Different hotel loyalty programs have different policies regarding how many points and elite qualifying nights you can earn if booking multiple rooms. In other words, if you often travel with family and book two rooms, can you receive elite credits and points for each of the rooms?
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Earning points for multiple hotel rooms
Which hotel loyalty programs let you earn points for multiple rooms?
The rules vary by loyalty program, so in this post I wanted to look at the policies of the major hotel loyalty programs, as they impact earning points and elite qualifying credit for multiple rooms (in the title of each section I’ve added a link to the terms & conditions):
Accor Live Limitless
Accor Live Limitless lets you earn points for up to two rooms, assuming all eligible charges for both rooms are paid for by the member. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room.
Hilton Honors
Hilton Honors lets you earn base points for up to four rooms, assuming all eligible charges for both rooms are paid on one folio. However, you only earn elite qualifying stay and night credits for one room. The distinction that you earn base points for up to four rooms is significant, though, since many people qualify for status with Hilton through spending, which takes into account base points.
IHG One Rewards
IHG One Rewards lets you earn points for up to nine rooms at properties in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Greater China. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room. Furthermore, outside those regions you can only earn points for one room.
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy lets you earn points for up to three rooms, assuming the member pays for all three rooms. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room.
Radisson Rewards
Radisson Rewards lets you earn points for up to three rooms booked on the same reservation, assuming the member is the registered guest in one of the rooms. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room.
World of Hyatt
World of Hyatt lets you earn points for up to three rooms, assuming the member pays for all three rooms. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room.
Wyndham Rewards
Wyndham Rewards lets you earn points for up to three rooms, assuming the member pays for all three rooms. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room.
Important things to keep in mind for earning hotel points
A few things to note across programs when it comes to earning points for multiple rooms:
- The member has to be staying in one of the rooms in order to qualify
- This generally works most seamlessly if all rooms are booked in the name of the primary guest who will be earning points, and then the people actually staying in the additional rooms can be added as additional guests on those reservations
- While not necessary with all programs, I always ask that all charges be put on a single folio, because I find the stay posts correct most consistently when that happens (make sure you use a credit card that maximizes your hotel spending)
- Only “eligible” stays qualify, the definition of which varies by program (this often excludes third party bookings)
- The stays have to be at the same hotel (in other words, you can’t generally earn points for stays at different hotels on the same night); note in some cases people have been able to get elite nights to post for different locations on the same night with a good explanation (for example, you took a redeye to Europe and wanted to book a room there the night before so you’d be able to check in when you land)
Receiving elite benefits for multiple hotel rooms
Technically with all programs you only receive elite benefits for one room, referring to the room being occupied by the elite member.
The one exception is when using Hyatt’s Guest of Honor benefit. With this, Hyatt Globalist members can redeem points or free night certificates for someone else, and that guest will receive Globalist benefits for the stay.
However, this doesn’t work for cash or Points + Cash stays, and also there’s no need for the other guests to stay with you. You can use the Guest of Honor benefit to book a stay for someone else even when you’re not traveling with them.
Aside from that, it very much comes down to the individual hotel. On paper hotels don’t need to honor elite benefits for multiple rooms, though in practice they sometimes choose to:
- I’ve sometimes had Hyatt honor elite benefits on two rooms that I booked, even if the second room wasn’t booked with Guest of Honor
- I’ve had Marriott upgrade multiple rooms, even beyond the room of the primary member
The way I approach it, expect not to get elite benefits for multiple rooms (with the exception of Hyatt’s Guest of Honor perk), though don’t be surprised if you do.
This is also why I usually try to have a strategy for getting elite-perks for multiple rooms, since many benefits (be it breakfast or lounge access) are really only fun or useful if they can be shared with others traveling with you. Just to give some examples:
Bottom line
Back in the day I loved Starwood Preferred Guest because you could earn elite nights for up to three rooms, though sadly that’s not the case anymore, as the previous Marriott Rewards policy was maintained for the Marriott Bonvoy program. Unfortunately no major hotel loyalty program lets you earn elite night credits for multiple rooms anymore. However, you can earn points for multiple rooms, which is often a good opportunity.
At this point I think World of Hyatt is the most differentiated program when it comes to booking multiple rooms thanks to Guest of Honor, but even that doesn’t offer elite qualifying nights for multiple rooms. Rather it’s just a way to get elite benefits for multiple rooms when redeeming points or free night certificates.
What has been your experience with earning points and receiving elite benefits for multiple rooms? Do the various policies impact which hotel chain you stay at?
