The recent posts on View from the Wing and Points, Miles & Martinis focus on hotel stay elite status benefits. My focus is more on the value of points earned from Marriott stays for high value redemption opportunities. My analyses reveal Marriott Rewards has some competitive advantages to other major hotel loyalty programs; particularly for the truly frequent traveler with the ability to amass tens of thousands of points.

Here are six Marriott Rewards program strengths (besides Ritz-Carlton Hotels):

1. More hotels in lower categories than comparable market segment hotels in most other chains. 

Graphic is from Marriott Rewards pdf.

80% of Marriott Rewards hotels are in the bottom four hotel categories. Hilton HHonors distribution is skewed more to higher categories compared to Marriott Rewards.

This is easier to explain with an example.

JW Marriott Los Angeles LA Live is a Marriott Rewards category 6 hotel at 30,000 points per night and a AAA 4-diamond hotel.

Hilton Checkers Los Angeles is a AAA 3-diamond hotel and a Category 6 HHonors reward night at 40,000 points.

Marriott Rewards Silver elite member needs $2,500 in spend to earn 30,000 points. Hilton HHonors Silver elite member earning Points & Points needs $2,424 in spend to earn 40,000 points.

I would consider JW Marriott to be the better quality hotel for Los Angeles and it would certainly be a category 7 HHonors property at 50,000 points per night if it were a Conrad brand hotel.

In city after city a comparison of Marriott brand hotels to Hilton brand hotels will show Marriott has its hotels in lower categories along the scale of its eight reward categories compared to comparable market segment hotels in Hilton HHonors eight reward categories including Waldorf-Astoria. Most places where the Hilton brand hotel is a category 6 or 7 will have Marriott brand hotels of comparable market segment in Marriott Rewards categories 5 or 6.

Hilton HHonors has an advantage to Marriott Rewards for extended stay rewards with 15% to 25% discounts for any length of reward stay from 4 to 14 nights and even bigger discounts on 4-night stays for HHonors American Express card members. Marriott Rewards use to blow away the competition with its extended stay discounts, but dropped a progressively favorable reward chart for a simple 5th night free.

2. High Airline Miles Exchange Rate

Marriott Rewards has the best points-to-miles exchange rate of any hotel loyalty program for US airlines like Delta, United and US Airways. when exchanging 125,000 points into 50,000 miles. Unfortunately Marriott and American no longer partner for points-to-miles exchange.

The Marriott points-to-miles rate far surpasses Hilton HHonors. The value of Double Dip for HHonors Points & Miles earners is certainly a major route to earning airline miles aside from Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites stays and should not be overlooked.

Club Carlson is typically the second best program for points-to-miles exchange rates and perhaps is better for some international airlines than Marriott Rewards where 125,000 miles only earns 35,000 miles. Starwood is also a valuable program for airline miles, but its competitive advantage is predominantly through SPG American Express credit card spend earn rates rather than points earned from hotel stays.

Here is my Loyalty Traveler post for American Airlines point-to-miles exchange rate comparisons between hotel loyalty programs with links to posts for other US airlines.

3. Marriott Rewards Hotel + Airline Packages offer 1 point = 1 mile exchange rate.

Hotel + Air rewards take huge account balances of 200,000 or more points, but also offer the best value for points-to-miles exchange rates when combined with a 7-night hotel stay reward. My post from January 21, 2012 describes the range of hotel discount rewards in Marriott Rewards, Hilton HHonors and IHG Priority Club.

4. Marriott Rewards offers upgrades for 5,000 points per night at participating hotels available to all members. Some hotels also offer cash upgrades. The Marriott upgrade for points is probably a better value than most examples of HHonors Premium Room Rewards that generally have a relatively low redemption value (about $4 to $6 per 1,000 HHonors points).

IHG does not offer upgrades for points.

Hyatt and SPG have confirmed upgrade certificates, but these are limited to top elite members.

5. Marriott Rewards elite benefits often apply even when the hotel stay is booked through a third party site. Hilton HHonors counts reward stays for elite credit and that is generally a more valuable benefit for a loyalty member. But when a $100 Priceline winning bid puts you into a $300 Marriott hotel and you still receive benefits…that is what I call win-win!

6. Elite Nights credit with credit card and elite rollover nights and the ability for annual challenges lower the high bar for Marriott Rewards elite member tiers at 50 nights for Gold and 75 nights for Platinum.

Here is a post I wrote March 15, 2012 on Marriott Rewards Elite Challenge.

January 18, 2012 I wrote a post on Making Elite with Marriott, IHG and Hilton.

Most of my information about Marriott Rewards is based on comparative analysis of program features to other hotel loyalty programs and the experiences I read from high elite members.

I find there is good value for Marriott Rewards members even though I am not personally using Marriott Rewards much in my travels.

Related Post: Weighing in on the value of Marriott Rewards – Part 1 (3-26-12)

The major news item for Loyalty Traveler readers from day one of the Carlson Rezidor Global Business Conference 2012 was an announcement that the hotel group just signed a deal with US Bank to issue a Club Carlson Visa credit card. I have no details on earn rates for the credit card and the launch date was not announced, although I was told it may be available Q4 2012.

Most other aspects of Atlantis are impressive. This place definitely is impressive as a full service resort. More posts with conference details and a review of Atlantis Resort will come later when I have a stable internet connection.

The Royal Towers at Atlantis

The Royal Towers is the iconic Atlantis hotel structure with the central arch. This photo gives the appearance of being one long building. The far right is actually a separate Atlantis hotel building called the Cove and is located a few hundred yards northwest of Royal Towers.

View from my room in Royal Towers Atlantis.

Another view from the room.

 

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group

The Carlson Hotel Group and Rezidor Hotel Group (EMEA – Europe, Middle East, Africa region hotels) was officially renamed as Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group January 18, 2012.

Junkanoo – A party Bahamian style

The Royal Deck opening night party outdoors included some noise makers on the tables. Later in the evening their purpose was revealed when the Junkanoo paraded through the evening party crowd.

This is a traditional Bahamian celebration that takes place at 1am on Boxing Day, the day after Christmas and also on New Year’s Day where extravagant costumes and music play out on the streets of Nassau.

In the walkway to the west tower of the Royal Towers is the Dec 26. 2011 costume winner ‘Atlantis Rising’ from the Shell Saxons Superstars Junkanoo Group.

“Atlantis Rising”

The Water of Winter

This is the fourth time I have been to a Caribbean island. This is the first time I have visited in winter and the ocean is not like the warm bath water temperature I experienced in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and US Virgin Islands in summer months. The ocean temperature is certainly tolerable and probably as warm or warmer than swimming at the beach in Southern California in summer.

On the flip side though, the air temperature is ideal for me at 65 to 75 degrees and low humidity. I have been sleeping with the patio door open and listening to the beach surf at night. The skies have been almost totally clear of clouds and the stars are lovely to watch from bed in the tranquil hours from midnight to dawn.

Blogger Disclosure

I am attending the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group Global Business Conference 2012 as a media guest. My hotel room at Atlantis and conference fee are provided complimentary by Carlson. I paid my own airfare to come to Nassau.

In between the schedule of events from 9am to 9pm meetings, meals and parties are a few precious moments of down time to relax. I haven’t turned on the TV since my arrival.

Wyndham Rewards Visa card is actually a high value card for people interested in airline miles, particularly SkyTeam Alliance, United and Continental flyers. All purchases earn 2 points per dollar and Wyndham hotel brands earn 5 points per dollar. Most other Visa hotel loyalty cards from Marriott, Hyatt, and Priority Club only earn 1 hotel point per dollar for general purchases and the points-to-miles transfer rates for hotel points is less than the Wyndham Rewards rate. 

Wyndham Rewards has a fixed points-to-miles exchange rate at 2.5 points = 1 mile. This is among the highest points-to-miles transfer rates of all hotel programs.

Comparison of Wyndham Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest points-to-miles transfer rates

Starwood’s American Express card earns 1 point per dollar for non-hotel spend and 1 point = 1 mile for most airline partners. SPG American Express is a popular card for airline miles, however, American Express is not accepted by many merchants and the SPG points-to-miles rate for United and Continental is a lower 2 points = 1 mile rate.

Wyndham Rewards is essentially giving 0.8 miles per dollar in credit card spend. This rate is 60% higher than the SPG American Express rate (0.5 miles per dollar) for United and Continental miles.

$4,000 in Wyndham Rewards Visa credit card spend earns 3,200 Continental or United miles for cardmembers. SPG American Express only earns 2,000 CO or UA miles with $4,000 in non-hotel spend.

SPG gives 1.25 miles per dollar for 1:1 airline partners points-to-miles transfers at the 20,000 points level. $20,000 in SPG American Express spend earns 25,000 miles. But transfer less than 20,000 points and the exchange rate is 1 point for 1 mile. 

Spend $20,000 on Wyndham Rewards Visa and your 40,000 points will convert into 16,000 miles with any of its 17 airline partners. You will earn 25% more miles with SPG 1:1 airline partners when exchanging fewer than 20,000 Starpoints for airlines partnering with both programs.

Airline Partners

SPG has 30 airline partners and many more international airline partners than Wyndham Rewards. Although, if your travel includes China, then Wyndham Rewards has more airline partners for this region with Air China, China Southern, China Eastern and Hainan Airlines.

Domestically SPG has opportunities with Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian. Wyndham Rewards has different U.S. domestic partners than SPG with Midwest and Spirit Airlines.

Bottom line for the Loyalty Traveler

Wyndham Rewards Visa is a good back-up credit card for miles with 17 airline partners, particularly for Skyteam members.

• Skyteam Airlines Aeromexico, China Southern, and Czech Airlines are Wyndham Rewards airline partners not available through Starwood Preferred Guest.
• Continental and United earn miles at a better rate with Wyndham Rewards Visa than SPG American Express.
• Midwest Airlines and Spirit are other airline partners not available through SPG.
• China Eastern and Hainan Airlines are Wyndham partners, but not SPG partner airlines.

16 airline partners and Amtrak for Wyndham Rewards (Airlines in bold are not SPG airline partners)

8,000 points = 3,200 miles, unless stated otherwise

1. Aeromexico (8,000 points = 5,120 km)
2. Aeroplan – Air Canada
3. Air Berlin
4. Air China (8,000 points = 5,150 miles)  (1.55 points = 1 mile)
5. American
6. Amtrak
7. China Eastern (8,000 points = 5,150 miles)  (1.55 points = 1 mile)
8. China Southern (minimum transfer = 1,250 points for 500 miles)
9. Continental
10. Czech OK
11. Delta Skymiles
12. Hainan Airlines (8,000 points = 5,150 miles)  (1.55 points = 1 mile)
13. Midwest
14. Southwest (8,000 points = 2 credits)
15. Spirit
16. US Airways
17. United

30 airline partners and Amtrak for Starwood Preferred Guest (Airlines in bold are not Wyndham Rewards partners)

1. Air Berlin
2. Air Canada- Aeroplan
3. Air China
4. Air New Zealand
5. Alaska
6. ANA All Nippon Airways
7. Alitalia
8. American
9. Amtrak
10. Asiana
11. Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
12. British Airways
13. Continental (2:1)
14. Delta
15. Emirates
16. Flying Blue-Air France/KLM
17. Hawaiian
18. Japan Airlines
19. Kingfisher Airlines
20. LanPass
21. Mexican Frecuenta
22. Miles & More – Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, LOT Polish, Brussels
23. Qater Airways
24. Saudi Arabian Airlines
25. Singapore Airlines (2:1)
26. Southwest Airlines
27. Thai Airways
28. US Airways
29. United (2:1)
30. Varig (2:1)
31. Virgin Atlantic

 

Related posts:

Loyalty Traveler Hotel Points-to-Miles exchange rate tables (9-27-10)

Loyalty Traveler compares hotel rewards credit card benefits (9-1-10)

Here is an update to the Current Hotel Loyalty Promotions page on Loyalty Traveler.  Most of the major fall 2010 promotions have been announced with the exception of Hilton HHonors, Carlson Goldpoints Plus and Wyndham Rewards.

Overall the promotions have been scaled down for the coming months. The hotel industry had a good summer compared to 2009 and hotel room rates are rising around the world. The U.S. is actually one of the worst performing regions globally, although you wouldn’t recognize that fact from the rapid rate increases in New York City.

There are still some leading indicators showing signs of weakness ahead. A number of high-profile luxury hotels and resorts are in foreclosure and auction mode, but most of these are not impacting the brand signage outside the hotel doors.

Current Hotel Loyalty Promotions and News – updated September 8, 2010

The frequent guest has the choice of many hotel loyalty promotions with little guidance to their relative value. Here is Loyalty Traveler’s summary of current hotel loyalty promotions and limited time rate offers for the frequent guest. Newly added offers since the last August 20 update are marked with an asterisk (*).

Hilton HHonors is the only major loyalty program that has not announced its primary Fall 2010 promotion at this time. Priority Club and Hyatt Gold Passport have the best deals so far for fall hotel stays in my opinion.

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

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

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

Three Keys = good value hotel loyalty promotion or rate offer

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

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

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

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

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

 

Accor A-Club

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

 

Best Western Rewards 

*3-key promotion – 2,000 bonus points per night at 315 hotels in Southeast U.S. from August 24 – September 26, 2010. This may be earned for up to four nights for 8,000 bonus points. Registration is required.

*3-key promotion – 1,250 miles with American Airlines or Air Canada Aeroplan after two stays Sep 12-Nov 21. Earn 750 bonus miles every second stay. There is no cap on the number of times this bonus may be earned, unlike the concurrent promotion for triple points. Registration is required and you need to set your BW account earning preference to miles to see these promotion offers.  LT promotion post (Aug 22)

*2-key Promotion – Double or Triple Points, Sep 12 through Nov 21, 2010. Earn triple points (30 points/$1) on your second stay booked through Bestwestern.com. Earn double points if reservation not booked online. This bonus is earned only one time, except elite members also earn triple points on 4^th stay. Promotion code is FALL10 or for AAA BestWestern Preferred members AAAFALL10. Promotion registration required. LT promotion post (Aug 22)

Best Western Rewards Elite Status Match Offer (February 19, 2010)

Program Change for Elites: Elite members earn 250 bonus points for stays in US/Canada or a welcome snack. (Aug 3, 2010)

 

Carlson Hotels – Goldpoints Plus

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

 

Choice Hotels – Choice Privileges

*3-key promotion (4-key for platinum and diamond elite members) – Earn 8,000 points for every two stays between August 26 and November 3, 2010 at Choice Hotel brands of Ascend Collection, Cambria Suites, Clarion, Comfort Inn and Comfort Suites, Quality Inn and Sleep Inn.  Promotion may be earned four times for 32,000 points. Choice Privileges Platinum and Diamond Elite members may earn 8,000 points every two stays unlimited times.

Platinum and Diamond elites have the choice of a triple points alternate offer for every stay beginning with second stay.

*3-key promotion – Choice Privileges hotel brands of 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. These brands normally earn 5 points/$1 so double points = 10 points/$1.

 

Hilton HHonors 

*4-key promotion – up to 10,000 Delta Skymiles Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQM) for stays of two or more nights between September 1 and December 10, 2010.

*HHonors Program change: Gold and Diamond members receive complimentary internet at all Hilton Worldwide hotels beginning September 1, 2010. (Hilton – Aug 2 press release) 

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

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

 

Hyatt Gold Passport

*4-key promotion – ‘Great 10K’ Fall 2010 offer awards 10,000 Gold Passport points for every 5 nights September 15 – December 15, 2010. Nights do not need to be consecutive nights. Stay every night in a Hyatt Hotel and you can earn 180,000 bonus points. Register online beginning September 15 at goldpassport.com/welcome10k. LT post Aug 25. This promotion may be combined with the 3,000 AA miles per stay offer below (60,000 AAdvantage miles).

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

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

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

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

 

InterContinental Hotels Group – Priority Club

*5-key promotion – Sweet Dilemma – Free night after two stays or double points/miles for stays between September 20 and December 31, 2010. Registration is required and member must choose to earn free nights or double points/miles. There is a limit of five free nights after ten stays. Free nights stays must be used between December 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011. Asia-Pacific region IHG hotels are not participating in free nights portion of this promotion. A big drawback to the free nights offer is members will not earn any base or elite points for the remainder of 2010, even if the free night offer is maxed out after ten stays. IHG loyalists may prefer double points or miles.

*5-key offer Priority Club “Crack the Case” individually targeted promotion terms. My Crack the Case offer is a 5-key promotion, however, the best offers appear to be for Priority Club members who did not stay too frequently over the past year. Members who received this promotion have until May 31, 2011 to fulfill the tasks for bonus points. You need to already be a Priority Club member and check your email offer for your own Crack the Case promotion terms.

My offer was 162,000 points for five tasks and a 91,000 points bonus for completing four of the challenges: PC credit card enrollment 60,000 points; stay two Saturdays; stay in two brands, complete a hotel stay profile survey; stay 10 room nights. I can potentially receive 157,000 Priority Club points for just two Saturday hotel nights in two different brands over the next nine months.

5-key offer Priority Club PointBreaks 5,000 points per night awards to October 30 (Aug 2, 2010)

3-key promotion – Sep 1-Dec 30 – Stay two consecutive weekend nights (Fri, Sat or Sun) at an IHG brand hotel in conjunction with a flight and get reimbursed for one roundtrip checked baggage fee up to $50. (Aug 17)

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

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

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

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

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

IHG Friend & Family Hotel Rates (through Dec 26, 2009)

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

 

Joie de Vivre Hotels – Joy of Life Club

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

 

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

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

 

Marriott Rewards

*3-key promotion – Triple Airline Miles October 1-December 31, 2010. The Triple Miles promotion has just five participating airlines: Air Canada, Continental, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Jet Airways.You need to set your Marriott Rewards earning preference to miles to register for this promotion. Marriott Rewards has 30 airline partners and miles are earned at the rate of 2 miles/$1 for full-service Marriott brands (3x miles = 6 miles/$1) and 1 mile per $1 for other Marriott brands (3x miles = 3 miles/$1). Loyalty Traveler post Aug 26.

*Marriott Sweepstakes – Win 7 nights at JW Marriott and a 7-night Caribbean cruise. Online entry required at CrusiesOnly.com between September 1 and October 31, 2010. The hotel stay and cruise may be done in separate trips. The cruise is a balcony stateroom on Norwegian Epic. Prizes expire Nov 30, 2011 if not used by then. (Sep 2) 

4-key promotion – Marriott MegaBonus (Sep 15-Jan 15, 2011) various targeted offers with the basic offer being one free night after two stays paid with Visa. Limit of two free nights during promotion. Free night valid only for Category 1 to category 4 hotels.

Active Marriott Rewards members may receive bonus points offers based on total nights stayed or 5,000 points for every two stays. There are several variations mentioned for 25,000 to 50,000 bonus points. 

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

 

Starwood Preferred Guest

*2-key promotion – Every Night Counts Double/Triple Points for stays from Sep 8-Dec 15, 2010. Earn double points beginning with your first night and triple points (applied retroactively) after10 nights during the promotion period. Registration is required by October 31, 2010. The FAQ state this promotion is combinable with other SPG promotions.

There are over 150 hotels globally not participating in this promotion, so check the list carefully. The list of non-participating Starwood properties are posted on FlyerTalk.

Every Night Counts does not thrill me as the primary Fall 2010 SPG promotional offer.  Spend $2,000 on 10 or more nights during the promotion and you will only earn 8,000 bonus points with triple points. That is nothing to get too excited about.

*4-key promotion – Earn 10,000 bonus points at Starwood Resorts for a stay of four or more nights between Sep 1 and Dec 19, 2010 at any of 131 participating resorts globally. This bonus may be earned multiple times. Only stays after promotion registration are eligible for bonus. Register by Sep 30. 

* SPG Blackberry app Sweepstakes – Win 100,000 points by downloading SPG Blackberry app between August 1-September 30, 2010. Two winners will be chosen from entries October 15.

*Limited Time Rate offer – 20% Discount with MasterCard payment at over 60 Starwood Hotels in Latin America. Reservations must be made by September 30, 2010 for hotel stays through December 15, 2010. This rate plan also includes a welcome amenity and a kids eat free offer. This may be the lowest rate at some hotels, however, check other rate plans for better deals. Loyalty Traveler rate analysis (August 31).

* Starwood Preferred Guest – American Express credit card changes effective October 14, 2010. The annual fee is increasing to $65 from $45 for renewals beginning Oct 14. Benefit changes include 5 elite nights credit each year. This will have no effect for members who qualify on stays. The SPG50 certificate will be discontinued in favor of a 3^rd night free offer at Sheraton Hotels. Loyalty traveler post (August 24)

4-Key Promotion – (through Sep 30) Earn a free night at any Aloft or Element Hotel after three stays at an Aloft or Element brand hotel by September 30, 2010. (Aug 10, 2010)

4-Key Promotion – (through Dec 30) 3,000 Bonus Points for Sunday night stay at 11 NYC area Starwood Hotels through December 30. (Aug 13, 2010)

3-Key Promotion – (through Dec 31) 3^rd Night Free or Two Free nights on six-night stay in Europe, Africa, and Middle East when paying with MasterCard

SPG program change: Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards is new airline partner. Exchange rate for points-to-miles transfer is 1,500 Starpoints = 1 Rapid Rewards credit. Free roundtrip flight requires 16 credits. SPG members may also earn 0.5 credits per stay through SPG Airline Direct Deposit. (August 19, 2010)

SPG Southwest Airlines Bonus – Four Points hotel stays earn double Southwest Rapid Rewards credit through September 30 (1 credit per stay instead of regular 0.5 credit).

Starwood and Harrah’s Total Rewards double dip opportunity:  For the remainder of 2010 members of Harrah’s Total Points may earn both Harrah’s points and Starpoints for Starwood Hotel stays. (Aug 6, 2010)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Wyndham Rewards

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

 

Airline-Hotel Partner Bonuses:

*Air Canada Aeroplan – Receive 1,500 bonus miles when exchanging hotel points into at least 10,000 Aeroplan miles through September 20, 2010 from Best Western Rewards, Carlson Goldpoints Plus, Choice Privileges, Hilton HHonors, Hyatt Gold Passport, IHG Priority Club Rewards, Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest, and Wyndham Rewards. (Aug 9, 2010) 

American Airlines 

Earn up to 10,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for ten hotel stays between September 1 and November 15, 2010. Earn 3,000 AAdvantage miles after three hotel stays and 1,000 bonus miles for each additional stay up to ten stays during promotion period. This offer is combinable with Hyatt 60K offer (ends 10/15/10), Wyndham 25K offer (ends 9/30/10), and Fairmont double miles offer (ends 11/15/10).

Loyalty Traveler Research Articles

Hotel Loyalty Credit Cards and the Value of Hotel Points 

*Hotel Rewards Credit Cards Comparison of Benefits (September 1) 

*Hotel Credit Cards Comparison by Value of Points (September 2) 

*Hotel Credit Card Comparison using NerdWallet.com Value of Points (Sep 5) 

*Loyalty Traveler’s Three Rules for the Value of Hotel Points (Sep 7) 

 

Hotel Points to Airline Miles Conversion Tables

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

 

*Hotel Market Segments and Hotel Brand Profiles based on JD Power 2010 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study

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

Loyalty traveler comments on JD Power Luxury Segment and luxury hotel brands  (Aug 11, 2010)

Loyalty traveler comments on JD Power Upscale Segment Hotel Brands (Aug 11)

Loyalty Traveler Comments on JD Power 2010 Midscale Full Service Brand Ratings (Aug 13, 2010)

Loyalty Traveler comments on JD Power 2010 Midscale Limited Service Brands (August 15, 2010)

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)

 

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

Four Credit Card Spending Scenarios

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

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

Methodology:

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

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

The Value of Hotel Points

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Earning Categories for Credit Card Spend

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

• 5 points per $1 spent at Carlson Hotels worldwide
• 4 points per $1 on all other purchases

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

• 6 HHonors bonus points per US$1 spent at Hilton Worldwide hotels, grocery stores, gas stations, drugstores, home and wireless phone, cable, internet.
• 3 HHonors bonus points on all other purchases

Hilton HHonors Surpass Card American Express (U.S.)

• 9 HHonors bonus points per US$1 spent at Hilton Worldwide hotels
• 6 HHonors bonus points per US$1 spent at grocery stores, gas stations, drugstores, home and wireless phone, cable, internet.
• 3 HHonors bonus points on all other purchases

Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature (U.S.)

• 6 HHonors bonus points per US$1 spent at Hilton Worldwide hotels.
• 3 HHonors bonus points at gas stations, grocery stores and drugstore.
• 2 HHonors bonus points on all other purchases

Hyatt Chase Visa Card (U.S. residents only)

• 3 Gold Passport bonus points per US$1 spent at Hyatt brand hotels worldwide.
• 1 Gold Passport bonus point per US$1 on all other purchases

Priority Club Chase Select Visa Card (U.S.)

• 5 Priority Club bonus points per US$1 spent at IHG hotels worldwide.
• 3 Priority Club bonus points per US$1 at gas stations, dining and grocery stores.
• 1 Priority Club bonus point per US$1 on all other purchases
• Annual free night e-certificate (valid for any IHG brand hotel worldwide)

Marriott Rewards Signature Visa from Chase

•  3 Marriott Rewards bonus points per US$1 spent at Marriott brand hotels worldwide.
• 1 Marriott Rewards bonus point per US$1 on all other purchases

Marriott Rewards Premier Visa from Chase

• 5 Marriott Rewards bonus points per US$1 spent at Marriott brand hotels worldwide.
• 2 Marriott Rewards bonus points per US$1 spent on airlines, dining and rental cars.
• 1 Marriott Rewards bonus point per US$1 on all other purchases.
• Annual free night certificate (category 1-5 hotels). First year is a category 1-4 e-certificate.

Starwood Preferred Guest American Express

• 2 bonus Starpoints per US$1 spent at Starwood Hotels and Resorts worldwide.
• 1 bonus Starpoints per US$1 per US$1 on all other purchases.

 

Conclusion:

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

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

There are many variables when choosing a hotel loyalty program and credit card. This is just one comparison with each card matched up on the same playing field using the same spend levels and categories.  Your personal spend and hotel stay pattern may lead to different conclusions.