Choice Privileges is the official loyalty program of Choice Hotels, which has more than 7,400 properties globally. Canadian members can earn points by choosing Choice Hotel brands and booking directly with participating hotels – the more you stay, the better the benefits.
While Canadian users face several drawbacks their American counterparts don't, Choice Privileges still offers plenty of benefits for frequent Choice Hotels guests. There's a valuable range of redemption options available, too, from hotel stays to charitable donations.
The article below explains the ins and outs of this hotel loyalty program, including how to earn points, how to redeem, what the points are worth, and much more.
Key Takeaways
- Choice Privileges Rewards is the Choice Hotel loyalty program and allows you to earn points towards reward nights and more.
- At this time, there are no Choice Privileges credit cards available to Canadians.
- Not all rewards and benefits are available to Canadian members.
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What is Choice Privileges
Choice Privileges is the loyalty program from Choice Hotels, which includes brands such as Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites, Quality Inn, Cambria Hotels, and more.
Members receive exclusive member-only rates, unique partner offers, and earn points that can be redeemed towards stays, airline miles, or gift cards. The program is free to join, and earning points is easy for frequent guests of Choice Hotels properties.
Currently, the Choice Privileges loyalty program is very Americanized. At this time, there are no Choice Privileges travel credit cards for Canadians, and there are fewer perks and redemption benefits available.
Choice Privileges overview
Currency: Choice Points
Redemption options: Hotels and resorts, select airline loyalty programs, experiences, and gift cards. At this time, Canadians cannot redeem their Choice points for cruise credits or transfer them to American Express points.
Pros:
- Free loyalty program
- Points earned at budget stays can still be used at resorts or other higher-end accommodation options
- Convert points to several popular frequent flier program partners, including Aeroplan.
- CAA discounts
- Entertainment savings for attractions, theme parks, sporting events, and concerts
- Military member benefits
Cons:
- Points expire after 18 months of inactivity
- Not as many hotel options as other loyalty programs
- Some benefits of the program are not available to Canadians
- No Choice Rewards credit cards for Canadians (more difficult/fewer options for earning points)
- No Points Plus Cash reservations or personalized weeknight benefits for Canadians
Choice Privileges membership tiers
The Choice Privileges program has four tiers:
- Member
- Gold
- Platinum
- Diamond
All members have access to benefits from day one, but the higher the tier, the more perks and benefits that come with your membership. Here’s what membership benefits include for Canadian members:
| Qualification | Tier | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Enrollment | Member | * Points for hotel stays * Points don’t forfeit * Reward nights |
| Stay 10 nights | Gold | * 10% bonus points * 9 rollover nights (into the next year) * Elite welcome gift * Elite customer hotline * Status match with PENN PLAY Rewards * More perks available at various locations |
| Stay 20 nights | Platinum | * 25% bonus points * 19 rollover nights (into the next year) * Status match with PENN PLAY Rewards |
| Stay 40 nights | Diamond | * 50% bonus points * 39 rollover nights (into the next year) * Status match with PENN PLAY Rewards * More perks available at various locations |
What are Choice Privileges points worth?
Choice Privileges points vary in worth depending on what you choose to redeem them for. They also follow dynamic pricing, meaning there is no set value. Instead, the value changes based on several factors.
As a general rule of thumb, the best value for Choice hotel rewards is to redeem them for free stays – referred to on the Choice Privileges site as "reward nights." However, depending on your interests, your points might be more useful when transferred to airline miles or put towards gift cards.
To calculate the value of your points towards a redemption award, use the following formula:
Cost of reward in $CAD/cost of reward in points x 100 = value in cents per point (CPP).
Here are a couple of examples:
| Redemption option | Example | Value in cents per point (CPP) |
|---|---|---|
| Reward night | The Radisson Blu in downtown Toronto member price is $382 CAD or 35,000 points. | 1.09 CPP |
| Gift card | A $50 Air Canada gift card is valued at 16,000 points. | 0.31 CPP |
As for airline rewards, exchange rates are also dynamic and will depend on the specific airline partner, but here’s an idea of what to expect:
| Exchange rate | Airline partners |
|---|---|
| Starting at 5,000 points for 1,000 partner airline points | * Aer Lingus * Aero Mexico * Aeroplan * Alaska Airlines * Hawaiian Airlines * Avianca Lifemiles * British Airways * Flying Blue * Iberia * LATAM Airlines * Saudia * Turkish Airlines * United |
| Starting at 2,000 points for 800 partner airline points | * Qantas Airline * Velocity |
| Starting at 6,000 points for 1,800 partner airline points | * Southwest |
How to earn Choice Privileges points
Choice Privileges points can only be earned by booking, paying for, and staying at eligible Choice Hotels properties. Unfortunately, there are no Choice Privileges hotel credit cards available to Canadians.
It's also important to note that you'll need to book directly with the hotel to earn points – you can't earn points by booking through a third-party site.
The number of Choice Privileges points earned will depend on your stay. At MainStay Suites and Suburban Extended Stay locations, you'll earn the following:
- 10 points per $1 for stays ranging from one to six nights
- 5 points per $1 for stays ranging from seven to thirty nights
For stays longer than 30 nights, you'll earn fewer than 5 points per $1, but the rate varies by hotel.
Note that points are not earned on taxes and other fees, and WoodSpring Suites properties are not currently participating in the program.
Best credit cards to use for Choice Privileges hotel stays
Canadians may not have access to Choice Privileges credit cards, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t earn some type of points for your stay. These are our picks for the best credit cards to use when booking Choice Hotels to get some bang for your buck:
| Category | Card name | Annual fee | Rewards | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | American Express Cobalt® Card | $191.88 | American Express Membership Rewards | Learn more |
| Best for no FX fee | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card | $150 | Scene+ | Learn more |
| Best for premium perks | TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card | $139 (first year waived) | TD Rewards | Learn more |
How to redeem Choice Privileges points
As mentioned, the Choice Privileges program is very Americanized, and Canadians aren't eligible for the complete list of perks and benefits available when redeeming Choice Privileges points. Luckily, Canadian members can still redeem their Choice Privileges rewards for hotel stays, events and experiences, charitable donations, and more.
Hotel stays
Generally speaking, the best value for your Choice Privileges points is to use them for hotel stays. You can use your points for stays at 7,000+ participating brand hotels, as well as at more than 300 luxurious preferred hotels and resorts worldwide.
Events and experiences
Choice Privileges members can use their points to gain access to exclusive CFL and VIP racing experiences. It's not a typical redemption system, though. Members place bids, auction-style, on the experiences they wish to attend.
Gift cards
Points can be used towards gift cards for a variety of popular restaurants and retailers in Canada, including these and more:
- Air Canada
- Best Buy
- Cineplex
- Amazon.ca
- Indigo
- Starbucks
- The Keg
Charitable donations
For those who want to give back, you can donate your points to select charities. Right now, there are four choices:
- Sleeping Children Around the World
- True Patriot Love
- Kinvia
- The Aga Khan Foundation of Canada
Transferring to another program
Canadians have the option to transfer their Choice Points to several airline partners, though the rates differ depending on the airline partner. Here are a few examples of participating airlines and programs:
- Aeroplan
- Aer Lingus
- British Airways
- Flying Blue
- Quantas
- LATAM Airlines
Is the Choice Privileges program worth it?
The Choice Privileges program is a decent enough program if you tend to book with Choice Hotels' affiliated brands. After all, if you are already staying at these properties, you may as well collect the rewards.
However, since Canadians aren't eligible for several perks and benefits, and there aren't any Choice Privileges credit cards available to help maximize the earn rate, it’s definitely not the best hotel loyalty program on the market for Canadians. You may be better off looking into other programs, such as Marriott Bonvoy or Best Western Rewards.
FAQ
What is the Choice Privileges rewards program?
The Choice Privileges reward program is the loyalty program of Choice Hotels. Members can earn points on their stays, which can then be redeemed for free hotel stays. Other redemption options include gift cards, events, or transferring to other programs.
Can you tell me how to use Choice Rewards in Canada?
Canadians can use their Choice Rewards for free stays at participating hotels, gift cards, or events, like CFL games. Other redemption options include transferring points to partnering airline programs or donating points to participating charitable institutions.
What hotels are in Choice Privilege?
Choice Privilege has over 7,400 properties worldwide. Brands such as Radisson, Ascent Collection Hotels, Park Plaza, Quality Inn, MainStay Suites, EconoLodge, and Park Inn by Radisson are just a few of the hotel brands and chains included.
Does Choice Privileges membership cost money?
No, there's no membership cost for the Choice Privileges program. It's free to join, and you can apply easily online. However, keep in mind that points expire if your account is inactive for 18 months.
Are Choice Privileges credit cards available in Canada?
Unfortunately, there aren't any Choice Privileges credit cards available to Canadians – they're for Americans only. However, Canadian cards like the American Express Cobalt® Card or TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card earn valuable rewards on hotel stays via other loyalty programs.
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