Best Hotel Loyalty Programs: Which Ones Offer the Most Value in 2026?

• Written by Harlan Vaughn
  

  Harlan Vaughn

  Credit cards, travel rewards, investing, loans, personal finance, deposits

  Harlan Vaughn has over a decade of experience covering credit cards and travel rewards content. His work has been featured in Bankrate, Business Insider, BuzzFeed, Forbes Advisor, NerdWallet and more. With millions of points and miles redeemed for travel, Harlan has used credit card rewards to visit incredible destinations including Iceland, Japan, Hawaii, New Zealand and Chile. His mission is to help others maximize their credit card rewards and benefits. Harlan is a dad of three and lives in Memphis, Tennessee. He’s also interested in personal finance, investing and financial independence. When he’s not digging into those topics or earning rewards with a portfolio of nearly 40 active credit cards, you can find him hiking, enjoying live music and traveling with his family.

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• Edited by Jasmin Baron, CCC™
  

  Jasmin Baron, CCC™

  Credit Cards, Travel Rewards, Loyalty Programs, Family Travel, Credit Building, Credit Scores

  Jasmin Baron is a NACCC Certified Credit Counselor™ and CardCritics’ senior editor, responsible for editing and writing credit cards, travel rewards, loyalty program, and other credit-related content. She is passionate about personal finance education and enjoys sharing tips and tricks for making the most of credit card points and miles with her readers. Her expertise in maximizing credit card travel rewards originated from over two decades of aviation industry experience, including 18 years working as a pilot and college professor/flight instructor in her native Canada. Her work has appeared on sites such as CNN Underscored Money, Business Insider, The Points Guy, and point.me. When she’s not planning her next trip with credit card rewards, you’ll probably find her tinkering around in the kitchen, hanging out with her three kids, or playing with her dog, Benji.

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• Last Updated Jan 20, 2026

Hotel loyalty programs offer many benefits for both you and the hotel chain. For starters, they’re designed to encourage repeat stays. In return, you can earn elite status and points toward free award nights with every stay and daily purchase, especially when you opt for the chain’s co-branded hotel credit card. That makes them interesting to all kinds of travelers, from businesses to families and vacationers, and everyone in between. 

Like most things travel-related, they’re not all created equal, but there’s likely one that best meets your needs. We’ll go over the highlights of major hotel loyalty programs, which we evaluated based on award value, elite benefits, ease of earning points and credit card partnerships.

How We Ranked the Best Hotel Loyalty Programs

First, we rounded up the best hotel rewards programs and evaluated them based on our personal and professional travel experiences. Over the years, either I or someone I personally know has used these programs for travel. 

To be on the list, each hotel chain needed to have a large global presence, a credit card partner, an elite status program and the ability to redeem points for award stays. With all this in mind, we picked what made each one stand out. 

Key Factors We Considered

To rank these programs, we thought about:

• Point value and award pricing
• Elite status benefits 
• Ease of earning status
• Hotel footprint and brand variety
• Credit card transfer partners and co-branded cards

The list you’re reading is our selection of the best hotel loyalty programs. 

Why Credit Cards Matter for Hotel Loyalty

You might be wondering why credit cards are emphasized on our list. It’s because, with the right hotel credit card, you can dramatically speed up your points-earning (and sometimes elite status) potential. Hotel co-branded credit cards offer the most bonus points for stays with the hotel chain, turning a good deal into a stellar one. The ability to earn double-digit multipliers on your spending isn’t uncommon. 

Plus, for your everyday spending, you could easily earn more hotel points than you could for completing a hotel stay. Many of the best hotel credit cards feature bonus categories for popular budget items like groceries and dining. That could earn an award stay much faster than if you didn’t have a co-branded credit card.

Best Hotel Loyalty Programs Overall

As promised, there’s something here for everyone. For a deeper dive, read the guides linked for each program. 

World of Hyatt — Best for High-Value Redemptions

Hyatt doesn’t have the most robust selection, but what it lacks in properties, it more than makes up for in value. With brands focused on suites and free breakfast for families to sleek towers in the world’s best cities to vacation spots around the world, there’s potential for outsized value, especially if you play your cards and points strategically. 

World of Hyatt Pros and Cons

Here’s where World of Hyatt earns its keep:

• Strong point value
• Predictable award chart
• Valuable elite benefits

On the flip side, here’s where the program could be a skip: 

• Small number of properties 
• High-tier status is hard to earn
• Credit card selection is thin

Most travelers can find something redeeming about the World of Hyatt program. With a generous award chart, two transferable points partners and a variety of brands, high-value award stays are still relatively easy to find.  

Best Credit Cards for Hyatt Points

World of Hyatt is a partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Bilt Rewards, two of the strongest and most beginner-friendly transferable points programs. 

When you earn flexible points like these programs offer, they’re stored until you’re ready to use them. Then, transfer your points from the issuer program to the travel partner of your choice when you’re ready. The ability to choose your transfer partner can potentially increase the value of your rewards and protect against unannounced devaluations, which unfortunately happen with some frequency these days. 

Credit cards that give you access to World of Hyatt points include: 

• The World of Hyatt Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Bilt Blue Card  
• Bilt Obsidian Card 
• Bilt Palladium Card 

IHG One Rewards — Best for Business Travelers

With over 6,800 hotels around the world, there’s bound to be an IHG hotel wherever you want to go. Brands include the ubiquitous Holiday Inn and Candlewood Suites, as well as upscale options like InterContinental and Kimpton. 

IHG fans definitely benefit from having an IHG credit card, all of which offer a fourth night free on award stays — an incredible perk if you can use it. Elite status has restrictions around the breakfast offering, so if your hotel doesn’t offer it to all guests, don’t expect it. But for business travelers or other trips where this isn’t a concern, IHG is pretty much everywhere. 

IHG One Rewards Pros and Cons

The pros check a few solid boxes: 

• Abundant locations domestically and abroad
• Strong credit card points earning and benefits
• Good variety of business and leisure hotels

And the cons are worth consideration, too: 

• Dynamic pricing can shift the value of points
• Luxury hotels can be expensive, even with points
• Elite status isn’t as generous as other programs

Best Credit Cards for IHG One Rewards

IHG is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards, so it’s relatively easy to accrue IHG One Rewards points. But, compared to other options, it’s typically not the strongest and usually only advised to top up your account with these valuable points. 

You can pick up extra IHG One Rewards points with: 

• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card 
• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Bilt Blue Card  
• Bilt Obsidian Card 
• Bilt Palladium Card  

Hilton Honors — Best for Pairing With a Credit Card

American Express, an advertising partner, issues all the Hilton co-branded credit cards and includes Hilton perks on some other cards. Namely, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards® points to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio. And while Hilton’s loyalty program is rewarding on its own, it gains superpowers when you pair it with a credit card. 

Of note, Hilton’s credit cards offer bonus points in several useful spending categories and elite status, which means more award nights and perks just for having the right card. In fact, you can hold more than one Hilton credit card to enjoy multiple benefits, like extra free night certificates for spending and even more bonus points, which is exactly what I do. And because the bonus categories are actually useful, I’m almost always rich with Hilton points. 

Hilton Honors Pros and Cons

The pros of the Hilton Honors program are: 

• Large global footprint with plenty of hotels 
• Consistent promotions reward elite status
• Thoughtful co-branded credit cards that make the program even better

A few cons include: 

• No set award chart with high prices for the best properties
• Rare upgrades for low-tier elite members
• Fifth night free on award stays may not be useful for some travelers

Best Credit Cards for Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors pairs well with any of these: 

• Hilton Honors American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
• American Express® Gold Card (an advertising partner)
• American Express Platinum Card® (an advertising partner)

Marriott Bonvoy — Best for Leisure Travelers

I think of Marriott Bonvoy as Hilton Honors’ less rewarding cousin. There are plenty of similarities, like inflated points prices, lack of an award chart and convoluted fine print, but the biggest is the ability to get the fifth night free on award stays. And while both chains have plenty of hotels, Marriott has an objectively better set of luxury hotels that appeal to those looking to extend a blissed-out experience. 

Consider brands like The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W and Westin, which are all well-regarded and typically located in the most desirable areas. Now imagine getting a fifth night for free on an award stay. Further, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards® and Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Marriott, which can be a smart way to make sure you can use the benefit. 

Marriott Bonvoy Pros and Cons

Here’s what works with Marriott Bonvoy: 

• Easy to earn points through many credit cards
• Huge footprint ensures you’ll find a hotel nearly anywhere
• Good mix of luxury hotels and standard options

Cons are: 

• Elite status recognition varies by brand
• Points prices can be high 
• Value varies by hotel and date

When searching for a hotel, I compare the points price to the cash rate to make sure the value is there. Marriott sometimes charges high prices for cheap stays, so be sure to watch for that. 

Best Credit Cards for Marriott Bonvoy

You can earn Marriott points directly and indirectly with: 

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Amex Gold
• Amex Platinum

Choice Privileges — Best for Family Travel

Choice Privileges isn’t the flashiest program, but it can be incredibly useful. With over 7,000 hotels spread across over 20 brands, there are several budget-friendly options and a few upscale brands. I love staying at Choice hotels with my family for three reasons: They’re usually right off the interstate, lots of them have free breakfast and points prices are reasonable, even for suites. 

It’s also easy to get Choice Privileges points via 1:1 transfers from American Express Membership Rewards or Capital One Rewards and, my favorite, 1:2 transfers from Citi ThankYou® and Wells Fargo Rewards. 

Pros and Cons of Choice Privileges

Here are the Choice Rewards pros:

• Reasonable redemptions, especially with 1:2 transfers from Citi ThankYou or Wells Fargo Rewards
• Easy to find a hotel 
• Ideal for no-frills family travel

And the cons are:

• Big focus on budget options, but hotels are clean and comfortable
• Many properties tend to be dated and worn out
• Elite status won’t get you much, so getting a co-branded credit card may not make sense

Best Credit Cards for Choice Privileges

You can easily access Choice Privileges points with many cards, including: 

• Amex Gold
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Citi Strata Premier® Card (an advertising partner)
• Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (an advertising partner)
• Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
• Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®
• Choice Privileges® Mastercard®

Wyndham Rewards — Best for Simple Award Nights

What I love about Wyndham Rewards is that there’s an award chart with little guesswork. There are only three tiers: You’ll pay 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night at any Wyndham hotel. That makes knowing the price incredibly simple, which I appreciate. 

Wyndham has some upscale brands like Wyndham Grand, Dolce and The Registry Collection. There are also road-tested brands you’ll recognize, including Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Ramada and Super 8, which aren’t fancy, but ubiquitous if you need a place to stay. The easy reward pricing and useful co-branded credit cards make Wyndham Rewards a hidden gem. I use it as a backup program and have gotten plenty of use from it. 

Pros and Cons of Wyndham Rewards

Here’s where the program shines: 

• Very simple award pricing
• Plenty of hotels to choose from
• Co-branded cards actually encourage loyalty 

And the cons: 

• Most brands aren’t exactly aspirational
• A set award chart means value can be dubious or harder to determine
• Upgrades can be hit or miss

Those cons are based on my personal experience. At a budget hotel, having elite status won’t get you an upgrade because all the rooms are identical, and breakfast is likely continental.  

Best Credit Cards for Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham is a transfer partner of Capital One Rewards and Citi ThankYou. You can earn points with these cards: 

• Capital One Venture Card
• Capital One Venture X
• Citi Strata Premier Card
• Citi Strata Elite
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card

Hotel Loyalty Program Honorable Mentions

While we believe these are the best hotel loyalty programs, a few others didn’t make the cut but deserve a mention. 

Best Western Rewards

Best Western hotels are prevalent, and we’d be remiss not to include Best Western Rewards. The rub is that the program doesn’t partner with any banks, so it’s harder to earn points in your account other than by staying with Best Western or spending on its co-branded credit card, which is lackluster at best. 

ALL — Accor Live Limitless

Accor has hotels in most major metros, but they aren’t everywhere. For example, there aren’t any in Memphis, Tennessee, where I live, or even Nashville, which is a popular destination. That’s a niche example, but for my travel style, it wouldn’t be useful for most trips. That’s to say, I’d have to go out of my way to use the ALL program. 

If you’re in a similar boat, you may agree. Or, if your travels take you internationally or to big cities, you might find the program more appealing. Just note that the point value is set: 1,000 points are worth 20 euros toward your stay, so use that as your guide before you redeem. ALL is a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards, Capital One Rewards and Citi ThankYou.

iPrefer Hotel Rewards

Preferred Hotels aren’t everywhere, but you’ll find a location in most major cities. But with only around 600 properties worldwide, it doesn’t boast nearly as many choices as the others on our list. You can transfer Capital One Rewards to iPrefer at a 1:2 ratio, or transfer Citi ThankYou points from premium Citi credit cards at a 1:4 ratio. 

Common Mistakes To Avoid With Hotel Loyalty Programs

Learn from my mistakes. Here are things you don’t want to do when it comes to redeeming your hard-earned hotel points. 

Hoarding Points Without a Plan

I did this with Hilton Honors. With two Hilton credit cards and an American Express card, I had Hilton points rolling in all the time. At one point, I had over a million! Would I recommend this? Absolutely not. 

While saving your points for an amazing trip is one thing, if you don’t have a trip in mind or you’re taking a break from traveling, switch to a bank points program or even a cash-back credit card until you’re ready to travel. Devaluations happen as well as opportunity costs. Don’t plan for “someday.” Plan for what’s right in front of you.

Ignoring Credit Card Transfer Options

Do you know all your credit card transfer partners? Don’t worry, we won’t quiz you. But it’s worth checking into. You never know when an opportunity will arise, and you want to be ready to jump on it. 

Here are our guides for a few major programs when you’re ready for a deep dive: 

• American Express Transfer Partners
• Chase Transfer Partners
• Citi Transfer Partners
• Capital One Transfer Partners
• Wells Fargo Transfer Partners

Chasing Status That Doesn’t Fit Your Travel Style

Elite status is amazing if you can use it. If you can’t, it’s better to direct your efforts elsewhere. I used to want endless Hyatt elite status because it’s so rewarding at the highest tier, but I realized I wasn’t staying enough to warrant all the energy I put into it. 

Now, I pursue status as I think I’ll use it. And if you never need it, that’s fine too. I haven’t had airline elite status in a while because I’m not loyal enough to use the benefits. Remember, loyalty programs are designed to keep you pursuing the next tier. But don’t get on the wheel if it’s not a natural fit for the way you like to travel. 

The information related to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, The World of Hyatt Credit Card, Bilt Blue Card, Bilt Obsidian Card, Bilt Palladium Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, Choice Privileges® Mastercard®, Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®, Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card and Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card   was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.