5 best hotel rewards programs and how to boost loyalty

What is a hotel rewards program?

A hotel rewards program is a way to thank and reward your guests for choosing to stay with you. 

You can choose to offer rewards that enhance their current stay, or give them an even better experience on their next one. This will reinforce to the guest that they made the right decision and that they should always return to your brand.

Hotel rewards programs can come in many different forms and there is more than one way to build guest loyalty at your hotel – every guest is an individual so they will react differently.  Are your guests more motivated by price, luxury, or value for money? 

This blog will take you through the main considerations when creating hotel rewards and loyalty programs at your hotel, helping to secure more return guests.

Why are hotel loyalty programs important?

Hotel loyalty programs play a crucial role in the hospitality industry by driving repeat business and fostering long-term relationships with guests. These programs reward guests for their continued patronage, creating a sense of value and appreciation. This, in turn, encourages guests to choose the same hotel or hotel chain for their future stays.

Some advantages of introducing a loyalty program at your hotel include:

1. Improved guest experience

A loyalty program will mean frequent travellers who come to stay at your hotel are never overlooked. Their preferences will be recognised and taken care of, making their trip more seamless and enjoyable.

2. Increased bookings

Often, the promise of rewards or instant perks can be enough to get undecided travellers over the line. In this sense, a loyalty program isn’t just useful for keeping the guests you’ve already won, but attracting them in the first place.

3. Cost effectiveness

Reaching out to capture repeat guests places far less strain on your marketing and sales efforts than trying to find new guests. It’s also more likely that loyal repeat guests will book your hotel directly rather than via an online travel agent, saving you money on commission.

4. Boosted revenue

Guests who keep coming back are obviously happy with the service they’re offered, and they’re more likely to spend money on extras and additional amenities too. If you prove yourself time and again, guests will be happy to keep spending money.

5. Valuable insights

Including guests on a loyalty program means you can build more profiles, with more information included within them, than ever before. Knowing their preferences, interests, and behaviour is extremely valuable to you in attracting new guests that are the perfect targets for your property.

6. Corporate advantages

Many businesses, travel managers, or event planners will choose hotels that offer loyalty programs, since these are the most likely groups to regularly return to the same locations.

That’s not to say there aren’t any disadvantages of having a loyalty program; there are. They can be expensive and time-consuming, and they can be ineffective in some markets or if they aren’t thought through.

More loyalty, more revenue, less work

What if you could create guest loyalty and boost revenue while reducing your workload? Our smart platform allows you to do exactly that.

Learn more

Key factors to consider for the best hotel rewards program

To date, the most common rewards system involves the accrual of points which guests can build up and then redeem for various benefits.

However, this is not necessarily the best hotel rewards program and there is no restriction on what kind of loyalty program you wish to install, as long as it rewards your long-term customers and helps to positively influence your hotel’s reputation.

It’s important to do your research though:

• 83% of customers belong to between one and six loyalty programs.
• 31% of customers use only 25% of their loyalty program memberships.
• 73% of customers agree that their loyalty is more difficult for a retailer to maintain than ever before.

Remember that every traveller is unique and personalisation is key. The best customer loyalty program will play to this and have the most success in developing loyalty.

In a market that has become so saturated, the best rewards programs find a way to break through and stand out. It’s important to consider the mindset of the traveller coming through the door and think about how you will really satisfy their particular needs.

Examples of the best hotel rewards program

To focus on one example, consider Marriott Bonvoy (formerly Marriott Rewards).

The Marriott Bonvoy program’s key feature is its large network of hotels in popular vacation destinations across the United States, Asia and Europe. Members can also earn rewards points when staying at affiliate brands like St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton hotels.

Members can earn and redeem points at thousands of hotels, and gain exclusive benefits such as free in-room internet, member rates, mobile keys, no blackout dates, instant redemption on food and beverages, and more.

The best hotel rewards programs will offer all travellers the opportunity to earn valuable rewards simply by signing up and taking a trip.

Other highly regarded programs include:

Wyndham Rewards

Members can earn points through hotel stays, gas purchases, and dining. These points can be redeemed for free or discounted nights starting at just 1,500 points plus cash. Elite members enjoy perks like room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and additional benefits such as Avis and Budget car rental upgrades.

World of Hyatt

This program offers diverse membership tiers, each tailored to different traveller needs. Members can enjoy benefits like complimentary room upgrades, late checkout, and access to exclusive experiences. The program’s flexibility and wide range of rewards make it appealing to both business and leisure travellers.

Choice Privileges

Members of Choice Privileges receive benefits that extend beyond hotel stays. For instance, they can save money on brands like United Petroleum and Naked Wines. Additionally, they can earn and redeem points at over 7,000 properties worldwide, ensuring a consistent and valuable experience.

Best Western Rewards

This program stands out for its generous point system, where points never expire. Members can earn bonus points frequently, which can be redeemed for free nights, gift cards, or even airline miles. The non-expiry of points is a significant advantage, encouraging long-term loyalty.

IHG Rewards Club

With tiered membership levels, IHG Rewards Club caters to the unique needs of travellers. Members enjoy benefits such as free internet, extended check-out times, and priority check-in. The program’s focus on individual traveller preferences ensures a personalised and satisfying experience.

As you can see, the big brands work hard to get their hotel guest loyalty programs right, and they have the resources to provide highly valuable incentives. However, independent hotels can use the same formulas on a smaller scale and still see good results. Often it can help to find a loyalty program vendor that you can join.

How to build customer loyalty at your hotel

While a loyalty program isn’t necessarily required at your hotel for travellers to want to return, it is a nice way to confirm your appreciation for guests.

So, how do you build customer loyalty? Here are some tips to turn a one-time visitor into a loyal, ever-returning guest.

1. Be a global player on and offline

In a world that is better connected than ever, it has become increasingly important to cater to the needs and wants of all potential guests – and many of these guests won’t necessarily speak your language.

According to Forbes, 72% of customers prefer to make a purchase in their own language and remember: English is not the primary language in 57% of the fastest growing markets.

While most people now speak English, they want to feel that you are considering their needs and are looking forward to hosting them. This means that not only should you be prepared to hire multilingual staff, you should also consider optimising your website by creating various language versions.

The ability to cater to foreign markets and identify trends amongst your visitors will underline your credibility as a global player, and emphasise your readiness to integrate your customer’s needs within your customer experience management strategy.

Online, it’s as simple as making your website easy to use – while also featuring the best rates, availability and special offers, as well as presenting potential guests with services and features they want. For example, if the majority of your customers are business travellers, it’s likely they will be most keen to relax, so it would be worth ensuring your pampering services (such as your massage parlour and spa) are easy to access and can be added to those guests’ bookings. An easy-to-use website can increase direct bookings quite considerably.

2. Make the customer experience personal

When travelling to foreign places, where you often don’t know your way around, a helpful concierge or friendly hotel staff with the right information on hand can often be a dealmaker or a deal-breaker.

Guests like to feel well looked after. If you spoil them with bespoke experiences, including tailored offers and personalised recreational options, they will take note and are highly likely to revisit. In a research study by State of Travel, 87% of those surveyed stated that staff courtesy was an important factor.

You can often build a profile of your guests, and establish the reasons behind their trip by analysing their data within your property management system. However, check-in is the perfect time for your staff to find out more information about your guests’ travel purpose; Are they on a business trip or a romantic weekend away? Or, are they simply having a relaxing holiday with the whole family? Once you know what they are after, use that information wisely and make it work for you.

For example, when you have honeymooners stay with you, offer them something special to enhance their experience such as a free room upgrade or a free spa treatment. Don’t just satisfy your guests – delight them. (Make sure you also collect feedback whenever you can – be it through a customer survey or thank you email – so you can improve future guest experiences.)

3. Reward customer loyalty

Acquiring a new customer can cost five to nine times more than selling to an existing customer, so it’s pivotal that hotels do everything they can to keep their existing guests happy and revisiting time and again.

Guest loyalty programs that offer guests discounts, freebies and other perks, for example, can add real value to a guest’s experience – and ultimately to your sales graph.

Remember to keep it personal. By focusing on making rewards personal and meaningful, providing in-the-moment accessible rewards and reshaping the customer experience, hoteliers can win customers and entice them to come back repeatedly.

Customer service and guest experience remain at the core of the hospitality industry, so don’t be afraid to acquire the tools that can help your hotel to operate more efficiently.

The impact of guest mindshare to building the best hotel rewards programs

One of the biggest challenges currently facing hotels is the erosion of guest loyalty and the struggle to retain awareness and relevance.

Travellers now have a greater focus on finding the best possible offer they can from any source.

One of the reasons for this is that hotels still aren’t providing an adequate level of personalised service.

Customers are using the growth of online travel agents (OTAs), increased price transparency, peer-to-peer options, and a rise in comparison-shopping to meet their demand for new value propositions.

A worrying statistic for hotels reports: 

• 22% of hotel customers say a hotel loyalty program offers no value to them 
• 74% of millennials value experiences over products.
• 73% prefer when memberships are not dependant on a point reward system

If we agree the travel journey is broken up into four parts; search, buy, stay, and reflect, we hotels have lost the search battle and are being disrupted by OTAs and other services in the buy stage.

The stay stage is obviously the life of a hotel. It’s the one place where the hotel can have full unrestricted influence over the traveller. But even there, accommodation sharing is becoming very neighbourly. When guests reflect on their stay, it will be the hotels who provide meaningful experiences that will be remembered.

So how do hotels create more brand awareness, better experiences, and ultimately a stronger sense of loyalty in travellers? One way is to increase the ‘mindshare’ of your hotel.

What is mindshare?

Mindshare is a concept based generally on the development of recognition and popularity for a product.

The goal is to reach a stage where when people think of a hotel, your brand is one of the hotels they can easily call to mind when thinking about where to stay.

In some cases, the brand name may even become a synonym for the product or service. For example, Hoover the brand became a synonym for a vacuum cleaner.

If hotel customer loyalty programs aren’t working in isolation, then hotels need to work harder on providing superior services and positioning themselves as a unique entity within the industry. Like they do in every facet of society now, consumers want simplicity, personalisation, speed, accuracy, as well as control when it comes to travel.

Accenture research shows 75% of consumers want personalised services and only 13% of respondents in a 2015 survey said they find digital and physical offers to be well aligned.

How can you build mindshare for your hotel?

First and foremost, hotels need to utilise data to learn as much as possible about customers but also the competition they need to differentiate themselves from. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Define your target
2. Create a people-based, mobile-first service
3. Engage with the newest technology. Mobile apps have overtaken the desktop for digital engagement as 54% of US digital media time is now spent on mobile apps
4. Give guests as much access as possible to interesting events and activities by offering tickets, promotions, and information
5. Build a library of collateral. This might include content from digital brochures and newsletters, industry magazines, e-zines. All of this provides valuable information and gives the impression you are helpful and conscientious. On top of this, personalised emails will show you’re willing to go the extra step
6. Use multiple mediums. This will help catch the eye of the prospective audience and give you a better chance of cutting through any clutter by allowing customers to engage at different levels
7. Be patient and persistent. It may take up to six months to build the relationships with customers that have a lasting effect

Ultimately, the key strategy for reinvigorating brand affinity is to think outside the box to stand above your competitor’s while thinking carefully about the needs of each of your customers and how you can give them the most personalised experience possible, to the point where they may reject a cheaper hotel to stay at yours instead.

Tips to create the perfect hotel customer loyalty program

When trying to create an effective customer loyalty program, there’s a few standard principles you can follow. Some tips you might want to keep in mind include:

1. Personalise your rewards system

Try to personalise your rewards system as much as possible so your members feel like individuals. Customisation can include recognising guest preferences, such as room type or special amenities, and offering tailored promotions based on their past behaviours. By using data analytics, hotels can understand and anticipate the needs of their guests, making them feel valued and appreciated, which fosters a stronger connection to the brand.

2. Offer a diverse range of rewards

If using a points system, make sure there is a diverse range of awards to choose from so your members won’t be bored or put off. Providing options that appeal to different types of travellers, such as free nights, dining vouchers, spa treatments, or even partnerships with airlines and retailers, ensures that every member can find something of value. This variety keeps the program exciting and encourages ongoing participation.

3. Create exclusive member offers

Make member-exclusive offers outside of the normal program. This could include early access to sales, special rates during peak seasons, or unique experiences like private tours or events. Exclusive offers make members feel special and appreciated, enhancing their loyalty and incentivising them to choose your hotel over competitors.

4. Develop relevant and desirable rewards strategies

Create relevant and desirable rewards strategies rather than generic or formulaic plans. Steer clear of standard points systems by incorporating more creative and personalised rewards. For example, offering experiential rewards such as cooking classes with the hotel chef or behind-the-scenes tours can make the program more appealing. Ensure the rewards resonate with your target audience’s desires and preferences to maintain their interest and engagement.

5. Maintain regular contact with members

Maintain contact with your members by regularly using one-click emails and constantly giving them ways to maximise their participation in the program. Communication should be frequent but valuable, including updates on new rewards, personalised offers, and tips on how to earn and redeem points efficiently. Regular interaction keeps your program top-of-mind and helps build a continuous relationship with your guests.

6. Simplify the redemption process

Make the claim or redemption process as simple and quick as possible. A complicated process can deter members from engaging with the program. Implementing easy-to-use online platforms or mobile apps where members can view and redeem their rewards instantly enhances the user experience. Clear instructions and a seamless process ensure members can take full advantage of their benefits without frustration, thereby increasing their satisfaction and loyalty.

The more members you have in your loyalty program the better, since you can then start asking these guests for feedback. They’ll be more likely to give your property a positive review on sites like TripAdvisor which will in turn help you acquire more customers.

More customers means more revenue coming obviously but there’s another benefit to increased occupancy; it provides some great opportunities to gain insight from customers about how you can improve the guest experience. Improve the guest experience, and more guests will want to join your loyalty program.

Top influences on hotel rewards programs

There are very few factors that are more important today than the online reputation of your hotel. Without an established and positive reputation on the web, where most travellers are doing their travel research and booking, your hotel won’t capture the amount of reservations you need to run a successful business.

This reputation will grow with every new loyal guest you win, but often the factors affecting guest loyalty boil down to individual perspectives.

For instance, a luxury traveller spending a large amount of money each night on a room probably isn’t going to be overjoyed with a small discount for their next stay, because the money doesn’t mean as much to them. This won’t create loyalty.

You’ll win the loyalty of a customer like this, or any customer, when you give them an experience that exceeds their expectations. To do this, you need to know the customer. You need to understand their behaviour, habits, interests, preferences etc. When you have this information, you can think of ways to surprise the customer and give them something beyond their normal expectations. This is where loyalty starts to grow, because it shows they are taken seriously and cared for in a very personal manner.

Small things can also have a big impact. For instance, if guests are used to staying in hotels where they’re required to pay for things like phone chargers, internet, or other facilities such as printers etc, and then they find themselves in a property where this is free – that can sway them and inspire loyalty.

Is hotel guest loyalty dying?

The short answer is no – but the behaviours, attitudes, and expectations of today’s traveller are constantly changing. Couple this with an overwhelming case of brand saturation and it’s not surprising many believe loyalty is dead.

The concept is alive, but old tactics are dying. More than a third of travellers still believe they are useful for saving money or gaining added value but it’s more important than ever to create a great experience because loyalty only lasts as long as a quality experience. There’s no amount of loyalty points that would give someone who had a terrible experience reason to come back again.

The key to a successful hotel loyalty program is to be original and personal. Most loyalty programs are run by large chains and simply offer a points rewards system that is uninspiring for most guests. If hotels get it right, there is life left in loyalty programs yet!

“Our previous direct booking option was very confusing and not very user-friendly. SiteMinder’s booking engine is a lot better integrated on the website and makes it easy for guests to book. So far, we have increased our direct bookings by 15%”

Mirja Wolf,

Manager

Hotel Kragemann

Read more

Hotel guest loyalty program advice

In trying to combat some of the impact OTAs have on reduced hotel loyalty, hotels need to take on the persona of innkeepers and also use the obvious advantages hotel brands possess.

As one manager pointed out: “When a customer eats breakfast at my Marriott, every Marriott hotel in the world has the opportunity to know what that person likes to eat for breakfast. Expedia does not.”

What some hotels have forgotten is that customers are loyal to service and value, not simply to price. A discount is not enough to keep a guest coming back. Hotels can only win the hearts of travellers by knowing them better and showing genuine care for them. The guest will be more likely to return the favour.

With value-for-money as the go-to mantra, there are a variety of ways to please guests.

Think about how you can pleasantly surprise your customers and give them more than they think they’re paying for.

Think about offering:

• Complimentary services – Breakfast, wifi, late check-out are things your guests would be thrilled to get for free
• Inclusions – Even an extra ‘care-package’ of food, beverages, or toiletries could be enough to put a smile on your guest’s face
• Familiarity – Greeting your guests by name, anticipating their needs, and remembering their preferences goes a long way
• Socialising – With many guests travelling alone, they would much appreciate an excuse to connect with other travellers. Host happy hours or other social activities to bring people together and create a welcoming atmosphere

People love to share good news and in travel especially, people love to make recommendations. Your loyalty program will increase the chances of your regular guests bringing new guests right to your doorstep.

The more a customer feels they’re being given great value, the more likely they’ll want to share it with those around them, including to other travellers online.

At the same time, perks and rewards should not replace customer service. Guest satisfaction must be high throughout their stay, otherwise a rewards program may feel like a bribe and it won’t be enough to garner a positive review or return stay. Use amazing guest experiences to entice travellers to join your loyalty program, not the other way around.

It’s impossible to please everyone perfectly. Some customers simply enjoy complaining and when they’ve paid their money, they probably have a right to. However, your hotel needs to separate what will hurt your reputation, and what will enhance it.

Guests could take issue with any number of things; from a chip in a tile, to the light saturation in their room. A review stating there was dust on the windowsill won’t raise alarm bells for other travellers, but one saying the breakfast was horrible will.

Unless your hotel is lucky enough to have a customer base that regularly returns out of convenience and necessity, a one-off loyalty program is unlikely to work. It’s far too time consuming and expensive to invest in that kind of plan.

How to create hotel customer loyalty in different guest segments

The good news is that you probably already have a number of loyal customers.

These are the people who like to holiday to the same location and prefer to book the same hotel every time, or they’re business travellers who frequent the location and always choose the hotel that best meets their needs for convenience and comfort.

Acknowledging these guests is important and by rewarding them it will only strengthen your relationship and increase their inclination to recommend your hotel.

Some personalities are more attuned to loyalty programs than others. Let’s look at some guest segments that can be targeted strongly by loyalty offers.

The Conservative Homebody

Snapshot

• 16% of global consumers
• 52% male
• Average age: 37 years old
• Household income: US$41,230

Conservative Homebodies often focus on personal issues, such as home, family
and spirituality. They’re not very image conscious or particularly materialistic, and rarely make impulse purchases. They are most influenced by their friends and family.

Top three motivators

• Value for money (58%)
• Trying new products and services (57%)
• Low prices (50%)

Top three influences

• Recommendations from friends and family (49%)
• Independent reviews (39%)
• Traditional marketing (30%)
• Social media (30%)

How to target Conservative Homebodies

Hotels that clearly showcase where Conservative Homebodies can save money while providing a unique and memorable experience are likely to ensure repeat purchases and customer loyalty.

The Balanced Optimist

Snapshot

• 9% of global consumers
• 60% female
• Average age: 41 years old
• Household income: US$49,868

Balanced Optimists value quality and place importance on personal health and well-being. They are usually cautious with how they spend their money. However, they also place a lot of importance on their personal happiness. The Balanced Optimist is most likely to be influenced by traditional marketing channels such as loyalty rewards programmes and TV commercials.

Top three motivators

• Value for money
• Trying new products and services
• Low prices

Top three influences

• Recommendations from friends and family (70%)
• Independent reviews (56%)
• Social media (37%)

How to target Balanced Optimists

Due to their heavy interest in low prices, clear discounts and easy price comparison it’s important to make browsing and purchasing as convenient and hassle-free as possible, removing any possible friction.

To keep guests satisfied and your online reputation intact, you need to make sure the majority of your time and effort is going towards the most important issues. This goes for inside the hotel, and also when you respond to online reviews.

Time is precious in this industry, and you need to spend it seeking the biggest benefit for your business.