Hotels extend flexible loyalty benefits
Worried about losing a hard-earned hotel rewards status tier after a year with less traveling? You may not have to be.
Various hotels chains are extending flexible benefits programs for rewards members, acknowledging that the pandemic’s impact on travel isn’t over.
Hilton announced Wednesday that it would extend its loyalty benefits, allowing its Hilton Honors members could keep their points and elite status for a longer period of time.
“As we get back to a new season of travel together, we want our loyal guests to know that we made these program changes with them top-ofmind,” Jenn Chick, vice president and global head of Hilton Honors & Customer Engagement, said in a release.
Despite a dip in travel caused by the pandemic, hotel chains have seen membership grow over the past year.
Hyatt’s loyalty program, World of Hyatt, grew from more than 22 million members in 2019 to more than 25 million in 2020, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For its part, Marriott’s membership program, Marriott Bonvoy, jumped about 10 million members to 153 million between the second quarter of 2020 to the same period this year. Hilton had about 118 million members as of June 30, up 10% yearover-year.
Here are some of the extended policies from top hotel brands.
Hilton Honors
Hilton Honors members’ current statuses will be extended through May 31, 2023, allowing members to maintain their status perks and benefits with fewer trips.
Expirations on points are paused until Dec. 31, 2022.
Next year’s status tier requirements will be relaxed compared with 2019. Starting in 2022:
Silver status can be earned at seven nights, three stays, or 17,500 base points.
Gold status at 28 nights, 14 stays or 52,500 base points.
Diamond status at 42 nights, 21 stays or 84,000 base points.
Hyatt
World of Hyatt points won’t be forfeited through the end of 2021
Hyatt’s loyalty program benefits were last updated on June 15, according to its website, and were extended “to advance care and give members one less thing to worry about during this incredibly challenging time.” According to Hyatt’s website:
Points will not be forfeited through the end of 2021. Any member without qualifying activity for 24 or more months as of Dec. 31 will forfeit their points in January.
Unused free nights, suite upgrades, or club lounge access with expiration dates between March 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, have been extended to Dec. 31, 2021.
Unused suite upgrades and club lounge access awards with Feb. 28, 2021 expiration dates and unused free night awards earned in 2020 with 2021 expiration dates have been extended to Dec. 31, 2021.
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy’s points expiration has been paused until March 31, 2022. At that time, points will expire only in accounts that have been inactive for at least 24 months.
2019 elite status has been extended through Feb. 1, 2022.