HOTEL LOYALTY SCHEMES EXPLAINED

In a travel world of near infinite choice, loyalty pays. And just as airlines dangle airmiles to earn free flights, almost every hotel group offers its own incentives to stick with it. These loyalty schemes are almost always worth joining, as most of them are free and they offer some perks for just being signed up, ranging from complimentary in-room WiFi and late check out, to entry-level member discounts.

World of Hyatt

Dig into the geekier end of the travel points debate and Hyatt’s reward programme comes out trumps for its consistent and generous top-tier perks (which include 4pm check out and suite upgrades at Globalist level) and because it hasn’t switched to dynamic award pricing.

This means that even the most expensive Hyatt hotels – including the incredible Park Hyatt Sydney overlooking the Opera House – will never charge more than 45,000

points per night for a standard room. Now the global group has scooped up Mr & Mrs Smith, adding more than 700 of its boutique hotel collection to World of Hyatt, so you can also earn and redeem points at the likes of

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel in Finland and Cowley

Manor Experimental in the Cotswolds.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott’s reach is enormous. The largest hotel group in the world, it has nearly 8,800 hotels in 139 countries and territories – and counting. So if you are going to pick one brand and stick loyally to it to reach for those rewards – which include a fifth night free when booking entirely on points – Marriott is going to have you covered, from grand luxury at Ritz Carlton and St Regis, through the buzzy hangouts of W Hotels and Edition, to affordable city bases Moxy.

Booking.com Genius

While making reservations directly with hotels usually gives you access to the best perks and loyalty programmes, online travel agency reward schemes like Booking.com’s Genius and One Key, which rolls out in the UK across Expedia, Vrbo and Hotels. com from July, can still earn you decent benefits on more varied hotel stays. Genius reward levels, which unlock from just five bookings in two years, are for life once attained and at the top tier –

Genius Level Three – offer 10-20 per cent discounts, free breakfasts and free room upgrades on selected stays, which include over 390,000 properties participating in the programme worldwide.

i‘The scenery takes centre stage’ at La Dama del Porto in Italy