WalletHub Names Best Hotel Rewards Program for 2022
Best Hotel Rewards Programs

WalletHub Names Best Hotel Rewards Program for 2022

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, the summer travel season is now getting underway. Unfortunately, thanks to record-high gas prices, those hitting the road for the holiday weekend might find themselves spending more than usual. However, when it comes to hotel stays, loyalty programs may help travelers save this summer and beyond. On that note, the personal finance site WalletHub recently published its list of the top hotel rewards programs for 2022.

First, among the top five offerings assessed by the site, it was discovered that consumers save an average of 11.8% on hotel stays thanks to these loyalty programs. However, on average, the value these rewards programs offer has fallen by 3% when compared to last year. These devaluations were most pronounced at Hilton and IHG while Best Western, Sonesta, and Hyatt actually saw increases in value.

As far as determining a top hotel rewards program for 2022, WalletHub graded different offerings based on a rubric. Among the factors considered were geographic coverage, reward value, earning policies, redemption policies, and more. Also notable is that WalletHub only compared the top 10 largest hotel chains in the United States (based on the number of properties).

Topping the list with an overall score of 73.10 out of 100 was Radison’s Rewards Americas. Radisson’s victory was aided by its first-place finish in the Earnings Policies and “Other Factors” categories, as well as a second-place ranking in Redemption Options. Meanwhile, Radisson came in third in terms of Rewards Value, with an average savings of $11.66 for every $100 spent. Incidentally, this total was even across Light, Moderate, and Heavy Travelers.

While Radisson came in first overall, other brands lead the way in specific categories. For example, World of Hyatt tied Radisson for first place in terms of Earnings Policies, while Marriott Bonvoy led for Geographic Coverage and Hilton Honors topped Redemption Options. When it comes to Rewards Value, Wyndham Rewards came out ahead, saving Heavy Travelers an average of $12.84 per $100 spent ($12.31 among Moderate and Light Travelers). Outside of the rubric, of the programs assessed, Best Western and Sonesta Travel Pass were the only programs with points that never expired.

Ultimately, as travel demand continues to roar back, consumers may be well-served to consider these loyalty programs as a means of saving money on future getaways. While some programs may mostly benefit frequent guests, others — such as those with non-expiring points — might be more appealing to casual travelers. Additionally, several of these top programs also offer co-branded credit cards that might unlock extra perks and earning opportunities. For more on WalletHub’s findings, you can check out their full 2022 hotel rewards report.

Leave a Reply

The "Email" field is empty, you must enter some text to proceed.The text you entered in the "Email" field appears to be invalid, please edit it and try again
Get the Latest News Delivered to Your Inbox

A Guide to Building Credit and Increasing Your Credit Scores

When it comes to credit, there’s some good news. The average credit score in the United States has been steadily rising in recent years, coming in at 715 in 2023. That may be because, today, consumers not only have more ways to access their credit reports and scores than ever before but also because there are an increasing number of options that Americans have for building credit in the first...

2024 SoFi Checking and Savings Review

Ever since I started taking an interest in the FinTech sector, one company whose name I’ve seen pop up over and over again is SoFi. Lately it seems as though that theme has been sent into overdrive as the company has not only become a household name thanks to its stadium naming rights deal but also because of the company’s continued product expansions. The most interesting development in my mind...
Chase Freedom Flex card

Chase Reveals Q2 2024 Freedom 5%(+) Bonus Categories

Chase has announced its bonus category picks for the second quarter of 2024 — including some interesting twists. About the categories: As April approaches, Chase has revealed what categories Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders can earn bonuses on. From April 1st through June 30th, customers can earn 5% (or more) in three categories: Amazon.com, Hotels, and Restaurants. Similar to how Chase embraced a "New Year, New Me" theme last quarter,...

FedEx Announces Winners of 11th Annual 2023 Small Business Grant Contest

Nearly three months after the entry period ended, FedEx has announced the winners of its 11th annual Small Business Grant Content. This year's event saw more than $300,000 in funds going to a variety of small businesses across the nation. Last month, the company revealed 100 finalists, with that list now being narrowed down to just 10 winners. This year's grand prize winners included KindVR, The Cupcake Collection, Up In...
H-E-B and Central Market  credit cards

Imprint Launches Credit Cards from H-E-B and Central Market 

The FinTech Imprint is partnering with the popular Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B for a pair of new rewards credit cards. This week saw the launch of the H-E-B Visa Signature Credit Card as well as the Central Market Visa Signature Credit Card. With these two (nearly identical) options, customers will be able to earn rewards on groceries and beyond. First, both versions of the card earn up to 5% back on select...