Wyndham Rewards’ radical 2015 program changes
For context, I think it’s important to briefly talk about the overhaul that Wyndham Rewards made in 2015.
At that point, they completely revamped their loyalty program in a way that almost no other program has before. They decided they’d charge the same number of points for reward nights at all properties, regardless of whether you’re staying at Wyndham’s cheapest or most premium properties.
All properties cost 15,000 points per night. While Wyndham doesn’t have that many “aspirational” properties, this was certainly exciting for those of us who like to redeem at premium properties, though perhaps it alienated a lot of people as well.
Well, Wyndham has basically completely undone that.
Wyndham Rewards program as of April 3, 2019
Wyndham Rewards implemented major program changes that kicked in as of April 3, 2019.
Here’s what you need to know:
Wyndham introduced tiered award pricing
First of all, Wyndham introduced tiered award pricing. From the 2015 overhaul through these changes awards at all hotels priced at 15,000 points per night As of April 3, 2019, they’ll have three tiers of hotels, which will cost 7,500 points, 15,000 points, or 30,000 points per night.
Whether these changes are positive or negative depends entirely on how you’d typically redeem. It’s a massive devaluation if you’re redeeming at Wyndham’s top properties since the cost of stays is going up 100%, while it’s a big improvement for those who just want to redeem at Wyndham’s cheapest properties, where we’re seeing the cost of stays go down by 50%.
View from the Wing indicated that about one-third of properties dropped to 7,500 points per night, most properties will remain 15,000 points per night, and around 200 properties increased to 30,000 points per night.
La Quinta has joined Wyndham Rewards
In early 2018 it was announced that Wyndham was acquiring La Quinta. La Quinta has nearly 1,000 hotels around the world, and Wyndham is already the world’s largest hotel group in terms of the number of hotels (but not in terms of the number of rooms, as that title goes to Marriott).
As of April 3, 2019, La Quinta Returns has been discontinued.
Change to Wyndham Elite Bonuses
In 2016 Wyndham Rewards introduced an elite program. They’ll be making some changes to the benefits soon.
Starting in April 2019, Wyndham Rewards Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members will earn extra points for qualifying stays:
- Gold members will earn 10% more base points
- Platinum members will earn 15% more base points
- Diamond members will earn 20% more base points
This replaced the annual bonuses that members received. Platinum members received an annual bonus of 3,000 points, while Diamond members received an annual bonus of 6,000 points.
Since members earn 10 base points per dollar spent, that makes the breakeven point for Platinum members $2,000 of spend, and for Diamond members $3,000 of spend.
Bottom line
It’s interesting to see Wyndham Rewards alter their program so much after the changes they made several years ago.
At the time they said the new program was being introduced so it was simple and rewarding, and they’re now providing similar reasoning for these new changes. As Wyndham’s SVP of Global Loyalty and Partnerships describes it:
“We know members love the simplicity and generosity of Wyndham Rewards but we also know they want greater flexibility when it comes to where and how they can redeem their points. With these changes, we’re making thousands of hotels available for half the points and what’s more, drastically expanding the ways in which they can earn and redeem those points, making it easier than ever for them to engage with the program.”
Are you happy to see Wyndham introduced tiered award pricing, or sad to see the fixed cost awards go?
We stayed at a 'Wyndham Vacation Resort' in Steamboat Springs in Feb 2019 - four nights, pricey.
When our Rewards points did not show up we got the most bizarre of run-arounds:
The resort basically said "Not our problem", but did give us the 800 number to call 'Wyndham Extra Holidays', who said it was not their problem, so they transferred us to 'Wyndham Rewards', who immediately said that 'Wyndham Resorts' would have...
We stayed at a 'Wyndham Vacation Resort' in Steamboat Springs in Feb 2019 - four nights, pricey.
When our Rewards points did not show up we got the most bizarre of run-arounds:
The resort basically said "Not our problem", but did give us the 800 number to call 'Wyndham Extra Holidays', who said it was not their problem, so they transferred us to 'Wyndham Rewards', who immediately said that 'Wyndham Resorts' would have to handle it. 'Wyndham Resorts' had no options on their phone tree to either get any answers about missing Rewards or talk to a real person.
Of course we had shredded the receipt of our stay after we paid off the credit card, so we don't have that to send in to the 'Wyndham Rewards' website when they ask for us to upload a receipt of our stay.
Luckily, my old La Quinta points were rolled into the Wyndham system, but I'm very frustrated and disappointed. The Wyndham websites are a joke (try updating your profile for an enjoyable experience!), and it is hit or miss if you get an email confirmation after making a reservation depending on the property you reserved at. Unacceptable service.
Just used up my 120,000 points for two 4-night stays in NYC at TRYP and New Yorker in June and September. I cannot imagine these hotels will remain at the 15,000 point value come April. It would have cost just under $4000 to pay for these rooms cash.
I have yet to try to use Wyndham rewards and not run into a reason that I cant. The last 5 times have been a huge hate. It is a farce!!
I certainly disagree Wyndham Worldwide has over 20 brands in 80 countries and is the largest franchise hotel chain in the world they will not risk and customer service fows to damage the best loyalty program in the hospitality industry I stand beh in nd them 100% KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK WYNDHAM
I have a one night 15k stay with LQ property April 28th and have left 7k in my account, in the past I was able to call and use cash and points to book a night.
So I wonder if I can still do that ? if not I would think about canceling my booked night and combine my points. I had in the past both credit cards and cannot apply yet for another.
What is the signature Wyndham reward card going to be. It that card going to be Gold.can we use the 60,000 points we have now.
What about those booking that make prior to the change?
I'm very disappointed in this change and doubt it's based on customer feedback as they say.
I do disagree that Wyndham is mostly garbage properties. I stayed 40 nights+ at days inn and Baymont and other than one days inn abq they were all plenty nice.
I’m really saddened by this devaluation. I just redeemed for a stay in Maui that would’ve been quite pricey if I’d paid cash. The trick was to stay (small towns with few options and/or just check in and out at the local dive) during the “stay twice, earn a free night” promo. It saved me hundreds. I was already planning my next visit. Boo.
I just hope that they will have a discount for ret,disable veterans at
Wyndham as they have had at La Qunita (Military elite)as points are slow to earn and taken from you in
a heartbeat!!
As Microtels, Baymont inns is the bottom for me as the rest i.e Super 8 Days inn and especially any Ramada(plain nasty) is the armpit! of Wyndham.
been all over the country for last 8yrs staying at La Quita(Has turned into a dog kennel that allows humans)and Wyndham properties.
@Vander I've stayed in an occasional Super 8 when options were limited and sometimes I've been really impressed.
But I can still smell the horrid Days Inn in Rutland, VT. I've just decided to avoid Wyndham properties in all but the most desperate situations.
I was sucked into the program through a timeshare presentation, though I’m glad I did not buy any from them.
I stayed 3 times in 2018 and would never do it again.
Properties that they have in New England are terrible and most alkow smoking , house homeless, etc.
They are coming apart, not clean, and overall terrible though they are priced not much lower than much better competitors.
I had enough points for 5 , 15k redemption. glad I redeemed all mine for Charleston SC the Mills and Wyndham Chicago Waterfront for my stays in May 2019.
@Randy, I think that is mostly fair, though here in the Midwest, most AmericInns are fairly nice mid-tier hotels, and are a lot of the time the best option in small towns. This is probably a net negative, as I would imagine most of the hotels dropping to 7500 points are old, dirty, and a place to meet hookers, whereas I am certain the hotels increasing to 30,000 points are the only hotels at Wyndham most of us would want to save up our points to redeem
Wyndham has a few upscale properties and a slew of bottom-of-the-barrel brands, but when I think Wyndham I think of dilapidated, vermin-infested, filthy roadside dumps like Days Inn, Travelodge, Super 8, AmericInn, Ramada, Howard Johnson and Baymont.