Choice Privileges - Fall 2012 Promotion: "Take two trips, earn one free night" Arr: 8/30 - 11/14/12

Received the email today:

Register now at ChoiceHotels.com to earn unlimited free nights

Book at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE and after your second qualifying stay with arrival between August 30 and November 14, 2012 you'll receive enough Choice Privileges® points to redeem for a FREE night at over 1,500 hotels

Elite Diamond and Elite Platinum members can book through ChoiceHotels.com, 800.4CHOICE, direct at a hotel, or a travel management company, however if booked through ChoiceHotels.com, these members will receive 100 additional Choice Privileges points with every qualifying stay

Stays at Econo Lodge®, Rodeway Inn®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel®, or MainStay Suites® hotels must be a minimum of two consecutive nights

T & C:

Free night is based on an 8,000 point Choice Privileges® reward night level. Member must register at ChoiceHotels.com before arrival and book their stays at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE at qualifying rates. Members may also book at a travel management company. Choice Privileges member number must be provided upon check-in. After a second qualifying stay with arrival between 8/30/12 and 11/14/12, you will be awarded a minimum of 5,000 and maximum of 8,000 points, depending on how many points were earned from your two (2) separate qualified stays. These bonus points will allow redemption for a free night at the 8,000 reward night level at over 1,500 hotels. A free night at most Choice Privileges locations requires more than 8,000 points. Choice Privileges Diamond and Platinum members who book through ChoiceHotels.com will receive an additional 100 Choice Privileges bonus points with every qualified stay during the promotional period. For Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, Cambria Suites® or Ascend Hotel Collection™ hotels, a trip is defined as a stay that is any number of consecutive nights at one hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs. For Econo Lodge®, Rodeway Inn®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel®, or MainStay Suites® hotels, a trip is defined as a stay that is two (2) or more consecutive nights at one hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs. Allow 72 hours from check-out for points to post. You must maintain an address in the U.S. (including U.S. territories) or Canada to be eligible for this promotion. For Choice Privileges program details, eligible rates, eligible countries and point redemption rules, visit choiceprivileges.com.

Uncapped. Sweet. And I'm including the full t&c because it looks like there are a couple of bits that are new this round.


[I have no connection with ChoiceHotels.]

And shall we make it three in a row? In the "Take Two Separate Trips, Earn One Night Free" promotion beginning August 30, stay at a Choice property in two separate trips through November 14, and get. . .wait, wait, wait--8000 points, ENOUGH FOR A FREE NIGHT AT 1500 PROPERTIES WORLDWIDE!

Actually, I'm pretty happy that they keep repeating this promotion--third straight, by the way, for a variation of stay twice, earn one free night--but I think my football analogy is now pretty accurate: same play, called with a bit of misdirection just before the snap so that it makes you think something else is coming.

I could not get a nonpersonalized registration link to post, but registration is live apparently.

Yaay, they finally got rid of the confusing (to many) "any booking channel" verbage and actually spelled out the specific ways that elites can book! ^

And they actually spelled out the 5,000 point minimum ahead of time (previuoosy we only knew that from followup individual questions to Choice).

And the "online booking bonus" for elites is new too.

... Members may also book at a travel management company. ...

Any member.

Let the ???s begin re what's a "travel management company".

And they actually spelled out the 5,000 point minimum ahead of time (previuoosy we only knew that from followup individual questions to Choice).The 5000 point minimum may be old hat, but I remember you and I and probably others calculating that, if we stayed at a place that was expensive enough, we got nothing. The result was that the incentive was to stay at the cheapest places possible.

Maybe they figured that out.

As it stands now, no matter where you stay or how much you pay, you get at least 5000 points. So, it's not as good as the 3X/16K they ran a couple of years ago, but still not too shabby.

Not as lucrative, but more broadly applicable (or exploitable, so to speak?).

They finally cleared up the T&Cs with not just the 5,000 point minimum (great to hear BTW), but also spelling out which channels diamonds and plats can book through. Also nice to see the 100 point bonus for booking at choicehotels.com for diamonds and plats. Not a lot, but it's a small incentive to book there rather than through the hotel directly.

Any member.

Let the ???s begin re what's a "travel management company".
First, I'm not sure if it's really any member. The announcement and the T&Cs seem to disagree on that.

Second, if you don't know what a "travel management company" is, you aren't using one. :)

(It's a thing used in corporate circles. It's not something avialable to individuals AFAIK.)

Interesting. I'm Diamond. I've neither received an e-mail for this promotion nor do I see any link on the website.

First, I'm not sure if it's really any member. The announcement and the T&Cs seem to disagree on that.

Second, if you don't know what a "travel management company" is, you aren't using one. :)

(It's a thing used in corporate circles. It's not something avialable to individuals AFAIK.)

Not Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity? An old fashion travel agent?

Not Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity? An old fashion travel agent?
Something like that. It's corporate travel agents. Not sure if an indie travel agent would count or not (but who uses those any more?). Some companies contract with a corporate travel agent and require all their employees to book through them.

Of course, then there's smaller companies like mine who have an executive assistant book everything using Expedia. Yuck. That rules out people earning points (let alone bonujses) or getting status on company stays in many programs. (They probably do this because the company gets to keep the Expedia points?)

http://ecrmctom.choicehotels.com/emessageRMSOnly/servlet/RMS?v=2&i=35636&t=000042704 appears to get you to the registration page.

Anyone have any experience with splitting up a longer stay between two people? For example, say we had a 4 night stay coming up at a hotel, and I booked Thur/Sat nights, and the Miss booked Fri/Sun. Would we both get the bonus? Would the hotel be inclined to prevent that from happening?

I've done this with a stay at a Radisson before and they had no problem, but these would be my first stays at a Choice hotel.

A 2 night stay wouldn't be enough to have the bonus...
You should split your stay in 4 stays (Mr / Mrs / Mr / Mrs) but not sure the hotel would let you do that... one split maybe but 3...

If you both have CP accounts, I don't see how the hotel can prevent you from doing this and both getting the bonus.

A 2 night stay wouldn't be enough to have the bonus...
You should split your stay in 4 stays (Mr / Mrs / Mr / Mrs) but not sure the hotel would let you do that... one split maybe but 3...

This is exactly what we were planning on doing. I'm hoping I can explain to the front desk what we're doing so they'll just let us keep the same room. Moving luggage would be a pain.

Anyone have any experience with splitting up a longer stay between two people? For example, say we had a 4 night stay coming up at a hotel, and I booked Thur/Sat nights, and the Miss booked Fri/Sun. Would we both get the bonus? Would the hotel be inclined to prevent that from happening?
To be safe: Do not let the hotel front desk know that you're together!

You check out Friday morning, without the Miss with you, and have the Miss check in Friday afternoon (not asking for the same room!!!, ie making no mention of you!!!), without you with her, etc, etc.

You don't want to give the hotel any chance to combine your folios, which they are likely to do if you (a) make it clear you're together, or (b) request keeping the same room (which is impossible without (a), right?).

But given that this is just as much of a pain as hotel hopping (you have to completely check out of the first room and then check back in "afresh" to whatever room they give the other person, and keep your bags somewhere else in between the check out in the morning and the check in in the afternoon), that why not just hotel hop? There isn't another Comfort/Quality/Sleep/Clarion near by that you could hop between? Then there'd be absolultely zero chance that the hotel could make it invalid.

This is exactly what we were planning on doing. I'm hoping I can explain to the front desk what we're doing so they'll just let us keep the same room. Moving luggage would be a pain.

No, no, no!!!

Expliaining to them what you're doing is what's likely to not make it work. You have to move luggage to ensure that it will work.

Again, it's only very likely to work if the hotel doesn't realize that you're together! But that's means you've got to work at hiding it, and that includes making one check-out seem totally independent of the next check-in, which therefore requires moving out, storing in the luggage somewhere (like in your car), and then moving back in later.

I've done this with a stay at a Radisson before and they had no problem, but these would be my first stays at a Choice hotel.

Just because you got it to work once at a Radission doesn't mean it would work every time at every Radisson. It's possible to find exceptions and mistakes occasionally anywhere. It's not possible to rely on exceptions and mistakes, however, at a hotel you don't have experience with.

The overall policy at most hotels is to merge such reservations once they realize "you're together". The lack of surch merging is dependent on an exception or mistake (if you make it "clear" to the hotel that you're together").

http://ecrmctom.choicehotels.com/emessageRMSOnly/servlet/RMS?v=2&i=35636&t=000042704 appears to get you to the registration page.

Thanks for the link. To date, I still haven't received any emails about this, and I haven't been back on the website (other than the direct link above) to see what shows up there.

If you both have CP accounts, I don't see how the hotel can prevent you from doing this and both getting the bonus.
Easy. Upon seeing the same room being asked for by two spouses, many hotels will "merge" the stays into one. Maybe in front you, but maybe later.

Hotel staff don't think about points promotions. They think about what they think is "convenient" to you. And they think that if staying in the same room is convenient, then getting just one bill is convenient!!!

They cannot merge the folios if you check out and then check in, which is what I suggested.

But given that this is just as much of a pain as hotel hopping (you have to completely check out of the first room and then check back in "afresh" to whatever room they give the other person, and keep your bags somewhere else in between the check out in the morning and the check in in the afternoon), that why not just hotel hop? There isn't another Comfort/Quality/Sleep/Clarion near by that you could hop between? Then there'd be absolultely zero chance that the hotel could make it invalid.

Again, it's only very likely to work if the hotel doesn't realize that you're together! But that's means you've got to work at hiding it, and that includes making one check-out seem totally independent of the next check-in, which therefore requires moving out, storing in the luggage somewhere (like in your car), and then moving back in later.

Just because you got it to work once at a Radission doesn't mean it would work every time at every Radisson. It's possible to find exceptions and mistakes occasionally anywhere. It's not possible to rely on exceptions and mistakes, however, at a hotel you don't have experience with.

The overall policy at most hotels is to merge such reservations once they realize "you're together". The lack of surch merging is dependent on an exception or mistake (if you make it "clear" to the hotel that you're together").

That's a lot of work. I don't know if it's worth it for 16,000 Choice Hotel points. The thing is, we don't have a car, so the only option is to store the bags there. My main concern is enjoying Boston, and I don't think the fiance is going to be too keen if I turn it into a chore.

I don't see why they would try to merge the folio if I told them that I specifically didn't want them to. I thought the customer was always right? :D

That's a lot of work. I don't know if it's worth it for 16,000 Choice Hotel points. The thing is, we don't have a car, so the only option is to store the bags there. My main concern is enjoying Boston, and I don't think the fiance is going to be too keen if I turn it into a chore.

I don't see why they would try to merge the folio if I told them that I specifically didn't want them to. I thought the customer was always right? :D

You do understand that a "customer-focused" business is generally focused on making the maximum profit for the business.

Absolutely with sdsearch on the correct approach. And if you're ever interested in a European redemption at 8K points per night (look at Dublin, Ireland from now through early January, for instance), you'll appreciate the 16K points you'll earn. If your folios get merged, your four days will turn in to one stay--earning nothing other than the normal points credited for each night, until you complete a second stay when you'll qualify for the 8K bonus.

If you don't want to be bothered to play the game, that's fine, but understand that if you want to be sure you earn all 16K points (again, truly equivalent to 2 nights in some hotels in Europe at certain times--so minimally $200), you'd better play by the rules most strictly interpreted in Choice's, not your favor.

You do understand that a "customer-focused" business is generally focused on making the maximum profit for the business.

Absolutely with sdsearch on the correct approach. And if you're ever interested in a European redemption at 8K points per night (look at Dublin, Ireland from now through early January, for instance), you'll appreciate the 16K points you'll earn. If your folios get merged, your four days will turn in to one stay--earning nothing other than the normal points credited for each night, until you complete a second stay when you'll qualify for the 8K bonus.

If you don't want to be bothered to play the game, that's fine, but understand that if you want to be sure you earn all 16K points (again, truly equivalent to 2 nights in some hotels in Europe at certain times--so minimally $200), you'd better play by the rules most strictly interpreted in Choice's, not your favor.

It's not that I don't want to be bothered to play the game, it's that I don't want the game to become more hassle than it's worth. I don't want the focus of a 4 day trip to Boston to become "where do we stash our luggage? Oh, and pretend you don't know me."

The thing is, I don't have a car for this trip, and you can be sure I'm not going to lug my bags around with me all day while I'm playing tourist. So what would my option be? I guess I could ask them to store my bags, but what's my excuse for checking out and then coming back to pick them up and then staying again even though I supposedly don't have a room? You don't think they'll consider that to be strange?

It just seems like to me the most plausible and least hassle way to do it is to say, "listen, we booked rooms separately because we need to pay on separate cards 4 times or something of that nature (I do have plenty of gift cards I could unload in reality)". I don't see why there isn't a good chance they'll oblige, especially cause the place we are staying at is brand new, and I doubt they want to get a bad rap.

But I dunno. I've only done this once before, and the guy at the Radisson didn't even blink. As long as you are nice to people, people tend to want to avoid confrontation, especially when they are working at a front desk (and not the accountant).

Maybe I should look for other options (maybe switching to a Marriott for two nights to get their 2 for 1 promo).

It's not that I don't want to be bothered to play the game, it's that I don't want the game to become more hassle than it's worth. I don't want the focus of a 4 day trip to Boston to become "where do we stash our luggage? Oh, and pretend you don't know me."

...


It just seems like to me the most plausible and least hassle way to do it is to say, "listen, we booked rooms separately because we need to pay on separate cards 4 times or something of that nature (I do have plenty of gift cards I could unload in reality)". I don't see why there isn't a good chance they'll oblige, especially cause the place we are staying at is brand new, and I doubt they want to get a bad rap.).Give it a shot.

Your situation is a little different from most of us when we're playing the game in that you have no place to put the d..n suitcases!

You know going in it's a bit of a crap shoot (i.e., you might not get the bonus), but I think your approach has at least a chance of working.

Let us know how it all turns out.

And good luck, :)

It's not that I don't want to be bothered to play the game, it's that I don't want the game to become more hassle than it's worth. I don't want the focus of a 4 day trip to Boston to become "where do we stash our luggage? Oh, and pretend you don't know me."

The thing is, I don't have a car for this trip, and you can be sure I'm not going to lug my bags around with me all day while I'm playing tourist. So what would my option be? I guess I could ask them to store my bags, but what's my excuse for checking out and then coming back to pick them up and then staying again even though I supposedly don't have a room? You don't think they'll consider that to be strange?

It just seems like to me the most plausible and least hassle way to do it is to say, "listen, we booked rooms separately because we need to pay on separate cards 4 times or something of that nature (I do have plenty of gift cards I could unload in reality)". I don't see why there isn't a good chance they'll oblige, especially cause the place we are staying at is brand new, and I doubt they want to get a bad rap.

But I dunno. I've only done this once before, and the guy at the Radisson didn't even blink. As long as you are nice to people, people tend to want to avoid confrontation, especially when they are working at a front desk (and not the accountant).

Maybe I should look for other options (maybe switching to a Marriott for two nights to get their 2 for 1 promo).

That might make more sense. I'm not advocating ruining a vacation to pick up 16K Choice points. There are times where the hassle is not worth the effort expended. If I'm traveling with somebody, I generally don't "hotel hop" unless my travel companion is fully on board with this type of game. And, on a recent solo trip to Orlando, I gave up on the idea of doing a series of single-day Avis auto rentals that would have earned me 3000 AA miles per day rather than 5000 miles for the entire period I rented. Yes, over four days, I would have come out 7000 miles ahead, but the need to get the car back to the airport each 24 hours simply interfered with my real reasons for being in Orlando.

However, if you're going to try to earn points in some program during a trip, I feel it's better to take an approach that 100% guarantees you success rather than try to follow an approach based on an experience with an entirely different hotel (much less chain) that might or might not be repeatable here.

It's not that I don't want to be bothered to play the game, it's that I don't want the game to become more hassle than it's worth. I don't want the focus of a 4 day trip to Boston to become "where do we stash our luggage? Oh, and pretend you don't know me."

The thing is, I don't have a car for this trip, and you can be sure I'm not going to lug my bags around with me all day while I'm playing tourist. So what would my option be? I guess I could ask them to store my bags, but what's my excuse for checking out and then coming back to pick them up and then staying again even though I supposedly don't have a room? You don't think they'll consider that to be strange?

You haven't got the order right. Here's what you can do:


First night: Person 1 checks in by themselves.

Next morning: Person 1 check out by themselves, ask for bags to be stored for later pick up.

That afternoon: Person 2 checks in by themselves, with no bags with them. (The hotel won't htat unusual, because many people come for the check-in desk without bags and only get the bags from their car or whatever later, after they've already got the key.)

A little while after that: Person 1 picks up the stored bags by themselves. (The people who store the bags don't care what do you with them afterwards, don't even ask why you're storing them. They assuime that you either have a late flight or a late check-in at another hotel or whatever.)

Next morning: Person 2 checks out by themselves, asks for bags to be stored for later pick up.

That afternoon: person 1 checks in by themslves, with no bags with them.

A little while after that: person 2 picks up the stored bags by themselves.

(Repeat for remainder of days.)


... So you see, no car needed. All that's needed is for each paired action (check-in & check-out, bag store & bag pick-up) to be done by the same person, by themselves.


Now, if that's still too much trouble for you, try to get as close a you can to the concept of "don't let the hotel have a chance of merging the folis" as you can. The method above has the greatest chance of success, while just asking the hotel to keep you separate (without ane xplanation) has the worst chance. A slightly better (than worst) chance would be if you come up with a plausible non-points-related reason why the folios need to be kept separate, such as claiming one of you is staying on business for thsoe two nights and getting reimbursed, while the other two nights cannot be reminbured, and so much must be both separate folios and billed to different credit cards. (This is a reason the hotel might understand; wanting to earn more points is a reason the hotel won't understand, and won't like if they do understand. Most people at hotel front desks know nothing about hotel points programs, and don't care to let you maximize them at their expense anyway!)

... So you see, no car needed. All that's needed is for each paired action (check-in & check-out, bag store & bag pick-up) to be done by the same person, by themselves.

Thanks for the suggestion. It turns out that I was able to get LNFs for the two Copley Sq Marriotts for my fiance and I, so I think we are just going to alternate nights at those two Marriotts to each pick up a free night (we're hoping to use them in Thailand or Vietnam in our trip next year) since the price is about the same per night as it is at the enVision and is in a nicer and more convenient area. I'm thinking we might get more value out of the free Marriott nights, plus, we're planning on doing the Marriott GC for Southwest points to get an even bigger rebate while meeting some spend for the companion pass.

Encyclopedic for the guerilla traveler, sdsearch. ^ Too bad that book - The Guerilla Traveler - is already written. (Actually, it's got to be outdated, being ~ 20 years old... @:-))

I opened this thread expecting to read about maximizing the Choice promo -- if you have trips planned to certain parts of the world, and live in certain parts of the US, this promo is borderline mattress-runnable! Yet instead, I find a thread debating the finer points of hotel hopping?!?! :confused:

So, in that light, I give an experience of mine with Hyatt.

Booked night 1 as revenue in my name.
Booked night 2 as points from my wife's account. (no status)
Booked night 3 as revenue in my name.

It was a resort property, so we wanted to stay put and keep the better room (1 BR, rather than a suite). The property had no issue with us doing this. They were fine with it actually -- as they were pretty empty.

Got home to find a total mess of my HGP account. The stays had sort of been merged into one, and the dates didn't even match! As a Diamond, I was able to call and have them split it back up. I simply told them that I only had stays for nights 1 and 3, which was the truth. (My wife's stays were a different story, LOL.) And they cleaned it up, and put it back like it should.

So yes, if you do this, it can cause problems. Depending on your relationship with the loyalty program, you might convince them to fix it for you, or they might tell you to pound sand. For my perspective, it was just getting the extra stay credit for elite qualification, so it wasn't that critical. If it was a FFN involved (like this), I would have thought a little differently about it.

OK, now can we talk about how to maximize this promo? I might have a trip to Norway coming up, and having read sdsearch's posts in other threads, it seems like Choice *IS* the program to use in that part of the world.

OK, now can we talk about how to maximize this promo? I might have a trip to Norway coming up, and having read sdsearch's posts in other threads, it seems like Choice *IS* the program to use in that part of the world.
If that trip to Norway would be in 2012, 2013, or 2014, yes, that sounds like a good plan. But remember, Choice points expire 2 to 2.999 years after they're earned (on Dec 30, not 31, apparently!), so this promo would be no good for a trip to Norway planned for 2015 (or planned for earlier but ending up delayed until 2015).

I point that out because my plans change sometimes (for trips a couple years out), and I end up with points that were gathered up in case I end up going to Scandinavia (or places on 8K/night sales!) a particular year but then if I don't go that year (or everything is on 8K/night so I don't use up many points!, or one or more Choice hotels aren't avialable on the nights I'm there) I have to figure out how to burn the points expiring that year, and earn new ones (for any trips the next couple years).

Is there a limit of one free night offer on this or can it be repeated? I have some plans where the Choice properties are acceptable and some Tokyo nights I'd like to be free.

Is there a limit of one free night offer on this or can it be repeated? I have some plans where the Choice properties are acceptable and some Tokyo nights I'd like to be free.

As the first post in this thread indicates, an uncapped promo.

Can anyone confirm that a stay at a Quality Resort qualifies for this promotion ?

This is probably obvious to Choice regulars. But I am a complete newcomer to the Choice brand and don't want to screw up my bonus.

Thanks very much.

If your reservation can be cancelled after booking, you can simply make a reservation and the confirmation will tell you if it qualifies for points.

Can anyone confirm that a stay at a Quality Resort qualifies for this promotion ?

This is probably obvious to Choice regulars. But I am a complete newcomer to the Choice brand and don't want to screw up my bonus.
If you could please name the specific hotel in question, then we could be more sure of our answer, as it depends in part on where it is.

However, the general answer is:

1. If a paid rate at the hotel earns Choice Privileges points (when booked through the Choice website), it'll show you "this stay is eligible for earning points" as you're making your reservation. If it isn't, it'll show "this stay is not eligible". (You have to be logged in while making the reservation, of course, to see this.)

For example, a Quality hotel in the US should show "is eligible". A Quality hotel in Japan or Norway will show "is not eligible".

2. Once it's established that it earns points, if it's a Quality property, you only need a one-night stay to qualify as a "trip" for this promotion. (Some brands, such as EconoLodge, require a two-night-minimum stay to qualify as a "trip" for this promotion.)

Yaay, they finally got rid of the confusing (to many) "any booking channel" verbage and actually spelled out the specific ways that elites can book! ^

And they actually spelled out the 5,000 point minimum ahead of time (previuoosy we only knew that from followup individual questions to Choice).

And the "online booking bonus" for elites is new too.


On the first view it looks sweet but then I am thinking that 5'000 points equal to a value of 55 $ and if I have to invest two nights at 50 $ each in order to get 55 $ back it doesn't make sense this promotion - unless you need some hotel bookings. But just for a mattress run? - Rather not.

On the first view it looks sweet but then I am thinking that 5'000 points equal to a value of 55 $ and if I have to invest two nights at 50 $ each in order to get 55 $ back it doesn't make sense this promotion - unless you need some hotel bookings. But just for a mattress run? - Rather not.

As with all programs, depends on the value you can get from the earned points. If the properties you're interested in don't give you more than a one cent/point return, then yes, this promo makes no sense for mattress runs.

While I like the fact you can earn Free Nights, I find it a bit unusual that you are awarded between 5,000 and 8,000 points instead of one or the other when you complete two trips. I also have looked at a lot of hotels that I would like to stay at and most of them take 20 to 25,000 points per night, not the measly 8,000 points you can earn.

All this means is your going to have to stay more nights to get more points but still being able to stay say 6 times at different hotels and get 24,000 points is better than what anyone is offering right now.

Still its a bit unusual to not be sure exactly how many points will be put into your account once you complete the two stays. Perhaps some one can explain how you can be sure.

You will receive at least 8,000 points for the 2 stays. The 5,000 point minimum for the second stay is if you stayed at a very expensive hotel for the first stay which gave you more than 3,000 points.

While I like the fact you can earn Free Nights, I find it a bit unusual that you are awarded between 5,000 and 8,000 points instead of one or the other when you complete two trips. I also have looked at a lot of hotels that I would like to stay at and most of them take 20 to 25,000 points per night, not the measly 8,000 points you can earn.

All this means is your going to have to stay more nights to get more points but still being able to stay say 6 times at different hotels and get 24,000 points is better than what anyone is offering right now.

Still its a bit unusual to not be sure exactly how many points will be put into your account once you complete the two stays. Perhaps some one can explain how you can be sure.

I agree with you, that this promo is quite weak in a general context (someone who don't leave North America for example), but could be extremely good in some situations (especially if traveling in Europe during September - November)

I agree with you, that this promo is quite weak in a general context (someone who don't leave North America for example), but could be extremely good in some situations (especially if traveling in Europe during September - November)

If I have a BRG rate, i.e. a free night (where some taxes or a drink from the minibar) will be charged, does this stay count for the promotion?

A ton of continental EUro zone properties are available for 8k points per night. ;)

Redemption stays in this area usually count for elite status credit but it is not normal for redemption stays in this area to be applicable for promotional credit.

Don't have experience with Choice BRG stays and promotional credit, but incidental charges on redemption stays have almost never worked for me in this area.

Interesting posting of points.

Stay 1: 3 night stay with 84.99 rate: was awarded 3,163 points (base plus plat bonus)
Stay 2: 4 night stay with 98.99 rate: was awarded 9,900 points (it looks like I got base plus plat plus 5,000)

Which is exactly what you should have gotten.

This promo awards the equivalent of 8,000 points combined for the second stay with a 5,000 point minimum on the second stay.

Yes....what seems totally dumb about these promos is that the MORE you stay/spend, the FEWER bonus points you.

if you stay single nights, on a low rate, you'll get more free points(closer to 8,000) than if you spend ALOT of money on your stays (minimum of 5,000).

Yes....what seems totally dumb about these promos is that the MORE you stay/spend, the FEWER bonus points you.

if you stay single nights, on a low rate, you'll get more free points(closer to 8,000) than if you spend ALOT of money on your stays (minimum of 5,000).

Actually, it's totally smart from their perspective. They know what the typical behavior of most travelers is (not to hotel hop) and they structure the promos so that they won't "automatically" benefit most travelers for their existing behavior.

And you're forgetting what the promo is being called. It's not a "stay 2 times and get 8000 points promo", officially it's "take 2 trips and earn a free night". You earned a free (8000 point) night, so what's your complaint? :) If your stays would have gotten you a free night anyway (even without a promo), that doesn't change the fact that you got a free night! (And as compensation for the fact that you would have earned a free night anyway, you got some bonus points.)

This is similar to how it works at all other hotel programs when they have stay-based bonuses: The high spenders get nothing more (the same free night certs) as the cheap hotel hoppers.

If you don't like it, stick to spend-based bonuses. They're out there (at some hotel programs, sometimes). But they're not as lucrative for those who can hotel hop, which is why those of willing and able to hotel hop love stay-based bonuses (which makes those who can't or won't hotel hop mad!).

Actually, it's totally smart from their perspective. They know what the typical behavior of most travelers is (not to hotel hop) and they structure the promos so that they won't "automatically" benefit most travelers for their existing behavior.

And you're forgetting what the promo is being called. It's not a "stay 2 times and get 8000 points promo", officially it's "take 2 trips and earn a free night". You earned a free (8000 point) night, so what's your complaint? :) If your stays would have gotten you a free night anyway (even without a promo), that doesn't change the fact that you got a free night! (And as compensation for the fact that you would have earned a free night anyway, you got some bonus points.)

This is similar to how it works at all other hotel programs when they have stay-based bonuses: The high spenders get nothing more (the same free night certs) as the cheap hotel hoppers.

If you don't like it, stick to spend-based bonuses. They're out there (at some hotel programs, sometimes). But they're not as lucrative for those who can hotel hop, which is why those of willing and able to hotel hop love stay-based bonuses (which makes those who can't or won't hotel hop mad!).

Hmmmmm. I'm sticking with "dumb", as I have moved my longer stays to other chains. They're loss.

If I book 2 rooms for one night at Hotel A. this is a non cancelable reservation but counts for points

i need to travel again tomorrow and need 2 rooms at hotel B.

Will I get 16k points overall since its two separate rooms for each stay or will I only get 8000 points?

If I will not get 2 different free night point equivalent is there any other way to do it.

thanks

If I book 2 rooms for one night at Hotel A. this is a non cancelable reservation but counts for points

i need to travel again tomorrow and need 2 rooms at hotel B.

Will I get 16k points overall since its two separate rooms for each stay or will I only get 8000 points?

If I will not get 2 different free night point equivalent is there any other way to do it.

thanks

Not sure if you are supposed to/ will get the bonus for each room.

But, if you have the same person staying in the other room, both nights, then sign them up and put THEIR Choice Privilege number on their room. At least SOMEONE will be getting the full 8,000 points for each room.

Hello all,

This may be a stupid question, but I'm new to this particular chain and forum--

Do 'Clarion Collection' (as opposed to regular Clarion) hotels count towards this promotion? The T&C wasn't specific about it. I'm looking at possibly a couple of stays in Monterey CA at 'collection' hotels this month.

Thanks!

Hello all,

This may be a stupid question, but I'm new to this particular chain and forum--

Do 'Clarion Collection' (as opposed to regular Clarion) hotels count towards this promotion? The T&C wasn't specific about it. I'm looking at possibly a couple of stays in Monterey CA at 'collection' hotels this month.

Thanks!

Yes. That's just to sex-up some Clarions, if not all.

BTW, if you're into hotel hopping, the Clarion and the Comfort next door on Munras are about as good/easy as it gets. When I was doing it a couple of years ago, they shared a breakfast room. And I liked both motels. Didn't see that much difference in quality, with the exception of room size - they're nicely kept - but then the prices didn't differ much at all.

Annnd... To digress, if one wants to stretch out a stay in Monterey, and hotel hop, about the cheapest way is at the Econo and the Rodeway across the street from one another on Fremont. Weeknights they can be had for the $30s in the offseason. Of course, it takes two nights for a "stay" in the promotion, but like I said, if one wants to stretch out a stay in Monterey...

Do the stays before I registered (still within the promotion period) count towards this promotion? any data points?

Thanks.

Member must register at ChoiceHotels.com before arrival

OK, I screwed up.

I had my United FF number in my profile. Although I told the property that I wanted Choice points, they posted it to my UA account. And I guess that means it doesn't count for this promo. Grrr.

Anyway to get this retracted and posted to Choice?

I'm fairly new to Choice, at least from a promotion standpoint.

You can try to call or email them and ask for points, saying you asked for points instead of miles. Once I did that and they gave me the points. Not sure they will, however, and even if they do, not sure it will count for the promo...

As the first post in this thread indicates, an uncapped promo.

I read that first post again and can't seem to find the verbiage that would allude to this promo being uncapped. Could you kindly point it out to me? Many thanks!

On a separate note, does anyone know if Phantom stays are possible and what the best/cheapest properties are in the US for this mattress run?

Cheers.

I read that first post again and can't seem to find the verbiage that would allude to this promo being uncapped. Could you kindly point it out to me? Many thanks!

On a separate note, does anyone know if Phantom stays are possible and what the best/cheapest properties are in the US for this mattress run?

Cheers.
Since it doesn't say that it's capped, the normal assumption would be that it is not. At any rate, I've received it twice so far.

On a separate note, does anyone know if Phantom stays are possible and what the best/cheapest properties are in the US for this mattress run?

. 5. You earn points for up to two rooms per night at the same hotel. Both rooms must be in your name and include your member number. You must stay in one of the rooms and the rooms must be paid in full. You only receive any applicable bonus points on one room. Elite members only earn Elite status on one room per stay.


Sine you must stay in the room to get points, 'phantom stays' will not work for a mattress run.

Sine you must stay in the room to get points, 'phantom stays' will not work for a mattress run.

Whether or not phantom stays will count is one thing. But saying that 'you must stay in the room' is most likely not true.

OK, the hotel cannot prove whether you actually stayed in the room. But the rules require that you do, so obviously you must check in which was the point of the original question.

I have "no showed" and that is what actually is recorded on your CP account stay activity. Zero points earned. Just a nice credit card charge.

OK, the hotel cannot prove whether you actually stayed in the room. But the rules require that you do, so obviously you must check in which was the point of the original question.

Checking in != staying in the room

And that seemed to be YOUR point.

OK, I screwed up.

I had my United FF number in my profile. Although I told the property that I wanted Choice points, they posted it to my UA account. And I guess that means it doesn't count for this promo. Grrr.

Anyway to get this retracted and posted to Choice?

I'm fairly new to Choice, at least from a promotion standpoint.

So it seems that Choice is able to retract the miles from United and post them to Choice as points. Choice has some very impressive customer service. ^^

My opinion of Choice is going up, and my opinion of Wyndham is going down!

I registered but did not book online. Is this likely to present a problem?

Thanks.

I registered but did not book online. Is this likely to present a problem?

Thanks.

Yes, I'm afraid so, in particular if you booked through a third party - outside of ChoiceHotels - or directly with the hotel. You must book either through Choice online or through one of the Choice 800 telephone numbers. Reservations from outside their system never earn anything, and the hotels themselves aren't equipped to create an earning stay.

I registered but did not book online. Is this likely to present a problem?
Did you book through the 1-800-4CHOICE phone number? If so, you're ok.

If not, and assuming you're not in the top two elite levels at Choice, you're out of luck, unless you cancel and rebook either online or through 1-800-4CHOICE.

It's clearly spelled out on the offer page:

http://www.choicehotels.com/earnafreenight



Book at ChoiceHotels.com or 800.4CHOICE and after your second qualifying stay with arrival between August 30 and November 14, 2012 you’ll receive enough Choice Privileges® points to redeem for a FREE night at over 1,500 hotels

Elite Diamond and Elite Platinum members can book through ChoiceHotels.com, 800.4CHOICE, direct at a hotel, or a travel management company, however if booked through ChoiceHotels.com, these members will receive 100 additional Choice Privileges points with every qualifying stay

Thank you, sdsearch. I stand corrected. I forgot that upper elites can book directly at the hotel. Apologies to Suzyrox.

"significant organization rates" are applicable, correct if booked on the website and elect to receive points instead of miles?

also there is no problem "double dipping" by doing this promo and then mailing the rebate form for the $50 gift cards to restaurants in the few markets that promo is being offered is there?

Thanks!

Seems like a good promo for those of us who need hotel stays anyway. Choice is getting me to book there over other chains so it worked for at least one person

Yes. I use SOS rates and receive the bonus.

Can someone please advise me how this is a lucrative promotion? For example, if I want my "FREE NIGHT" stay to be culminating in New York City, where could I stay for two nights that would give me the most bang and the best return for my buck?

Personally I find the "Stay One Night, Get One Night" type promotions to be much more attractive and accessible.

Can someone please advise me how this is a lucrative promotion? For example, if I want my "FREE NIGHT" stay to be culminating in New York City, where could I stay for two nights that would give me the most bang and the best return for my buck?

Personally I find the "Stay One Night, Get One Night" type promotions to be much more attractive and accessible.

Of course, just like stay two, get one is better than stay three, get one. Choice has run a variant of this promotion over the last few promotional periods, so I'm not expecting that they'll decide to get any more generous any time soon.

Keep in mind that the "take two trips, get one night" promotion does not guarantee a free night at any Choice property. You actually receive 8000 Choice points after two separate stays, not nights, at a Choice hotel (the T&Cs for the current promotion explicitly spell out a previous practice that two stays, even if your normal earnings rate at an expensive Choice property would meet or exceed 8000 points, will result in the earnings of an additional 5000 bonus points). Of course, most hotel chain promotions work the same way--I've earned free nights through Marriott that could only be used at category 1 through 4 properties and nights through SPG that could only be used at resorts. The recent Wyndham 16K promotions didn't guarantee a free night at many properties in New York City although it did for one well-located property for my travel needs.

As with the Wyndham promotion, the best earnings rate occurs when you find the cheapest tolerable Choice properties for your bookings. I've earned my 8000 points for as little as two $50/night stays.

Choice says that about 1/4 of their properties may be redeemed at 8000 points. Point redemptions may require as many as 30K points, including properties in bigger cities like New York or popular tourist destinations. There are some worthwhile properties in the US that require only 8K points (I found one this summer as described here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19052941-post135.html)), but keeping in mind that many Choice properties are located on the fringes of many cities, the value of a redemption depends on exactly where you need to be when you travel.

One of the real values of Choice redemptions is based on the amount of foreign travel you do. This rather innocuously-titled thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/choice-privileges/1323710-games-afoot-watson.html) will give you more details so that you can determine whether earning in Choice's program may be worthwhile for your travel patterns. If you find that you like the Choice program for these types of redemptions, an application for one of the more subtly generous hotel credit card offers out there (no fee ever, 40K points (https://www.barclaycardus.com/app/japply/WebAppGate.jsp?obchannel=006&campaignId=1398&clickid=&outboundAdLocation=076&sqGroup=20&prodidreq=CCVVS40444&obcreative=0000000&product.IowaEnable=true&ibchannel=03&partnerid=1615&appcreative=02714&landcreative=000000&referrerid=2MVCP1111&listid=&obadloc=076&landpage=00000&campaignid=0001398&VASPPP=CPDC0013&legacy=true)) might be in order.

I stayed a couple of different times at Grand Hotel Costa Rica (Ascend Collection), and I'm trying to get the points posted so I can use them in Dublin this weekend.
I've emailed Choice Privileges Customer Service twice and get the cut'n'paste reply that it can take 20 days for the hotel to post the miles. So I emailed the hotel and asked for a kind "hurry up". No response.
Are there any tips on how I can hurry the process?

This rather innocuously-titled thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/choice-privileges/1323710-games-afoot-watson.html) ...I've got a degree in innocuousness.

I usually try to make it some sort of reference, but nobody picked up on this one (publicly, anyhow). :)

I've got a degree in innocuousness.

I usually try to make it some sort of reference, but nobody picked up on this one (publicly, anyhow). :)

I'm a big believer in innocuousness. Willing to help, willing to share, but don't want to spill the beans. Because then, I couldn't reload the BB card. ;)

Actually, I very much like this little section of FT since it appears that folks generally will try to help without being as snarky or vitriolic as some other areas of FT that seem both more and less vanilla at the same time.

Without starting a new thread to the effect, I'd just note that we're nearly a week off the end of the last round, and there's usually been a week between rounds in recent times. Choice, over to you...

Without starting a new thread to the effect, I'd just note that we're nearly a week off the end of the last round, and there's usually been a week between rounds in recent times. Choice, over to you...
Did they have a promo in previous years between Thanksgiving and New Years? I don't remember specifically about Choice, but I seem to remember several programs take a pause during that time, starting up again in early or mid January at the earliest.

OK, I can't say for certain. I'm just remembering what I've seen as the most recent pattern. Moreover, it's seems like they've been revving it up recently. Not higher earnings, but more frequent 8,000s almost on the heels of one another.

On the other hand, the deals with Preferred hotels seem to have gone the way of the dodo.

<sigh>