 sets available
• 50 sets available in pre-sale 12 noon Eastern Thursday May 3
• $134 without American Express credit card
• $120.60 with American Express credit card

The item is 32,000 points and the Comfort Suites is just brand advertising. There are 11 brands shown in the Choice Hotels chain and the points you buy can be used for any standard Choice Privileges redemption at any of the Choice Hotels brands or partner hotels like Barcelo Resorts and Preferred Hotels Group or exchanged into airline miles. Choice Privileges has a better hotel-points-to-airline-miles exchange rate with Southwest Airlines than most hotel loyalty programs.

Here is a link to Loyalty Traveler articles discussing Choice Privileges. In March 2012 I wrote an article showing the high value of 8,000 Choice Privileges points at Choice hotels in Europe where a city center Paris Choice Hotel for 8,000 points can save over $250 per night.

Daily Getaways Offer #2 Thursday May 3

36,000 Choice Privileges points – Comfort Inn Stay 3 nights for $156.

• 575 sets available
• 50 sets available in pre-sale 12 noon Eastern Thursday May 3
• $156.00 without American Express credit card
• $140.40 with American Express credit card

Daily Getaways Offer #3 Thursday May 3

40,000 Choice Privileges points – Cambria Suites Stay 2 Nights for $166.

• 175 sets available
• 50 sets available in pre-sale 12 noon Eastern Thursday May 3
• $166.00 without American Express credit card
• $149.40 with American Express credit card

These are all good Daily Getaways deals for Choice Privileges points in my opinion. With over 6,000 hotels you will always find a Choice Hotel around the USA and many other places too.

Mommy Points and Million Mile Secrets both have good analysis on the value of this Choice Privileges points deal. Travel by Points has a table showing the cost of each Choice Hotel reward night category using points with this deal.

This offer can be earned unlimited times for US and Canada resident members. There is a 48,000 points limit for Choice Privileges members residing in other countries.

In a recent post, Choice Privileges: Booking High Value Reward Nights in Europe (March 26, 2012), I showed 8,000 points buys some high-priced hotel nights in Europe. Paris is a good deal with Choice Privileges points. The seasonal variation of Choice Privileges reward cost means hotels can be 8,000 points one month and 20,000 points another month. There appear to be a higher proportion of desirable location hotels outside the USA available as 8,000 points reward nights compared to domestic hotels.

The value of Choice Privileges points for international travel and the ability to earn 8,000 points every two stays on low cost Choice Hotels in the U.S. is why I call this offer the best deal for April hotel stays if you can tolerate midscale hotel travel.

Here is my original post analyzing this promotion from March 7, 2012.

5,000 bonus points minimum is unpublished promotion term.

The only guarantee here is that the Choice Privileges bonus will be at least 5,000 bonus points after two stays. That term is not anywhere in the promotion terms that I can find, but a Choice Privileges executive wrote me to say that my example I’ve used the past couple of years is not correct to say a person spending $600 and earning 6,000 base points will only get 2,000 bonus points for this offer. The email stated there is a 5,000 bonus points minimum for two eligible stays with this promotion.

Perhaps the 5,000 points minimum bonus will be written in the promotion terms and conditions the next time this offer comes around.

Hidden FAQ terms.

One of the most important terms of this Choice Privileges promotion offer is buried in the fine print of the FAQ which is not even clearly marked as a webpage link on the promotion page.

How many times can I receive the bonus?
Choice Privileges members in US and Canada can earn the bonus an unlimited number of times, with arrival between March 8, 2012 and May 8, 2012. Choice Privileges members in Mexico, Latin America, Caribbean, Europe and Australasia can earn up to six (6) free nights through this promotion.

Click on the words Frequently Asked Questions and these details appear:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Stay Two Separate Times Earn One Night Free promotional offer?

Choice Privileges members can stay two separate times and earn enough points to redeem for a free night at over 1,500 hotels when booking at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE. Members must register at ChoiceHotels.com/earnafreenight in advance of stay to be eligible.

What are the dates for the Stay Two Separate Times Earn One Night Free promotion?
This promotion applies for stays arriving from March 8, 2012 to May 8, 2012.

Are bookings made through my mobile device eligible for the Stay Two Separate Times Earn One Night Free promotion?
Yes. Bookings made through your mobile device are eligible for this promotion.

Is there a booking requirement for Elite Diamond and Elite Platinum Choice Privileges members?
Elite Diamond and Elite Platinum members are eligible to book qualifying stays through any channel, including hotel direct.

Can any guest earn the free night?
Choice Privileges members must maintain an address in the U.S. (including U.S. territories) and Canada and register at ChoiceHotels.com/earnafreenight in advance to be eligible for this promotion. Registration is not required for Choice Privileges members in Mexico, Latin America, Caribbean, Europe and Australasia.

Is the Stay Two Separate Times Earn One Night Free promotion based on stays or nights?
This promotion is based on stays. You will have to stay two separate times to be eligible for this promotion.

How is a “Stay” defined?
For Econo Lodge®, Rodeway Inn®, Suburban Extended Stay®, and 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.

How many times can I receive the bonus?
Choice Privileges members in US and Canada can earn the bonus an unlimited number of times, with arrival between March 8, 2012 and May 8, 2012. Choice Privileges members in Mexico, Latin America, Caribbean, Europe and Australasia can earn up to six (6) free nights through this promotion.

Are international stays included in the promotion?
Stays at all hotels included in the Choice Privileges program will count towards the promotion, as long as a qualifying stay is booked at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE.

Is there a booking requirement to be eligible for the Stay Two Separate Times Earn One Night Free promotion?
Yes. Stays must be booked at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE with arrival between March 8, 2012 and May 8, 2012.

Can I use the Choice Privileges points earned any way I choose?
You may redeem the Choice Privileges points earned for any redemption option you wish. You can use the points as soon as you receive them, or retain them until you accumulate enough points for higher reward levels or other redemptions.

When will the bonus points post to my account?
After every second qualifying stay, allow 72 hours from check-out for the bonus points to post to your Choice Privileges account.

When do my Choice Privileges points expire?
Choice Privileges points expire on December 31, two years after the year in which they were deposited into your account unless forfeited or canceled earlier due to membership inactivity or otherwise in accordance to these rules and regulations.

How do I redeem the free night?
A free night is based on an 8,000 point Choice Privileges reward night level. A free night at most Choice Privileges locations requires more than 8,000 points. You can redeem your points for a free night only through your online profile at ChoiceHotels.com or by calling Choice Privileges Reservations.

What is the Advanced Purchase Rate?
Advance Purchase Rate means that the reservation must be made on ChoiceHotels.com using your Choice Privileges number and must be made at least 7, 14, 21 or 30 days in advance, which will vary based on the hotel for which a reservation is being made. The rate starts at 15% off Best Available Rate, is non-cancellable, non-changeable and non-refundable. Your credit card will be charged for the total reservation amount within 24-48 hours of booking. Learn more here.

Where can I learn more about the Choice Privileges program?
Click here to visit choiceprivileges.com.

Who do I contact if I have further questions?
E-mail choice_privileges@choicehotels.com.

Choice Privileges low rates in Monterey.

To illustrate the leverage potential of Choice Hotels and this loyalty promotion, I checked rates in Monterey, California for Tuesday, April 10.

Munras Avenue is hotel alley in Monterey and these hotels offer the option to mattress run your way to numerous points.  There are several other Choice Hotels in the Monterey Peninsula area.

The ability to earn 8,000 points with $125 in hotel spend and then redeem 8,000 points for a $200 per night hotel in Paris, London or Sydney is a jumpstart on cheap summer travel.

Here is my previous analysis of the Choice Privileges Stay 2 times = 1 Free Night.

Choice Privileges 8,000 points for 2 Stays March 8-May 8 (March 7, 2012)

www.facebook.com/choicehotels. 

You can earn up to three additional entries each day by referring friends. Grand prize winner will be selected May 2, 2012.

Sweepstakes open only to residents of 50 US and D.C.

Grand Prize:

One (1) Grand Prize of $2,000 and 100,000 Choice Privileges® points to be used toward a trip to the Caribbean.

Daily instant prizes:

Ten (10) First Prizes: One (1) Amazon® Kindle

Ten (10) Second Prizes: One (1) Apple® iPod® Shuffle

Twenty-Five (25) Third Prizes: One (1) $25 Prepaid Gift Card

Instant Win Game:

After you enter the sweepstakes each day there will be a chance to win the daily instant prize.

Instant Win Game: Forty-five (45) random, computer-generated winning times, one for each prize listed below, will be generated during the Promotion Period. If you are the first player to play the Instant Win Game at or after one of the randomly-generated times, you will be a potential instant winner of the prize indicated.

The NEXT button gives you a chance to refer friends to the promotion.

Tell A Friend Program: After you enter the Promotion, you will be invited to submit the names and email addresses of up to three (3) friends who must be eligible to enter the Promotion. Each person that you refer will receive an email notifying him or her about the Promotion. You may only refer persons with whom you have an existing relationship. For each referral of a friend with a valid email address, you will be given one (1) additional Sweepstakes entry up to a total of three (3) additional Sweepstakes entries per day during the Promotion Period.

Choice Hotels Caribbean Dreamin’ Sweepstakes link.

1. Seasonal reward night rates

Hotel rewards have a variable rate based on limited time seasons. Most hotel loyalty programs assign a hotel to a specific category or tier and the hotel has a fixed reward cost regardless of the hotel reward stay dates. A Marriott Rewards category 6 hotel will be 30,000 points per night tonight or on October 15, 2012 unless it is participating in a special offer like Marriott PointSavers.

A hotel in Choice Privileges may be 25,000 points in some high season months, but only 8,000 points in other months. There is a wide range of reward night cost in Choice Privileges.

Paris, France seasonal reward rates.

These two hotels in Paris are only 8,000 points for a free night up to June 30 and then the rates rise to 25,000 points from July 1 to September 15, 2012.

Hotels in Australia and New Zealand can be even higher rates than 25,000 points per reward night.

2. Limited advance booking window for reward nights.

Bookings can only be made within 30 days for Choice Privileges members residing in the US and Canada with no elite status for hotels in the USA and Canada. Hotels in other international locations can be booked up to 60 days before arrival.

No other hotel program has such a restrictive booking window for using loyalty points.

A similar rule applies to members in different regions of the globe.

2. If you reside in the U.S. (including U.S. Territories) or Canada you must make your free room night reservations personally through the Program Line or through your online profile no more than 30 days prior to your planned arrival for stays in the U.S and Canada or 60 days prior to your planned arrival at all hotels in Hawaii and all other locations worldwide.

3. If you reside in Europe, the Middle East or Africa, you must make your reward night reservations personally through the Program Line or through your online profile no more than 30 days prior to your planned arrival for stays in Europe and the Middle East or 60 days prior to your planned arrival at all other locations worldwide.

4. If you reside in Australasia (including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Fiji) you must make your reward night reservations personally through the Program Line or through your online profile no more than 30 days prior to your planned arrival for stays in Australasia (including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Fiji) or 60 days prior to your planned arrival at all other locations worldwide.

5. If you reside in Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean, you must make your reward night reservations personally through the Program Line or through your online profile no more than 30 days prior to your planned arrival for stays in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean or 60 days prior to your planned arrival at all other locations worldwide.

This means members without elite status in the US and Canada can book international hotels in other worldwide locations up to two months in advance, whereas, these members can only book US/Canada hotels within 30 days of arrival.

Choice Privileges expanded booking window for elite members.

• Elite Gold member = 50 days for local region or 60 days for other international regions.
• Elite Platinum member = 75 days for all regions.
• Elite Diamond member = 100 days for all regions.

3. Points expire even with hotel stay account activity.

Choice Privileges points expire on December 31, two years after the year in which they were deposited into your account unless forfeited or canceled earlier due to membership inactivity or otherwise in accordance to these rules and regulations.

I earned 8,000 points in June 2011 from the “stay twice, earn a free night offer” that is similar to the current Choice Privileges promotion running March 8 – May 8, 2012. These points expire December 31, 2013 regardless of my stay activity. Choice Privileges operates with a “use them or lose them” points policy.

International hotel stays at 8,000 points per night are one of the highest value uses of Choice Privileges points.

Related Posts:

Choice Privileges: Booking High Value Reward Nights in Europe(March 26, 2012)

Choice Hotels Best Rate Guarantee offers Free Night(March 12, 2012)

Choice Privileges 8,000 Points for 2 Stays March 8-May 8, 2012 (March 7, 2012)

Currently Choice Privileges has a promotion for 8,000 points after two stays from March 8 to May 8, 2012. Here is my Loyalty Traveler post from March 7 on the promotion. The vast majority of the 6,000+ Choice Hotels in 11 hotel brands are located in the USA. Most of the hotels in the USA offering reward nights at the two lowest levels of 6,000 and 8,000 points are economy segment hotels with rates under $75 per night.

One of the interesting aspects of Choice Privileges is the opportunity for reward nights at hundreds of international hotels in Clarion, Comfort Inn and Quality Inn brands for 8,000 points per night. Some of these hotels have published rates at US$250 or more per night.

Paris, France and a night in the Opera.

Reward night cost and season dates can be checked easily on the ChoiceHotels.com website. You do not even need to be signed in as a member.

You must be signed in as a Choice Privileges member to actually see room availability. A general US member can redeem points for hotels in Hawaii and international locations outside the US and Canada up to 60 days before arrival.

There are 46 hotels in the 50 mile vicinity around Paris. Many of these hotels are Paris city center hotels.

Clarion Collection Hotel Opera Pavillon reward night options offer a choice of two room types.

Superior room at Clarion Hotel Opera Pavillon has higher published rate than standard room with double bed.

250EUR = USD$333

$333/8,000 points = $41.62 per 1,000 Choice Privileges points.

This is a small boutique hotel with 30 rooms. And even has room service.

Clarion Collection Opera Pavillon hotel in Paris, France

Located in a picturesque 19th century building, Clarion Collection® Opera Pavillon hotel is ideally situated in the very heart of a lively area and many points of interest are easy to reach by public transportation.

This Paris, France hotel is minutes from world-famous landmarks and attractions, including the Moulin Rouge cabaret, L’opera Garnier concert hall, Place du Tertre landmark, the Federation Francaise de Rugby headquarters, La Defense business district and the charming village of Montmartre.

Guests of this Paris hotel can enjoy amenities and features like:

• Free full breakfast
• Free wireless high-speed Internet access
• Free weekday newspaper
• Free coffee
• Pet-friendly hotel; fees apply

In addition to standard amenities, all guest rooms are air conditionedand offer features like spacious work desks and cable television.

Join us in the lobby for afternoon tea or a lively cocktail hour. Laundry facilities are located on the premises.

The City of Lights has so much to offer and while you are in town, there is no better place to stay than the Clarion Collection Opera Pavillon hotel. We have countless features and a welcoming staff. Make a reservation with us today.

The reason I am including so much detail on this hotel is to illustrate the low reward night option at 8,000 points is an incredible deal for this specific hotel compared to the typical value you might place on an 8,000 points reward night for a Choice Privileges hotel in the USA.

TripAdvisor gives the Clarion Collection Hotel Opera Pavillon hotel a decent 4-star rating and reviews.

This hotel has higher published rates than most hotels you will find at 8,000 points since it is in central Paris. High value hotels in major cities and some resorts for 8,000 points in low season dates for Choice Privileges are not difficult to find (except for the fact that I keep getting timed out of my Choice Privileges account every few minutes while researching and writing this article). There are 8,000 points hotel bargains in many locations around Europe and other international regions. I am specifically showing Paris and London in this post since these are two of the most popular travel destinations for Americans.

London before the Olympic Games 2012 summer rush

Even London has hotels for 8,000 points per night over the next two months.

Quality Crown Hotel Hyde Park London is one of six available Choice Privileges hotels within 2.5 miles of city center London with reward nights at 8,000 points.

There is a choice of several room types available.

The first Double Bed option states “small room.”  Good reason to go for last Double Bed option. The published Best Flexible Rate is 199 GBP after tax.

199GBP = USD$317.

Choice Privileges Redemption Value $317/8,000 points = $39.63 per 1,000 points.

Choice Privileges points are valued at $8 per 1,000 points by Nerdwallet.com.

There are some high value opportunities for Choice Privileges reward nights in international locations.

Current Choice Privileges promotion from March 8 to May 8 offers 8,000 points after two hotel stays. Choice Privileges Promotion registration link. Members can earn unlimited free nights during this promotion.

Two qualifying stays for 8,000 points can be completed for $120 to $140 total in many locations across the USA. Stay cheap now and vacation later on the cheap in Europe using Choice Privileges.

Choice Privileges: Three Things to Know (March 26, 2012)

Choice Hotels Best Rate Guarantee offers Free Night (March 12, 2012)

Choice Privileges 8,000 Points for 2 Stays March 8-May 8, 2012 (March 7, 2012)

Several travel blogs over the past 24 hours have discussed the US Airways hotel points transfer bonus promotion and most of the commentary suggests no other hotel program is worth considering besides SPG to get the best miles value from your hotel points.

 

Personally, the only hotel programs that give you a decent value when transferring is Starwood Preferred Guest. For every 20,000 SPG points you can get 37,500 US Airways points – which is pretty awesome! – Deals We Like

Through March 31st, US Airways is giving a 50% bonus when you transfer miles from a hotel program partner into Dividend Miles. They have a bunch of hotel partners, but the only one worth considering here is Starwood. – Online Travel Review

The best transfer bonus here would be with Starwood Preferred Guest. SPG points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to US Airways Dividend Miles, and for every 20,000 points you transfer you get a 5,000 point bonus. That means transferring 20,000 SPG points would earn you 37,500 Dividend Miles during this promotion. That means you’re basically earning 1.875 US Airways Dividend Miles per SPG point, which is an amazing transfer ratio. – One Mile at a Time

One of the biggest opportunities here is to transfer Starwood points, because this promotion stacks on top of the existing 5,000 mile bonus Starwood adds to each 20,000 point transfer to US Airways. So 20,000 Starpoints = 25,000 US Airways miles + this 50% promotion = 37,500 miles. – The Points Guy

The obvious way to leverage this is with Starwood points, 20,000 points normally yield 25,000 miles but with this offer would yield 37,500 miles. – View from the Wing

At first, I was super excited since US Airways has many hotel partners, but then reality quickly came rushing back in as I remember that the transfer ratios from most of the partners are pretty crummy. The best play for many people who have large Membership Rewards balances will be to convert American Express Membership Rewards to Starwood Preferred Guest points at a ratio of 2 Membership Reward points: 1 SPG point. – Mommy Points

Reality Check on SPG

My reality check for these bloggers is to point out that Starwood Preferred Guest does not have the best points-to-miles exchange rate among hotel loyalty programs when comparing programs based on the rate points are earned for hotel stays.

The competitive advantage of SPG is its high earning rate of 1 point per dollar for everyday spend on the SPG American Express card. That is a competitive advantage over other hotel loyalty program credit cards. But that advantage is not the same as having the best points-to-miles exchange rate for hotel loyalty programs.

Unless your earning is primarily from credit card spend outside hotel stays, then SPG is not the hotel program with the best points-to-miles transfer rate for this US Airways 50% bonus. I might also argue that SPG points are one of the most valuable points for hotel stays with competitive advantages over Club Carlson, Marriott Rewards, Hyatt Gold Passport and Wyndham Rewards for the ability to save lots of money with Cash & Points and 5th night free award stays using Starpoints. Marriott matches 5th night free, but doesn’t have Cash & Points option. Club Carlson has Cash & Points option, but not as good as SPG and there is no Club Carlson discount for extended reward stays. Therefore, SPG hotel points are the points I would hold and spend hotel points in the other leading points-to-miles hotel transfer programs if you have a choice of hotel points to transfer.

Comparison of hotel program points-to-US Airways miles exchange rates

In this post I show how different hotel programs match up when hotel spend is correlated to points earned and the points-to-miles transfer to US Airways.

The tables below do not include the 50% US Airways bonus miles. These are simply tables to show how programs match up at specific levels of hotel spend when all the points earned are transferred into airline miles.

Marriott Rewards, Club Carlson and Wyndham Rewards match or exceed the SPG points-to-miles transfer rate in most cases for people who earn their points primarily through hotel stays and hotel spend.

In January/February I published several hotel points-to-miles exchange rate tables. I never got around to publishing US Airways. This is probably a better situation to post the tables when readers are more engaged to see the comparison as it involves an actual transfer promotion with US Airways.

The tables below assume hotel loyalty members are staying at hotel brands with the best earning rate. For example, Marriott Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites earn only 5 points/$1 and the table is based on 10 points/$1. Wyndham Rewards only has one brand Hawthorn Suites earning less than 10 points/$1.

I have deleted HHonors from the table due to US Airways being the worst exchange rate of any airline in HHonors and HHonors having the worst points-to-miles exchange rate of any hotel loyalty program. Even a 50% bonus doesn’t make it worthwhile to transfer HHonors points to US Airways miles.

Note: these tables are not based on the US Airways 50% bonus miles promotion.

This table shows that a member without elite status or credit card consideration will get the best points-to-miles exchange rate with Wyndham Rewards.  After $7,000 in hotel spend the Wyndham Rewards member will have earned 70,000 points, enough points for 28,000 US Airways miles.

SPG member will have earned only 14,000 points for 14,000 miles.

Wyndham Rewards has the best points-to-miles exchange rate when comparing the rate of earning points per dollar in hotel spend. 2.5 points = 1 mile in Wyndham Rewards. That is a fixed rate regardless of the number of points transferred.

The disadvantage for Wyndham Rewards is the program does not offer elite status for bonus points. SPG Gold or Platinum earns 50% bonus points, Marriott Platinum earns 50% elite member bonus points and Club Carlson Concierge earns 75% elite bonus points. These programs improve ranking and Wyndham drops as elite bonus points are factored. Hyatt Gold Passport offers the same 25% miles bonus at transfers of 50,000 points that SPG offers at 20,000 points. Hyatt Diamond members see a comparative drop as the 30% bonus points in Gold Passport are exceeded by higher elite bonuses in Club Carlson, SPG and Marriott Rewards.

Note: Hyatt Gold Passport ends its partnership with US Airways on March 15, 2012.

Club Carlson’s high points-to-miles exchange rate combined with the highest elite bonus points at 75% for Concierge members means this is the fastest earning program for US Airways miles from hotel stays.

Club Carlson’s disadvantage is the lack of a credit card, but a recently inked deal with US Bank should bring a Club Carlson cobranded Visa card to the market by the end of 2012.

Wyndham Rewards still offers a better rate of earning US Airways miles than SPG for most members (under 75 nights/year) when not considering the credit card or hotel promotions. SPG will likely have better points earning promotions than Wyndham.

Marriott Rewards Platinum members still earn miles faster than SPG members based on hotel spend and assuming the Marriott Rewards member is not staying at Residence Inn or TownePlace Suites where the points earning rate is 50% of other Marriott hotel brands.

Marriott Rewards and Club Carlson still rank high in this comparison factoring in credit card spend for hotel stays. Wyndham Rewards credit card keeps that program in the running for one of the best points-to-miles exchange rates.

Bottom line is that while SPG has a great credit card for earning Starpoints, the actual exchange rates for points-to-miles transfers favor several other hotel loyalty programs over SPG for the hotel guest not spending tens of thousands of dollars on the SPG American Express credit card.

Transfer Hotel Points between member accounts

Another consideration for the US Airways hotel points promotion for 50% bonus miles is the option to transfer points between member accounts to increase your balance to a more favorable exchange rate level.

The ability to transfer points between two member accounts is probably the most useful strategy for bigger value hotel rewards. The transfer of points has the most variability in rules across hotel programs.

Club Carlson: free transfer of unlimited points through Member Services.

Hilton HHonors: member may receive unlimited points. Sender pays $25 fee per 10,000 points.

Hyatt Gold Passport: free transfer of minimum points needed for reward redemption between any two members.

IHG Priority Club Rewards: maximum 50,000 points receivable per member account. Sender pays $5.00 per 1,000 points.

Marriott Rewards: free transfer of minimum points needed for reward redemption between spouses/domestic partner members.

Starwood Preferred Guest: free transfer between members with same residential address for at least 30 days. SVO Vacation members may transfer points between accounts regardless of address.

Club Carlson has the most liberal policy for point transfers. A member can transfer points to any member free of charge with no maximum limit. Hyatt and Marriott allow one member to transfer the minimum points needed for a reward stay to another member with no fee, but Marriott limits this to spouses/partners. Starwood allows unlimited point transfers to members at same address. Priority Clubis more restrictive with both transfer fees and recipient points limit.

Marriott Air + Hotel Packages

One of the best reward values to combine with this US Airways 50% bonus miles for hotel points transfer is the Marriott Rewards Air + Hotel Packages.

200,000 Marriott Rewards points can be redeemed for 7 nights at a category 5 hotel and 50,000 miles (remember reward categories change March 15, 2012). This package will result in 75,000 miles and 7 nights at a category 5 hotel after the US Airways 50% bonus.

At the upper end of miles is 270,000 points for 120,000 miles and 7 nights at a category 5 hotel. Higher category hotel packages are available but 120,000 miles is the highest miles transfer.

At 270,000 Marriott Rewards points the Vacation Package miles increases from 75,000 US Airways miles for 200,000 points to 180,000 miles after the 50% bonus. Plus you have 7 nights at a Marriott Rewards hotel. You receive 105,000 more US Airways miles for 70,000 more Marriott Rewards points with the higher miles travel package.

Now that is a great Marriott Rewards points-to-miles exchange rate!

Reality check for all you SPG spenders.

Choice Hotels are located all over the United States and in 30 countries globally with over 6,100 franchised hotels. Choice Privileges announced last month it has 5,000 hotels in the USA. That number of hotels in the USA alone available for Choice Privileges points earn and burn exceeds the number of hotels globally for any other loyalty program except Wyndham Rewards (over 7,000 hotels).

Choice Hotels consists of 11 hotel brands in the economy to upscale market segments.

Choice Hotels 11 brands and STR Chain Scale segment:

• Ascend Collection – Upscale
• Cambria Suites – Upscale
• Clarion Hotels – Upper Midscale
• Comfort Inn – Upper Midscale
• Comfort Suites – Upper Midscale
• MainStay Suites – Midscale
• Quality Inn – Midscale
• Sleep Inn – Midscale
• EconoLodge – Economy
• Rodeway Inn – Economy
• Suburban Extended Stay – Economy

How to apply for a Choice Hotels global Best Rate Guarantee claim

The following is my attempt to make the Choice BRG rules easier to read and understand. Choice Hotels BRG Terms are the official terms (see T&C embedded link). Please comment if you see a discrepancy between my description and the official terms as applied by Choice Hotels in approved and ineligible claims.

Choice Hotels Best Rate Guarantee Claim Form online is required to submit claim.

Conditions for an eligible BRG claim

1. You must have a confirmed reservation made on Choice Hotels branded website. Choice Hotels consists of 11 hotel brands. There are numerous official hotel brand websites for booking since you can book at ChoiceHotels.com, SleepInn.com, or any site for the other ten brands in Choice Hotels.

2. The difference in rates must be equal or greater than 1 US Dollar. Choice Hotels bookings in foreign currency require the competing rate to be shown in same currency.

3. Timeframe for submitting a claim is within 24 hours of booking a confirmed stay on a Choice Hotels website and at least 72 hours before 6pm arrival on the first day of the stay.

4. Competing Rate Terms must meet these comparisons:

• Available for same hotel.
• Same dates.
• Same room type.
• Same number of guests.
• Same type of currency.
• Same length of stay.
• Same rate terms and restrictions including advance purchase requirements; prepayment and deposit requirements; and cancellation and change policies.
• Publicly viewable and available on the internet at time rate is verified by Choice Hotels.

Ineligible rates include group rates, package rates, coupon rates, membership rates like AAA and AARP and government rates and rates found on opaque sites like Priceline.com and hotwire.com.

If a Choice branded website has the same or lower rate than the competing rate submitted, then the reservation will use the Choice website’s lower rate for entire stay and a free night credit will not apply.

First Night Free in Approved BRG Claims:

The rate is adjusted to the lower competing rate and the first night has a $0 rate. A one-night stay will have a $0 rate.

You may only submit one claim for each stay. A stay is consecutive nights at the same hotel.

Free Night BRG Limit: One free night claim every 30 days.

The official rule is a “limit of one free night per name on the booking for any 30-day period between booking check-in dates”.

For example, I find a Cambria Suites with a $100 rate on Choice Hotels and it is $90 on Expedia.com.

Booking April 6 for two nights. I get the two night stay for $90. The first night is free and the second night is the lower rate found on Expedia.

I can’t have another approved BRG until a check-in date of May 6.

Earning points on a Best Rate Guarantee Stay

Points are earned based on the actual amount paid for the hotel stay after the BRG free night.

FlyerTalk Thread on Choice Hotels BRG Free Night

For a while last week Choice was approving flexible BAR rate claims when there was a lower nonrefundable rate on the Choice website. This practice seems to have closed and the competing rate would have to be lower than Choice Hotels lowest publicly available rate like an Advance Purchase rate.

When I initially copied the Choice Hotels BRG Terms & Conditions on March 3, 2012 there were only two BRG restrictions and today I see five restrictions including the addition of:

3. You may only submit one claim for each stay. A “stay” is defined as any number of consecutive nights at one hotel by the same guest(s).

4. Free Night Limit: one (1) free night per the name on the Booking for any thirty day period between Booking check-in dates.

5. After a Booking claim has been approved, the Booking is not transferrable.

Obviously this Choice Hotels Best Rate Guarantee policy is still in development.

One area cited as being an impediment for BRG claims is foreign currency issues. Several FlyerTalk members stated claims were declared ineligible due to different currencies when a simple currency adjustment on the Choice Hotels page allows comparison to the third party rate.

Choice Privileges Promotion registration is required. This offer is only available for US and Canada residents.

Choice Privileges hotel rewards start at 6,000 points and the website actually provides a list of hotels at 8,000 points or less.

The two lowest category hotel rewards in Choice Privileges are 6,000 points and 8,000 points. Many of these hotels have average daily rates under $60 per night. The other 4,500 hotels in the Choice Privileges system will cost more points for a reward night with many hotels pushing 25,000 to 35,000 points per night.

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).

Loyalty Traveler analysis:

A feature of Choice Privileges members need to be aware of is the reward redemption booking window that is far more restrictive than most other hotel loyalty programs. General members are only allowed to book reward nights in the US or Canada within 30 days of stay and within 60 days for international reward reservations. This window is expanded for elite members.

Choice Privileges Elite Booking Window for Reward Nights

• Gold elite (10 nights/year) = 50 days.
• Platinum elite (20 nights/year) = 75 days.
• Diamond elite (40 nights/year) = 100 days.

Promotion Offer is 8,000 Total Points and not 8,000 Bonus Points

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.

Update March 26 – I received an email today from a Choice Privileges representative stating the minimum bonus points to be given for this promotion is 5,000 points after two stays. This term is not currently listed in the promotion FAQ.

This changes the example points calculation originally posted to:

Member earns 5,600 base points from these two stays. However, because the points required to meet the 8,000 point threshold is 2,400 points and that is below the minimum bonus for the promotion, the member will receive a 5,000 point bonus on top of the 5,600 base points, for a total 10,600 points.

Also, a stay of 3 or more nights at Choice Hotels earns a $50 Restaurant gift card

This offer looks stackable with the concurrent promotion of a $50 restaurant gift card for a 3 night or longer stay in one of six cities. Book by March 15 for a stay completed by April 15. This Loyalty Traveler post describes the restaurant deal. The six cities will likely change in the next couple of weeks after the March 15 booking deadline. Check back to see if there is a new selection of cities later in March for the restaurant deal.

Conclusion: 8,000 points is a good bonus for two inexpensive stays. I picked up 8,000 points last year and I’ll probably pick up another 8,000 points when I hit the road over the next two months and drive through places where Choice Privileges is one of the better hotel choices in a small, rural town of California.

Choice Privileges ran this same offer last month with six different cities.

There are around 240 participating Choice brand hotels in these six metropolitan areas and the promotion fine print states hotels within 50 miles of the city center participate in the promotion:

• Columbia, South Carolina (35 hotels)
• Daytona Beach, Florida (26 hotels)
• Jackson, Mississippi (27 hotels)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (29 hotels)
• Savannah, Georgia (39 hotels)
• Riverside, California (83 hotels including San Bernadino area)
• San Bernadino, California

Restaurant Gift Card is valid for:

• Red Lobster
• Olive Garden
• Longhorn Steakhouse
• Bahama Breeze
• The Capital Grille
• Seasons 52

You must return this rebate form to earn your gift card.

Loyalty Traveler Analysis

The $50 restaurant card is a good deal for someone on a 3-night stay around one of these cities.

The $50 restaurant rebate form process is a tedious step, but this $50 gift card offer is a great offer for someone already needing a 3-night hotel stay in one of these locations.

Choice Privileges has a new promotion for 8,000 bonus points after two stays running March 8 to May 8, 2012. Registration for this promotion is open now. The 8,000 bonus points offer for two stays is stackable with the restaurant card offer.

Register now for Choice Privileges 8,000 bonus points after two stays March 8-May 8, 2012. I’ll follow up with a separate write-up on the 8,000 points bonus offer.

Rate Analysis of Promotion

Assume $70 per night rate at a Comfort Inn on a 3-night stay.

$210 x 10 points/$1 = 2,100 points + $50 restaurant gift certificate.

Choice Privileges has over 1,500 hotels where reward nights are 6,000 or 8,000 points. Choice Privileges points are valued at $8/1,000 points by NerdWallet.com based on the rate points are earned compared to redemption cost of Choice Hotels using Choice Privileges points in several cities.