HOTEL

30 Of The Best Black Friday And Cyber Monday Travel Deals For 2023

Planning a trip is half the fun, and people are busy booking winter travel for the upcoming months. According to a survey by vacation rental company Vacasa, 71% of winter travelers have already booked their travel for the season. Have you?

This weekend could be the opportunity to find a great deal for travel both during the holidays and in 2023, including on your favorite cruise line or preferred hotel brand. Here are some of the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday travel deals to save you major cash on hotels and resorts around the world.

Discounts for IHG One Rewards members

Known as “IHG’s Biggest Member Event” of the year, IHG One Rewards loyalty program members can save up to 10% off the already discounted “Advance Saver” and “Book Early and Save” rates between now and Dec. 2. They can also save up to 20% off the best available rate at participating Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants between now and Dec. 5. Members of the free-to-join loyalty program who have not downloaded the IHG app can also receive 1,000 bonus points for adding it to their device before Dec. 2.

Up to half off at Meliá Hotels International

With this deal, available from now through Nov. 29, Meliá Rewards members can save up to 50% off stays between now and the end of next year. With 390 hotels around the world, the Spanish hotel company has something for every traveler from city hotels

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HOTEL

Wyndham Rewards Named Best Hotel Loyalty Program for Fifth Consecutive Year by Readers of USA TODAY

Wyndham Rewards Earner Card once again named best hotel credit card

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Wyndham Rewards®, the world’s most generous guest rewards program spanning more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally, has once again been named best hotel loyalty program in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards while the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card has been recognized as the best hotel credit card.

credit card in the USA TODAY 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards. Above, Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres, All Inclusive Resort & Spa, just one of more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals where Wyndham Rewards members can redeem points for free nights.” alt=”Wyndham Rewards has once again been ranked the top hotel loyalty program and Wyndham Rewards Earner Card the top hotel credit card in the USA TODAY 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards. Above, Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres, All Inclusive Resort & Spa, just one of more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals where Wyndham Rewards members can redeem points for free nights.”/

The accolades mark the fifth consecutive year Wyndham Rewards has taken the top spot in the Best Hotel Loyalty Program category and the fourth consecutive year Wyndham’s credit card has been named Best Hotel Credit Card. Nominees in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are compiled by a panel of industry experts, and winners are chosen based on daily voting from USA TODAY readers over a four-week period.

“Designed to be both simple and generous, Wyndham Rewards celebrates and champions the everyday traveler, offering more value, more flexibility and more redemption opportunities than virtually any other hotel program in the world,” said Lisa Checchio, chief marketing officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “To once again see both the program and our credit

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HOTEL

8 Not-To-Miss Hotel Loyalty Promotions For Fall And Winter Travel

With the leaves changing and temperatures dropping, you don’t have to stop thinking about your next warm-weather vacation. A long list of loyalty program promotions from hotels could have you racking up points and other perks to enjoy on your next trip. From your favorite hotels in global hubs like London and Sydney to new hotels elsewhere that are opening this fall, vacation mode should be permanently switched on thanks to the benefits that come with hotel loyalty programs and affiliated credit cards.

Vacations can also stem from travel-related contests and sweepstakes, some of which can have you living your bucket list travel or sports fan dream. No matter where you plan to go this fall, these are some of the biggest fall promotions worth registering for in the coming weeks.

Choose your fall bonus with IHG One Rewards

This fall promotion from IHG One Rewards gives members the chance to choose the promotion that works best for their travel plans. They can register for 2,000 bonus points after every two nights or 10,000 bonus points after every four nights. Once chosen, the offer cannot be adjusted, and that’s how they will earn points on qualifying stays between Oct. 13, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2022. Be sure to register before you check in for your first stay. To maximize the promotion, it depends how many nights you plan to stay with IHG this fall. If you will have a lot of nights, the 10,000 point offer makes more sense, especially if these are in even multiples of four.

Up to 4,000 bonus points per

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TRAVELLING

How to choose a travel loyalty program | Travel Troubleshooter

What’s the point of participating in a travel loyalty program anymore? Frequent travelers like Joel Smiler can’t think of one. 

“There is little to no value in status anymore,” said Smiler, a retired veterinarian from Lakeville, Michigan. “There are few upgrades, no dedicated customer service lines that get you to a representative sooner, and no early boarding in some cases.”

He says he’s done being loyal and will no longer actively participate in any program.

There have always been travelers like Smiler who don’t follow the herds of consumers collecting points and miles. But now there’s evidence that he’s not alone. And that has people wondering if loyalty programs have a future after the pandemic.

“Travel loyalty programs are on the decline,” said Humphrey Ho, managing director of Hylink Digital USA, a digital marketing agency. “Many programs are experiencing post-pandemic inflation, and there’s been a decline in users.” 

A report by travel-technology company Arrivia found that less than half of Americans think points are important to travel, and only 42% used their awards to lower the cost of a trip. Even executives agree that their loyalty programs are lacking, with nearly one-third admitting that they struggle to demonstrate the value of their rewards. 

Most problematic: Younger travelers don’t seem to be that loyal. Only 35% of Gen Z travelers participate in a travel loyalty program, according to research by Morning Consult. The industry average is 43%. “Their awareness of loyalty programs is low,” said travel analyst Lindsey Roeschke.

This travel trend is a long time coming. The pandemic made many travelers take a hard look at their loyalties. What they often found were programs that weren’t that loyal to them. And although there are notable exceptions, it seems we are headed to a reckoning of sorts when it comes

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HOTEL

7 Hotel Promotions To Boost Your Points Balance This Fall

Amp up your loyalty program points balance this fall with these hotel promotions. From double points to fast tracks to elite status, hotels around the world are ready to provide incentives to earn your business. These are some of the best hotel loyalty promotions available this fall, which can be especially lucrative if planning upcoming travel for Labor Day weekend.

Double your stay with Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors has a generous fall promotion giving guests 2x points on all eligible stays from Sept. 6 through the end of the year. On top of that, guests that check out from their stay between Monday and Friday during the promotion period will also receive a 2,000-point bonus. Hilton Honors is free to join, and members must register for the promotion to be eligible for the extra points. Of course, those with Hilton Honors elite status can earn even more points based on their specific tier as well as take advantage of benefits like potential room upgrades and food and beverage credits. Hilton is also one of the few hospitality brands to boast that all of its extended stay properties will be pet-friendly by the end of the year.

2x World of Hyatt points at MGM Resorts in Las Vegas

Between now and October 15, rack up twice as many World of Hyatt points when staying at 13 participating MGM Resorts in Las Vegas.

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HOTEL

Choice Privileges Recognized As a Top Hotel Loyalty Program By U.S. News & World Report

Award-winning loyalty program praised for expanded member benefits as it makes Best Hotel Rewards Program list six years in a row

ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Choice Privileges, the award-winning loyalty program from Choice Hotels International, Inc.  (NYSE: CHH), has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top hotel loyalty program, according to the publication’s newly released 2022-2023 Best Hotel Rewards Program list. The latest accolade marks the sixth consecutive year Choice Privileges has been distinguished as a leader in the hotel rewards category, and highlights Choice’s continued commitment to delivering exceptional value to travelers.

(PRNewsfoto/Choice Hotels International, Inc.)

(PRNewsfoto/Choice Hotels International, Inc.)

“Today’s best loyalty programs are the ones that listen to travelers and ensure year-after-year they continue to resonate with guests’ unique travel needs,” said Jamie Russo, vice president, loyalty programs and customer engagement. “Member feedback has always been the driving force behind the Choice Privileges loyalty program and our recurring recognition by U.S. News & World report as an industry leader affirms the value our unique perks and rewards offers travelers.”

To compile its distinguished annual list, U.S. News & World Report evaluated the top programs designed for everyday travelers and used a methodology that weighed five components: network size, property diversity, geographic coverage, added benefits and ease of earning a free night. For the 2022-2023 rankings, U.S. News created an additional scoring category to reward loyalty programs – like Choice Privileges – that continued to be flexible with members due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This past year, in addition to continuing its hallmark exclusive member rate and popular Your Extras offerings, Choice Privileges unveiled several enhancements for its members, including:

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HOTEL

Earn 125,000 Points with Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex Card’s New Bonus

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express is relaunching the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card with an increased welcome bonus and new perks to give business owners more rewards during their travels.

Select analyzes the new welcome bonus offer, and how travelers can maximize their rewards to get the most out of the points earned from the card.

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Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex Card’s welcome offer and features

The new welcome bonus is simple, yet valuable for all travelers. When you’re approved for the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex card, you can earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership. The offer is available through August 31, 2022.

And as you spend on the card, you’ll earn:

  • 6X points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program
  • 4X points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, U.S. purchases for shipping, and wireless phone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
  • 2X points per dollar spent on all other purchases with the card

If you meet the spending criteria for the welcome bonus you’ll earn at least 135,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. And with an average value of 0.7 cents per point, you’ll have $945 worth of points within the first three months.

To add to the savings, a

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HOTEL

7 Amazing Perks You Can Get By Joining Hotel Loyalty Programs (for Free)

As you work on summer travel plans, a key decision will be where to stay. Finding a hotel with a great loyalty program may weigh heavily in your decision.

Hotel loyalty programs can help you reduce travel costs, which is important given that most of us are considering how to deal with inflation right now.

Following are seven reasons to join a hotel loyalty program, and some things to consider that will help you find the best choice for you.

Grow your travel fund with these 23 legit ways to make extra money.

1. Loyalty programs are free

You may feel that a loyalty program is just another thing you have to pay for with little or no reward. But most loyalty programs are actually free.

So, depending on how often you stay at a certain hotel or hotel chain, it may be a simple sign-up that can lead to big rewards.

2. You can access special members-only rates

Instead of using travel sites that compare different hotel rooms, you might better save money at hotels by booking directly with the hotel chain using your loyalty rewards account.

Being a member can get you surprisingly great rates in many cases.

3. Upgraded breakfast might be available

Instead of just a boring breakfast with some bagels and dry cereal, your loyalty program membership might allow you access to an upgraded morning meal.

This can include eggs, bacon, and other delicious breakfast treats that might not be available to customers who haven’t signed up for the program.

4. You can tap into other discounts

When you check in for your stay, find out if the hotel’s loyalty program entitles you to additional perks.

Does the hotel property you’re staying at include a spa? Or perhaps it has a pool with cabanas

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