Hotels.com‘s loyalty program is currently one of the most attractive on the market. You currently get a stamp for every booking of a hotel via the website (or the app). Ten of these stamps can then be redeemed for an award night (based on the average price of the last 10 stays).
This equals a reimbursement of over 9% – and that on almost all hotels worldwide, including chain hotels. This is how the Hotels.com program made it onto the list of hotel bonus programs that we can personally recommend.
That will soon be over. The parent company Expedia has announced for years that the bonus programs of all brands will be merged. Expedia Rewards, eBookers Bonus+ and Hotels.com Rewards will then become One Key. And now there are details about the change. In short: Hotels.com’s digital stamp card is being scrapped and replaced by a completely unattractive cashback system.
Hotels.com Rewards becomes One Key
So far, the information about the change is only available on the English website of Hotels.com. According to the info, Vrbo will also be part of the new loyalty program.
So far, so good. But what really counts is only in the small print:
Here’s what you earn: Members will receive 2% in OneKeyCash for every dollar spent1 on eligible hotels, vacation rentals, activities, packages, car rentals, and cruises and 0.2% in OneKeyCash for every dollar spent on eligible flights. And don’t forget, you earn OneKeyCash on top of any airline loyalty program earnings and credit card rewards.
In the future, there will only be 2% “cashback” for all hotel bookings, as well as for rental cars, etc. Cashback is in quotation marks since OneKeyCash can only be used for flights, hotels, etc. This is a clear step backwards compared to the previous free nights, which were equivalent to approx. 9% (excluding taxes).
There are different status levels from silver to platinum in the bonus program. You will then have the opportunity to collect up to 200% additional cashback (i.e. a maximum of 6%). However, according to the terms and conditions, this only applies to selected accommodations, probably a fraction of the entire hotel portfolio.
Existing Stamps Will Be Converted
If you have already accumulated a few stamps or free nights, you don’t have to worry about that at least. Accounts are automatically switched to One Key or merged.
Each free night is converted into a credit of the same value. For example, if you have a free night worth €100 in your account, you will receive €100 as OneKeyCash. And even fractions of a free night (i.e. individual stamps) are converted into such a credit.
As mentioned, the switch to OneKey should take place sometime in mid-2023. It is unclear what will happen to nights that have already been booked, e.g. for autumn 2023.
Conclusion
Until now, Hotels.com had an attractive bonus program. In the future, there will be hardly any argument in favour of booking via the portal. The regular coupons for Expedia are much more attractive (of which unfortunately many hotels are excluded).
Source: One Mile at a Time