From Choice Hotels: Triple Points for Winter Stays

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

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Among the larger hotel chains, Choice recently has been one of the most aggressive with its loyalty-program offers. The latest promotion is no exception.

Offer Details

Between November 19, 2015, and January 15, 2016, Choice Privileges members can earn triple points for stays at more than 6,300 Choice family hotels, up to a maximum of 50,000 bonus points.

Qualifying stays must be booked direct with Choice, but corporate clients may book through a travel agent or corporate booking system.

Registration is required.

Deal or No Deal

Choice Privileges members normally earn 10 points per $1 spent at most Choice brands. So with the bonus, a one-night $150 stay would earn 4,500 points. And a qualifying two-night stay would earn 9,000 points.

By comparison, Choice’s go-to promotion lately has been 8,000 points after two stays. That’s enough points for a free night at around 1,500 lower-priced hotels in the Choice network. So, best case: a free night after two one-night stays.

Depending on the rate, then, the new triple-point offer is potentially more generous than previous Choice promotions, at least in terms of the bonus itself, making this one of the more generous offers for winter hotel stays.

There is one notable overarching caveat to anything related to the Choice Privileges program. From the Terms & Conditions:

Choice Privileges points expire on December 31, two years after the year in which they were deposited into your account unless forfeited or canceled earlier due to membership inactivity or otherwise in accordance to these rules and regulations.

Unlike most other programs, the life of earned points isn’t extended by account activity. So if you don’t earn enough points to redeem for an award within the points’ limited lifespan, or you neglect to redeem them, the points simply expire. For less frequent travelers, that can make loyalty-program participation an exercise in futility. Plan and book accordingly.

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This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.

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