Discover the benefits of maximizing your hotel stays through various loyalty programs.

It's easy to stick with a single hotel loyalty program for most of your visits, especially if you're enjoying elite status, comfortable with earning and using rewards, or have a preferred resort in that program.

Yet, even if you hold a top-tier hotel elite status with your chosen program, adding one or more secondary programs can offer additional perks. Here’s why and how to effectively utilize multiple hotel loyalty programs.

What are the advantages of using multiple hotel loyalty programs?

Before we delve into the methods of using several hotel loyalty programs, allow me to share compelling reasons for doing so.

Score the most valuable stay

The main reason I choose to utilize multiple hotel loyalty programs instead of sticking to just one is the enhanced value it offers. Whether redeeming points or booking a cash rate, some programs deliver superior value for specific destinations and dates. This is especially relevant now, as certain hotel loyalty programs have switched to fully dynamic award pricing, while others maintain traditional award charts.

For instance, I frequently redeem Hyatt points at one of two Category 1 airport hotels whenever I need to stay close to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) before or after a flight. At Category 1 Hyatt hotels, the redemption range is between 3,500 and 6,500 points per night. TPG's September 2024 valuations estimate the worth of these points to be between $60 and $111, which is lower than the typical rate for a comparable hotel in the area on most days.

By exploring award and cash rates across various loyalty programs, I gain access to a wider array of booking options for great deals. Additionally, having multiple programs to choose from for a particular stay often allows me to earn extra points through current hotel promotions.

Stay in places not covered by your primary program

While major hotel loyalty programs like World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG One Rewards boast properties across the globe, there are still destinations where you may not find accommodations under one or more of these programs.

For instance, if you're planning a trip to Kanab, Utah, you could opt for an IHG or Hilton hotel. However, if you wish to stay exclusively at Marriott hotels, you would need to book an hour away at a property near Zion National Park (the SpringHill Suites Kanab is set to open next month). And for Hyatt, your closest option would be a 70-minute drive to Page, Arizona, or an Under Canvas location near Zion National Park.

Embrace a variety of elite benefits

If you hold elite status or enjoy other perks across different hotel loyalty programs, you can select a specific program for certain stays to take full advantage of these benefits.

For instance, if I desire a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout for a particular stay, I typically choose World of Hyatt (which offers a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout for most stays to top-tier Globalist members) or Marriott Bonvoy (which extends this benefit to Platinum Elite members and above).

Similarly, I tend to steer clear of Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors hotels that offer a food-and-beverage credit instead of breakfast for upper-tier elite members. However, for stays where I don't plan on having breakfast at the hotel but would appreciate a food-and-beverage credit, I might opt for a hotel known to provide that perk. For example, I often enjoy the food and beverage credit at Marriott's Moxy hotels for evening drinks in the lobby.

Safeguard against devaluation

By engaging with multiple hotel loyalty programs, you shield yourself from the impact of devaluation in any single program.

For instance, if Marriott Bonvoy is your main program, but you also make use of World of Hyatt and IHG One Rewards occasionally, you'd be less vulnerable to changes in elite benefits or point values than someone who solely relies on Marriott.

Leverage various transferable rewards

If you possess transferable points — such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One miles, and Bilt Rewards Points — you probably realize you can transfer these points to selected airline and hotel partners.

If you solely focus on World of Hyatt when searching for award stays, your options for transferring points are limited to Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards. However, by considering a variety of hotel loyalty programs, you might discover better value by transferring different rewards for certain stays. For instance, you could transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One miles, Wells Fargo Rewards points, or Amex Membership Rewards points to Choice Privileges for booking high-value Choice stays.

Techniques for maximizing multiple hotel loyalty programs

If you hold elite status with your main hotel loyalty program, you might feel reluctant to choose a different loyalty program where you won’t enjoy elite perks. Nevertheless, credit cards provide various avenues to secure at least mid-tier elite status in other programs.

Every traveler's situation is unique, but here are three scenarios to help inspire your strategy.

Amex Platinum or Business Platinum cardholder

If you hold The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express — including any additional Platinum Card — you can register for complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold status. These premium American Express cards can enhance your experience if you frequently stay at Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors properties.

If you're looking for a higher tier of Marriott Bonvoy elite status simply by holding a credit card, consider adding the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card to your lineup. Basic Bonvoy Brilliant cardholders enjoy complimentary Platinum Elite status (plus 25 elite night credits each year toward a higher status level). For those seeking a top-tier Hilton Honors elite status, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card provides automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status to basic cardholders, with enrollment necessary.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been independently gathered by Dinogo. The details on this page have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Alternatively, consider adding the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the World of Hyatt Credit Card to your collection for added perks and bonus earnings when staying with these brands.

Currently focused on a single program

If you're currently dedicated to one hotel loyalty program, think about branching out to another. This could be as straightforward as exploring which other hotel loyalty programs allow point transfers if you hold cards that earn transferable points. Alternatively, you could take a significant step towards diversifying your loyalty (and options) by acquiring a cobranded hotel credit card with a different program.

For instance, if your focus is on World of Hyatt and you have one or more Chase Ultimate Rewards cards, you might consider obtaining the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. Holders of the IHG Premier card receive automatic Platinum Elite status and can enjoy the fourth-night-free reward perk when redeeming IHG points for stays of four nights or more. Additionally, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to IHG at a 1:1 ratio.

Alternatively, if you currently prioritize a hotel loyalty program that employs dynamic award pricing, you might find it advantageous to make a program that utilizes award charts, like World of Hyatt, your secondary option. Adding the World of Hyatt Credit Card to your wallet grants you automatic Discoverist status and a free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort each anniversary year.

Independent traveler

You might identify as an independent traveler, booking the most convenient or best-value hotel in each location you visit. In this scenario, consider adding one or more of the following cards to your wallet:

• World of Hyatt Credit Card: Receive 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months, along with an opportunity to earn an additional 30,000 bonus points by accruing 2 bonus points per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that usually earn 1 bonus point, capped at $15,000 spent.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Get 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Each of these cards provides an annual free night that can typically be redeemed for significantly more value than the card's annual fee, along with low- to mid-tier elite status that enhances your earning potential and perks during your stays.

Final thoughts

I've shared extensively about the benefits of having hotel elite status. My husband and I hold top-tier elite status with World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, and Wyndham Rewards by utilizing certain credit cards that grant elite status and spending over 200 nights annually in hotels. However, even if your hotel nights are much fewer, it’s still valuable to maintain at least a primary and secondary hotel loyalty program for all the reasons discussed in this guide.