Better In Both Worlds: Air Canada’s Aeroplan And World Of Hyatt Join Forces

If you are a frequent flyer with Air Canada or love settling in at a luxurious Hyatt property, your travel rewards strategy just got a major upgrade. In what is being hailed as an industry-first level of integration, Air Canada’s Aeroplan and World of Hyatt have officially teamed up.

Launching this week, the groundbreaking partnership allows members of both programs to link their accounts and unlock a wealth of reciprocal benefits, from double-dipping on points to fast-tracking elite status. Here is everything you need to know about the new ways to earn and redeem on your next journey.

---

Double-Dipping: Earn Points in Both Programs

The most exciting feature of this collaboration is the ability for eligible members to simultaneously earn rewards across both programs on a single hotel stay.

While any linked member can choose to earn a flat 500 Aeroplan points per eligible Hyatt stay (instead of standard World of Hyatt points), the real magic happens for those holding Canadian-issued Aeroplan co-branded credit cards. When you use your linked card to pay for your stay at any of Hyatt's 1,500+ global properties, you will earn both Aeroplan points and World of Hyatt Bonus Points.

Depending on your specific card tier, your earnings can seriously stack up:

• Premium Cardholders: Earn 2 World of Hyatt points + 2 Aeroplan points per CAD spent.


• Premium Business Cardholders: Earn 2 World of Hyatt points + 2.5 Aeroplan points per CAD spent.


• Core Cardholders: Earn 1 World of Hyatt point + 1.5 Aeroplan points per CAD spent.

Converting and Redeeming Your Points

The partnership also introduces unprecedented flexibility for moving your points around or using them directly for rewards in the partner program.

• Two-Way Conversions: World of Hyatt members can convert their points into Aeroplan points at a 2:1 ratio (starting at a 5,000-point minimum). Meanwhile, Aeroplan Elite Status members get the exclusive perk of converting Aeroplan points into World of Hyatt points, also at a 2:1 ratio (with just a 500-point minimum).


• Direct Redemptions: Want a free hotel night without transferring points? You can now directly redeem 25,000 Aeroplan points for a Hyatt Category 1-4 Free Night Award, or 75,000 Aeroplan points for a Category 1-7 Award.


• Flight Certificates: On the flip side, World of Hyatt members can cash in 75,000 Hyatt points to receive a 30,000-point Aeroplan flight reward certificate, perfect for booking an Air Canada or Star Alliance flight.

Fast Track to Elite Status

If you hold Aeroplan Elite Status or an eligible premium Canadian-issued Aeroplan credit card, Hyatt is rolling out the red carpet.

Eligible members can now register for an exclusive 90-day status challenge to fast-track their way up the World of Hyatt ladder:

• Stay 4 nights to earn entry-level Discoverist status.


• Stay 10 nights to reach mid-tier Explorist status.


• Stay 20 nights to achieve top-tier Globalist status.

Additionally, Aeroplan Premium credit cardholders will automatically receive complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status and five tier-qualifying night credits every calendar year.

The Bottom Line for Travelers

Airline and hotel partnerships are nothing new, but the depth of the integration between Aeroplan and World of Hyatt is truly unique. By allowing members to seamlessly cross-pollinate their earnings, direct redemptions, and elite perks, this collaboration creates immense value for travelers looking to maximize their points from the runway to the room key.

Be sure to log in and link your accounts today so you don't miss out on earning double rewards on your next vacation!

Wyndham Rewards Eases Member Level Requirements, Offers 2,000 Bonus Points With Every Qualified Stay

Wyndham Rewards®, the world's most generous rewards program, today announced it is relaxing requirements for earning  (status) in 2020, reducing the number of nights members need to stay by 40 percent.

Member Levels

The relaxed requirements build on earlier efforts by Wyndham to help its members amid COVID-19, such as extending the expiration of any previously earned Member Levels through the end of 2021 and pausing points expiration through September 30, 2020. They also complement Wyndham's recently unveiled summer promotion, which offers members 2,000 Wyndham Rewards bonus points with every qualified stay, up to a maximum of 10,000 points over five stays.

"Throughout the pandemic, we've put our members first, providing flexibility while protecting their points and their benefits," said Eliot Hamlisch, executive vice president, Loyalty and Revenue Optimization, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. "Now with travel picking up, and hotels adopting our new Count On Us health and safety protocols, we're taking the additional step of easing requirements for our Member Levels. It's one more way we're letting members know, when they're ready to travel, Wyndham is ready to welcome them."

Reach New Levels with Fewer StaysWyndham Rewards' Member Levels are already among the most attainable in the industry and now, attaining new levels is even easier in 2020. Members will unlock Gold when they stay three qualifying nights, Platinum when they stay nine qualifying nights and Diamond when they stay 24 qualifying nights. Only stays in 2020 will count towards the new requirements, including those from earlier this year, which will be retroactively applied. Member Level benefits vary by level and range from perks like late check-out, preferred rooms and points accelerators to suite upgrades, welcome amenities and more.  

Earn 2,000 Bonus Points with Every StayThrough July 27, 2020, Wyndham Rewards members can earn 2,000 bonus points on every qualified stay, up to a total of 10,000 points over five stays, when they register ahead of completion of their first stay at www.wyndhamrewards.com/bonus. Bonus points are in addition to any points normally earned with no minimum night requirements. Stays must be booked directly with Wyndham Rewards, which includes booking via the Wyndham Rewards website, mobile app, member services or onsite at any participating hotel, among other options. Stays must be completed by July 28, 2020.

Count On Us^sm to Put Safety FirstWyndham and its hotels, the overwhelming majority of which are open and welcoming travelers, are committed to the health and safety of guests and team members. Last month, the Company launched its Count on Us initiative, a new multi-faceted effort designed to further elevate health and safety protocols at all its hotels in the wake of COVID-19. Grounded in guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the initiative requires hotels in the U.S. to use hospital-grade, EPA-approved disinfectants in all public spaces and guestrooms. Guests can also expect the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by hotel staff, updated operational protocols to allow for easier social distancing and readily available, alcohol-based hand sanitizer in lobbies and guestrooms. Learn more at www.wyndhamhotels.com/count-on-us.

For more information on the above promotional offers, including full terms and conditions, visit www.wyndhamrewards.com.

About Wyndham RewardsNamed the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards® is the world's most generous rewards program with more than 30,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide. Designed for the everyday traveler, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide-range of rewards, including free nights at any of approximately 9,300 hotels or tens of thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations (NYSE: WYND) and others. Wyndham Rewards has 83 million enrolled members around the globe. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You've earned this.®

About Wyndham Hotels & ResortsWyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with 9,300 hotels across approximately 90 countries on six continents. Through its network of over 828,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel Inn & Suites®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, The Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers 83 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.

The Definitive Ranking Of Hotel Chain Rewards Programs

It doesn’t take a lot of work to be loyal to Marriott, Hilton or IHG. If you stumble into a town – any town – you’re reasonably likely to wind up at one of their hotels. On the other hand, it takes work to be loyal to programs that are smaller like Starwood Preferred Guest and Hyatt Gold Passport. That’s why smaller programs have to try harder. They need to give you a reason to be loyal.

US News offers a ranking of the best hotel rewards programs. It isn’t very good. (In fairness, the attempt is better than their airline frequent flyer program rankings.)

JD Power also tries to rank hotel loyalty programs. (Here’s my strong critique of JD Power’s survey, to which JD Power offers a spirited defense in the comments.)

The key thing to understand is that different programs do different things well – to understand the value proposition of each, and pick the one whose strengths match what you value most.

• Hyatt Gold Passport has the best elite benefits, and the best value redemptions if you like to spend your points for suites, but has a small footprint. There are only about 500 hotels in the chain.
• Starwood Preferred Guest offers strong elite recognition and has some of the nicest hotels. The program isn’t nearly as rewarding as others for the spend you do at their properties.
• Hilton HHonors is everywhere. They have fantastic value awards for low-end hotels, with the best hotels much more expensive. Their mid-tier Gold elite level is the best combination of easy to get and rewarding (although their Diamond level is not comparatively strong, and can be had for just $40,000 in spending each year on their credit card).
• Club Carlson has the cheapest reward nights. The problem is that the chain is relatively small, and most of the hotels aren’t very nice. Their elite benefits aren’t competitive. Club Carlson is strongest in Europe.
• Marriott Rewards has hotels everywhere. They’re consistent. The program doesn’t promise very much, but what it does, it delivers.
• IHG Rewards Club is similarly ubiquitous, and offers average value but frequently runs strong promotions. It’s difficult to deliver on top elite recognition since the chain is skewed towards mid-tier brands like Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express.

Best Elite Recognition

The status recognition benefits that elite members value most are usually upgrades and club lounge access or breakfast. Here are the rankings of how each program does with those.

Suite at the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

Upgrades

1. Only Hyatt lets Diamond members confirm a suite at booking from any Hyatt rate (4 times per year, up to 7 nights each time).
2. Only Starwood promises to give Platinum members an available standard suite at check-in, if available. Starwood also lets their Platinums who stay 50 nights express priority for suite upgrades up to 10 nights a year, since members care about upgrades most when traveling on vacation with family and least on one night business stays when they’re alone.
3. While Marriott and Hilton allow hotels to upgrade elites to suites, no hotel is required to do so.
4. Club Carlson similarly only says that top-tier Concierge members “may be eligible for an upgrade to the next room category or to a standard suite, if available” which is pretty weak sauce.
5. IHG Rewards Club offers upgrades which are 100% ‘determined by the hotel’ and hotels areexplicitly not required to upgrade members to suites or even ‘specialty rooms.’

“Extreme Wow Suite” at the W San Diego

If you’re not an elite, you can still use your points to get into suites.

Club Lounge or Breakfast

Hotels generally give top elites access to club lounges where breakfast and evening snacks are served.

1. Hyatt wins as the only chain which guarantees a full (not continental) restaurant breakfast for Diamond members when no club lounge is available and for up to four guests registered to the room.
2. Hilton gives breakfast to mid-tier members at all of their properties where breakfast is sold.
3. Starwood lets Platinum members have continental breakfast when there’s no club lounge available.
4. Marriott doesn’t offer breakfast at Courtyard properties or at resorts.
5. Club Carlson gives continental breakfast for one person only to Concierge members.
6. IHG doesn’t offer breakfast at all.

Hotels can be more generous than the loyalty program promises. No hotel breakfast I’ve experienced was more over-the-top than the St. Regis Bali. But overall Hyatt does breakfast best.

Caviar for breakfast at the St. Regis Bali

Here are nice charts showing each chain’s elite benefits in one place.

Late Checkout

Late checkout is one of the most useful benefits of elite status. Both Starwood and Hyatt offer their top elites 4 p.m. late check-out (at non-resort properties, and excluding designated convention properties and dates). Starwood even guarantees it for their mid-tier Gold members and Hyatt offers 2 p.m. checkout for their mid-tier members. Those two programs do late checkout best.

By contrast, Marriott’s late checkout benefit is subject to availability, by request on the day of departure. That’s especially weak considering it takes 75 nights to earn Platinum with Marriott, compared to 25 nights or 50 stays at each of Starwood and Hyatt.. and both Starwood and Hyatt offer guaranteed late checkout even to mid-tier elites.

Overall Elite Ranking

1. Hyatt Gold Passport
2. Starwood Preferred Guest
3. Hilton HHonors
4. Marriott Rewards
5. Club Carlson
6. IHG Rewards Club

Best Value for Earning Free Nights

At its most basic level, here’s what hotel programs offer as their cheapest room redemption and how much you need to spend with the chain to have enough points for it.

(For Hilton I’m assuming that you choose to earn “points and points” rather than “points and miles”.)

Of course, most of us don’t want the ‘category 1’ hotels that are also cheapest to pay for with cash (and of which there also aren’t very many). Once you get into mid-priced hotels, the kind you’ll find plenty of in major cities, you’ll find that Club Carlson gives you the most bang for your buck (plenty of Radissons in Europe are quite nice) and that Hilton, Marriott, IHG and Hyatt all offer pretty similar value.

Starwood is an outlier in that it takes the most spending at their hotels to earn enough points for free nights. Starwood points are also the most valuable, though, and offer the best transfers to airline miles by far.

Find the Chain Which Best Matches Your Needs

What matters most is which chain has the hotels that match your redemption patterns — hotels in the right places (does Hyatt or Starwood have a big enough footprint for you) and at the right quality level (do you want to stay at most Radissons, and do Marriotts offer the local character you may be looking for).

You need to determine whether or not the rest of the features of a hotel chain work for you.

• Are you going to be an elite member?
• Does the chain’s benefits make sense for you — Will you get suite upgrades? What about breakfast? Will the chain even honor elite benefits on reward stays (IHG doesn’t require their hotels to for most benefits)?

I like Hyatt and Starwood best. I’m a Hyatt Diamond member and a Starwood Platinum. But their footprints mean that there are plenty of small towns where they just don’t have properties. By contrast, Marriott loyalists most often tell me what they like about the chain is “no matter where I go I can earn my points” and “I get a consistent experience every time.”

By garyleff , www.roadwarriorvoices.com

Travelore News: Hotels Make Internet Free But Tighten Cancellation Policies

Big changes are coming in 2015 for hotel guests, one will save travelers lots of money and another may cause a few headaches.

First, the good news: The big chains, those mega-hotels that cater to business travelers during the week, are finally following suit of the budget, side-of-the-road properties and offering free Wi-Fi.

And the bad news: Starting Jan. 1 two of the largest hotel chains in the world are making it harder for travelers to cancel reservations.

PRO: FREE WI-FI

Among the expected changes, free access to the Internet will affect the most guests. Possible savings of $10 to $15 a night, can really add up over a week long vacation. But there are a few strings attached. The majority of chains will require guests to sign up for their free loyalty programs. Basically, if you share a little more personal information, they'll let you surf the Web for free.

At the beginning of 2014, InterContinental Hotels Group, the parent company of Holiday Inn, became the first major chain to offer free Internet to all members of its loyalty program. That's a benefit that had been generally limited to frequent guests who have elite status.

None of the competition followed until a few weeks ago when Marriott International announced that all members of its rewards program would get free, basic Wi-Fi starting Jan. 15 as long as they booked directly with the company. Elite members of Marriott Rewards will continue to get a faster, premium Internet service for free.

The move is part of a long-term push by hotels to get guests to book through their own websites and call centers instead of services like Orbitz and Expedia, to which they have to pay commissions.

When Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide followed suit, it too had a similar change: free Internet starting Feb. 2 for anybody booking directly; complimentary premium service for elite members.

Hyatt Hotels Corp. was the next big chain to offer free Internet. But unlike the others, its product will be free staring in February no matter what. Guests won't have to sign up for a club and can book through any channel they wish.

"Internet connectivity is no longer an amenity. It has become an integral part of travelers' daily lives and a basic expectation," Kristine Rose, vice president of brands for Hyatt said in a statement. "Travelers shouldn't have to remember which brands or locations offer it for free or the strings attached to get it."

Hilton Worldwide remains the biggest chain not to offer free Internet at all its properties.

The savings can be substantial. For instance, the San Francisco Marriott Marquis charges $14.95 a night for Internet; the Sheraton Atlanta, $12.95 a night; and the Hyatt Regency Chicago charges anywhere from $9.95 to $39.95 a night, depending on the connection speed.

CON: TOUGHER CANCELLATION POLICIES

Not all of the expected changes will be good for travelers in 2015.

Hilton and Marriott are rolling out new cancellation policies, forcing guests to abandon plans earlier on. Many hotels currently allow guests to cancel as late as 6 p.m. on the night of arrival. That's about to change.

Both hotel chains will, as of Jan. 1, require guests to cancel by midnight the day before they arrive in order to avoid a cancellation fee, typically equal to one night's room rate. Hilton and Marriott both justified the change saying it will make more rooms available for travelers needing last-minute accommodations.

Some travelers have been making reservations long in advance for stays, but then use last-minute deal apps from HotelTonight, Priceline and others to book cheap rooms hours before checking in and then cancel the original reservation. Hotels feel undercut and are left with unused rooms. This change, while not great for deal seekers, will help the hotels better manage inventory.

__

Contributed by Scott Mayerowitz, AP.

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport

Delta And Hyatt Just Massively Debased The Value Of Their Rewards Points

 

Contributed by Josh Barro

The Hyatt Regency Washington

One of these buildings is a source of currency debasement, but not the one you might expect.

I'm a loyal customer of Delta Air Lines and Hyatt hotels. And today, both Delta and Hyatt announced devaluations in their rewards programs — debasements, if you will, of their reward points currencies.

Take Hyatt's reward program. I have significant savings on deposit with them: 117,146 rewards points. Under Hyatt's old rules, I could have redeemed 22,000 points to stay one night at the Park Hyatt resort at the base of the Beaver Creek ski resort in Colorado.

Given the eye-watering ski season room rate of $911.81 (including taxes and fees) that implies a point value of 4.1 cents and an account value of $4,855. Effective Jan. 7, 2014, a redemption at the Park Hyatt will cost 30,000 points, meaning I've experienced a sudden 36% inflation and my rewards account is worth a mere $3,561.

Delta's "changes" (cuts to reward values are always neutrally and euphemistically described as "changes," because a monetary authority never just comes out and admits it's inflating),which go into effect on travel as of Feb. 1, 2014, will also substantially reduce the value of my balance there.

.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/runaway-inflation-is-here-and-its-showing-up-in-travel-rewards-programs-2013-11#ixzz2kS9ImIuk

Hotels And Airlines Devalue Loyalty Programs

Contributed By Blane Bachelor

• 
  (AP)

For frequent flyers and business travelers, the last few weeks have brought discouraging news. Amid ever-increasing belt-tightening trends, several hotel chains and a major airline have decided to scale back on customer loyalty programs, sparking anger among many customers. 

“The broad point is that these programs are slipping away from us as travelers,” Brad Christensen, co-founder of WorldWanderlusting.com, which provides tips on how to maximize credit card reward points for travel, told Foxnews.com. “More and more it’s an insider’s game. The more you know and understand the programs, the more flexibility you have, and the better value you can obtain.”

“I’m particularly offended with this policy, which I describe as stealing from orphans and widows.”

- Walt Frank, owner of a Delaware-based consulting firm

Since earlier this year, Marriott International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts all have effectively devalued their customer loyalty programs, now requiring more points, and sometimes more cash, in order to obtain a reward room.

In early March, Starwood hotels started requiring about 25 percent more points and an extra $5 to $30 in most of the hotel categories in its popular “Cash & Points” program. Marriott also will require additional points in 36 percent of its properties. And since mid-January, almost 30 percent of IHG worldwide hotels and resorts have increased in reward points needed for a free night, while more than 30 percent decreased, and 40 percent stayed the same, according to a company spokeswoman.

Hilton, meanwhile, added two new hotel reward categories on March 28, both of which require more points in its HHonors program. In addition, it will take nearly twice as many points to earn a free night at some of the chain’s top-tier hotels, and seasonal pricing bumps up requirements for reward stays at most Hilton properties.

Delta Airlines, meanwhile, recently sparked outrage among travelers on websites such as Flyertalk.com and LoyaltyLobby.com with its recent decision to discontinue its policy of allowing the transfer of miles when a SkyMiles member dies. The carrier’s previous policy allowed members to leave the miles they had accumulated to family and friends.

“I’m particularly offended with this policy, which I describe as stealing from orphans and widows,” said Walt Frank, owner of a Delaware-based consulting firm who has earned more than 2 million frequent flyer miles on Delta. “I’ve seen my own mortality, and the thought that if I were die tomorrow, my widow, who puts up with a lot of inconvenience with my business travel, would be denied my frequent flyer miles by the airline, is morally repugnant to me. All the more so when you consider that the airline is making it so difficult to use the miles.”

Delta spokesperson Betsy Talton countered that “we’re the only airline whose miles don’t expire,” adding that “the benefits of the program are meant to reward the ones who travel directly.”

Many disgruntled Delta customers, however, have echoed Frank’s sentiments, describing the policy change on online message boards as “one final chance to screw the customer”, “shameful”, and “classless”. An online petition called “Delta: Don’t Steal My Miles When I Die!” has garnered 179 signatures as of the posting of this story.

Regarding recent hotel loyalty program updates, it hasn’t been all bad news, though. Hilton dropped the points needed to qualify for a free night at a Category 1 hotel from 7,500 to 5,000. In addition, elite members will get a free night when they book a standard room for five or more consecutive nights, a policy that’s line with offerings by Marriott and Starwood.

In addition, the majority of changes at Wyndham hotels involve a decrease in points needed. In a policy that became effective after March 14, 40 percent of the chain’s worldwide hotels and resorts decreased in number of points needed for a free stay, with an average decrease of 4,385 points, while 37 percent remain unchanged, and 22 percent increased, with an average increase of 4,367 points, according to a company spokesperson. The lowest tier decreased from 6,000 to 5,500 points, while the chain eliminated its previous top two tiers, making the new maximum 30,000 instead of 45,000.

And, in a move that will surely receive some applause, IHG will offer no-charge Internet for elite Priority Club (soon to be renamed IHG Rewards Club) members starting this July and to all members in 2014, according to a company spokeswoman. Similarly, Hilton HHonors members receive free wifi at some locations among Hilton’s 11 brands, a few of which even provide complimentary breakfast.   

What does frustrate travelers, however, is the quiet way in which companies tend to announce loyalty program changes that are unfavorable to the customer. Delta’s recent policy update regarding the non-transfer of miles, for example, was announced in a post on Flyertalk by a company representative with the username DwayneSkyMiles. Customers say that the company did not provide any advance warning of the change to members, and the Delta representative who originally posted the update on Flyertalk did not respond to comments on the 300-plus thread post.

“They didn’t even have the gumption to explain what the change was,” Frank said. “I finally stumbled upon an announcement, five or six levels into the website. If they improve the program, they put a link right on the homepage or send an e-mail to program members. Changes like this get buried.”

Still, even with the continuing devaluation of many so-called loyalty programs, some experts maintain that there are still ways savvy travelers can take advantage of reward travel. Christensen, of World Wanderlusting, advises staying flexible with dates and destinations. “If you say, I want to go to Hawaii and stay at this hotel on these dates, it will cost you a lot more points than if you say, I want to go to the beach and stay in a nice hotel during winter.”

Also important: Redeem points and miles instead of “hoarding” them. “Business people might have several million points, and what they may not realize is that every year that they don’t use them, they lose value,” Christensen said.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/04/02/hotel-airline-loyalty-programs-lose-value-and-frustrate-customers/#ixzz2QRgndBi8