Register for Radisson’s interesting but weak multi-brand promotion

Radisson Rewards has launched an interesting multi-brand hotel promotion for the summer. Click here to register.

Sadly, because Radisson points have been devalued so much, it is difficult to get excited about. The maximum reward you can earn is worth around £15 ….

However, when you look at it alongside other recent activity (the status match with Avanti West Coast, the status match with Club Avolta, the VIP partnership with Capital on Tap), you do get a feeling that someone at Radisson is at least trying – even if not necessarily succeeding.

How does the Radisson multi-brand offer work?

Unfortunately Radisson has made it unnecessarily complicated AND has made the small print too short.

On the face of it, it’s simple.

Between now and 26th September, you will receive:

• 6,000 points for staying at two different brands
• 8,000 points for staying at three different brands
• 10,000 points for staying at four different brands

You can register here.

There is no minimum stay required.

Here are the problems:

The bonuses are not cumulative

On the face of it, you might think that the total bonus you can earn is 24,000 points (6,000 + 8,000 + 10,000).

It isn’t. The bonus is capped at 10,000 points. This means, weirdly, that your first two brands earn you 3,000 points each but the third and fourth brands – which are harder to achieve – only earn an extra 2,000 points each.

Only new bookings count

Only bookings made after you register count. Existing bookings do not.

Ignore the part of the T&C which says ‘you must register prior to your stay’. This is contradicted later where it says that you must register before booking.

There is no list of ‘brands’

The Radisson universe is a complex one. You have brands which are clearly separate – art’otel, Park Inn, Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites.

However, you have brands which are sisters – Radisson, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals.

It isn’t made clear if Radisson, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED and Radisson Individuals count as four brands or one brand.

They forgot to mention the USA issue

Radisson properties in North America are now owned by Choice Hotels and are not part of Radisson Rewards. The rules don’t remind you of that.

It’s simply not generous enough

We did a detailed analysis of Radisson Rewards points redemptions here.

Most redemptions get you 0.15p per point and it doesn’t seem possible to get beyond 0.22p.

Using 0.15p as the benchmark, the bonus works out at:

• £9 of points for staying at two different brands
• an extra £3 of points for staying at a third brand
• an extra £3 of points for staying at a fourth brand

Try not to get too excited ….

Conclusion

I really want Radisson Rewards to be taken seriously again as a hotel loyalty scheme.

There are a few tiny shoots of hope, but promotions like this simply aren’t good enough. It’s not just customers who will be ambivalent either – it is hard to see why any hotel developer would want to put a Radisson brand above the door when the loyalty programme is now too weak to deliver customers.

That said, of course, if you are doing the stays between now and 26th September then you should register for the bonus.

Click here to sign up on the Radisson Rewards website.