Discover how boutique hotels and bagel-making classes can help you rack up rewards with Booking.com.

Meet Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, a talented photographer and chef, who also happens to be the son of a Spice Girl and a world-renowned soccer star (yes, we're talking about Victoria and David Beckham). He invites you to explore New York City.

"I find New York to be incredibly beautiful," Beckham, who once called NYC home, shared with TPG. He expressed his love for the city's iconic cuisine, saying, "I’m a huge fan of pizza and bagels."

During a recent visit to NYC, Beckham collaborated with Booking.com to create a humorous ad about their loyalty program, Genius. In the video, he humorously highlights his various careers, beginning with a self-praise: "You’re a fantastic chef. A brilliant photographer." Then he’s asked, "So, you’re a professional traveler now?"

"I consider myself quite the genius," he quips in the commercial, before hilariously diving into the perks of booking with Booking.com and the advantages of the Genius program, which features three tiers of loyalty.

"Once you’ve made the necessary bookings and reached a new tier, it’s yours for life," Beckham shared with TPG. "I’m obviously a Level 3 Genius, which means I enjoyed a complimentary breakfast, a room upgrade, and 20% off at The Dominick Hotel [in New York City]."

Similar to most loyalty programs, Genius is a complimentary program with various tiers, or levels, that members advance through to access rewards and benefits. By simply signing up, you can start earning Level 1 perks like a 10% discount on select accommodations and car rentals. After five bookings within two years, members unlock free breakfast and room upgrades on select stays, as well as larger discounts. Completing 15 bookings grants Level 3 members discounts ranging from 10% to 20% at participating hotels, priority assistance, complimentary breakfast, room upgrades on select stays, and 10% off select car rentals.

"Many loyalty programs can be complex and restrictive, but simplicity is fundamental to Booking.com's Genius program," said Ben Harrell, managing director, U.S., at Booking.com, in a conversation with TPG. "Genius members aren’t required to track or redeem points with ambiguous value or worry about downgrades each year. Unlike many other programs that necessitate annual status maintenance, Genius members benefit from lifetime access to exclusive travel perks worldwide."

While TPG suggests booking hotel stays directly through a brand’s loyalty program (like reserving a Marriott property via Marriott Bonvoy), there are occasions when programs like Genius offer great value, such as booking boutique hotels without loyalty affiliations at a discount, as Beckham did at The Dominick Hotel in New York.

You may be surprised to discover that Booking.com also allows you to reserve activities, tours, and experiences — and these bookings contribute to your progress in the Genius program.

"There are countless attractions," Beckham remarked about Booking.com, referencing an experience he had: mastering the art of bagel-making. "The entire process was incredible," he shared, praising the tradition of making bagels from scratch with experts who have honed their craft in New York for generations. "Watching how they create these bagels with such precision and care is truly remarkable."

Travelers are increasingly relying on loyalty programs to save money.

A recent survey by Booking.com found that 70% of American travelers are now more focused on travel discounts provided through loyalty programs to maximize their savings. Another study commissioned by Booking.com revealed that 54% of Americans intend to join a travel rewards or loyalty program in 2024.

It's important to recognize that various loyalty programs cater to different preferences; some travelers prioritize instant savings, while others may seek a program that rewards bookings beyond just flights or hotels.

"A common myth is that booking through an OTA (online travel agency) means you’ll miss out on perks," Harrell explained. "The Genius program provides fantastic benefits such as complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and discounts on accommodations and car rentals."

Keep in mind that booking through an OTA like Booking.com typically means you won't earn credits with a loyalty program tied to that specific hotel, such as elite night credits in Hilton Honors or points with World of Hyatt. Additionally, you probably won’t access elite benefits from other rewards programs if you have any.

For those who may not stay at enough hotels annually to climb the loyalty ladder within a single program, occasional rewards from a program like Genius can be quite valuable. I recently used Booking.com and my Genius account to secure a boutique hotel in Tokyo at a lower price than booking directly.

Whether you’re a frequent traveler like Beckham heading to NYC to master bagel-making, or someone who travels occasionally seeking savings, joining Genius is a smart choice. Plus, once you ascend to a new tier, it’s yours for life.

If you find yourself in New York City, Beckham wants you to keep in mind that while Manhattan is fantastic, his top spot in the city is the borough that shares his name: Brooklyn.