Hotel rewards programs Joining is free, and you can join as many as you like. But choosing the best one will make a big difference to how much money a traveler gets for their budget.
Nearly every major hotel chain offers its own rewards ecosystem—each with different earning rules, redemption values, and perks—so the real challenge becomes understanding which program actually fits the way you travel. WalletHub has recently published a guide to help you cut through the confusion. compared Nine major hotel reward programs are evaluated on more than 20 different factors, including rewards value, redemption flexibility, geographical coverage, etc.
The results revealed a reality that travelers should be aware of: there is no “best” hotel reward program, but certain programs offer a more consistent level of value. WalletHub ranked Choice Privileges – the loyalty program from Choice Hotels International – as the top overall program.
In its study, WalletHub noted that “Each program is different in terms of its earning structure, points values, rules and benefits. Their usefulness depends on factors like travel destinations, frequency of stays and nightly budget.”
Choice is a great way to earn free nights as the points tend to accumulate quicker.
Choice Hotels, although not well-known for luxurious stays, has an extensive global footprint in the midscale, budget and budget category with brands including Comfort Inn Quality Inn Sleep Inn Econo Lodge MainStay Suites and Cambria Hotels. The combination of a wide reach and low nightly rates makes this program particularly useful for travelers who value practical rewards over elite perks.
This was followed by World of Hyatt The following are some examples of how to get started: Wyndham RewardsBoth programs ranked highly in the company’s analysis of redemption policies, particularly in terms of ease-of-use and award availability. The company’s evaluation of redemption policies showed that both programs were highly successful, especially in terms of the ease of use and availability of awards.
Marriott Bonvoy The company’s global reach across brands and destinations led it to place fourth. Sonesta Travel Pass rounded up the top five rankings in WalletHub. Sonesta’s rewards, perks and benefits were superior to those of many other competing hotel chains despite its smaller footprint.
WalletHub’s analysis concluded that a bigger hotel portfolio does not necessarily mean better rewards. This is especially true for travelers who do not stay long enough to qualify for higher elite tiers.
According to WalletHub, this is a full ranking of the nine top hotel reward programs.
- Choice Privileges
- World of Hyatt
- Wyndham Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Sonesta Travel Pass
- Hilton Honors
- Drury Awards
- Best Western Rewards
- IHG One Rewards
