4 reasons you need a credit card with your favorite hotel loyalty program
Editor's Note
Many consumers only want to have a few credit cards. But even if you don't want a wallet full of travel cards, it's likely worth getting and keeping a cobranded hotel credit card.
I get far more value from my hotel cards than the annual fees I pay on these cards. So, here are four reasons you need a credit card with your favorite hotel loyalty program.
The annual fee is often worth it
There are no-annual-fee hotel credit cards, but it's usually worth getting the annual-fee version, as these cards offer more perks and sometimes even a free night certificate each year.
In most cases, it's relatively easy to get more value from the free night certificate than the annual fee you pay to keep the card. For example, the World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees) has a $95 annual fee but provides a free night at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year after your cardmember anniversary.
If you redeem your free night at a Category 4 Hyatt hotel, you should easily get more than $95 in value from this perk.
Related: My top 3 picks for the best cobranded hotel credit card
Meanwhile, some cards offer enough bonus points on each account anniversary to justify the annual fee. For example, the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card has a $95 annual fee, but cardholders get 15,000 bonus points each anniversary year.
TPG's June 2025 valuations peg 15,000 Wyndham Rewards points at $165, more than the card's annual fee.
The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: 7 of the best hotel credit cards that come with an annual free night
Enjoy extra perks and bonus earnings
Each hotel credit card is different, but most offer bonus earnings at hotels within their program. For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio.
Most hotel credit cards also offer other program-related perks.
Take the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) as an example. It offers automatic Platinum Elite status and access to IHG's great fourth reward night benefit. The latter is an extremely valuable perk that lets you pay zero points for every fourth night when you redeem IHG points for award stays of four nights or longer.
Related: The best hotel credit cards with annual fees under $100
Snag a valuable welcome offer
Several hotel credit cards currently have valuable welcome offers. Here's a look at some of these offers:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn 175,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. According to TPG's June 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $875.
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus up to an additional 30,000 bonus points by earning 3 additional points per dollar on purchases that earn 2 and 3 points per dollar on up to $10,000 spent in the first six months. According to our valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $600.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn five free night awards (valued at up to 50,000 points each) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees. Additionally, you can receive up to $100 in statement credits (up to $50 biannually) after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases. According to TPG's June 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $1,850.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn two free night awards (valued at up to 50,000 points each) after spending $1,000 in the first three months of account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees. According to our valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $700.
These offers let you earn points or free nights quickly, which can be useful if you're running low on your favorite hotel points.
Related: 10 ways to meet the spending requirements and earn the bonus on a new card
Maintain elite status with less effort
Some credit cards help you earn status or offer complimentary hotel elite status. Even if you don't stay in hotels frequently, having elite status when you do stay can be useful.
For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card gives automatic top-tier Diamond status with Hilton.
But some cards also help you obtain higher tiers of hotel elite status. For instance, Marriott credit cards offer elite night credits every calendar year that can help you earn higher tiers of Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Meanwhile, the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® provides 10 elite night credits toward Choice Privileges elite status each calendar year, while the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® offers 20 elite night credits toward elite status each calendar year.
The information for the Choice Privileges and Choice Privileges Select has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: On the hamster wheel of chasing hotel elite status? Buy it instead
Bottom line
If you have a favorite hotel brand or program, you should consider getting one of their cobranded credit cards. In many cases, the annual free night certificate or bonus points will more than justify paying your hotel card's annual fee. Plus, most hotel credit cards provide bonus earnings and extra perks when staying at the program's hotels.
Related: How to choose a hotel credit card
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