21
Oct
Red Lion R&R Club made loyalty program changes effective September 22, 2011 with program benefit improvements for some members and some takeaways. Red Lion Hotels have 45 properties in the western United States in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Victoria, British Columbia.
R&R Club has a traditional hotel loyalty program for earning points and miles, elite status, free hotel night rewards, and hotel partners like Preferred Hotel Group for redeeming points.
The main change is the elimination of elite tier bonus points and a change for miles earners from 500 miles per stay to 250 miles per night. The miles change is an enhancement for guests on extended stays, but a reduction for one-night stays.
There is a $15 pet fee per hotel stay for R&R base level members. Pets stay free was previously a benefit for all R&R Club members and this benefit has been restricted to Gold and Platinum members. There is a consolation of 500 bonus points when traveling with pets.
R&R Club Basics
- Hotel stays earn 10 points per dollar for all members. (Red Lion Victoria, BC is excluded.)
- Membership levels are Red = base member; Gold = 12 nights in calendar year; Platinum = 25 nights in calendar year.
- Members may choose 250 airline miles per night instead of points. Platinum members earn both points and miles.
- Free nights at Red Lion Hotels are 10,000 points per night.
- Free nights at Preferred Hotel Group properties are 20,000 to 40,000 points per night.
- Points may be earned for up to two rooms each night.
- R&R Club points expire after two years of no activity.
R&R Club Airline Partners
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- United Airlines
Elite Tier benefits and program changes
All R&R members receive free wi-fi internet and a welcome amenity bag. The main changes getting feedback on Red Lion’s Facebook page are pets used to stay free and now this benefit is only provided for Gold and Platinum elites. R&R Red tier members will pay $15 per stay pet fee.
R&R Club Gold Tier = 12 nights in a calendar year.
The major change in the program for Gold elite members is the elimination of elite tier 25% bonus points. This has been replaced with a breakfast benefit for up to 4 people in same room. Now you can feed the family for free on hotel stays.
- 10 points for every eligible dollar charged to your room, or air miles on partner airlines per
qualifying stay. - Welcome amenity bag at check in
- Complimentary breakfast at most locations.
- Best room available
- Free local phone calls
- Access to our member service center by calling (888) 606-0563
- No early departure fee
- Pets stay free
R&R Club Platinum Tier = 25 nights in a calendar year.
Major change is elimination of elite tier 25% bonus points. Platinum members now receive both 10 points/$1 and 250 miles per night. (T&C state a maximum 30,000 miles may be earned in a 12 month period based on airline partner contracts.)
A major enhancement for R&R Club Platinum members is a guaranteed premium room upgrade or member receives 2,500 bonus points for the stay. This is an unpublished benefit as far as website information goes, but Red Lion R&R Club customer service confirmed the 2,500 bonus points.
As a Platinum Member, you will receive all the benefits of Gold status as well as:
- 10 points for every eligible dollar you spend
- Air miles on partner airlines with each qualifying stay in addition to points
- Priority room upgrades upon availability at check-in
- A Friend-to-Friend voucher valid in the restaurant or lounge (or 500 bonus points)
- Complimentary breakfast at most hotels
- Free local phone calls
- Late checkout
- No early departure fee
- Pets stay free
- Access to our priority issues phone contact
Related Loyalty Traveler post describing former program benefits: Red Lion Hotels (Feb. 1, 2011)
Aside story: Earthquake Awareness Day was yesterday in California. Two small earthquakes hit the East Bay region around Berkeley yesterday afternoon (4.0) and evening (3.8). The afternoon quake was the local buzz on Twitter. Usually quakes of that magnitude are hardly a story.
Red Lion Hotel Eureka, California holds a special memory in my heart due to being at the hotel running an education conference for 500 people when the Cape Mendocino 7.1 earthquake hit on April 25, 1992 (link to NOAA earthquake report). Feeling a building move and visibly watch it bend is a memorable experience – especially when the building does not break. Gotta love construction engineers. The Red Lion hotel was evacuated and my conference was cancelled. That initial quake was followed by a 6.6 and 6.7 quake over the next 18 hours. I can’t even imagine what it is like to go through a 9+ quake like Japan and Chile have had recently.
