Wallet Hub has announced the best rewards programs for travelers in 2018 and there is, not surprisingly, some crossover between the best hotel programs for individual travelers and the most rewarding loyalty programs for meetings. Wyndham Rewards came out on top of Wallet Hub’s list, with the highest combined score across 21 key metrics that include redemption options, earning limitations, and blackout dates. Wyndham scored first overall for the value of rewards, with $14.30 in rewards value per $100 spent. According to MeetingsNet’s analysis, planners who participate in the Wyndham Go Meet program will find that Wyndham rewards them with one point for every dollar spent on meetings and there's no minimum spending requirement, while planners can also earn rewards points at participating Caesars Entertainment properties.
Wyndham came in second only to Marriott in geographic coverage in the United States category. But while the Marriott-Starwood rewards program merger earlier this year was detrimental to planner benefits (meetings now earn two points per $1 spent, down from 3 points) combining Marriott, SPG, and Ritz-Carlton created a value of $10.85 per $100 spent, a higher value than each of the three brands alone in 2017.
Click here for an analysis of the best loyalty programs for meetings, and here for Wallet Hub’s best individual traveler programs.
