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Radisson Rewards cards go away June 30; here are 5 replacement options
Senitra is a credit cards expert and TPG contributor. Senitra spent seven years working in marketing, has been a freelance writer for numerous websites and worked as a full-time reporter and editor for several daily and weekly newspapers in Texas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She has been quoted on her credit card expertise in MarketWatch, Consumer Reports and Kiplinger.
April 12, 2022 • 11 min read
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Quick summary
Radisson Rewards credit cards are being discontinued, with current cardholders automatically transitioned to different products in June.
Existing cardholders will lose access to Radisson-specific perks such as free night certificates, elite status and annual points for renewal.
Replacement cards offer different reward structures and benefits, including credits for streaming services and no foreign transaction fees.
The article outlines several alternative options for those seeking hotel-specific or flexible travel rewards cards.
What to consider
Spending after April 30 will not count toward Radisson free night certificates, and annual fees paid will be refunded on a prorated basis for the past 12 months.
Replacement cards do not provide Radisson Rewards benefits, so those seeking hotel-specific rewards may need to explore other options.
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of alternative travel rewards cards, including their key perks and which traveler profiles they best suit.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Radisson Rewards credit cardholders received a bit of unwelcome news recently: Both the personal and business versions of the loyalty program's credit cards are being discontinued as of June.
Those with the Radisson Rewards Premier Visa Signature Card are being automatically transitioned to the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card. Those with the Radisson Rewards Business Visa Card will be converted to the U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card.
Here's what this means for Radisson Rewards customers — along with some potential replacement cards to consider.
The information for the Radisson Rewards Premier card, Radisson Rewards Business card and U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards 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.
What do these changes mean for current cardholders?
(Photo by John Gribben for The Points Guy)
Both of the new cards have no annual fee, and annual fees paid on the Radisson Rewards cards will be credited back to your account on a prorated basis going back 12 months, according to the letter received. Any spending after April 30 will no longer count toward the free night e-certificates that could be earned for each $10,000 (up to $30,000) spent each year.
The Altitude Go earns 4 points per dollar on dining; 2 points per dollar on grocery stores, gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations and streaming services; and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Cardholders receive an annual $15 credit for streaming service purchases such as Netflix and Spotify. There are also no foreign transaction fees on purchases outside of the United States.
The Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business Card earns 3% cash back at gas stations and charging stations, office supply stores, cellphone service providers and restaurants; and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
As a longtime holder of the Radisson Rewards Business card — going back to the program’s Club Carlson days — I was disappointed to receive notice of this change. I was a fan of the card for its earning rate of 10 points per dollar on Radisson hotel spending and 5 points per dollar on all other purchases, and I liked the ability to earn up to three free night e-certificates each year for use in the United States.
In addition, cardholders received Gold elite status and 40,000 points each year for card renewal. These two perks made keeping the card nearly a no-brainer for many.
I will likely proactively close my Radisson Rewards Business card before I am automatically converted to the new card, because I may consider applying for that card in the future and want to be eligible for the sign-up bonus.
Alternate card options
My hope is that another bank will partner with Radisson Rewards and offer a credit card at some point. However, if you’re feeling a hole in your wallet and points-earning ability due to the loss of your Radisson Rewards credit card, we’ve compiled a list of alternate options for you to consider.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Ultimately, which one makes the most sense will depend on whether you want a card specific to a single hotel loyalty program or a non-branded card that provides more flexibility for a broader array of travel.
Here are some additional details on each of these options.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
(Photo by Wyatt Smith/The Points Guy)
Current welcome offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership.
Annual fee: $95 annual fee (see rates and fees).
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is a solid option, as it offers Hilton Gold elite status, Priority Pass Select membership with 10 complimentary lounge visits per year (enrollment is required) and a free night reward after you spend $15,000 in a calendar year.
The card’s earning rates are as follows:
12 points per dollar spent at Hilton hotels and resorts.
3 points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Hilton boasts a global portfolio of properties across its numerous brands, so there's a strong chance you'd find a participating hotel or resort wherever your travels take you.
Official application link: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
(Photo courtesy of Ryan Patterson/The Points Guy)
Current welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 welcome bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card includes automatic Bonvoy Silver status as well as 15 elite qualifying nights every year. In addition, you’ll earn one credit toward the next level of elite status for every $5,000 in spending, but you can also reach Gold Elite status simply by spending $35,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Arguably, the most valuable perk is the annual free night award (worth up to 35,000 points) at each account anniversary — though Marriott recently eliminated award charts, so it may be more difficult to find a property to use this free night.
The card’s earning rates are as follows:
6 points per dollar on Marriott purchases.
3 points per dollar on gas, grocery stores and dining, on the first $6,000 spent each year.
2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Like Hilton, Marriott boasts a wide global footprint of hotels and resorts. In fact, it recently opened its 8,000th property near the company's headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland.
Official application link: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
(Photo by The Points Guy)
Current welcome bonus: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Plus, earn up to $100 in statement credits on purchases at IHG properties during the first 12 months from account opening.
Annual fee: $99.
The recently revamped IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers automatic Platinum Elite status, a fourth-night-free reward when you redeem points and an anniversary reward night each year. And as of March 24, Premier cardmembers can also top off their anniversary reward nights with points, allowing you to use the certificate to stay at higher-priced hotels.
The card’s earning rates are as follows:
10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts.
5 points per dollar spent on travel, dining and gas purchases.
Official application link: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
(Photo by The Points Guy)
Current welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95.
While not a hotel credit card in the traditional sense, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — a longtime favorite of many award travelers — can be a solid option. It has World of Hyatt, IHG Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy as transfer partners, but you can book hotels directly through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal at a rate of 1.25 cents per point.
Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
(Photo by Wyatt Smith/The Points Guy)
Current welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95.
For a more straightforward option, consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, as it offers an easy earning structure plus perks such as two complimentary passes for the Capital One Lounge and an up-to-$100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
You can transfer your miles to one of 18 airline and hotel partners, including ALL Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards. You can also book hotel stays through the Capital One Travel portal or redeem your miles to pay off travel purchases from the past 90 days.
The card’s earning rates are as follows:
5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Official application link: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Bottom line
Radisson Rewards credit cards are being discontinued, and all cardholders will be converted to other U.S. Bank credit cards in June. While this is a negative change for fans of the Radisson Rewards hotel program, there are other cards with great spending categories and solid benefits — so you can continue earning points for redemptions as well as receive perks such as elite status and free night certificates.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Surpass Amex, click here.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
