FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What are hotel loyalty programmes?
Hotel loyalty programmes are hotel groups' points and membership-tier schemes: how points expire, how tiers are earned, whether points convert to airline miles, how award nights work and whether points can be transferred or pooled. These depend on each programme's own official terms; this page quotes the sourced official sentences.
Reviewed by: Content review · Last updated: unknown
Key takeaways
- Programmes' terms differ; this page does not convert or compare them.
- Terms not yet in effect are marked with their effective date and are not treated as current rules.
- This page covers 13 programmes, 11 of them with at least two sourced fields; 36 field entries are sourced and the rest are marked as under review or lacking an official statement.
What each programme's official text says
Five fields per programme: points expiry, tiers and qualification, converting points to airline miles, award night redemption, and points transfer and pooling.
| Hotel loyalty programmes | Official text by field |
|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy | Official text by fieldPoints expiry:If a Member Account is inactive for twenty-four (24) consecutive months, that Member Account will forfeit all accumulated Points. Official source Scope of tiers and qualification: Only the Silver/Gold/Platinum/Titanium qualifying-night lines are listed; Ambassador Elite also has an annual spend threshold, which is not quoted under the #102 rules Tiers and qualification: Upon reaching certain milestones, a Member will earn elite membership status and become a Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite or Ambassador Elite Member (collectively, “Elite Membership Status,” or “Elite Status”). Official source i. Marriott Bonvoy - Silver Elite: 10 to 24 Qualifying Nights Official source ii. Marriott Bonvoy - Gold Elite: 25 to 49 Qualifying Nights Official source iii. Marriott Bonvoy - Platinum Elite: 50 to 74 Qualifying Nights Official source iv. Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium Elite: 75 Qualifying Nights and higher Official source Scope of converting points to airline miles: 3:1 for most airlines, with different ratios for some (partner table on the original page), as at capture time; this batch has not signed off the partner table line by line, so no airline list is shown Transfer your Marriott Bonvoy® points to one of our partner programs. Official source Converting points to airline miles: 3.6.a. Members may redeem Points with participating airline frequent flyer programs and other airline-affiliated loyalty programs at a designated Points to Miles conversion ratio as indicated here. Official source Transfer points to miles*** at 3-to-1 ratio with most programs. Official source Award night redemption: The amount of Points required per night for an Award Redemption Stay varies by the Participating Property, the room types available at the Participating Property, length of stay, and may also vary by time of year. Official source Points required per night are updated continuously and may change at any time. Official source The Award Redemption Stay includes the cost of a guest room (with existing bedding) at a Participating Property, room tax, service charge, and extra-person charges (except at eligible all-inclusive properties), if any. Official source Points transfer and pooling: 2.8.a. In accordance with the conditions for transferring Points as described in Section 1.6.c., and subject to the conditions outlined below, a Member can transfer up to a maximum of 100,000 Points per calendar year to another Membership Account as long as both Accounts are in good standing and have each been open for at least thirty (30) days with qualifying activity, ninety (90) days without qualifying activity (see Section 2.8.b). Official source |
| Best Western Rewards | Official text by fieldScope of points expiry: Based on the terms effective 2024-09-26 (as shown on the page captured on 2026-10-15; that effective date and the 2026/2027 tier qualification windows in the terms are separate points in time); exception: BWI may cancel an account and revoke all unredeemed points, for example if the terms are breachedThese Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) became effective September 26, 2024 (“Program Date”), govern the Best Western Rewards® Program (“Program”) and supersede and replace all previous terms and conditions that were effective prior to the Program Date. Official source BWI reserves the right to cancel any Member Account and revoke any and all unredeemed Points in the event BWI determines in its sole discretion any of the following circumstances occur: Official source Points expiry: Points earned under the Program do not expire. Official source Tiers and qualification: under review, not yet published. Scope of converting points to airline miles: Based on the terms effective 2024-09-26 (as shown on the page captured on 2026-10-15; that effective date and the 2026/2027 tier qualification windows in the terms are separate points in time); ratios are set by BWI as published on its official site, and this batch shows no ratios or airline list; earning miles directly and converting points to miles are different processes These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) became effective September 26, 2024 (“Program Date”), govern the Best Western Rewards® Program (“Program”) and supersede and replace all previous terms and conditions that were effective prior to the Program Date. Official source Converting points to airline miles: If you choose to convert your Points and redeem them for Miles, you can do so at any time by going to bestwestern.com, at which time the Miles are then transferred to your Airline Program account. Official source Points will be converted into Miles at a conversion rate determined by BWI in its sole discretion using currently published conversion rates, which may change from time to time. Official source Scope of award night redemption: Based on the terms effective 2024-09-26 (as shown on the page captured on 2026-10-15; that effective date and the 2026/2027 tier qualification windows in the terms are separate points in time); the points required vary by date, check the official site These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) became effective September 26, 2024 (“Program Date”), govern the Best Western Rewards® Program (“Program”) and supersede and replace all previous terms and conditions that were effective prior to the Program Date. Official source Award night redemption: Points can be redeemed for free night stays at Licensed Hotels worldwide, subject to rate availability, capacity controls, and room availability. Official source Scope of points transfer and pooling: Based on the terms effective 2024-09-26 (as shown on the page captured on 2026-10-15; that effective date and the 2026/2027 tier qualification windows in the terms are separate points in time); limits such as the number of transfers and the per-transfer cap are in the POINT TRANSFERS section of the terms and are not shown in this batch These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) became effective September 26, 2024 (“Program Date”), govern the Best Western Rewards® Program (“Program”) and supersede and replace all previous terms and conditions that were effective prior to the Program Date. Official source Points transfer and pooling: Members may request the transfer of Points from their Account to another Member, subject to the requirements of this section. Official source |
| Choice Privileges | Official text by fieldScope of points expiry: Points do not expire for current Elite members (heading in the terms), as at capture timePoints Never Expire for Current Elite Members Official source Points expiry: If a Member is not active for eighteen (18) consecutive calendar months, that Member forfeits all accumulated points and their account becomes inactive. Official source Tiers and qualification: Elite Status is granted to a member based on the number of Elite Qualifying Nights (EQNs) or Elite Qualifying Credits (EQCs) a Member has earned within a calendar year. Official source Scope of converting points to airline miles: Ratios are published separately on the Rewards Exchange portal, which this batch has not archived, so no ratios are shown Converting points to airline miles: When using the Choice Privileges Rewards Exchange program, Members may redeem Choice Privileges points for airline miles or points/rewards in other participating eligible loyalty programs. Official source Exchange ratios are published in the Rewards Exchange online portal. Official source Award night redemption: under review, not yet published. Points transfer and pooling: Members who wish to book a Reward Night for someone other than the person named on the member account may transfer points to another person’s account through Points Sharing. Official source |
| Shangri-La Circle | Official text by fieldPoints expiry:Points earned in any calendar year (i.e., between 1 January to 31 December) (“Accrual Year”) will expire on the second anniversary of the end of the Accrual Year. Official source The maximum validity period for Points is 36 months if the Points are earned in January of an Accrual Year and 25 months if the Points are earned in December of an Accrual Year. Official source Tiers and qualification: under review, not yet published. Converting points to airline miles: Points may be converted to Airline Miles with Airline Partners. Official source The conversion rate is 1 (one) Point to 1 (one) Airline Mile, but there may be different conversion rates for specific Airline Partners and this is subject to change without notice at the sole and absolute discretion of the Company. Official source Shangri-La Circle members can also convert Points to airline miles. Official source Award night redemption: "Room Awards" Means an award of free room nights at any Participating Hotel which may be redeemed by using the required number of Points by a Member. Official source Room Awards can be combined with paid hotel room night stay in one reservation. Official source Scope of points transfer and pooling: The terms keep an “unless otherwise provided in the terms” exception; this batch has not checked the exceptions one by one Points transfer and pooling: Points cannot be transferred, assigned, bartered, bequeathed, or otherwise transferred by a Member to another person, unless otherwise stated in these Terms and Conditions. Official source |
| World of Hyatt | Official text by fieldScope of points expiry: Based on the terms effective 2026-08-24 (original: “(Effective Aug 24, 2026)”)(Effective Aug 24, 2026) Official source Points expiry: (a) Inactivity. If a Member’s account is inactive for twenty-four (24) consecutive months, all points in that Member’s account will be forfeited at that time, but the Member’s account will remain open (with the ability to earn new points thereafter) unless the Member’s account is otherwise terminated in accordance with these Terms. Official source Scope of tiers and qualification: Based on the terms effective 2026-08-24 (original: “(Effective Aug 24, 2026)”) (Effective Aug 24, 2026) Official source Tiers and qualification: The Program offers three tiers of elite status: Discoverist, Explorist, Globalist. Official source Qualification for elite status is based on the Member’s activity (Tier-Qualifying Nights stayed or Base Points earned) over the course of a single Calendar Year. Official source Members must re-qualify for elite status each Calendar Year. Official source Scope of converting points to airline miles: Based on the terms effective 2026-08-24; the participating partners are listed in Appendix B of the terms, which this batch has not signed off line by line, so no airline list is shown; the Hyatt and American Airlines relationship will change on 2026-11-15 (update of 2026-09-09; a future change, not yet in effect) (Effective Aug 24, 2026) Official source Converting points to airline miles: (a) Members may convert points to Partner Loyalty Points with participating partners at a conversion ratio of 1,250 points to 500 Partner Loyalty Points (2.5 to 1). Official source Converting points to airline miles: related terms take effect on 2026-11-15; not yet in effect. Award night redemption: under review, not yet published. Scope of points transfer and pooling: Based on the terms effective 2026-08-24 (original: “(Effective Aug 24, 2026)”) (Effective Aug 24, 2026) Official source Points transfer and pooling: A Member may combine points from their account with those of one other specifically designated Member. Official source A single Member may participate in a point-combining transaction (transferring or receiving of points) not more than once every 30 days. Official source |
| Hilton Honors | Official text by fieldPoints expiry:Members who do not have eligible activity as defined in (a.) – (d.) below in any twenty-four (24) consecutive month period are subject to forfeiture of all accumulated Points and may be removed from the Program. Official source Tiers and qualification: under review, not yet published. Converting points to airline miles: under review, not yet published. Scope of award night redemption: Applies only to Standard Room Rewards booked fully with points for stays of five nights or more Award night redemption: 5th Night Free on Standard Room Reward Stays: For every Standard Room Reward Stay of five (5) or more nights using all Points, every 5th night is free. Official source Points transfer and pooling: Hilton Honors Members can transfer Hilton Honors Points to another Hilton Honors Member through Points Pooling or 1-to-1 transfer in increments of 1,000 Points and up to 500,000 Points. Official source |
| IHG One Rewards | Official text by fieldPoints expiry:To maintain your account points balance and avoid points expiration, you must have at least one “earn” or “redeem” transaction posted to your account every twelve (12) months. Official source Elite Members’ Points do not expire as long as Elite level membership is maintained. Official source Scope of tiers and qualification: Only the qualifying-points basis is quoted; the figures required for each tier have not been signed off cell by cell Tiers and qualification: Elite Qualifying Points: For purposes of determining Elite status, IHG One Rewards Points are classified as either Elite Qualifying Points or Non-Elite Qualifying Points. Official source Only Elite Qualifying Points count towards Elite status. Official source Converting points to airline miles: under review, not yet published. Award night redemption: under review, not yet published. Scope of points transfer and pooling: Transfers carry a separate fee (the sentence in that paragraph is a money amount and is not quoted) Points transfer and pooling: Point Transfers: Points may be transferred between two specifically designated Member accounts. Official source |
| Wyndham Rewards | Official text by fieldScope of points expiry: Holders of the co-branded credit card (Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier) have separate rules; this entry does not apply to them Points expiry: Except as may otherwise be required under applicable law or set forth herein with respect to Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Cardmembers, Wyndham Rewards points expire four (4) years after the date on which the applicable points are posted to the Member's account (the “Four Year Rule”), unless the points are forfeited or cancelled earlier due to membership inactivity (as more particularly described below), or otherwise in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. Official source Except as may otherwise be set forth herein with respect to Wyndham Rewards Earner® Premier Cardmembers, all accrued points in a Member's Wyndham Rewards account may be cancelled or forfeited if the Member has no Account Activity (as defined below) for a period of approximately, but never less than, eighteen (18) consecutive months. Official source Scope of tiers and qualification: The nights required for each tier are in table cells of the terms, which this batch has not signed off cell by cell, so no figures are shown Tiers and qualification: Wyndham Rewards offers Members four membership levels (“Member Levels”): Blue, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Official source 1. Each Member Level is achieved after a Member completes the number of Qualifying Nights set forth opposite such Member Level in the chart below (the information contained therein occasionally referred to hereinafter as the “Level Earning Formula”). Official source Converting points to airline miles: under review, not yet published. Scope of award night redemption: The points listed are the standard redemption amounts for members without the co-branded card, as at capture time; co-branded cardholders (Earner Cardmembers) get a redemption discount Subject to all Terms and Conditions, Earner Cardmembers with an open account in good standing are eligible to receive a discount on the Standard Redemption Amount (each a “Redemption Discount”), as follows: Official source Award night redemption: Members can redeem points for free nights at Participating Hotels, Participating Caesars Rewards Properties, Participating Destinations and Redemption Cottages, as more particularly described in this Section III(B) and in Sections III(C-1) through III(E) below (each, a “Free Night”). Official source The Standard Redemption Amount (i.e., the amount of Wyndham Rewards points that must be redeemed by Members who are not Earner Cardmembers) for one (1) Free Night at a Participating Hotel, subject to availability, with no blackout dates, is 5,000, 15,000, 30,000 or 45,000 Wyndham Rewards points (depending on property). Official source Points transfer and pooling: under review, not yet published. |
| GHA DISCOVERY | Official text by fieldScope of points expiry: The validity in months of D$ for each tier sits on the same line as the earning rate (% of Net Eligible Spend) and cannot be separated, so under the #103 ruling it is under review and not quoted; clause 1.9 treats inactivity as a ground for terminating the account Points expiry: The expiration date on Base D$ will be based on the tier those D$ were earned at. Official source When a Member is upgraded or downgraded, the D$ they have already earned will maintain the original expiration date(s). Official source A Member’s account may be deemed inactive if such Member (a) has not stayed an Eligible Night at a participating Member Brand Hotel during the previous twenty-four (24) months, (b) has no Net Eligible Spend during the previous twenty-four (24) months, and (c) has not redeemed D$ during the previous twenty-four (24) months. Official source Tiers and qualification: under review, not yet published. Converting points to airline miles: under review, not yet published. Award night redemption: under review, not yet published. Scope of points transfer and pooling: The per-transfer minimum and maximum are D$ amounts and are not quoted under the #103 ruling Points transfer and pooling: 7.1 Members can transfer DISCOVERY Dollars to another GHA DISCOVERY Member (including an Minor DISCOVERY Member), subject to the following terms and conditions: Official source All transfers are final and cannot be reversed Official source |
| MeliáRewards | Official text by fieldScope of points expiry: Promotional points have their own expiry dates (per the terms); this entry is about regular points Points expiry: Points accumulated by a Member in their Account will expire after a period of inactivity of 12 months. Official source A period of inactivity shall mean a period in which the Member neither earns nor redeems Points. Official source Tiers and qualification: under review, not yet published. Converting points to airline miles: under review, not yet published. Award night redemption: under review, not yet published. Points transfer and pooling: Members may transfer Points to the Accounts of other Members. Official source Points transferred to another Member will in no case be counted or taken into account for the purpose of considering a level upgrade in MeliáRewards. Official source |
| Radisson Rewards | Official text by fieldPoints expiry:e. Expiration of Points: If there is no qualifying points activity (earning or redemption) in your Radisson Rewards or Radisson Rewards for Bookers and Planners account for 24-months, points will expire. Official source Tiers and qualification: To achieve or renew Elite Tier, the following number of Eligible Nights or Eligible Stays ("Minimum Requirement") must be earned: Official source Radisson Rewards - Premium: 5 Eligible Nights / 3 Eligible Stays Official source Radisson Rewards - VIP: 30 Eligible Nights / 20 Eligible Stays Official source Converting points to airline miles: under review, not yet published. Award night redemption: under review, not yet published. Points transfer and pooling: under review, not yet published. |
| 华住会 | Official text by fieldPoints expiry: under review, not yet published. Tiers and qualification: under review, not yet published. Converting points to airline miles: under review, not yet published. Award night redemption: under review, not yet published. Points transfer and pooling: under review, not yet published. |
| 锦江荟 | Official text by fieldPoints expiry: under review, not yet published. Tiers and qualification: under review, not yet published. Converting points to airline miles: under review, not yet published. Award night redemption: under review, not yet published. Points transfer and pooling: under review, not yet published. |
A field without an official statement means our archive has no citable sentence, not that the programme lacks the feature.
Sources and review
- www.bestwestern.com
- www.choicehotels.com
- www.ghadiscovery.com
- www.hilton.com
- www.hyatt.com
- www.ihg.com
- www.marriott.com
- www.marriott.com
- www.melia.com
- www.radissonhotels.com
- www.shangri-la.com
- www.shangri-la.com
- www.wyndhamhotels.com
Quotes on this page are verbatim from each programme's official documents (archived in our knowledge base with capture dates) and checked by content review; no amounts are shown; fields the documents do not address are marked as lacking an official statement.
Reviewed by: Content review.