Most hotel rewards programs earn points in a handful of familiar ways. The exact rates and rules are set by each company and change from time to time, so what follows describes general patterns, not any particular program. Always confirm the current rules on the program’s own pages.
The most common formula: points per dollar
The usual approach is to award a fixed number of points for each dollar of eligible spend. Suppose a hypothetical program awards 10 points per eligible dollar. A two-night stay at $180 per night has $360 of room charges, so it would earn 3,600 points (360 × 10). If the hotel also charged $40 for in-room dining that counts as eligible, that adds 400 points, for a total of 4,000.
Some programs vary the rate by the level of the member. A higher-status guest may get a percentage bonus on top of the base, so the same stay earns more points. Others use a flat amount per night or per stay, which can be generous on lower-priced rooms and less so on expensive ones.
What typically counts
Eligible spend commonly includes:
- The room rate, usually before taxes and fees.
- Some on-property charges, such as restaurant, bar and spa purchases billed to the room, depending on the program.
- Certain packages, if the room portion is shown separately.
Whether a specific charge counts is a matter for the terms. If a stay includes several bundled elements, ask how the points are calculated.
What often does not count
This is where surprises tend to occur. Common exclusions include:
- Taxes and mandatory fees, such as resort fees and parking, in many programs.
- Third-party bookings. Rooms booked through some outside channels may earn fewer points, or none, because the hotel treats them differently. This is one reason people compare direct versus third-party booking carefully.
- Deeply discounted or special rates. Some promotional or wholesale rates are excluded.
- Award nights. A stay paid for with points typically earns no points on the redeemed portion, though a few programs credit status progress.
- Incidentals and third-party purchases, like items from an outside vendor operating in the hotel lobby.
- Group and event blocks, which may follow different rules.
None of this is universal. The same rate type might earn points in one program and not in another.
Other ways points are generated
Staying is not the only way:
- Welcome bonuses and promotions. Companies run time-limited offers, such as extra points for a set number of stays or for a particular type of booking. These often require you to register in advance, which is easy to forget.
- Co-branded credit cards. Spending on a card may earn points in a program. Whether that is worthwhile depends on fees, interest and your own habits, and it is covered in the discussion of hotel credit cards.
- Partner earning. Some programs let you earn on car rentals, dining or shopping through partners, usually at lower rates.
- Surveys, purchases of points and other small extras, which tend to give limited value.
Why the same trip can earn different amounts
Because several variables interact, it is normal for two stays that look alike to credit differently. Rate type, booking channel, member level, promotions and the way charges are split on the bill can all change the result. When a payment is made by a third party, such as an employer, points still typically go to the guest whose number is on the reservation, but company travel policies may complicate this.
Making sure you actually get credit
The most common loss is simple: forgetting to link the stay to your account. A few habits help.
- Add your membership number when booking, and again at check-in if you are asked.
- Check your confirmation to see that the number appears. Keeping your booking confirmation helps if you must claim later.
- Review the folio at checkout, so you know which charges were billed to the room and which might earn points.
- Look at your account a week or two after the stay. Posting can take a short while.
- Claim a missing stay promptly. Programs often have a window for retroactive claims, and you will usually need your confirmation and folio.
Keep earning in proportion
It is worth remembering that points are a rebate on spending, and the value of that rebate is usually small compared with the price of the room. A higher-priced room or a worse location chosen to earn a few extra points is rarely a good trade. Comparing the total stay price across options, and then treating points as a tiebreaker, is a more dependable approach. And keep an eye on account activity, since balances can lapse with inactivity under points expiration rules.
Quick reference
- Points are usually tied to eligible room spend, often at a fixed rate per dollar.
- Taxes, certain fees, award nights and some booking channels frequently earn nothing.
- Promotions often need registration.
- Add your number early and check your account after the stay.
- Verify details with the provider, since earning rules change.