How and why you should maximize your hotel stays by using multiple loyalty programs
Editor's Note
Using one hotel loyalty program for most, if not all, of your stays is tempting. You may find yourself primarily using a particular program because you have a high tier of elite status, you feel comfortable earning and redeeming its rewards or your favorite resort belongs to the program.
However, even if you have one of the best hotel elite status tiers with a program and are loyal to it, you may also find having one or more secondary programs beneficial. Here's why and how you should use multiple hotel loyalty programs.
Why use multiple hotel loyalty programs?
Before discussing how to use multiple hotel loyalty programs, let me convince you why you should.
Snag the best-value stay
The primary reason why I use multiple hotel loyalty programs instead of sticking with just one is the value doing so can provide. Whether you're redeeming points or booking a paid rate, some programs will provide better value than others for a given destination and dates. This is particularly true now that some hotel loyalty programs use fully dynamic award pricing while others still use award charts.
For example, I almost always redeem Hyatt points at one of two Category 1 airport hotels when I need to stay near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) before or after a flight. At Category 1 Hyatt hotels, you must redeem between 3,500 and 6,500 points per night. TPG's September 2024 valuations peg the value of these points between $60 and $111, which is less than the rate at which I'd be able to book a comparable hotel in the area on most dates.
By considering award and paid rates across multiple loyalty programs, I have more options to book a good deal. Also, when I have multiple programs to choose from for a specific stay, I can often earn more points through current hotel promotions.
Related: 8 mistakes to avoid when redeeming hotel points
Stay in destinations unserved by your primary program
Although major hotel loyalty programs like World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and IHG One Rewards have properties worldwide, there are still some destinations where you won't find any properties in one or more of these programs.
For example, if you want to visit Kanab, Utah, you could stay at an IHG or Hilton hotel. However, if you only wanted to consider Marriott hotels, you'd need to stay an hour away at a hotel near Zion National Park (the SpringHill Suites Kanab is slated to open next month). And if you only wanted to consider Hyatt hotels, you'd need to stay a 70-minute drive away in Page, Arizona, or at an Under Canvas property near Zion National Park.
Related: 8 tips for finding a hotel in sold-out destinations
Enjoy diversity in elite benefits
If you have elite status or other benefits with multiple hotel loyalty programs, you may choose a particular program for certain stays to utilize specific benefits.
For example, suppose I want a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout on a specific stay. In that case, I'll usually stay with World of Hyatt (which provides a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout on most stays to top-tier Globalist members) or Marriott Bonvoy (which provides a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout on most stays to Platinum Elite members and higher).
Likewise, I'll usually avoid Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors hotels that provide a food-and-beverage credit instead of breakfast for upper-tier elite members. However, for stays where I don't plan to eat breakfast at the hotel but would enjoy a food-and-beverage credit, I'll consider staying at a hotel I know will provide such a credit as an elite perk. For example, I'll often use the food and beverage credit at Marriott's Moxy hotels for evening drinks in the lobby.
Related: What to do when a hotel doesn't want to honor your elite benefits
Protect against devaluation
If you use multiple hotel loyalty programs, you'll protect yourself against devaluation in any particular program.
For example, suppose Marriott Bonvoy is your primary program, but you also occasionally use World of Hyatt and IHG One Rewards. In that case, you'd be less affected than someone who went all in on Marriott if the program were to devalue its elite benefits or points value.
Related: Why points and miles are a bad long-term investment
Utilize different transferable rewards
If you have transferable points — including Chase Ultimate Rewards points, American Express Membership Rewards points, Citi ThankYou Rewards points, Capital One miles and Bilt Rewards Points — you likely know you can transfer these rewards to select airline and hotel partners.
If you only consider World of Hyatt when looking for an award stay, you're limited to transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards points. However, if you consider multiple hotel loyalty programs, you might get better value by transferring other rewards for some stays. For example, you could transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards points, Capital One miles, Wells Fargo Rewards points or Amex Membership Rewards points to Choice Privileges to book high-value Choice stays.
Related: Credit card transfer partners: Guide to transferring points and miles to airlines and hotels
Strategies for using multiple hotel loyalty programs
If you have elite status with your primary hotel loyalty program, you may be hesitant to stay with a different loyalty program where you wouldn't get elite benefits. But credit cards offer many ways to snag at least mid-tier hotel elite status with other programs.
Each traveler's exact situation will be different, but here are three situations you can use to inspire your strategy.
Amex Platinum or Business Platinum cardmember
If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express — including an additional Platinum Card — you can enroll in complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold status. If you have either of these premium American Express cards, you might find that these two statuses are serving you well if you primarily stay at Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors properties.
But if you want a higher tier of Marriott Bonvoy elite status just by holding a credit card, you could add the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card to your wallet. After all, basic Bonvoy Brilliant cardmembers get complimentary Platinum Elite status (and 25 elite night credits each year toward a higher status tier). If you prefer a higher tier of Hilton Honors elite status, you can get automatic Hilton Diamond status as a basic cardmember of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
Alternatively, you could add the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) or the World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees) to your wallet to get some perks and bonus earnings when staying with these programs.
Related: Guide to Marriott and Hilton elite status with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum
Currently focused on 1 program
If you're currently focused on one hotel loyalty program, consider becoming involved with another. This might be simple, such as considering what other hotel loyalty programs you can transfer points to if you have cards that earn transferable points. Or, you could take a bigger step toward diversifying your loyalty (and options) by getting a cobranded hotel credit card with a different program.
For example, if you currently focus on World of Hyatt and have one or more Chase Ultimate Rewards cards, you might want to get the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. Cardholders of the IHG Premier get automatic Platinum Elite status and enjoy the fourth-night-free reward perk when redeeming IHG points for stays of four nights or longer. You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to IHG at a 1:1 ratio.
Or, suppose you currently focus on a hotel loyalty program that uses dynamic award pricing. In that case, you might benefit from making a program that uses award charts, such as World of Hyatt, your secondary program. You could add the World of Hyatt Credit Card to your wallet to get automatic Discoverist status and one free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every cardmember anniversary.
Related: Quick Points: 3 reasons you need a credit card with your favorite hotel brand
Free agent
Perhaps you're a free agent and tend to book the most convenient or best-value hotel in each destination you visit. In this case, you might benefit from adding one or more of the following cards to your wallet:
- World of Hyatt Credit Card: Earn up to 60,000 points: 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on up to $15,000 spent.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn three free night awards* after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn an additional free night award* after spending a total of $4,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening. Additionally, earn up to $100 in statement credits (up to $50 biannually) after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases.*Nights are valued at up to 50,000 points each. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Each of these cards offers an annual free night that you should be able to redeem for significantly more than the card's annual fee and low- to mid-tier elite status that will give you higher earning rates and some perks during your stays.
Related: My top 3 picks for the best cobranded hotel credit card
Bottom line
I've written a lot about the perks of hotel elite status. Between me and my husband, we have high tiers of elite status with World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards and Wyndham Rewards through holding some credit cards that offer elite status and spending more than 200 nights per year in hotels. But even if you spend far fewer nights in hotels each year, it's worth at least having a primary and secondary hotel loyalty program for all the reasons outlined in this guide.
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