Best Hotel Rewards
A new report from WalletHub looks at which hotel chain offers the best rewards program. Drapes from a hotel room window catch the breeze of an air conditioner on May 10, 2018 in El Paso, Texas. Getty Images/Andrew Lichtenstein

Avid travelers live and die by hotel rewards, but what hotel really offers the best rewards program? To find this out, WalletHub has released its 2018 Hotel Rewards Report, which studied the 10 largest U.S. hotel chains against 21 key metrics including average point value, point expiration polices, and award night pricing.

The report found that Wyndham Rewards is the best hotel rewards program. The hotel chain won the honors for the fourth year in a row based upon offering $14.30 per $100 spent at the hotel, according to Wallet Hub. The hotel rewards program also offers better redemption offers than its competitors.

Following Wyndham in the report, is the Best Western, Radisson, Marriott, and Choice Privileges rewards programs. However, the report does indicate that the merger between Marriott, SPG, and Ritz Carlton created some significant value for its members as its rewards program yields $10.85 per $100 spent at the hotel. This is more than any of the brands previously offered on their own, giving travelers a nice boost when it comes to earning points.

At the bottom of the rewards program pack is IHG Rewards Club with Dury Gold Key Club and LaQuinta Returns rewards coming in a touch higher, according to WalletHub. IHG actually offers a lower rewards value for its members in 2018 than it did the previous year and some may even consider LaQuinta’s rewards program not worth the value, according to WalletHub.

Travelers looking for a rewards program, where points don’t expire will want to head to Best Western as this is the only major hotel chain offering such a program today, even with account inactivity, according to the report.

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