Originally Posted by DHAST
...My hotel stays are like flying three or four times per year. What's in it for me after three, four, or five stays? Not a whole lot. If I'm saving $50 *per night* it adds up...
As BigLar states, you should pay attention to the promotions.
For example, what could four nights a year at Hyatt net you? How about two free nights at Park Hyatt Tokyo, Paris, Milan, London, Maui of Kauai (where it would be difficult to buy the room for under $400.) And this could be earned by spending as little as $250 total revenue for the four "earning" nights .
So you can certainly might save $50/night on HW. But I would rather have the free rooms worth $800, plus the status perks (free breakfast, snacks, drinks and upgrade.) And of course, the extra $50 I might spend to get a Hyatt is not out of my own pocket anyway...