1. Links to other loyalty programs
    Credit cards  Travel partners  Airlines  Many hotels and resorts have partnerships with casinos 

2. Mattress run

3. Independent loyalty schemes

4. References

A hotel loyalty program or hotel reward program is a loyalty program typically run by a hotel chain. A hotel loyalty program is a key strategy used by hotel chains to attract to and retain business at its properties. A hotel loyalty program works to entice business travelers or other frequent hotel guests to favour that particular brand or group of hotels over others when selecting a hotel.

A hotel loyalty program will generally have multiple levels. Newly joined members are offered some privileges, such as free Internet ^[1] to encourage them to join the scheme. This ensures that the guest has an incentive to use their loyalty card, even if they do not anticipate reaching the next rewards level. In addition, joining the scheme and staying nights in a hotel will typically accrue points, which are similar to frequent flyer miles, and can be redeemed for free nights in hotels (the number of points required to stay a night may vary based on the normal cost of the hotel, and on the day of the week or season) and other benefits, such as a welcome gift, free parking, discount pricing, greater points earning and buying power, and/or no blackout dates.^[2][3]

Higher levels in the scheme will typically offer a combination of benefits including free room upgrades, bonus points, rolling 24-hour check-in,^[4] and free access to more of the hotel's facilities, such as buffet breakfasts, executive lounges, spas, and other features. Mid-tiers and higher levels are typically reached by staying a certain number of nights during the membership year, or by obtaining a credit card or charge card associated with that hotel chain or one of its partners.^[5][6]

The world's largest hotel chains, including Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Starwood, and others, all operate reward programs. However some luxury brands, such as Four Seasons, have eschewed the concept,^[7] saying they prefer building loyalty through personalised service.

Links to other loyalty programs

Credit cards

Most major hotel loyalty programs are associated with one or more branded credit cards. By spending on the hotel-affiliated credit card, the customer earns loyalty points and other benefits in the hotel program. These points are used for free hotel nights. Some credit cards also offer an automatic upgrade to a higher level of the hotel reward scheme.^[8][9]

Travel partners

Airlines

There are several links between frequent flyer schemes and hotel reward schemes:

• it may be possible to exchange hotel reward points for frequent flyer miles (subject to a partnership between the respective brands) and vice versa
• when joining a hotel loyalty program, it is often possible to elect to earn frequent flyer miles with an airline, rather than hotel reward points with the hotel company.

Many hotels and resorts have partnerships with casinos

Some of the hotel-casino partnerships include:

• Hyatt Hotels and its World of Hyatt loyalty program has a reciprocal points and status earning arrangements with MGM Resorts International's hotels and casinos and their Mlife Rewards program,^[10] as well as with Ocean Resort and Casino Atlantic City

• Wyndham and its Wyndham Rewards loyalty program has a reciprocal points and status earning arrangement with Caesars Entertainment's Total Rewards loyalty program^[12]

Mattress run

A 'mattress run' is a stay in a hotel with the purpose of achieving hotel loyalty program status.^[13] A mattress run is a similar concept to a mileage run for an airline loyalty scheme, however while a mileage run requires the traveller to actually fly to their destination, a mattress run only requires the guest to check-in physically, after which the guest might sleep at home, or in a different hotel. A guest performing a mattress run would book stays in cheaper hotels and at cheaper times of week or year.

A mattress run will only make sense when a traveller is otherwise staying at the loyalty program's properties, but has not stayed enough nights to reach their desired status level. Mattress running in an area with low hotel costs, such as Arizona, could earn benefits when staying in more expensive cities, such as New York, including breakfasts that might cost $30 or more, and free suite upgrades retailing at hundreds of dollars.

Independent loyalty schemes

Some independent hotel associations, such as Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Leading Hotels of the World, and others, operate loyalty schemes, which function as a single scheme despite the hotels being independently owned.^[14]

The hotel booking website Hotels.com operates a simple reward scheme, whereby booking hotels through the site earns credit towards free hotel nights.

References

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• Joseph P. Foley
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• Joseph-Philippe-René-Adolphe Caron
• Joseph Philip Robert Murray
• Joseph Philpot Curran
• Joseph P. Hoar
• Joseph Pieper
• Joseph Pierre Albert Sévigny
• Joseph P., II Kennedy
• Joseph Pilates
• Joseph Pilsudski
• Joseph P. Kennedy
• Joseph P Kennedy
• Joseph P. Kennedy II
• Joseph P. Kennedy Jr
• Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.
• Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr
• Joseph P. Kennedy Sr
• Joseph P. Kerwin
• Joseph P. Knapp