I agree with Best Western Golden Crown Club being the pits. Not so much for the annual expiration but more for the completely useless systems they use. Not once in the dozen or so stays in Australia I credited to my account did the points post automatically - every time I needed to send in copies of the bill, call, email etc and months later the points would post. The last time they just completely failed to post the points even though I sent in copies of the bill twice and called and emailed etc - they stopped replying to the emails.

As a result I avoid Best Western if at all possible. If you have to stay with them in the US get the miles instead and if you are overseas don't hold your breath for the points.

Hilton of course posts with no problem at all... as does Priority Club etc.