From Hilton: Double Miles or Points Through September

As I've noted elsewhere, this has been the Summer of Free Nights for members of hotel loyalty programs.

There are currently promotions built around free nights (stay twice to earn a free night, for example) available from Best Western, Carlson, Marriott, Omni, and Starwood.

Hilton had its own free-night offer—a rather ungenerous one night after four qualifying stays or 10 nights—which ended on June 30. For their follow-up promotion, they've chosen to break ranks with the free-nighters.

Offer Details

Between July 7 and September 30, Hilton HHonors members can earn double airline miles or HHonors base points for stays at eligible rates at more than 3,600 Hilton family hotels in 81 countries, including Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, Hilton Grand Vacations Club, and Waldorf=Astoria Collection hotels.

Program members must register their choice to earn either miles or points before the first qualifying stay, and that choice will remain in effect for all subsequent stays completed during the promotion period.

Deal or No Deal

Hilton's recent bonus offers have tended toward the lackluster. This promotion, while unspectacular, is at least a decent bonus. Although free nights make good marketing headlines, the option to earn extra points or airline miles gives the offer a welcome added dimension.

In fact, with most other hotels still leveraging their low occupancy rates to offer free nights as incentives, the double-mile aspect of Hilton's offer should make it a real contender for travelers whose priority is accruing airline miles rather than hotel points.

And whichever bonus you choose, Hilton's extensive portfolio of hotels, including brands at all price points, makes it easy to earn it.

Reader Reality Check

Free nights or bonus points—which do you prefer?

Comments

[IK]

On the other hand, let's say you're a Gold member (enjoying a free upgrade + lounge access + free breakfast) and have stayed for $200 a night as you've mentioned - you'll get 2000 base points + 1000 double dip points + 500 Gold bonus = 3500 points. Adding to that 2000 double base promotion points = 5500 points. If you use Internet, then your earnings for one night may even come up to 6000 points.

Now, you can stay one free night at a category 4 hotel with just after 5 paid nights (30,000 pts). To earn a free category 6 stay you'll need to stay 6.5 nights (40,000).

I think double points is a very good deal!

I challenge you to post a better calculation using Hyatt or Starwood.

[Tim Winship]

p - There's a link in the 4th paragraph.

[p]

how about a link. Don't see this on the site.

[donh]

wow only 25 plus stays to a free
night if one figures an average of 2000 points per stay.Maybe a few less stays with the promo (yawn) with category 7 hotels being a 50,000 points for a one night redemption
No thanks Hilton happier with Hyatt Gold Passport and Starwood Preferred Guest.Hilton sealed its fate this year getting greedy so now they are out the lions share of my annual hotel revenue.In this case the grass is highly greener elsewhere as is the perks and larger quantity of free nights
At the end of the day many folks are simply subsidizing these new promotions from the massive devaluation this year of HH points.
Neither points of miles for this poster as I am not staying with Hilton these days thankfully