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Can I Earn Hotel Points for Booking More than One Room?

March 20, 2016
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3 min read
Hotel Reception Featured
Can I Earn Hotel Points for Booking More than One Room?
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TPG reader Kar Min sent me a message on Facebook to ask about earning Starpoints:

“Can I book rooms at two different Starwood hotels at the same time and earn points for both stays? Does it matter if I'm the one checking in/out, or if my card is used to pay for each room?”

While you generally can't accrue frequent flyer miles on another person's fare, some hotel programs offer extra rewards when you book more than one room. That creates some interesting opportunities to earn points, miles and elite credits when you travel with a group.

Starwood Preferred Guest allows you to earn points (as well as elite night and stay credits) for up to three guest rooms at a single property, provided that you pay for the charges on one folio and you actually stay in one of the rooms. Even better, your elite benefits may also apply to each room — this isn't guaranteed, but I've found it happens more often than not. Other brands take a similar stance, as Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and others also allow you to earn points on more than one room at a time.

It's less clear whether you'll earn rewards for booking rooms at different properties on the same night as Kar Min suggested. There are certainly legitimate reasons for doing this: If you're booking at the last minute and availability is limited at one hotel, for example, or if your group is splitting up for a day to explore different parts of the same city. So long as you're the one physically checking into each room, it seems like you could fulfill the requirements described above. Unfortunately, Starwood doesn't see things that way.

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If you need separate hotels in one destination, your loyalty accounts may benefit from booking with two different chains.

While the SPG program rules don't address this issue specifically, the word from Starwood reps is that simultaneous stays are not eligible for rewards. There's a fair amount of anecdotal evidence from people who have earned points and elite credits from more than one property at a time, but others have been denied from the outset, or have earned rewards at first only to have Starwood reclaim them later. I'd say your odds of seeing both stays counted are middling at best.

To maximize rewards in this situation, your best bet is probably to book any additional rooms at a property belonging to another loyalty program. I doubt this is what Starwood had in mind when the policy was put into effect, but it's the natural result. Assuming other factors are equal, if I can't earn points for booking with a second SPG property, then I'll likely take that business elsewhere.

If you have any other questions, please tweet me @thepointsguy, message me on Facebook or send me an email at info@thepointsguy.com.

[card card-name='Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express' card-id='22034416' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']

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  • Annual Fee is $325.
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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
4 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.