Ways to earn points with the Choice Privileges Eat & Earn dining rewards program

In 2022, Choice Hotels introduced a new dining rewards program known as Choice Privileges Eat & Earn. This program allows you to accumulate Choice Privileges points when dining at participating restaurants and bars across the U.S., making it an easy way to boost your points effortlessly.

Here’s what you should understand about the Choice Privileges Eat & Earn dining rewards program.

Earning points with the Choice Eat & Earn dining program

To earn Choice points through the Eat & Earn program, you need to register and connect a credit or debit card to your account. You don’t require a cobranded Choice Privileges credit card to participate — nearly any credit or debit card can be linked, although we suggest using one of the best cards for dining. Please note that you must be a U.S. resident to access the Eat & Earn program.

When you pay with a linked card at a participating restaurant, you’ll automatically earn 5 Choice Privileges points for every dollar spent. Points are awarded whether you dine in, get takeout, or order online via the Eat & Earn site. Taxes and tips are eligible for bonus points when dining in, but when ordering online, bonus points do not apply to taxes, tips, or delivery fees.

Additionally, you’ll receive an extra 10 points each time you review a restaurant on the Eat & Earn site, and 50 points for making a reservation through Eat & Earn.

Currently, Choice is offering a welcome promotion of 500 bonus points after you join Eat & Earn, link a card, spend at least $25 at a participating restaurant, and leave a review on the Eat & Earn site. Moreover, you can sometimes earn extra points through various promotions.

The points you accumulate through the Choice Privileges Eat & Earn program are in addition to the rewards from your credit or debit card. For instance, if you link your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’ll earn 5 Choice points for every dollar spent at participating restaurants, along with 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for dining purchases.

Should I participate in the Choice Eat & Earn dining program?

As of July 2024, TPG estimates Choice points to be worth 0.6 cents each, translating to approximately 3% back on dining at eligible restaurants. While this may seem modest, these rewards bring you closer to your next complimentary vacation.

However, there might be an opportunity cost when choosing Choice Privileges Eat & Earn over other dining rewards programs. For example, American Airlines AAdvantage Dining offers 3 miles per dollar spent if you sign up for email notifications. Although this is fewer points or miles per dollar than what Choice Eat & Earn offers, TPG values AAdvantage miles at 1.6 cents each, resulting in a higher 4.8% return on eligible dining. Additionally, you would also earn Loyalty Points towards American Airlines elite status.

The dining program you select should align with your travel aspirations. If you frequently stay at Choice hotels or have a particular Choice redemption in mind, utilizing the Eat & Earn program may be beneficial. However, if Choice isn’t your preferred hotel brand, several other options provide dining rewards programs. You can earn hotel points with Hilton Honors Dining, Marriott's Eat Around Town, and IHG One Rewards Dine & Earn.

Conclusion

In many cities, numerous restaurants are part of the Choice Privileges Eat & Earn program, offering ample chances to accumulate additional rewards. You can enhance your points by making reservations, reviewing restaurants, and taking advantage of various promotions through Eat & Earn. Keep in mind, though, that you can register each credit or debit card in only one Rewards Network dining rewards program at a time, so you’ll need to select the program that best suits your favorite dining card.