Once you have thoroughly checked out your cheap traveloptions, such as cheapairplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages, youshould spend a little time looking into hotel loyalty programs to ensure thatyou are signed up for the most lucrative ones.
While there has been little change in airline rewardprograms recently, there has been a marked uptick in activity among hotelloyalty programs.
Recent reward upgrades have been seen by Wyndham, Choice,and Carlson which in turn have placed pressure on Hilton HHonors andInterContinentals IHG Rewards to make their loyalty programs moreattractive.
While Marriott has been focused on merging its rewardsprogram with Starwood Preferred Guest, its desire is to preserve as much aspossible the best of both programs in its new consolidated rewards program.
Guestbook has come out with a five percent rebate at 500independent and boutique hotels, further adding to the competitive pressure ontraditional reward programs to add value to their offerings.
A new program called HT Perks from last minute (which actuallymeans up to a week in advance) hotel booking company Hotel Tonight has recentlybeen rolled out. The program offersthree tiers of additional discounts and perks, based on a members lifetimeactivity vs. the competition which usually bases its rewards on a calendaryears worth of stays or spending:
- Level 1 After spending $100, HT Perks members get extra-discounted rates, which could range from 8 to 12 percent off standard room rates.
- Level 2 After spending $750, HT Perks members get an extra 5 percent off Level 1 rates, plus exclusive offers and surprises to inspire more adventures.
- Level 3 After spending $5,000, HT Perks members get an extra 10 percent off Level 1 rates, plus more of the aforementioned offers and surprises, plus VIP phone support.
Participantsin this program are expected to use Hotel Tonight as a backup to a traditional rewardprogram and as a consequence would not find a calendar year based loyaltyprogram attractive. This approach takesadvantage of a weakness in mainstream loyalty programs which reset theirrewards yearly, ignoring program members long term stays with the company.
Ultimatelyany rewards program is only as good as the service it offers. Hotel Tonight promotes unspecified discountsfor last minute bookings at participating hotels. These discounts may be more or lesscompelling. And available hotels, ifany, in given cities may be more or less attractive.
Transparencyand dependability sometimes suffer in exchange for a discounted room rate.
www.cheapfares.com