Hotels.com all the way.

Most mid-level elite benefits are trivial and do not justify the additional cost of booking through the hotel chain's website (I can't say I'd relish the thought of doing BRG claims for most or even all of my bookings). With my typical annual stay levels (say around 40 nights a year) it just isn't an appealing proposition.

And also, I find that in most larger cities, sales are not uncommon... having the flexibility to pick and choose hotels without regard for affiliation means a lot of savings. Unless you're staying enough nights to get large amounts of points and top tier benefits (upwards of 75 nights a year), I just don't see the point in sticking with one program. I get more bang for the buck by being a free agent through hotels.com.