Kimpton Sky Hotel Aspen – from $299 March; $199 April. Daily continental breakfast for two at 39 Degrees Lounge.

Kimpton Monaco Denver – 20% off. Daily continental breakfast for two at Panzano.

Kimpton Monaco Salt Lake City – 10% off weekdays; 20% off weekends. Daily continental breakfast for two at Bambara Restaurant.

Breakfast for two is added value for the rate.

Must book these rates by Friday, March 23.

Loyalty Traveler Aspen Analysis

Aspen hotels are expensive. There are several upper upscale hotels at the base of the mountain near the town center ski lifts just outside The Little Nell.

Kimpton Sky Hotel is across the street from The Little Nell.

Checking dates in April revealed the $199 rate on a 4-night sample stay with check-in Monday, April 2 and checkout Friday April 6, 2012.

Kimpton Sky Hotel Aspen: total 4-night rate after tax = $884.

Kimpton Sky Hotel Aspen lobby looking up to 39 Degrees Lounge.

Sky Hotel Aspen lobby.

Continuing along the streets parallel to the mountainside are the Hyatt Residences and Starwood’s St. Regis Aspen.

St. Regis Aspen increased to SPG category 7 and is 30,000 points per night for the same dates April 2-6, 2012.

St. Regis Aspen view from courtyard pool area.

The lowest priced room at St. Regis Aspen is $643 per night after tax. The St. Regis went through a multimillion dollar renovation in 2011. Personally I would save the $1,600 in cash and stay at Kimpton Sky Hotel Aspen and use the money saved for dining and activities around Aspen.

Kimpton InTouch loyalty program earns one free night at any Kimpton after every 7 stays or 20 nights at any Kimpton hotels. Credits do not expire.

Kimpton Hotels Altitude Adjustment special rate offer.

Hotel Palomar Los Angeles and Hotel Palomar San Diego offer a “Walk this Way” package rate that includes a pedometer, bottled water, power bar and foot lotion. Another benefit of the Walk this Way package rate is the opportunity to receive a hotel voucher for 50% off a hotel stay through December 30, 2012 at the LA Hotel Palomar or San Diego Hotel Palomar if you walk 10,000 steps on the day of arrival.

So be sure to check in early for this deal!

10,000 steps equates to about 5 miles. This deal gives new meaning to street walking for cash. If you are ready for a leisurely two hour walk after arriving to the Hotel Palomar, then you can score with this package rate in Los Angeles or San Diego.

Hotel Palomar Walk This Way Package Rate (Los Angeles and San Diego)

Hotel Palomar San Diego Package includes:

• Beautifully appointed deluxe accommodations
• $20 daily credit to be used in Saltbox Drinking & Dining or in-room Dining
• Welcome Amenity including pedometer, bottled water, power bar and soothing foot lotion
• Also show the front desk you have walked 10,000+ steps the day you check-in (not cumulative steps during stay) and get 50% off your room rate when you come back and stay at Palomar San Diego or Palomar Los Angeles by 12/30/2012.
• Morning coffee and tea service in living room, hosted evening wine reception in living room, 24-hour access to in-house fitness room
• All for just $20 more than our Best Available Rate

Book online or call (888) 288-6601 and mention rate code WTW.

Hotel Palomar Los Angeles

Package includes:

• Beautifully appointed deluxe accommodations
• $20 daily credit to be used in BLVD 16 or in-room Dining
• Welcome Amenity including pedometer, bottled water, power bar and soothing foot lotion
• Also show the front desk you have walked 10,000+ steps the day you check-in (not cumulative steps during stay) and get 50% off your room rate when you come back and stay at Palomar San Diego or Palomar Los Angeles by 12/30/2012.
• Morning coffee and tea service in living room, hosted evening wine reception in living room, 24-hour access to in-house fitness room.
• All for just $20 more than our Best Available Rate.

Book online or call (800) 472-8556 and mention rate code WTW.

Hotel Palomar San Diego Packages and Promotions

Kimpton InTouch loyalty program members earn a free hotel night after every seven stays or 20 nights. These are cumulative stays and nights and the counter is not based on the calendar year. Kimpton InTouch tracks your stays and nights over the years and once you have 7 stays or 20 nights accumulated at Kimpton Hotels you earn a free night good for any Kimpton Hotel.

Loyalty Traveler Rate Analysis

Hotel Palomar San Diego (Friday November 25) Deluxe Guest Room King Bed

• AAA rate  = $197
• Walk This Way Rate = $239
• Walk this Way package rate is $42 + tax more than AAA per night, but Walk This Way package includes pedometer and $20 food & beverage credit good for in-room dining or Saltbox restaurant.
• Walk this Way rate is a good deal if you plan to use the 50% discount credit for a future hotel stay by Dec 30, 2012.

As an aside, the history of the Sè Hotel gives insight into the world of hotel high finance and the parallel of the hotel foreclosure market to the residential housing market. The Sè Hotel opened in San Diego just as the banking crisis peaked in late 2008 and hotel revenue plummeted with the luxury market room rate collapse in 2009. The Sè Hotel was in financial straits by early 2009 as loan payments came due. By summer 2010 the hotel owners filed for bankruptcy. Kimpton acquired the hotel and opened it as Hotel Palomar in September 2012.

SignonSanDiego.com has several stories detailing the rise and fall of the Sè Hotel in San Diego.

December 27, 2008 – Luxury Hotel opening in peanut-butter-and-jelly times

June 28, 2010 – High end downtown hotel files for bankruptcy.

February 22, 2011 – Sè Hotel goes on the market, but who will get the money?

May 26, 2011 – Bankrupt downtown hotel sells for $49 million (Hotel was built in 2008 for $150 million and sold to Kimpton Hotels 30 months later for $49 million.)

Kimpton Hotels are popular with guests. Check TripAdvisor.com and today there are 4 Kimpton Hotels in the top 7 ranked hotels for Washington, D.C.

I have been meaning to write a post on the Hotel Palomar DC for the past couple weeks and hopefully I’ll get to that piece in coming days.

San Francisco shows 3 Kimpton Hotels in the Top 14 for a city with 242 hotels on TripAdvisor.com.

Kimpton InTouch members have access to a four day sale beginning today for discount weekend rates at 49 Kimpton Hotels nationwide from as low as $79 (Grand Hotel Minneapolis) to $199 (Eventi New York, EPIC Miami). This sale ends Sunday October 30, 2011 by midnight. No time zone is given in T&C for midnight.

• Booking window October 27-30, 2011.
• Rate code = ONE
• Hotel Stay Window – now through January 31, 2012.
• Prepaid and nonrefundable.
• New members can join Kimpton InTouch hotel loyalty program and book these member rates.

Kimpton Hotels

Arizona

Scottsdale

• FireSky Resort & Spa, from $99

California

Los Angeles

• Palomar, from $159

San Diego

• Palomar, from $159
• Solamar, from $159

San Francisco

• Argonaut, from $189
• Harbor Court, from $119
• Monaco, from $149
• Palomar, from $169
• Serrano, from $139
• Sir Francis Drake, from $139
• The Prescott, from $159
• Triton, from $129

Silicon Valley

• Cypress, from $89

Colorado

Aspen Sky Hotel, from $169

Denver Monaco, from $119

Florida

Miami

• EPIC Miami, from $199

Vero Beach

• Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, from $109

Illinois

Chicago

• Allegro, from $99
• Burnham, from $119
• Monaco, from $99
• Palomar, from $119

Maryland

Baltimore Monaco, from $99

Massachusetts

Boston

• Nine Zero, from $159
• Onyx, from $129

Cambridge

• Marlowe, from $109

Minnesota

Minneapolis The Grand Hotel, from $79

New York

New York City

• 70 park avenue, from $189
• Eventi, from $199
• Ink48, from $169
• The Muse, from $199

Oregon

Portland

• Monaco, from $99
• Vintage Plaza, from $99

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Palomar, from $129

Texas

Dallas Palomar, from $159

Utah

Salt Lake City Monaco, from $99

Virginia

Alexandria

• Lorien Hotel & Spa, from $99
• Monaco, from $99
• Morrison House, from $99

Arlington

• Palomar, from $89

Washington, D.C.

• Helix, from $89
• Madera, from $109
• Monaco, from $139
• Palomar, from $139
• Rouge, from $99
• The George, from $109
• Topaz, from $109

Washington

Seattle

• Alexis, from $109
• Monaco, from $109
• Vintage Park, from $99

Kimpton’s Evening Wine Hour

Kimpton Hotels offer a hosted evening wine hour. This is a convenient way to bring people together and socialize, or just hang out in the lobby drinking free wine.

Pet-Friendly HosPETality

Last May I met some Kimpton marketing people who encouraged me to bring my entire entourage to San Francisco for a stay at a Kimpton Hotel. I can just imagine arriving with four cat carriers, a bird cage and a rat cage. They would have to upgrade me to a suite to hold my crew. I’d love to bring a couple of my cats to a Kimpton Hotel, but they don’t like riding in the car.

You can bring your pets for no extra fee or deposit to a Kimpton Hotel. The hotel offers pet amenities. If you don’t have a pet, some hotels have resident fish they will place in your room for your stay. Check out their hosPETality webpage.

Related Loyalty Traveler post: Kimpton Hotels Fast Free Nights Plan 2011 (Jan 11, 2011)

This Loyalty Traveler post is the 8th update for 2011 hotel loyalty promotions  and includes about 25 new promotion offers since the June 7 list. Offers marked with an asterisk (*) were added since the last update June 7.

Accor Hotels -  A-Club

Hotel Brands: Sofitel, Pullman, M Gallery, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis, Adagio, All Seasons, Thalassa Spa.

* Motel 6 is the primary Accor Hotels brand in USA, however, extremely limited A-Club hotel loyalty program participation. A|Club repeats last year’s promotion allowing redemption of A|Club vouchers for stays at North America Motel 6 hotels from June 1-October 31. LT post June 29.

Accor Hotels is the largest chain of hotel brands globally outside of the USA.

Accor 10^th Anniversary World Tour Giveaway – One monthly trip consisting of Round the World flights and hotel stays in 10 cities over 30 to 40 days. Ten prizes each month for a hotel stay. (11 prizes each month from March through December 2011). LT post March 30. 

Accor A|Club Global Promotion Offers List – link (This link allows searches by continent region)

Accor Hotels A|Club bonus offers

Best Western Hotels – Best Western Rewards 

Hotel Brand Tiers: Best Western, Best Western Plus, Best Western Premier  

5-Key promotion – Best Western free night after three stays from June 19 to August 14, 2011. Limit one free night during promotion. Loyalty Traveler post June 4.

Best Western International Offers webpage link. The link provides a variety of promotions internationally for Best Western hotels.

Best Western Rewards Elite Status Match Offer (February 19, 2010) This offer is ongoing and still available. Best Western is a particularly useful loyalty program when traveling outside the USA. Best Western and Accor A-Club have more hotels outside the USA than all the other major hotel programs combined including Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott and Starwood.

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

Best Western Brand Tiers Change – Best Western has designated about 25% of the chain’s higher quality hotels in the 4,000+ hotel chain as Best Western Plus (about 800 hotels) and Best Western Premier (about 100 hotels, mostly outside U.S.).

Carlson Hotels – Club Carlson (formerly Goldpoints Plus loyalty program)

Hotel Brands: Radisson Blu, Radisson, Country Inn & Suites, Park Inn, Park Plaza 

* Club Carlson does not currently have a major bonus points promotion since the free night after two stays promotion ended June 15. There appear to be some good discount rates (35% off two day Radisson stays – book by July 12) and Park Inn 20% off two or three night weekend stays in North America through August 31.

There are also some good values with Club Carlson double points rates where members earn 40 points/$1 for room rate. This is an extra 2,500 points on a $125 room rate that may only be $10 more than otherwise lowest rates.

These Loyalty Traveler posts describe changes with Club Carlson launch March 31, 2011: 

 Club Carlson Hotel Category Reassignment Analysis – Overview and Category 1 Hotels (April 7) – This post has links to posts for each Club Carlson Hotel Reward category with tables showing the new Club Carlson reward category and the former Goldpoints Plus reward category.

Club Carlson Loyalty program Launches March 31 – Replaces goldpoints plus (Feb 14)

Club Carlson Reward Category Changes March 31, 2011 (Feb 18)

Club Carlson Hotel Reward Category Analysis (Feb 28) This post shows the number of hotels in each category and changes from 2010 level for different global regions.

Club Med resort credit for goldpoints. $100, $250 and $500 credit.  (March 10).

Club Carlson online booking bonus – Club Carlson general members earn 1,000 bonus points for online booking. Silver and Gold elite members earn 2,000 bonus points for online booking. Concierge elite members earn 3,000 points. Club Carlson Benefits table link.

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 

Stay two times for 8,000 points May 19-August 11. This promotion awards members with 8,000 total points after two stays. Four brands require a two-night stay for this promotion ay Rodaeway Inn, EconoLodge, MainStay Suites and Suburban Suites. This offer is a variable bonus offer since two $60 stays that normally earn 1,200 points ($120 x 10 points/$1) receives 6,800 bonus points for 8,000 total points, yet two $300 hotel stays that earn 6,000 base points will result in 2,000 bonus points for 8,000 total points. This offer is best bonus on low cost hotel stays. Loyalty Traveler post May 16, 2011.

Choice Privileges reward night cost analysis. Using a spreadsheet of 2010 reward cost, I calculated the percentage of hotels in various reward levels worldwide from 6,000 points to 40,000 points. This is the only breakdown of hotel reward tiers I have ever seen for Choice Hotels. Loyalty Traveler post May 1, 2011.

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

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) 

Nordic Choice Club hotel loyalty program covers 140 Choice hotels in Scandinavia and Baltic regions of Europe. Choice Privileges members currently do not earn points for hotel stays in Scandinavia, although hotel stays are available for points. Nordic Choice Club offers points and benefits for hotels in this region. Choice Privileges members planning frequent travel in Scandinavia may want to compare the benefits of Nordic Choice Club to Choice Privileges.    (LT post Sep 9, 2010)

Drury Hotels – Gold Key Club

* 1,000 bonus points for enrollment in Drury Gold Key Club.

Expedia Rewards –

Double Rewards points for Expedia Vacation Package paid with MasterCard through August 31. Registration required. 

Expedia’s new loyalty program earns points for air, hotel and travel package bookings. This is a gamechanger for online travel agencies. Booking airfare through Expedia is a no brainer method for earning additional travel rebates since frequent flyer benefits are unaffected. Hotels are a different matter though since no hotel loyalty points with programs like SPG, Marriott, Hilton and others are earned for Expedia bookings.

Main Expedia Rewards benefits are the ability to earn points when booking travel for other people like family members and friends. And Expedia vacation packages often allow a hotel night to be added for the same price as airfare alone; particularly when traveling to Las Vegas. Loyalty Traveler Analysis March 28.

Fairmont Hotels and Fairmont President’s Club

Tip: Sign up for Fairmont President’s Club to receive monthly special discount rates for Fairmont Hotels. 

Four Seasons Hotels

Four Seasons Special Offers website link

Global Hotel Alliance – GHA Discovery – Hotel loyalty program alliance for 12 independent hotel brands including Omni Hotels, Pan Pacific, Kempinski, First Hotels, Mirvac, Anantara Resorts, Tivoli Hotels, The Doyle Collection, Marco Polo Hotels, Park Royal, The Leela Palaces, Shaza Hotels.

Overview of GHA Discovery, elite membership benefits and local experiences, Loyalty Traveler post January 30.

Hilton Hotels – Hilton HHonors

10 Hotel Brands: Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, Conrad, Waldorf-Astoria Collection, Hampton Inn, and Home2Suites. 

* Double HHonors Points or Double Miles for stays worldwide from July 1-September 30, 2011. List of about 250 excluded hotels, mostly in U.S.. Promotion registration required. Loyalty traveler post June 24.

* HHonors Gold VIP elite after 4 stays or 9 nights in 90 days at U.S. hotels with Hilton HHonors MVP. Promotion registration required.

* Free HHonors Gold VIP elite  to August 31, 2011 for U.S. resident Visa Signature cardmembers. Complete three stays by August 31 to extend Gold VIP status through March 2013. Existing Gold and Diamond members receive 5,000 bonus points. Loyalty Traveler post June 10.

Great Getaway Hilton Summer Sale with discounts from 15% to 40%. Book May 13 to August 31 for hotel stays May 27 to Sep 5. Prepaid rates and must book 14 days in advance. Loyalty Traveler post May 19.

HHonors Point Stretcher Rewards posted for hotels through November 2011. Point Stretchers require 40% fewer points than standard HHonors rewards. Use the drop-down menu to see participating hotels in different Hilton brands. The Point Stretcher hotel awards were updated in early June.

HHonors Points & Money – Loyalty Traveler reward analysis indicates these are good value. Loyalty Traveler post May 9.

Home2Suites opens first hotel of Hilton’s new extended stay brand in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Unfortunately this new hotel brand becomes the first HHonors brand with a lower earn rate for points and miles. Loyalty Traveler post March 21.

HHonors Comprehensive Reward Charts – Members have difficulty locating the various reward charts on the Hilton HHonors sites, particularly VIP Rewards and Waldorf-Astoria rates. This Loyalty Traveler post places all the HHonors reward charts in one post. (LT post Sep 13, 2010)

Cheaper Hilton Reward nights using Priority Club points – this Loyalty Traveler analysis developed from the Priority Club Anywhere Challenge. Hotels Anywhere allows Priority Club members to spend points for hotels in other chains. My study shows there are numerous Hilton Hotels requiring fewer Priority Club points than Hilton HHonors charges its members in HHonors points for the same reward. (LT post Sep 17)

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

Hotels.com Welcome Rewards

Earn a free night for every 10 nights.

* Double points (up to 4 bonus points) through July 31 for new Welcome Rewards members.

Hyatt Hotels – Hyatt Gold Passport

Hotel Brands:  Park Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Vacation Club, Hyatt Resorts, Andaz, Hyatt Summerfield Suites

* 2,500 Aeroplan miles per Hyatt stay July 1-September 30. Maximum bonus is 25,000 miles after 10 stays.

* Welcome credit and 2,500 bonus points for stays paid with American Express at 75 international hotels. Loyalty Traveler post July 2. 3-key promotion.

Earn 19,000 Southwest points after 5 Hyatt stays June 1-August 31. Loyalty traveler post June 5.

Program Change – Hyatt Property Specific Bonuses: Jeff Zidell Hyatt VP, told me on March 8 the ‘property level bonus’ program is being evaluated and reinvented. We will probably only see regional hotel bonus offers until July. Specific property level bonuses that typically offered 1,000 to 2,000 points in G1, G2, and G3 offers may be gone for good. We’ll see.

InterContinental Hotels Group – Priority Club

Hotel Brands: InterContinental Hotels, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, Hotel Indigo 

* Limited Time Rate Discount Europe – Up to 35% off for weekend stays in Europe through August 31. These rates are prepaid and nonrefundable with no changes allowed. T&C also state no points.

* Limited Time Rate Discount Europe – 2 nights for the Price of 1 – LT Note: Promotion page states this offer expired June 30, 2011, but I still found available 2-for-1 rates for August dates on July 7. This is a recurring rate promotion for several years and offers one of the greatest discounts on hotel rooms in Europe; particularly London. LT 5-key rate offer.

* Pack Your Points Tweetstakes July 1-July 31. Retweet @IHG_Deals daily message for entry. One entry per day. Prizes are 15,000 or 30,000 points for daily winners chosen in August. LT post July 4.

* IHG Priority Club Last Minute Reward Nights are posted the week before the first weekend of the month. Hotels are only posted for a few days and must be booked by Thursday prior to the Friday through Sunday dates. LT post June 30.

$75 MasterCard Gift Card for 2-night weekend stay worldwide at any IHG hotel May 19-August 31, 2011. Limit of four cards per member. Only for U.S. residents. Loyalty Traveler post May 18. 4-key offer.

IHG Double Points or Double Miles (May 16 – August 15, 2011) – 2-key offer. LT post April 21.

InterContinental Hotels in Europe 5^th Night Free rate July 14 – Sep 11, 2011. These rates are about 20% off Best Flexible Rate and equivalent to Advance Purchase rate. Loyalty Traveler post March 16.

Priority Club PointBreaks through July 30, 2011 are probably the best hotel loyalty program reward night value available at 5,000 points for a free night. Many of the hotels are discounted 80% from their normal 25,000 points for a reward night. The current list had 133 hotels on May 9 and only 27 hotels on July 6. Look for a new list of hotels posting in July.  Loyalty Traveler post May 9. (5-key offer.)

Complimentary InterContinental Ambassador membership ($200 value) after three stays at InterContinental Hotels by July 31, 2011. My Loyalty Traveler post argues for spending 32,000 points or $200 for Ambassador membership and earning benefits on three stays.

IHG Priority Club relaunch previews new reward option for Last Minute Hotel Nights at 50% points of standard reward night. Other changes are primarily cosmetic with new mobile apps, card redesign and website changes. Loyalty traveler post March 29.

IHG Priority Club partnership with Las Vegas Resorts – The Venetian and The Palazzo become InterContinental Alliance hotel partners as of April 1, 2011. Priority Club points can be earned and burned (40,000 points per night) for hotel stays and InterContinental Ambassador benefits apply. Earn 6,000 bonus points for a three night stay booked by June 30 (Loyalty Traveler April 11 post).

InterContinental Ambassador Accelerator - 20,000 points after 15 nights at InterContinental Hotels. Registration required.

Priority Club Any Hotel Anywhere American Express gift cards.

      New Price for Any Hotel, Anywhere Cards  Loyalty Traveler post Jan 25.

• $100 = 33,000 points (formerly 29,000)
• $125 = 39,000 points (formerly 34,000)
• $150 = 45,000 points (formerly 39,000)
• $200 = 60,000 points (formerly 49,000)
• $250 = 72,000 points (formerly 59,000)

3-key offer IHG Sweetheart Deal – $100 Visa card rebate for a three-day or longer stay at any IHG hotel worldwide within 90 days of 2011 wedding in U.S. or Canada. (LT Jan 11)

Points & Cash Program Change:  Priority Club Points & Cash Reward nights increased the cost of 5,000 Priority Club points to $40 from $30. The cost to buy 10,000 points remains unchanged at $60. Loyalty Traveler post (Nov 19)

Cheaper Hilton Reward nights using Priority Club points – Hotels Anywhere allows Priority Club members to spend points for hotels in other chains. My study shows there are numerous Hilton Hotels requiring fewer Priority Club points than Hilton HHonors charges its members in HHonors points. (LT post Sep 17)

IHG Friend & Family Hotel Rates (Steve Sickel). Steve Sickel is senior Vice President Relationship Marketing for InterContinental Hotels Group. During the hotel recession of 2009 he offered this link to FlyerTalk members for booking discount friends and family rates. This link is still active. And we are all friends of Steve’s. Here is a FlyerTalk thread discussing this rate deal. The link in Steve Sickel’s name leads to the offer page for a voucher to complete. Some guests mention the hotel wants the completed voucher at check-in. These rates do not qualify for points or stay credit. One of the best features of this offer is the ability to book high category rooms at steep discount.

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). Renewal fee is still $100.

Priority Club Points Exchange Value and Points.com – Loyalty traveler research (Jan 20) into the exchange value of Priority Club points into airline miles through Points.com

Kimpton Hotels – InTouch

* Kimpton “Summer Like a Local Rate” offer gives a $25 nightly dining credit for a rate $10 over BAR May 26-September 5.

Loyalty Traveler posted an outline of Kimpton’s InTouch program showing how 21 stays in 2011 can potentially earn 7 free nights at any Kimpton Hotel. (LT post Jan 11)

La Quinta Hotels – La Quinta Returns

Hotel chain and hotel loyalty program overview by Loyalty Traveler,  April 12.

* New La Quinta Returns members earn Gold elite after two nights within 60 days of enrollment. Two nights may be one stay. Gold elite promotion offer for new enrollments through August 31, but keep in mind these offers are sometimes withdrawn early.

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

Leaders Club Rewards program changes: Membership fees for Leaders Club Rewards dropped to $100 annual for Access level. Access membership includes complimentary breakfast for two each day of stay and free internet. Unlimited membership is $1,200 annually. Loyalty traveler post Feb 3.

Earn a free night after every 5 stays with stays in at least two LHW properties by December 31, 2011.

LHW Hotel Special Offers link

Marriott Hotels – Marriott Rewards

Hotel Brands: Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Ritz-Carlton, Residence Inn, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites, SpringHill Suites, Edition, Autograph Collection, Marriott Vacation Club, AC Hotels. 

Marriott Rewards Earn one free night at a category 1 to 4 hotel reward after two hotel stays June 1-August 31. Registration deadline for this promotion was June 30, 2011. This offer may be earned two times during promotion. Active Marriott Rewards members may have a points offer based on 15 to 25 nights. Loyalty Traveler post May 16.

Marriott Rewards 4x miles for hotels stays June 1-August 31. Earn 8 miles per $1 or 4 miles per $1 with 13 participating airlines depending on Marriott hotel brand. Loyalty Traveler post May 27.

Program Change: All Marriott Rewards members receive complimentary internet at Asia-Pacific region hotels. Loyalty Traveler post May 2, 2011.

AC Hotels is Marriott’s newest hotel brand. AC Hotels are a Madrid-based hotel chain now partnered with Marriott and brings 90 new upscale hotels in Spain, Italy and Portugal into the Marriott Rewards system. This brand is projected to expand in Europe and Latin America. Loyalty Traveler post March 27.

Marriott Rewards Hotel Category Assignment Changes for 2011 (Loyalty Traveler March 2)

Marriott Rewards PointSavers –PointSavers reduce the points cost of a free night by one hotel category. For example, category 5 hotel requires only 20,000 points per night. 5^th night free applies to PointSavers rate. http://www.marriott.com/rewards/marriottRewardsPointSavers.mi

Marriott Points Redemption Strategy using $1,000 in Marriott Cheques. This post explains how Marriott elite members may buy $1,000 Marriott Cheques for 135,000 points. You can then pay for hotel stays and earn points and elite credit on paid stays you actually purchased indirectly with points. Loyalty Traveler post Jan 27.

Marriott Rewards Elite Rollover Nights extended for 2011. This is the third year Marriott Rewards offers elite rollover nights for elite qualifying nights over your earned elite membership. For example: Silver elite requires 10 nights in calendar year and Gold elite takes 50 nights. Stay 25 nights in 2011 and the 15 nights above Silver elite rollover to 2012 membership year. You will have earned Silver elite for 2013 from your 15 extra nights in 2011 rolled over to 2012. Confused? Don’t worry. This is a great benefit for elite members. (Loyalty Traveler 5-key offer. LT post Dec 23.)

Program change – Free internet worldwide for Gold and Platinum Marriott Rewards members beginning January 2011. This expands the complimentary internet benefit offered to elites for hotel stays in the Americas since May 2010.

Omni Hotels – Omni Select Guest

Member benefits include complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, shoe shine and morning beverage delivery.

Earn a free night after every 10 nights or earn 500 miles per hotel stay.

Preferred Hotels Group – I Prefer

I Prefer and Preferred Hotels Group special offers page.

Red Lion Hotels – 44 hotels in western U.S.

* Red Lion Double Points and Free Breakfast promotion code = RLDOUBLE (through Dec 31, 2011)

Ritz-Carlton Rewards

* Ritz-Carlton Rewards Visa – 50,000 points enrollment offer and Gold elite first year. Maintain Gold elite with $10,000 annual spending. Three confirmed Club level upgrades per year and other benefits. Loyalty Traveler post June 13.

Ritz-Carlton Rewards loyalty program launching Sep 15 (LT post Sep 14)

Reward Changes in new Ritz-Carlton Reward Tiers (LT post Sep 15)

Ritz-Carlton rewards Hotel + Air Packages Analysis (LT post Sep 16)

Starwood Hotels – Starwood Preferred Guest

Starwood Hotels brands: Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, Le Meridien, Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Four Points, element, aloft. 

* $40 gas card for two-night or longer stays at Four Points, Aloft or Element hotels in North America through September 15. Must book hotel stay by July 31 using rate code SSBGAS. LT post July 6.

* Four Points $25,000 contest for best story submitted on Four Points Facebook page between June 15 and August 10. Contest open to US  and Canada (except Quebec). Also weekly prizes for two-night stay and $50 in beer credit. Contest Rules.

* 3x points for Starwood Hotels in Japan for stays and dining June 1-August 31. LT post June 26.

Starwood Preferred Guest – Stay 3 and get a free Starwood Resort hotel night from May 1-July 31, 2011. Note: Promotion registration ended June 30, 2011, so too late if you are not already registered. Free nights are good for over 200 Starwood Resorts including several category 6 and one category 7 resort. Free nights are valid until December 21.  LT post April 15. (5-key promotion)

FourSquare 250 bonus points for mobile check-in at Starwood Hotels May 1-July 31, 2011. Loyalty Traveler post May 12. Note: Most of these bonuses have quickly posted for me. I need to follow up on a couple of missing bonuses.

Starwood Preferred Guest Hotel Category reward assignment changes for 2011 took effect on March 1. My LT post (Feb 22) has a list ordered by city, state and country for changes.

Starwood Hotels data on number of hotels in each brand and average rates by brand and global region. Loyalty traveler post Feb 4.

Starwood hotels Website Enhancement – Website now allows comparison of four different rate types side-by-side for hotels in one location including promotion rates, AAA, breakfast rates, senior, government and reward nights. There are monthly calendars to locate days when Cash & Points nights are available at a specific hotel Loyalty Traveler post Nov 23, 2010. 

SPG Peak Season Rates Return for 2011. Category 5, 6 and 7 hotels relaunch peak season dates and a calendar of dates and participating hotels is posted here. Book by January 9 to lock in lower rates for your hotel stays. Loyalty traveler post Dec 6. 

Starwood Hotels Policy Change: Sheraton Hotel Club Lounges will be open 7 days a week in 2011.

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 and 2 elite stays 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); Sheraton 3^rd Night Free Analysis (Nov 12)

3-key or sometimes a 5-key promotion SPG link: Pay Your Birthyear Rate -This promotion has been extended through 2011. Rates can be an incredible 5-key savings or no savings depending on the hotel and your birthyear.   LT post 4/28/2009

3-key or sometimes a 5-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)

Stash Hotel Rewards

Stash Hotel Rewards New Member Enrollment 1,000 bonus points link.

Stash Rewards is a one year old loyalty program for over 100 independent upscale hotels in the U.S. Loyalty Traveler post Jan 19. Loyalty Traveler has found the hotel partners with Stash Rewards in Monterey, Napa and Washington D.C. are great choices for hotel travelers. Stash Rewards offers points for many high quality independent hotels that previously had no loyalty program affiliation.

Stash Hotel Specials for Bonus Points and Low Redemption Rate Hotels

Voila Hotel Rewards

Loyalty Traveler profiled Voila Hotels program in light of the recent signing of two New York former Starwood W Hotels as the initial hotel members in the USA for this international loyalty program for 250 independent hotels.

* 2,500 Voila bonus points per stay through August 31 and entry into 500,000 points sweepstakes.

* Double elite credit for Voila member hotel stays through July 31. Registration required.

Wyndham Worldwide -  Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Brands: Wyndham, Wingate, Hawthorn Suites, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Baymont Suites, Microtel, Knights Inn, Tryp.

1,000 bonus points per Wyndham stay from June 1 –September 5, 2011. Loyalty Traveler post June 2.

* European residents only – 15,000 bonus points for two hotel stays worldwide by September 30 at most Wyndham brands. Stays must be booked by August 31. Bonus may be earned four times for 60,000 points. Loyalty Traveler post July 6.

Loyalty Traveler Research Articles

* Room77.com hotel room views compared to my photos. Loyalty Traveler website analysis June 22.

Comparing the value of hotel program points - compares Hyatt, Priority Club and Hilton programs, then discusses how I am planning summer travel using free night promotions. (May 2, 2011)

Hotel Loyalty Credit Cards and the Value of Hotel Points

Loyalty Traveler Analysis of Hotel Rewards Credit Cards (March 19, 2011)

Elite Status Benefits with Hotel Loyalty Credit Cards (March 21, 2011)

Hotel Credit Cards Comparison by Value of Points (September 2, 2010) 

Hotel Credit Card Comparison using NerdWallet.com Value of Points (Sep 5, 2010) 

Loyalty Traveler’s Three Rules for the Value of Hotel Points (Sep 7, 2010)

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)

Hotel Rates Survey for USA States, Cities, and Average Hotel Rates Worldwide

Hotels.com 2010 – Full Year 2010 – Global Hotel Price Index – This is a great resource for finding where hotel rates are high and low around the world. There are tables of USA average hotel rates by state and major cities.

Loyalty Traveler ranks the consumer value of some 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 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.

The Hotels

Currently 51 Kimpton Hotels are listed on the website with the highest concentration of properties in San Francisco/San Jose (10 hotels) and Washington, D.C. metro area (12 hotels).  Kimpton Hotels are located in major U.S. cities and resorts: Los Angeles, San Diego, Scottsdale, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Aspen, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, Minneapolis, Miami, Vero Beach, Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston and New York City.

On a personal note, I find many Kimpton properties successfully pull off the boutique hotel allure so desperately desired by Starwood W Hotels.  Lovers of the W concept will likely find Kimpton properties intriguing. Kimpton’s are more a kind of Alice in Wonderland experience where things tend to appear a little quirky, but oh so cool. Kimpton Hotels truly tend to be the kind of place where you feel you want to hang out at the hotel for a chance to meet some of the more interesting people around.

Kimpton InTouch Loyalty Program

Kimpton Hotels offers a guest recognition program with a value-added frequent stay component. Here are a few of the benefits offered to Kimpton InTouch loyalty members.

• Free internet (Enough said!) [LT editor’s note: Kimpton’s words, not mine]
• Raid the Mini-Bar (any two items with $10 credit or $15 in NYC)
• $30 off any in-room spa services
• Individual preferences profile for pillows, newspaper, room location
• Complimentary nights

Kimpton InTouch Complimentary Nights Earning Scheme

This is not your typical hotel points loyalty program. In fact, Kimpton InTouch does not use loyalty points currency at all.

• Earn 1 Free Night at any Kimpton Hotel for every 7 Stays or 20 Nights
• Eligible stays and nights rollover year-to-year until you earn your free night.

Kimpton Passport Reward Nights

• Stay in 10 different Kimpton Hotels in a calendar year and earn a 2-night free stay.
• Stay in 15 different Kimpton Hotels in a calendar year and earn one additional free night.
• Stay in 20 different Kimpton Hotels in a calendar year and earn one additional free night.

Kimpton InTouch Inner Circle Elite

Inner Circle is the elite membership level of Kimpton InTouch. Inner Circle requires 15 stays or 45 nights in a calendar year. Inner Circle membership period lasts from date of qualification through the following calendar year. Earn InnerCircle elite in 2011 and you will maintain elite membership through December 31, 2012. The sooner you earn InnerCircle, the more time you have for benefits in 2011 and all of 2012.

Inner Circle Benefits:

• Complimentary upgrade to next room category
• 48-hour advance reservation guaranteed room at any Kimpton Hotel
• Complimentary stay at any newly opened Kimpton Hotel (3 hotels, Baltimore, Chicago and Minneapolis are currently listed on Kimpton website as NEW!)
• Complimentary chef’s course at any Kimpton Restaurant (LT note: Kimpton is also known for its hotel restaurants.)
• No reward night blackout dates.

Kimpton InTouch fine print terms:

• Maximum credit of 21 nights for any one hotel stay.
• New members can receive retroactive stay/night/elite credit for all eligible stays in the calendar year going back to January 1 of the year they joined.
• Complimentary room night rewards have a two-year expiration date.
• Rewards may be transferred to another person by member.

Loyalty Traveler Kimpton Hotels Free Nights Plan

How many free nights can be earned with Kimpton Hotels on the fewest paid hotel nights? 

Assumptions: This is a theoretical exercise of one night stays at Kimpton Hotels in 2011 to estimate the free nights earning potential of Kimpton InTouch.

• One-night stays
• 15 stays
• 15 different hotels
• $150 per night average room rate (many Kimpton Hotels have room rates over $250 per night on many dates. This plan requires selective paid nights and redeem for high priced nights.)

InTouch Frequent Guest Free Night Tally

7 stays = 1 free night.

• Hotel spend =$1,050 (assumes $150 for one-night stay)

10 stays in 10 different Kimpton Hotels = 2 free nights.

• Cumulative nights = 3 free nights.
• Cumulative spend = $1,500.

14 stays = 1 free night every 7 stays.

• Cumulative nights = 4 free nights.
• Cumulative spend = $2,100.

15 stays in 15 different Kimpton Hotels = 1 free night.

• Cumulative nights = 5 free nights.
• Cumulative spend = $2,250.
• Inner Circle elite membership earned for 2011 and all 2012.

20 stays in 20 different Kimpton Hotels = 1 free night

• Cumulative nights = 6 free nights.
• Cumulative spend = $3,000.
• Kimpton Passport Counter resets to 0 for different hotels bonus free nights.

21 stays = 1 free night every 7 stays.

• Cumulative nights = 7 free nights.
• Cumulative spend = $3,150.

Net effect is a “stay 3 times and earn a free night” loyalty program if you travel to many different hotels.

The cost will vary depending on when and where you stay, but theoretically these 21 stays could be achieved for less than $3,000 with selective booking at low hotel rates  and 7 free nights can be redeemed at $300 per night hotels for a 70% rebate on hotel spend.

New Kimpton Hotels

This plan for 7 free nights does not even account for new Kimpton Hotels opening in 2011 and 2012 for additional complimentary hotel stays. 

2010 hotel openings included:

• May 2010 Hotel Palomar Chicago
• June 2010 – Eventi, New York City
• October 2010 – Grand Hotel, Minneapolis 

Projected 2011/2012 Kimpton Hotel openings:

• Hotel Palomar Phoenix (2012)
• Hotel Monaco, Philadelphia (Q3 2012)

The advantage of Kimpton’s InTouch hotel loyalty program is the ability to select low priced Kimpton nights for paid stays and redeem free nights at much higher priced hotels.  

Loyalty Traveler Free Nights at Kimpton Hotels Plan Summary

The ability to receive 7 to 10 free nights at Kimpton Hotels by staying 21 nights in 20 different hotels in 2011 is a high value frequent guest opportunity.  There are 22 different properties just in the Washington D.C. metro area and San Francisco Bay area.

Accumulating 15 stays to reach Inner Circle elite status is rewarded with five free nights with stays in 15 different Kimpton Hotels in 2011, in addition to the value-added benefits on future Kimpton Hotel stays through 2012 as an Inner Circle elite member.

Free night promotions prevalent over the past two years may dwindle away in the major hotel loyalty programs in 2011. Kimpton InTouch makes free nights a predictable surety with a two year usage date for your freebies. Kimpton Hotels offer travelers a stylish-chic, modern yet historic and progressively guest friendly hotel chain reaching across America’s major cities.

Kimpton might be a good move for your hotel stays and loyalty in 2011.

Kimpton Hotels 

ARIZONA – Scottsdale

FireSky Resort & Spa

CALIFORNIA – Los Angeles

Hotel Palomar LA-Westwood

CALIFORNIA – San Diego

Hotel Solamar

CALIFORNIA – San Francisco

Hotel Monaco San Francisco

Hotel Palomar San Francisco

Prescott Hotel

Sir Francis Drake Hotel

Serrano Hotel

Tuscan Inn

Argonaut Hotel

Harbor Court Hotel

Hotel Triton

CALIFORNIA – Silicon Valley/Cupertino/San Jose

Cypress Hotel

COLORADO – Aspen

Sky Hotel

COLORADO – Denver

Hotel Monaco Denver

FLORIDA – Miami

EPIC Hotel

FLORIDA – Vero Beach

Vero Beach Hotel & Spa

GEORGIA – Atlanta

Hotel Palomar Atlanta-Midtown

ILLINOIS – Chicago

Hotel Allegro

Hotel Burnham

Hotel Monaco Chicago

Hotel Palomar Chicago

MARYLAND – Baltimore

Hotel Monaco Baltimore

MASSACHUSETTS – Boston

Nine Zero Hotel

Onyx Hotel

MASSACHUSETTS – Cambridge

Hotel Marlowe

MINNESOTA – Minneapolis

The Grand Hotel

NEW YORK – New York City

70 park avenue hotel

Eventi

The Muse New York

Ink48

OREGON – Portland

Hotel Monaco Portland

Hotel Vintage Plaza

PENNSYLVANIA – Philadelphia

Hotel Palomar Philadelphia

TEXAS – Dallas

Hotel Lumen

Hotel Palomar Dallas

UTAH – Salt Lake City

Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City

VIRGINIA – Alexandria

Hotel Monaco Alexandria

Lorien Hotel & Spa

Morrison House

VIRGINIA – Arlington

Hotel Palomar Arlington

WASHINGTON, D.C./VIRGINIA METRO AREA

Hotel George

Hotel Madera

Hotel Palomar Washington DC

Topaz Hotel

Hotel Rouge

Hotel Helix

Hotel Monaco Washington DC

WASHINGTON – Seattle

Alexis Hotel

Hotel Monaco Seattle

Hotel Vintage Park

Hotel industry reports indicate Kimpton Hotels has rapid growth potential and capital for expansion. Inner Circle can be a valuable loyalty status.

Kimpton Allegro Chicago

Too bad I didn’t see this email from last Thursday offering discount rates for Kimpton Hotels across the U.S. for stays November to January 2011. The sale rate must be booked by midnight local time today, November 1. These rates are prepaid, nonrefundable, no changes.

Chicago Kimpton Allegro

The lowest rates posted on the promotion page were available over much of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday dates with a variety of low rates on other dates. The advertisement states these rates are for Thursday through Sunday stays. Several hotels I checked showed low rates most days of the week during the holiday weeks.

Kimpton Allegro Chicago

These rates are low and at some hotels these might possibly be the best rates for the next two months. Or possibly not. The rates are reasonably low for the hotels in the San Francisco Bay area where I am more aware of rate trends and fluctuations, however, they are not abnormally low for the low travel season.

Kimpton Allegro Musical Chairs Chicago

Check out your location and compare rates to see if this is a good deal for the Kimpton Hotel you are considering. The prepaid, nonrefundable term generally holds me back from a hotel reservation unless I already have definite plans to go and I know the hotel rate is a great deal for my travel dates and location.

Kimpton Allegro Chicago in the corner

There are nearly 50 Kimpton Hotels participating. The email states this an exclusive offer for Kimpton InTouch hotel loyalty program members, but it does not look like this is a requirement. You can join Kimpton InTouch and make your reservation.

Kimpton Allegro Chicago

I checked the Cypress Hotel Cupertino in the Silicon Valley San Jose suburb. The low rate $99 was listed as the Best Available Rate (BAR). This is also the rate listed in the promotion. Another great Kimpton rate special offer showed breakfast for two at just $1 more or $100 for the night at this hotel. I have stayed at the Cypress Hotel and the interior room design was trippy. A leopard theme as I recall.

Kimpton Allegro Chicago stripes

Arizona

Scottsdale

FireSky Resort & Spa, from $89

California

Los Angeles

Hotel Palomar, from $119

San Diego

Hotel Solamar, from $99

San Francisco

Argonaut Hotel, from $149

Harbor Court Hotel, from $89

Hotel Monaco, from $139

Hotel Palomar, from $119

Hotel Triton, from $99

Prescott Hotel, from $119

Serrano Hotel, from $99

Sir Francis Drake, from $109

Silicon Valley

Cypress Hotel, from $99

Colorado

Denver

Hotel Monaco, from $99

Florida

Miami

EPIC Hotel, from $159

Vero Beach

Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, from $159

Georgia

Atlanta

Hotel Palomar, from $99

Illinois

Chicago

Hotel Allegro, from $109

Hotel Burnham, from $109

Hotel Monaco, from $109

Hotel Palomar, from $119

Maryland

Baltimore

Hotel Monaco, from $89

Massachusetts

Boston

Nine Zero Hotel, from $139

Onyx Hotel, from $119

Cambridge

Hotel Marlowe, from $109

New York

New York City

70 park avenue hotel, from $169

Eventi, from $189

Ink48, from $169

The Muse, from $189

Oregon

Portland

Hotel Monaco, from $89

Hotel Vintage Plaza, from $89

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

Hotel Palomar, from $99

Texas

Dallas

Hotel Lumen, from $99

Hotel Palomar, from $139

Utah

Salt Lake City

Hotel Monaco, from $89

Virginia

Alexandria

Hotel Monaco, from $89

Lorien Hotel & Spa, from $109

Morrison House, from $99

Arlington

Hotel Palomar, from $89

Washington, D.C.

Helix Hotel, from $89

Hotel George, from $109

Madera Hotel, from $99

Hotel Monaco, from $139

Hotel Palomar, from $129

Hotel Rouge, from $89

Topaz Hotel, from $99

Washington

Seattle

Alexis Hotel, from $99

Hotel Monaco, from $89

Hotel Vintage Park, from $89 

The hotel links shown will take you to a two-month rate calendar for the hotel. 

Loyalty traveler note: The photos in this post are from my visit to Kimpton Hotel Allegro in Chicago two weeks ago.

Serrano Hotel San Francisco — here I come.

“We’ll have the Ponzu specials and here is my restaurant.com $25 dining coupon.”

A $2 coupon (purchased during 80% off Restaurant.com sale which occurs every few weeks) offering a $23 discount on a $50 meal and BYOW makes for the kind of hotel dining expense I can enjoy on my Loyalty Traveler budget.

Crab cakes with a view at Harry Denton’s Starlight Room on top of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel with my own bottle of wine.  That sounds like a delightful dinner date looking over Union Square San Francisco.

Harry Denton's Starlight Room (the building with the star) at top of Kimpton's Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco seen from the Grand Hyatt (Marriott Union Square at right)

Kimpton Hotels have restaurants in 23 cities around the USA, however, there are alcohol laws and this offer is only valid in the more liberal states of California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and the U.S. capital city of Washington, D.C.

The Kimpton Hotels offer for InTouch members who make a $50+ donation to Doctors Without Borders is one stay and night credit towards the free night InTouch members earn after 7 stays or 20 nights at Kimpton Hotels.

Kimpton Hotels  InTouch loyalty program will give the member a hotel stay and night credit  if  your donation to Doctors Without Borders  is $50 or more.

“For those members who donate $50 or more, a bonus credit will be applied to your InTouch account. This bonus credit will be applied to your next free night in 2010. Please forward your email confirmation to haitirelief@kimptonhotels.com.“

So what does this mean?

Kimpton InTouch is not a points-based hotel loyalty program. The InTouch program offers members a free night after 7 stays or 20 nights. Free night qualifying stay and night credit are cumulative year to year. If you joined Kimpton InTouch in 2009 and had 3 hotel stays with 5 nights, then you would only need 4 more hotel stays or 15 nights to earn a free night.

The $50 donation to Doctors Without Borders will count towards your free night credit by adding one stay and one night credit to your account. If your account shows 3 stays and 5 nights, then a $50 donation will put your account at 4 stays and 6 nights.

I apologize to Kimpton Hotels and my readers for incorrectly interpreting the Kimpton Haiti Relief offer. 

As I understand this offer, say you donate $100 to Doctors Without Borders, then when you redeem a free night credit in 2010 you will receive a $100 credit to use at the hotel for services like restaurant, spa, room service, and such.

If you already have a free night in your Kimpton account, then this offer is a great deal. You will need to complete 7 stays or 20 nights to earn a free night if you are new to Kimpton InTouch.

Kimpton Haiti Relief offer link.

Kimpton InTouch Guest Loyalty Program

Hotel Monaco, San Francisco

Rates were as much as $40 per night less than AAA rates and $60 off Best Available rates for a hotel like The Palomar in Los Angeles. The LA Palomar has a Winter Warm-Up rate,  a different special offer, which provides two complimentary drinks for $10 more.

Most hotels are in price groups at $109 or $139. High end hotels are $169.  San Francisco and Portland have the low $85 rates and Miami’s EPIC Hotel is the highest rate at $199 per night. Prices are shown for participating hotels on the promotion page link and a monthly calendar of rates is shown in search results.

The Weekend special offer rate code, 10WKD is available only to Kimpton InTouch members and only for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.

EPIC Hotel in Miami and Vero Beach Hotel & Spa offer the special rate Sunday to Thursday nights. Cypress Hotel in Cupertino, CA and Sky Hotel, Aspen, CO are not participating.

Promotion link: http://promo-jan-2010.kimptonhotels.com/landing.php?cid=1

Hotel Monaco, San Francisco

Joe Brancatelli has a great read from the Washington Post on the long term outlook for air travel.  He predicts the economics of premium cabin extreme makeovers these past few years will result in higher economy class fares for the leisure traveler coming soon as the profitable premium-class flyers dwindle.

When it comes to hotels the Early Bird gets Hosed

Sarah Nassauer had a piece in the Wall Street Journal March 31, “Travelers find it pays to wait for late deals”.  The article cites data from Travelocity’s senior editor, Genevieve Shaw Brown, indicating hotel guests received average room rates 20% lower within 30 days of travel compared to reservations made more than 60 days before travel.

My observations for San Francisco over the past year show the lowest rates typically occur between 7 and 14 days prior to travel for upscale San Francisco hotels.

Cool Hotel Websites

Adam Kirby, associate editor of Hotelsmag.com, had a visually stimulating piece “Web Designers Name Favorite Hotel Sites”.  I liked seeing what designers like in a web site.

I really do intend to put LoyaltyTraveler.com back online this year and I was looking for ideas.  The capital Catch-22 for a small business is you need money to make money. I’ve been in short supply.

Europe Hotel Rates Decline but Brits are Still Too Broke

The Telegraph, a British paper had an April 6 article by Charles Starmer-Smith “European Hotels Cut Rates” showing the steep decline in European hotel rates of 10% to 25% since November 2008. The impact of the Sterling’s value dropping 20% against the Euro during the same period means hotel rooms are still more expensive for Brits traveling to the continent.

Hawaii Hotel Rates Near Record Decline

USA Today published a piece by Jaymes Song, AP writer, “Hawaii Hotels have worst February in 18 Years”.  Hawaii had its worst hotel room occupancy for February in 18 years since Gulf War # 1. Apparently February is normally the busiest month of the year in Hawaii. Occupancy varies across the islands with Oahu doing the best at 78% and the Big Island Hawaii down to 64%.  Rates were down across the board, but after several years of huge annual increases the hotel rates are still no bargain. The average daily rate is still $187 per night after a 12% decline over the past year. 

Hotels are crying about revenue, but at Hawaii RevPar $140 in this downturn compared to $74 in late 2001, I say that still looks like some impressive growth – something like 10% per year average since 2001. I am not a hotel economist so perhaps the data is worse than it appears to me.

Does Priceline help the local economy?

Tom Belden had a piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Winging It: Bad business climate means good hotel rates”. This article cites PKF Hospitality Research saying the decline in hotel profits, about 30% in 2009, will be the greatest one year decline since the 1930s. Interesting that the article mentions hotel stays as a frugal and civic minded way to help your local community. In the end the writer books a $65 Priceline stay at the Sheraton City Center. 

As Loyalty Traveler I advocate local hotel stays as a frugal and civic minded staycation strategy to reach elite status that pays off on the real out-of-town vacations.  But I advocate booking through the hotel’s website.  

Does Priceline help the local economy? I guess so, since the hotel guest will likely spend money at businesses in the vicinity of the hotel.  A direct booking with the hotel probably helps more.

Tim Winship  - Commandeering  the campaign for more frequent flier awards, temporarily at least

“Survey finds no improvement in frequent flyer awards” – Tim Winship

548 people have spoken to Smarter Travel and Frequentflier.com. Award tickets to Europe are easier to get these days. 

Apparently the frequent flier programs are lining up the miles for paying customers with all the ongoing double and triple elite miles offers. When it comes time to spend your miles earned from all those flights that made you an Executive-1KChairman-Platinum elite flyer, the airlines are still being stingy.

Tim thinks the airline’s are missing a great opportunity for customer relations by holding back award seat inventory in this economic climate.

Kimpton Hotels Had a Birthday and I missed it

Last week was a bad time to miss out on emails. I missed the Kimpton Hotels $81 sale .  The basic deal was $81 per night for a two-night stay at nearly any Kimpton. Reservations were accepted from Thursday April 2 to Sunday, April 6, 3pm Pacific time. By Saturday, April 4, two days into the sale there were few properties left.  There were still some rooms at three or four San Francisco Kimptons when I finally saw the Kimpton sale.  

Hilton HHonors announced their HHonors second quarter promotion for 1,000 points per night.

www.hiltonhhonors.com/1000bonuspoints The offer runs from April 13 to June 30 and registration is required.

On a Personal Note:

The past two weeks I have seen project deadlines, relative visitors, and the flu – first for K and then for me.

We did work in a stay at the Hyatt Highlands Inn in Carmel and had another wonderful visit in our wannabe home away from home where the mountains meet the sea. The irony was our stay in the Carmel Highlands was the only day with fog for the entire week. 

K started chemotherapy this week for her rectal cancer and I feel like I acquired “chemo brain”.  

Really – it is a published side effect of mental fog for cancer patients (and based on my experience chemo brain is contagious like the flu). Perhaps this week, now that the fog has temporarily lifted, I will get back to writing on hotel loyalty program developments.

Sunset view from Highlands Drive (above Hyatt Highlands Inn), Carmel, California