15 nights is like nothing for me to get..
50 nights is pretty easy..

Im more looking for a longer amount of time on vacation to use points on, rather than just a few very expensive nights..
I would want like 2 weeks in a modest but decent hotel with points, not like 2 nights in some incredibly fancy place..

Im an outdoors type.. I don�t sit around in my rooms.. If anything I sit around outside in the patio areas and be sociable with others..

A hotel is really just a place to shower and sleep to me, it just can�t be in disrepair and dirty..

OP would seem to be a good match for Hyatt Place properties for USA business trips. They're not fancy but do offer free breakfast for all members and allow all elites to pay for early check in or late checkout. The newer (or renovated) ones have nice rooms and outdoor space except in downtown areas (like downtown Des Moines, which is in a historic building, but there's also a West Des Moines property and one in Altoona, a suburb to the southeast of Des Moines).

OP should look for Hyatt Place properties in other business locations and see if they have nice outdoor space, etc. Hyatt might work well for at least some of these locations.

Well, that leaves out Wyndham-filthiest places I've ever stayed, well besides some of the Thai countryside places on hotels.com.

If 50 nights is easy, I'd strongly suggest going for Titanium with Marriott, as that will be enough if done before 4/27 to get there, plus some, on their double-double promo. Also, currently they have a 125k credit card bonus, so you could easily earn enough points for a couple weeks or more in a mid or lower category.

Of course, we travel a little differently, as we like a nice (or great) room, though we do like to spend time outdoors, preferably with a swim-up feature, as we had at the JW Marriott Khao Lak, or next week's beachfront villa with private pool at the Renaissance Koh Samui. As with all things, it depends on what you like.

I would call up Hilton and ask them how many lifetime nights you have. If within striking range of 1,000 Hilton Honors nights (one of the Lifetime Diamond requirements), I would focus on that.

If you will be short of the 10 years Hilton Diamond status, that can easily be obtained through the Hilton Aspire AmEx.

Then switch to Hyatt or Marriott if you are still traveling.

I think it's important to realize that many FlyerTalk members wouldn't even consider staying in a modest hotel on a vacation. And some of those same members would rather stay home than fly coach.

As such, take the advice that you are given with a grain of salt. Or, an entire shaker of salt in some cases.

My advice would be to go to the website of whatever program you're thinking of using and search for rewards redemptions in places you want to go. Look at a variety of dates during the season (winter, summer, etc) when you might travel. Doing that should give you an idea of what modest hotels cost on points.

Marriott may actually be a better backup for you then Hyatt then. With elite bonuses it's pretty easy to get enough points to stay in modest but nice hotels and Marriott's footprint both domestically and internationally is far larger than Hyatt.

Stay home? Never! We'd find a way to fly J for the cost of Y. That's kind of the whole point :-)

Most of the replies are off topic / not addressing the OP�s travel pattens and needs. The OP appears to be making mostly domestic trips, staying in limited service properties and therefore needs a wide domestic footprint. OP also appears to like staying in similar properties on vacation. The obvious choices are Hilton and Marriott. Hyatt doesn�t have the footprint, and Hilton/Marriott have better hotels than IHG in this category. OP, you seem to be doing well with Hilton already. If I were you I would get a Hilton credit card if possible, which will help you earn points faster along with what you earn by staying at Hilton�s already. If you can stay another 30-35 nights, I would also maybe look at the Amex Marriott card. But if your goal is to redeem at hotels in the 20K-30K range (which are probably going to be Hilton Garden Inn like properties, or Courtyard/Fairfield in the Marriott system), you will probably just be better off earning points by staying at Hilton, earning points by putting your personal spend on a Hilton Amex, and using those points for your vacations. The main reason is that the Hilton Amex cards are more rewarding for general spend.

The only real way to know for sure which program and which brand you prefer is to spread your stays out with both. I maximized points with both programs by getting both credit cards. I don't stay in hotels enough anymore to get the top tiers, so I compared my stay habits, the types of properties I like to stay in, and the things I find important (free breakfasts over late check outs).

I am a Hampton/ Hilton Garden type traveler, so I don't really value Diamond room upgrades that much. I do value a free breakfast at Hilton Garden or Hiltons. When I stay at a Courtyard as a Marriott Gold and still have to pay $2.50 for a cup of coffee in the "Bistro", I find much less value in Marriott vs Hilton.

But your experiences, stay patterns, and preferences will be different.

You have the unique ability right now to attain high tier status with both programs, so its a perfect time for you to try both and see which one works for your particular preference. Consider getting branded credit cards for both, you will really start accumulating points and free stays.

I disagree on your assessment of IHG. Current incantation of Holiday Inn Express (really probably last 8+ years) are on par with Hampton Inn and Fairfield Inn. They are ubiquitous and can be found everywhere from small towns, to alongside interstate highways, and even in downtown urban locations. Staybridge Suites (IHG extended stay brand) is similar to but not quite on par with Homewood and Residence Inn. IHG is really a points program with little to no meaningful status for elites. Royal Ambassador status might be an exception but it only applies to upper scale premium properties anyway which is not relevant for the OP. Based on the their preferences IHG might be a good fit and should be considered. They can get IHG platinum status with an IHG credit card which gives you a nice points earning boost. Furthermore, OP would probably hit Spire (top level IHG status) reasonably quickly with their stays patterns.

So distilling it down both Marriott and IHG are good options for the OP to consider as a secondary program with Hilton. I can't comment on Hyatt since I don't have experience with that program. YMMV....

--Jon

Some of the responses are hilarious considering the information given by OP. The guy works for a living and has stated his hotel lifestyle and happy enough with Hilton. I doubt he is going to post 100 times on FT. He has a life to live and is just looking for some sound advice.

I'm no fan of Marriott and know zero about IHG, but my suggestion would be these two programs for hotel comfort and rewards. Marriott, because as long as your redemption goal is equal to where you do your stays, it offers at least good value. IHG because I see HIX as a decent stay and your employer will know you're being reasonable. If you're sticking with Hilton, you have to get a matching credit card.

I have to book my rooms/flights through our corporate booking thing, Traveliance.. They pay for them but I can say the exactl property I want to stay in and when..

I don�t think a credit card is going to work because I can�t swipe it for the rooms, and I already have pretty good cash rewards cards, my favorite being my PNC..

I already have about 70 nights in 2021..
Ive been in a hotel all year this year other than about 2 weeks I wasn�t.. I can bank nights like crazy..
I was in Vegas from December through early March straight.. I should be flying back to Vegas here in a few days/week, very soon..

Im an oilfield/frac hand turned environmental remediation..
Its pretty crazy going from working for the most hated company in the world now to a company known for washing ducks, lol..

IHG doesn�t work because they refuse to give me any points or nights because we get a discounted rate..

Im at a garden inn right now and I am very unimpressed..

Tomorrow night I think I�ll check into a Marriott Fairfield inn and see how that is..

Yeah I�m not a big shot exec... Yet..
I already feel kind of good rolling around in a company truck with a fuel card and a corporate credit card though..

I might post around a bit because next I have to figure out how to work these airlines..
I already have a little start with American Airlines but I don�t know what I�m doing with all that yet..

If you are at HGI Las Vegas Blvd, that is a horrible representation of the chain. If you're in Henderson, that would be considered a good one. With Marriott, you have to watch the parking fees.

All the �execs� and other corporate big wigs are sitting at home... Without travelers like you keeping things going, half of hotels would be bankrupt right now, so good work

It seems like you should explore Marriott to keep your options open. One thing to remember is that Platinum is really when Marriott status starts to mean something, and that requires 50 nights. One way to reduce that requirement is just to *hold* a Marriott credit card. Both Chase and American Express have Marriott cards that give you 15 nights towards elite qualification. These cards also give you a free night every year. So even if you aren�t swiping every time you check in, these cards can help you earn status at Marriott. Chase�s card has a $95 annual fee, American Express is $450, which seems very high. But the Amex fee does come with some benefits, and you get $300 back if you spend it at Marriott hotels. You can just apply for one of these cards and hold them for the benefits while keep spending on your cashback cards.

The useful benefit of hotel credit cards sometimes comes from merely holding them, without using them very much, if at all. For the $95 Chase Marriott Bonv�y Visa, that would be 15 nights credit per year, and an annual free night certificate. For the $450 Hilton Honors Aspire AmEx, that would be one year of Diamond status annually, even if no longer staying there very often � to meet the Lifetime Hilton Diamond status requirement of 1,000 nights and 10 years of Diamond.

To earn Marriott Bonv�y Lifetime Platinum Elite status you will need 600 nights and 10 years of Platinum Elite (50 nights each).