Leading hotel brands and boutique establishments are now providing guests with the chance to earn points from stays, dining, wellness services, and even everyday purchases, turning loyalty programmes into valuable tools for financially savvy travellers.
Global chains deliver flexible, points-based rewards
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, according to Rahool Macarius, Market Managing Director, Eurasia, operates the acclaimed Wyndham Rewards, which has over 122 million members globally.
“Members can accumulate points from hotel stays, redeem them for complimentary nights, and access exclusive rates, bonus promotions, and opportunities to use points for travel experiences and gift cards,” Macarius elaborated.
Indian travellers enjoy the programme’s global flexibility, collecting points in India and redeeming them around the world.
Wyndham also features annual events like “Member Month,” which provides bonus points, discounts, and surprise rewards, enabling travellers to boost their earnings.
Likewise, Marriott International runs Marriott Bonvoy, one of the largest loyalty platforms worldwide, boasting over 271 million members, notes Khushnooma Kapadia, Vice President – Marketing, South Asia.
“Members can earn points during stays across more than 30 brands and redeem them for free nights, room upgrades, curated experiences, and lifestyle rewards through Marriott Bonvoy Moments,” she stated.
For Indian consumers, points can also be earned through everyday spending via co-branded credit cards and partnerships with Flipkart and Swiggy, facilitating reward accumulation without frequent travel.
To further embody the concept of effortless loyalty, Marriott Bonvoy has recently partnered with renowned Sri Lankan family tea brand Dilmah to introduce Loyal-Tea by Marriott Bonvoy, a limited-edition tea blend exclusive to India. This special blend will be available at a public pop-up in Mumbai on 21–22 March, where members can also have a chance to win 10 lakh Marriott Bonvoy points.
Real-time rewards and tech-enhanced programmes
Boutique and domestic chains are elevating loyalty with instant, tech-driven rewards.
Arjun Baljee, Founder of ICONIQA and President of Royal Orchid Hotels, describes how Regenta Rewards allows members to earn points in real time for stays, dining, and in-room services. Points can be redeemed immediately during booking or checkout, or applied to curated shopping vouchers.
“Signing up is easy with mobile OTP, and benefits commence with the first transaction,” Baljee explains.
Plans for co-branded credit cards and partner collaborations will broaden earning opportunities beyond hotel stays.
Similarly, THE Park Hotels operates THE Park Preferred (TPP), a points-based programme with no joining fee.
Yazad Marfatia, Corporate Director & Head of Sales & Marketing, mentions, “1-point equals INR 1, and members can utilize points for stays, dining, and wellness experiences with full flexibility and no blackout dates. Earning and redeeming points can be done digitally in three simple steps: login, book, pay.”
Loyalty beyond points: Experiences and personalisation
Some boutique luxury hotels prioritize experiential loyalty over point accumulation.
Vaibhav Gupta, General Manager of The Astor Goa, states that their strategy revolves around creating unforgettable experiences, including extended breakfast hours, complimentary minibar restocks, chef’s table experiences, and artisanal café offerings.
“True loyalty stems from guests feeling genuinely valued and eager to return,” he shares.
In the meantime, Dhruv Verma, Founder & CEO of Thriwe, emphasizes that integrated loyalty ecosystems are transforming engagement by intertwining travel, dining, and local experiences. “Data-driven insights and lifestyle intelligence empower hotels to provide rewards that feel timely and relevant, evolving past mere points to meaningful, curated experiences,” he adds.
Maximizing traveller benefits
To optimize hotel loyalty programmes:
- Book directly through the hotel website or app to earn the most points and access member-exclusive rates.
- Utilize co-branded credit cards or partner platforms like Flipkart and Swiggy to speed up point accumulation.
- Be mindful of special promotions or seasonal bonus campaigns.
- Redeem points strategically, whether for free nights, room upgrades, or experiences, to maximize value.
- Explore experiential programmes at boutique hotels, where loyalty is fostered through personalized services and memorable stays.
