Joining a hotel’s rewards program can feel like being admitted to an exclusive club. By frequently staying at a particular brand’s hotels, you can accrue points that are redeemable for all kinds of perks, including free or low-cost room upgrades, a meal on the house, and even a free night's stay.
Choosing the best hotel rewards program for you depends on a variety of factors, most importantly, where and how often you travel. But just as crucial is your travel style: Are you content with small comforts like free breakfast, or do you expect top-tier service and exclusive upgrades?
Keeping these nuances in mind, we’ve carefully evaluated all the major hotel groups to highlight the best loyalty programs that deliver meaningful perks, seamless upgrades, and genuine benefits in exchange for your loyalty. Whether you’re hopping between business hubs or seeking boutique luxury escapes, this guide breaks down the nine standout hotel rewards programs that consistently elevate the travel experience worldwide.
This story is part of The New Era of Work Travel, a collaboration between the editors of Condé Nast Traveler and WIRED to help you navigate the perks and pitfalls of the modern business trip.
How do hotel rewards work? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Hotel rewards programs allow members to earn points or credits during eligible stays and while spending at participating hotels. These points can typically be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, dining, and experiences, or transferred to airline miles. Most programs have tiered status levels that unlock additional perks like late checkout, lounge access, and priority upgrades, rewarding frequent guests with enhanced benefits. What are qualifying nights and base points? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron A qualifying night is any night that you stay at a participating hotel and pay an eligible rate—meaning the booking was made through the hotel directly or an approved partner. Base points are the standard points you earn on eligible spending before any bonuses are applied, and they often determine your progress toward elite status tiers. How do I earn points faster or reach elite status quicker? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron You earn points primarily by booking stays and spending money at hotels within the program’s portfolio. Many programs also offer bonus points for spending on services at the hotel, like dining or spa treatments, or through cobranded credit cards. To reach elite status faster, frequent travelers can accumulate qualifying nights or base points quickly, often accelerated by promotions or “elite challenges,” where you can earn status faster over a condensed period. Booking with a hotel’s preferred credit card or during promotional periods can help you earn more points than you normally would. Are hotel points worth collecting, or should I just book the cheapest hotel each time? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron If you travel regularly—especially for business or extended leisure—hotel loyalty points can add significant value. However, if your travel is infrequent or primarily price-driven, the value of points might be limited. It’s best to choose a program aligned with your travel patterns and preferred brands to maximize rewards without sacrificing convenience or comfort.
World of Hyatt
For business travelers who toggle between boardrooms and boutique stays, World of Hyatt offers a loyalty program that’s both intuitive and indulgent. What sets it apart isn’t just its sense of discreet luxury or its polished properties—it’s the way the program streamlines status, upgrades, and rewards into a system that feels more like a relationship than a transaction.
Elite tiers are remarkably attainable, especially for those who log regular, if not relentless, miles: Discoverist kicks in after just 10 nights, while Globalist—Hyatt’s top-tier status—unlocks at 60 nights and delivers standout perks like 4 p.m. late checkout, free parking on stays booked using points, suite upgrades, and access to Hyatt’s Club Lounges where the free snacks and Wi-Fi make layovers feel like retreats. Then there’s Milestone Rewards, which adds flexibility to the tier structure and kicks in as early as 20 nights, offering confirmed suite upgrades, Guest of Honor bookings (which let your colleagues, clients, or family enjoy your elite perks), and valuable free night awards. Points go further than you'd expect, with off-peak redemptions starting at just 3,500 points and access to aspirational brands like Park Hyatt, Alila, and Andaz. The portfolio leans quality over quantity, but spans everything from high-functioning business hubs like Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Connecticut and Thompson Washington, DC, to design-forward accommodations perfect for off-the-clock decompression.
Marriott Bonvoy
With a staggering portfolio of over 8,500 properties across 30 brands in over 130 countries, Marriott Bonvoy promises global coverage. For business travelers whose calendars swing between red carpets and red-eyes, Bonvoy offers the kind of flexibility and depth that turn routine trips into upgraded experiences at the drop of a hat. The tier system is expansive but attainable: Silver Elite kicks in at 10 nights, Gold at 25, Platinum at 50, and Titanium at 75. Once you begin to earn, expect guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, lounge access, suite upgrades, and 50% bonus points—plus Annual Choice Benefits like confirmed suite nights or the ability to gift elite status benefits to another person. The system feels vast but navigable, whether you're checking into a minimalist Moxy in Munich or a legacy-rich Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo.
... continue reading