Which Hotel Programs Let You Earn Points For Multiple Rooms?

Different hotel loyalty programs have different policies regarding how many points and elite qualifying nights you can earn if booking multiple rooms. In other words, if you often travel with family and book two rooms, can you receive elite credits and points for each of the rooms?

Earning points for multiple hotel rooms

Which hotel loyalty programs let you earn points for multiple rooms? The rules vary by loyalty program, so in this post I wanted to look at the policies of the major hotel loyalty programs, as they impact earning points and elite qualifying credit for multiple rooms (in the title of each section I’ve added a link to the terms & conditions).

Accor Live Limitless

Accor Live Limitless lets you earn points for up to two rooms, assuming all eligible charges for the rooms are paid for by the member. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room.

Choice Privileges

Choice Privileges lets you earn points for up to four rooms. The rooms must be in the member’s name, and the reservations must include the member number. However, you only receive bonus points (for promotions or other bonuses) for one room, and you only earn elite status points for one room.

Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors lets you earn base points for up to four rooms, assuming all eligible charges for both rooms are paid on one folio. However, you only earn elite qualifying stay and night credits for one room. The distinction that you earn base points for up to four rooms is significant, though, since many people qualify for status with Hilton through spending, which takes into account base points.

IHG One Rewards

IHG One Rewards lets you earn points for up to nine rooms, assuming the member’s IHG loyalty number is recorded on each reservation, or charges from those multiple rooms are put on the bill associated with the member’s reservation. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy lets you earn points for up to three rooms, assuming the member pays for all three rooms. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room. If you’re going for Marriott Ambassador status (which has a spending requirement), the spending from all rooms can count toward that.

Radisson Rewards

Radisson Rewards lets you earn points for up to three rooms booked on the same reservation, assuming the member is the registered guest in one of the rooms. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room.

World of Hyatt

World of Hyatt lets you earn points for up to three rooms, assuming the member pays for all three rooms. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room.

Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards lets you earn points for up to three rooms, assuming the member pays for all three rooms. However, you only earn elite qualifying night credits for one room.

Important things to keep in mind for earning hotel points

A few things to note across programs when it comes to earning points for multiple rooms:

• The member has to be staying in one of the rooms in order to qualify
• This generally works most seamlessly if all rooms are booked in the name of the primary guest who will be earning points, and then the people actually staying in the additional rooms can be added as additional guests on those reservations
• While not necessary with all programs, I always ask that all charges be put on a single folio, because I find the stay posts correct most consistently when that happens (make sure you use a credit card that maximizes your hotel spending)
• Only “eligible” stays qualify, the definition of which varies by program (this often excludes third party bookings)
• The stays have to be at the same hotel (in other words, you can’t generally earn points for stays at different hotels on the same night); note in some cases people have been able to get elite nights to post for different locations on the same night with a good explanation (for example, you took a redeye to Europe and wanted to book a room there the night before so you’d be able to check in when you land)

Receiving elite benefits for multiple hotel rooms

Technically with all programs you only receive elite benefits for one room, referring to the room being occupied by the elite member.

The one exception is with World of Hyatt’s Milestone Rewards program, where you can earn Guest of Honor awards. Guest of Honor awards can be used to provide Globalist benefits to friends and family, with each award being valid for a single stay of up to seven nights.

These can be applied on either points redemptions or cash stays, and you don’t have to be staying with the person you’re using it for (though you can). As you can tell, there’s lots of flexibility here.

Aside from that, it very much comes down to the individual hotel. On paper, hotels don’t need to honor elite benefits for multiple rooms, though in practice they sometimes choose to:

• I’ve sometimes had Hyatt honor elite benefits on two rooms that I booked, even if the second room wasn’t booked with a Guest of Honor award
• I’ve had Marriott upgrade multiple rooms, even beyond the room of the primary member

The way I approach it, expect not to get elite benefits for multiple rooms (except when using Hyatt’s Guest of Honor award), though don’t be surprised if you do.

This is also why I usually try to have a strategy for getting elite-perks for multiple rooms, since many benefits (be it breakfast or lounge access) are really only fun or useful if they can be shared with others traveling with you. Just to give some examples:

• It’s really easy to earn Hilton Honors Diamond or Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status with credit cards, so there’s something to be said for doubling up on status when traveling as a group
• There are lots of programs available through travel agents that offer elite-like perks, like free breakfast, a room upgrade, a hotel credit, and more, so booking through those can make a lot of sense — among others these include Accor STEP, Hilton Impresario, Hyatt Privé, and Marriott STARS

Bottom line

Back in the day I loved Starwood Preferred Guest because you could earn elite nights for up to three rooms, though sadly that’s not the case anymore, as the previous Marriott Rewards policy was maintained for the Marriott Bonvoy program. Unfortunately no major hotel loyalty program lets you earn elite night credits for multiple rooms anymore. However, you can earn points for multiple rooms, which is often a good opportunity.

At this point I think World of Hyatt is the most differentiated program when it comes to booking multiple rooms thanks to Guest of Honor awards, but even that doesn’t offer elite qualifying nights for multiple rooms. Rather it’s just a way to get elite benefits for multiple rooms, though that’s handy as well.

What has your experience been with earning points and receiving elite benefits for multiple rooms? Do the various policies impact which hotel chain you stay at?