Hotels
Marriott
The largest hotel chain, with ~1.4 million rooms world-wide. Merged with Starwood. Now owns 30 brands covering different segments.
Read More: Marriott
Hilton
The second largest chain after Marriott, with ~1 million rooms.
Hilton does not offer a lifetime status; however the highest status can be achieved by holding Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which costs $450 per year.
https://www.hilton.com/en/hilton-honors/member-benefits/
IHG
The 3rd largest, 6k+ locations and 800k+ rooms.
Hyatt
1,200+ hotels. Many luxury hotels.
Hyatt has a partnership with MGM Resorts International.
Loyalty program: World of Hyatt
Wyndham
Brands: Baymont, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, La Quinta, Ramada, Super 8, Travelodge, and Wyndham
Choice Hotels
Mostly midscale and budget hotels.
Purchased Radisson Hotels (Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, etc) in 2022.
Accor
Loyalty program: ALL, https://all.accor.com/
Best Western
3 tiers: Best Western, Best Western Plus, and Best Western Premier.
Point Expiration
Hotels | Expiration |
---|---|
Marriott | Never, if there's activity in 24 months |
Hyatt | Never, if there's activity in 24 months |
Choice Hotels | Never, if there's activity in 18 months |
Hilton | Never, if there's activity in 12 months |
IHG | Never, if there's activity in 12 months |
Wyndham | 4 years |
Some easy ways to extend the time limit without traveling:
- redeem for gift cards.
- buy points.
- use co-branded credit card.
- transfer points.
Lifetime Status
Marriott
- Lifetime Silver Elite: 250 Lifetime Nights + 5 Years Elite Status
- Lifetime Gold Elite: 400 Lifetime Nights + 7 Years Gold Elite Status or Higher
- Lifetime Platinum Elite: 600 Lifetime Nights + 10 Years Platinum Elite Status or Higher
To earn nights:
- By Marriott Rewards Credit Card
- 15 Credits: account anniversary
- 1 credit: every $3,000 spent on purchases
- By paid nights
- 1 credit per night
- Elite rollover nights
- Meeting nights
To earn points:
- By Marriott Rewards Credit Card
- 5X Marriott
- 2X airline tickets purchased directly with the airline, car rental agencies & restaurants
- 1X everything else
- By paid nights(https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/earn/hotels.mi)
- 10X on qualifying charges:
- 10X on room rates:
- 5X on room rates: Residence Inn and TownePlace Suite
Details: https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/member-benefits/lifetime-status.mi
Hilton
- Lifetime Diamond: (1000 paid nights or 2 million lifetime points) + 10 years Diamond
To get Diamond Status:
- Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express and spend $40,000 a year on it
- 30 stays, 60 nights or 120,000 Hilton Honors Base Points
Details: http://hhonors3.hilton.com/en/promotions/lifetime-diamond/terms.html
Hyatt
Only one level:
- Lifetime Globalist: 1M base points
Notes
- Points earned from the Hyatt Credit Card don’t count toward lifetime status.
Details: https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/member-benefits/lifetime-globalist.html