Now that we’ve stepped into a new year, it feels like a good moment to look back at how things went on the hotel loyalty front, and to think about what I want to focus on this year. I’ve been meaning to write this review about where I finished the year with the hotel loyalty programs I’m part of.
More specifically, this is about the programs that run on a calendar year. For me, that’s most of the programs, although I am a member of some on other periods.
While that’s not every program I’m enrolled in, it covers the majority of them. So, this will mostly be about those programs.
So, what follows is a review of where I ended the year with the programs, and where I see the next year.
The programs
ALL Accor
- Current: Platinum
- Target: Platinum
ALL Accor was the simplest of them all. I started out the year on Platinum and ended the year on Platinum. Ended up with a total of 61 nights for the year. Mind you, the 30 nights from renewing ALL Accor+ Explorer may have had something to do with that!
As a result of achieving Platinum, ALL Accor issued me with two Suite Night Upgrade (SNU) certificates. At this point, I am not sure when I will be using them.
This year, I am hoping to at least retain Platinum status. It requires 60 nights, and the 30 nights from the paid subscription will help kick that along. There’s an outside chance I’ll get to Diamond, but that is entirely spend based. I’m not really counting on getting there.
GHA Discovery
- Current: Platinum
- Target: Titanium
If I had to select a “Most Improved” program over the last few years, it would have to be GHA Discovery. It is certainly at a point where it provides some decent status recognition.
While I spent the end of 2025 as a Titanium member, for one reason or another I only achieved 2 brands during the year. As such, I am expecting to drop to Platinum any day now. Having said that, my account still says Titanium, and I can’t find any real guidance on when the downgrade will occur. I guess it will happen soon
IHG One Rewards
- Current: Diamond
- Target: Diamond
When IHG Rewards rejigged its program a few years ago, they shifted from showering us with points and cheap redemptions to more status recognition. I have to confess that initially I went a bit cold on the program. However, over the last year or so, I have warmed up to the program again.
I ended the year with Diamond, after having started out the year with Platinum status. That said, I did need a little help to achieve Diamond and purchased some Elite Qualifying Points while they were selling those points.
In addition, I hit the 40-night mark, which allowed me to select a Lounge Access pass for the coming year.
Hilton Honors
- Current: Diamond
- Target: Gold
While I moved up from Gold to Diamond during the year (due to a promotional offer), I am generally happy enough with Gold. At this point, it provides the benefits of value to me. It’s always possible that I could get Diamond, but they may depend on just what promotions come along.
At this point, I would view attaining either Diamond Reserve or Lifetime DIamond as pipedreams. I can’t see me making the $US18,000 hurdle for DIamond Reserve. In addition, Lifetime Diamond is so far away, it doesn’t even figure in my calculations.
Marriott Bonvoy
- Current: Member
- Target: Platinum
This year, I let my Marriott Bonvoy status go. Depending on the promotions that come up during the year (e.g. a double night promotion), I may put some effort into regaining some semblance of status. I’m also at the points where I think a run at lifetime status may be beneficial in the long run.
We’ll see how this pans out over the year.
Others
This is not an exhaustive list, however. Most of the other programs I am a member of have qualification periods that are not based on calendar years. For the most part, they are works in progress for upcoming travel, and some may feature more going forward (you can put Ascott and Shangri-La in this category).
That said, a couple of specific comments can be made on one or two programs.
EVT Stays
EVT Stays is an interesting one. They wrote to me not long ago advising that I would keep my status for the coming year. I am not sure why – I am short of re-qualifying and wasn’t likely to fill the gap. Still, I won’t say no.
Bookings.com
While it is a online travel agent (OTA), I did step up the Genius levels during the year. This was due to travels in areas where other programs didn’t have much coverage. A bump up in level could be useful for some bookings, especially more regional areas.
Final Words
So, there’s a wrap up of calendar 2025. It should have left me in good shape for 2026.
