Best Western Launches ‘Pay with Points’ for Best Western Rewards Members
Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ (BWHR) has announced the launch of Pay with Points for Best Western Rewards (BWR) members. Starting today, BWR members can reserve their next hotel stay using accumulated loyalty points to pay for part of their booking, allowing for added flexibility when planning their next hotel stay. By using Pay with Points, BWR members no longer have to wait to reach the free room night threshold.
Prior to rolling out the new benefit, BWHR tested Pay with Points through a beta program featuring select properties across North America. Each of these hotels offered discounted rates to BWR members who had accrued at least 5,000 BWR points, which could be used towards part of their hotel stay. During the beta test, a third of BWR members used a combination of BWR points and cash to book stays of two nights or more, which ultimately boosted the bottom line for participating hotels.
“Pay with Points is designed to help both BWR members and our hoteliers. BWR members can now redeem points to pay for part of their hotel stay and our hotel owners will benefit because BWR members are being introduced to new properties within our portfolio,” said Dorothy Dowling, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for BWHR. “We’re always looking to provide our rewards members with new promotions and benefits, and we’re excited to introduce Pay with Points to Best Western-branded hotels across North America.”
To redeem Pay with Points, a minimum of 5,000 points is required, which translates to a $25 saving on a hotel booking. That’s a value of 0.5 cents per point. BWR members will also earn 10 points for every dollar spent on the paid portion of the Pay with Points reservation.
In 2020, BWHR was the first in the industry to extend Elite status to its BWR members at the start of the pandemic. In 2021, the company cut its Elite Status eligibility qualifications in half to make it easier for travelers to earn loyalty status and further extended loyalty status through March 31, 2023, without needing to fulfill the necessary qualifications.
