Hotel loyalty scheme to replace Hotels.com Rewards

[Annie]

I’ve used hotels.com and had over 50 free nights in last few years. I really appreciated being able to book for others and getting the reward night stamps.
Now that they are changing from 10% to 2% I need a plan B.
I don’t know where to start!
Which hotel brand is the easiest to accrue points and therefore free nights? Most of my travels are USA, Canada, Belgium and France. Should I look at a credit card or stick with my Amex?
I guess this might be a how long is a piece of string type question but grateful if anyone can help me.

[NorthernLass]

AFAIK, the only card that directly earns hotel points now available in the UK to new applicants is the Marriot/Bonvoy Amex, but it sounds as though you wouldn’t be eligible for the SUB on this as you currently hold an Amex. MR points can be redeemed in hotel schemes – I think you get 2:1 with Hilton, for example, which isn’t a bad deal.
Apart from that it’s quite difficult to earn them except for actual stays, so I guess it depends how much you travel. Obviously sticking to one brand will maximise your earning potential with a particular brand, and there are usually regular promotions you can sign up for which give extra points on stays.
Buying points can be a good deal in limited circumstances, e.g. if there’s a significant bonus being offered and you can use them to save money on an expensive stay.

[Annie]

Thanks very much. Excuse my ignorance, what are MR points?

[NorthernLass]

Membership Rewards points – what you earn on Amex gold, Platinum and a couple of others. You didn’t say which Amex you have, but it might be helpful to have a look at Rob’s articles on maximising points-earning.

[Panda Mick]

Annie wrote:

Which hotel brand is the easiest to accrue points and therefore free nights? Most of my travels are USA, Canada, Belgium and France. Should I look at a credit card or stick with my Amex?
I guess this might be a how long is a piece of string type question but grateful if anyone can help me.

So,
1. You won’t gain any points personally by booking hotels for others. Most hotels insist that the points account owner is the person actually staying there.
2. Which leaves the only points earning potential to be a card like gold / plat amex, or others

[Rob]

https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/01/14/accor-live-limitless-hotel-review/

https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/01/21/hilton-honors-review-3/

https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/01/28/is-ihg-one-rewards-the-best-hotel-loyalty-scheme/

https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/02/04/is-marriott-bonvoy-the-best-hotel-loyalty-scheme-part-1/

https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/02/19/radisson-rewards-review-2/

https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/02/27/world-of-hyatt-review-4/

[masaccio]

What I like[d] about hotels.com was that it often carries non-chain hotels at the same rate as their own website or other OTAs. I’ve picked up B&Bs in the US as well an all sorts of small inns.

One option I may now go for is just picking the non-Rewards rate via BA shopping as that pulls in more Avios. Whether some route to MRs would be worth I don’t know; I’ve never got past the fees for the Amex Platinum given I don’t value anything that’s included except insurance, which I get cheaper elsewhere.

[Annie]

masaccio wrote:

What I like[d] about hotels.com was that it often carries non-chain hotels at the same rate as their own website or other OTAs. I’ve picked up B&Bs in the US as well an all sorts of small inns.

One option I may now go for is just picking the non-Rewards rate via BA shopping as that pulls in more Avios. Whether some route to MRs would be worth I don’t know; I’ve never got past the fees for the Amex Platinum given I don’t value anything that’s included except insurance, which I get cheaper elsewhere.

I stopped using BA portal for hotels.com as I only received Avios maybe 50% of the time. It was a nightmare keeping track.
By contrast booking.com seems to work fine with BA.

[meta]

Panda Mick wrote:

Annie wrote:

Which hotel brand is the easiest to accrue points and therefore free nights? Most of my travels are USA, Canada, Belgium and France. Should I look at a credit card or stick with my Amex?
I guess this might be a how long is a piece of string type question but grateful if anyone can help me.

So,
1. You won’t gain any points personally by booking hotels for others. Most hotels insist that the points account owner is the person actually staying there.
2. Which leaves the only points earning potential to be a card like gold / plat amex, or others

There is IHG Business Rewards where you earn points when booking for others along with your personal ones.

https://www.ihg.com/onerewards/content/gb/en/business-rewards/earn

[meta]

Before they launch new scheme, it seems hotels.com is currently doing a big discounting for Gold Members (in some places up to 70%). Not sure how widespread is this as only looked at 2-3 places.