Hotel Loyalty Program Showdown

In this lively episode recorded in Salt Lake City, Bryce, Matt, Emily, and Travis offer a Thunderdome-style face-off on major hotel loyalty programs. Each host champions a different program—Bryce for IHG, Matt for Marriott, Emily for Hyatt, and Travis for Hilton. They dive into the global reach and quality of properties, hotel credit card portfolios, and elite benefits. The debate highlights the importance of flexibility in travel rewards, encouraging listeners to hop between brands to up their travel game. The episode is full of insights, strategies, and humor, aiming to help listeners make savvy hotel loyalty decisions.

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Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and meet the hosts

(05:43) Global Footprint of IHG Hotels

(08:20) Marriott Credit Card Options and Restrictions

(17:08) Hotel Chain Brand Consistency

(24:51) IHG and Kempton Hotel Comparison

(30:05) Marriott’s Diverse Hotel Brand Variety

(40:13) IHG Status Levels and Benefits

(44:53) Unique Value of Hilton Rewards Program

(53:28) Benefits of Hilton Honors Rewards

(59:08) Closing Thoughts: Brand Loyalty vs. Value Maximization

Links and Resources from this Episode: