Inside Flyer just published a hotel loyalty program comparison. I just read it myself and I have lots of thoughts and I imagine I will develop analysis of the report over the next week.

The InsideFlyer does a good comparison of the major hotel loyalty programs from a static perspective. The variables were kept to a minimum and elite bonus consideration given.

As all frequent guests know who participate in multiple hotel loyalty programs, the variables make all the difference in the world.

Hilton HHonors looks great at a static level of comparing apples to apples, or hotel base points earned to hotel base points earned, or elite bonus points to elite bonus points between programs.

Without consideration of Hyatt Faster Free Nights, Starwood Cash & Points, 2,000 Priority Club points for every 2 stays, and the frequent promotional opportunities afforded to frequent guests, the comparisons may be precise, but rather limited in real world accuracy when it comes to the frequent guest's earning power in points and free nights over the course of the year.

The promotions are the world of difference in hotel loyalty programs.