These hotels want you to start traveling again
Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt hotels offer incentives to their loyal customers, but who comes out on top?
We previously dove into airlines; now, we’ll turn to the major hotel groups — Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton, and Hyatt — to see how they’re working to keep travelers in their doors now that the summer season approaches.
When Will My Points Expire
If you’ve been hoarding points in hopes of future travel but are edging close to inactivity expiration, most hotel brands are extending cutoffs in the wake of Covid. Hyatt has the earliest date, with points beginning to expire June 30, 2021, after 24 months of inactivity. Earned Hyatt award nights are valid through Dec 31, 2021. Hilton is slightly better, extending points expiration until Dec 31, 2021. Bonvoy is extending until March 2022, at which point all 24 month + inactive accounts will expire. Free night awards from Bonvoy that expired in 2020 are available until Jan 3, 2022.
Status Standings
Bonvoy has extended all elite status through February 2022, with a bonus that anything you earned in 2020 counts as a 50% credit in 2021 earning. Elite Night Credits will count towards achieving the 2021 Annual Choice Benefit and attaining Lifetime Elite Status. Hilton rolled over all elite status nights earned in 2020 to count toward 2021 status and halved the requirements for each status level to boot. Current Hilton status will remain through March 31, 2022. Hyatt will cut off current status on Feb 28, 2022, and has halved earning requirements for new status levels.
Credit Card Deals
If you’re not a credit card member yet, many hotel chains are running bonus programs right now for new signups. Marriott Bonvoy has a 50,000 point offer for their no-fee card after spending $1,000 in 3 months and a 100,000 point offer for their $95 annual fee card after a $3,000 spend in 3 months. Hilton has three levels for their American Express card (0, $95, and $450) and the middle-ground card has the current best sign up at 130,000 points after $2,000 in spend in the first three months, with a sweetener of 50,000 extra points if you spend an additional $8,000 in six months. Depending on the hotel, that could be redeemable for a whole week's stay. If you’re looking for a no-fee, they’re running a similar promotion on that card as well (80,000 points for $1,000 spend, plus a 50,000 bonus for an additional $4,000 spend). Hyatt isn’t currently offering any spectacular bonuses but does have its card via Chase as well.
Marriot Overachives with Perks
While all three major chains offer extensions to loyal customers running specials on room rates, we’ve found Marriott Bonvoy to be the most interesting with their Covid-specific offers.
Daypass, Staypass, Playpass
With everyone holed up at home without travel in 2020, Marriot Bonvoy has reinvented the staycation to suit the work-from-home lifestyle. They now offer Daypass, a 6 am to 6 pm day rate to use a hotel room with workspace. Staypass extends that to a staycation option, with the enhanced benefit of a 6 a.m. check-in on the first day of your stay and a 6 p.m. checkout on your last. Finally, if you need a place to work but have kids at home, they have Playpass, an option that gives you working amenities while your kids and family can have access to supervised childcare and the pool, etc. The latter is available in more limited cities than Daypass and Staypass, but an exciting option to help alleviate the boredom of work from home life.
Gas & Go
Among the list of credits and deals for various stays, select Bonvoy hotels are leaning into the trend of road trips with a $25 credit at select hotels. While not explicitly for gasoline, it’s a chunk of a tank to get you to your following location.
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Disclaimer: I am not paid directly to promote any services or products. All advice provided in this newsletter is general advice and does not consider your financial situation. I am not a tax professional.