Hotel Loyalty Programs

Turn Your Government Travel Into Free Vacations

Every hotel stay is an opportunity to earn free nights, room upgrades, elite status, late checkout, complimentary breakfast, and much more.

Because many of our guests stay for several weeks—or even several months—you may qualify for elite status much faster than you think.

At Per Diem Lodging, we encourage every traveler to join the hotel’s loyalty program before arriving. Membership is free, and you’ll begin earning rewards from your very first stay.

Why Join a Hotel Loyalty Program?

When you join a hotel rewards program, you can earn:

• Free hotel nights
• Complimentary room upgrades
• Late checkout
• Early check-in (when available)
• Bonus reward points
• Complimentary breakfast at many brands, this is typically included when booking at Per Diem Partner hotels, but this is a great perk for personal travel
• Welcome gifts
• Premium Wi-Fi
• Access to executive lounges (at qualifying hotels)

Best of all…

Membership is completely FREE.

Which Hotel Loyalty Program is Best?

There isn’t one program that’s best for everyone.

It depends on:

• Where you travel
• Which hotel brands you prefer
• How often you stay
• Whether you also earn airline miles
• Whether you use a hotel credit card

You can check out a more thorough analysis at The Points Guy website. Below are the major programs we work with.

Marriott Bonvoy

Brands – The Largest Hotel Brand in the World

Over 30 hotel brands including:

• Marriott
• Courtyard
• Residence Inn
• TownePlace Suites
• Sheraton
• Westin
• Renaissance
• JW Marriott
• Ritz-Carlton
• St. Regis
• W Hotels
• Fairfield Inn
• SpringHill Suites

Elite Levels

Platinum Benefits

This is where the program becomes extremely valuable and we can show you how to earn Platinum status in only 16 nights versus 50.

Benefits include:

• Complimentary breakfast at many brands
• Space-available suite upgrades
• Lounge access where available
• 4:00 PM late checkout (most brands)
• 50% bonus points
• Welcome gifts
• Receive a fifth-night-free benefit (you get the lowest price night for zero points) when you book five or more consecutive reward nights
• You can transfer points to over 37 airline partners
• Annual Choice Benefit – this is a reward program that allows elite members to select a special perk, by February 1st the year after gaining elite status. These perks include Free Night Awards, Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUAs), extra Elite Night Credits, or status gifts for friends and family.

Hilton Honors

Elite Levels

Gold Benefits

One of the best values in hotel loyalty.

Benefits often include:

• Room upgrades
• Daily food & beverage credit (U.S.)
• Bonus points
• Fifth night free on reward stays
• Digital Key
• Premium Wi-Fi

Diamond adds executive lounge access where available and additional upgrades.

IHG One Rewards

Brands include:

• Holiday Inn
• Holiday Inn Express
• Staybridge Suites
• Candlewood Suites
• Crowne Plaza
• Hotel Indigo
• Kimpton
• InterContinental

Elite Levels

Milestone Rewards

Starting at 20 qualifying nights and continuing every 10 nights up to 100 nights, members can select (such as bonus points, food & beverage rewards, and Confirmable Suite Upgrades). This allows you to customize your rewards.

Best Western Rewards

One of the few programs where points never expire (provided program rules continue to be met).

Excellent for government travelers in rural areas.

Hotel Loyalty Program Comparison

How to Earn Points Faster

You don’t have to travel constantly to build a large points balance.

Here are some of the best strategies:

Always Book Directly or Through an Eligible Travel Partner

Reservations made through Per Diem Lodging qualify for hotel loyalty points and elite credit in most cases because we book directly with the hotels.

Always Add Your Loyalty Number

Never forget to give us your membership number before your stay.

Download the Hotel App

Many hotels now offer:

• Mobile check-in
• Digital room keys
• Mobile checkout
• Bonus promotions

Register for Promotions

Hotel companies frequently offer:

• Double points
• Triple points
• Extra free nights
• Fast-track elite status

Use the Hotel Credit Card when Appropriate

Many hotel credit cards offer:

• Free annual nights
• Automatic elite status
• Bonus points
• Statement credits

Which Program Should I Choose?

If most of your travel is with Per Diem Lodging, we generally recommend choosing one primary program rather than spreading your stays across multiple brands. Concentrating your nights can help you reach elite status much faster, unlocking benefits like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and late checkout sooner. We can also show you how to take advantage of Status Challenges and Status Matching between

If your assignments vary by location, we can also recommend the loyalty program that best matches your travel patterns.

Let Per Diem Lodging Help

Our team can help you:

• Choose the best hotel loyalty program
• Add your rewards number to every reservation
• Recommend promotions that may accelerate elite status
• Suggest hotels that offer the greatest value for earning points and benefits

Every stay should work toward your next free vacation. Let us help you make the most of every night you spend on the road.

Booking with us is easy:

1. Register On Our Website — 👉 Register Here
2. Tell Us Where You’re Going — Search by location or duty station — 👉 View Hotels by Location
3. Choose a Hotel — or Let Us Recommend One — Select from our Per Diem Lodging approved partner hotels, email us here or call us at (714) 325-8813 and we’ll recommend the best option for you.
4. We Book It Fast — Provide your arrival and departure dates, and we’ll secure your reservation and email your confirmation.