Category Archives for Hotel Loyalty Program.
While it’s unlikely to ever become a standard hotel feature, flexible check-in and check-out is an obvious traveler-pleaser. Really, who wants to be locked into the hotels’ arbitrary definition of when a hotel stay can begin and end? Hotels are well aware of the demand for such flexibility, and indeed have made it a perk…
There’s nothing new about discounted hotel rates available only to members of the hotel’s loyalty program who book direct. Of the major chains, Starwood was the first to offer member-only rates, beginning last year. And Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and InterContinental have since followed suit. Such rates, in short, have become a go-to tactic in hotel…
Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week. If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly. No U.S. Airlines Among the…
J.D. Power this week released results of its 2016 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study, the 20th in its series of annual reviews of traveler satisfaction. The study measures consumer satisfaction in seven areas—reservations, check-in/check-out, guest room, food and beverage, hotel services, hotel facilities, cost and fees—across eight hotel segments, including luxury, midscale, economy/budget,…
Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week. If it was a good deal—or a notably bad deal—from an airline, hotel, or car rental loyalty program, you can read all about it here, and plan your travel accordingly. How NOT to Use Loyalty…
It’s a basic premise of savvy loyalty-program participation that the best return-on-investment is to be had by redeeming points for the program host’s own services. Airline miles are best redeemed for flights, and hotel points are best redeemed for free room nights. Sure, all major programs offer alternative award opportunities—consumer electronics, clothing, event tickets, and…
Just a week after Hilton announced decidedly benign changes to its award pricing, Hyatt is doing the same. Today Hyatt posted on its website a list of hotels that will change award categories beginning on August 1. On that day, 56 properties will shift to a lower category, requiring fewer points for a free night,…
Hilton this week posted upcoming changes to HHonors award prices. While such announcements are almost never good news—and are sometimes positively gut-wrenching—this round of changes is so modest in scope that it’s practically a non-event. On July 13, just 33 of the company’s 4,600 hotels will be recategorized, with 13 moving to a lower category,…
The usual sign-up bonus for the Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature credit card is 40,000 points. Not bad for a no-annual-fee card linked to a top-tier hotel loyalty program. When almost doubled, as it is here, that decent bonus becomes a real attention-getter. Offer Details For a limited time, the sign-up bonus for the card…
When Starwood introduced keyless entry in 10 hotels in 2014, it was hailed as the next logical move in the digitization of travel; the service was expected to quickly roll out across Starwood’s extensive network of hotels. Yesterday, almost two years later, Starwood issued a news release with an update on keyless entry. After all…
With around 450 properties, mostly in the U.S., and a narrow focus on the budget segment of the travel market, Red Roof Inns isn’t for everyone. But if it is for you, this offer makes the chain’s low rates that much more attractive. Offer Details Through August 31, members of Red Roof Inn’s RediCard program…