What is the story about?
For Indian travellers, hotel loyalty programmes have evolved from simple points-collection schemes to lifestyle-focused reward ecosystems that can save money, enhance stays, and offer unique experiences.
Leading hotel chains and boutique properties are nowoffering ways for guests to earn points on stays, dining, wellness services, and even everyday spending, making loyalty programmes atool for personal finance-savvy travellers.
Global chains offer flexible, points-based rewards
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, according to Rahool Macarius, Market Managing Director, Eurasia, runs the award-winning Wyndham Rewards, which boasts over 122 million members worldwide.
“Members earn points on hotel stays, redeem them for free nights, and enjoy exclusive rates, bonus promotions, and opportunities to use points for travel experiences and gift cards,” Macarius explained.
Indian travellers benefit from the programme’s global flexibility, earning points domestically and redeeming them internationally.
Wyndham also runs annual initiatives like “Member Month,” offering bonus points, discounts, and surprise rewards to help travellers accelerate their earnings.
Similarly, Marriott International operates Marriott Bonvoy, one of the largest loyalty platforms globally with over 271 million members, says Khushnooma Kapadia, Vice President – Marketing, South Asia.
“Members earn points on stays across 30+ brands and can redeem them for free nights, room upgrades, curated experiences, and lifestyle rewards through Marriott Bonvoy Moments,” she said.
For Indian consumers, points can also be earned through everyday spending via co-branded credit cards, and partnerships with Flipkart and Swiggy, making it easier to accumulate rewards even without frequent travel.
To further bring the idea of effortless loyalty to life, Marriott Bonvoy has recently collaborated with renowned Sri Lankan family tea brand Dilmah to launch Loyal-Tea by Marriott Bonvoy, a limited-edition India-exclusive tea blend. This special blend will be available in a public pop-up in Mumbai on 21–22 March, where members can also stand a chance to win 10 lakh Marriott Bonvoy points.
Real-time rewards and tech-driven programmes
Boutique and domestic chains are taking loyalty a step further with instant, tech-driven rewards.
Arjun Baljee, Founder of ICONIQA and President of Royal Orchid Hotels, explains that Regenta Rewards allows members to earn points on stays, dining, and in-room services in real time. Points can be redeemed immediately at booking or checkout, or used for curated shopping vouchers.
“Signing up is seamless via mobile OTP, and benefits start from the very first transaction,” Baljee says.
Plans for co-branded credit cards and partner collaborations will expand earning opportunities beyond hotel stays.
Similarly, THE Park Hotels runs THE Park Preferred (TPP), a points-based programme with no joining fee.
Yazad Marfatia, Corporate Director & Head of Sales & Marketing, notes, “1-point equals INR 1, and points can be used for stays, dining, and wellness experiences with complete flexibility and no blackout dates. Members earn and redeem points digitally in three simple steps: login, book, pay.”
Loyalty beyond ooints: Experiences and personalisation
Some boutique luxury properties focus on experiential loyalty rather than points accumulation.
Vaibhav Gupta, General Manager of The Astor Goa, explains that their approach centres on creating memorable stays, such as extended breakfast hours, complimentary minibar restocks, chef’s table experiences, and artisanal café offerings.
“True loyalty comes from guests feeling genuinely cared for and wanting to return,” he says.
Meanwhile, Dhruv Verma, Founder & CEO of Thriwe, highlights that integrated loyalty ecosystems are redefining engagement by linking travel, dining, and local experiences. “Data-driven insights and lifestyle intelligence allow hotels to deliver rewards that feel timely and relevant, moving beyond points to meaningful, curated experiences,” he adds.
How travellers can maximise benefits
To make the most of hotel loyalty programmes:
Leading hotel chains and boutique properties are nowoffering ways for guests to earn points on stays, dining, wellness services, and even everyday spending, making loyalty programmes atool for personal finance-savvy travellers.
Global chains offer flexible, points-based rewards
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, according to Rahool Macarius, Market Managing Director, Eurasia, runs the award-winning Wyndham Rewards, which boasts over 122 million members worldwide.
“Members earn points on hotel stays, redeem them for free nights, and enjoy exclusive rates, bonus promotions, and opportunities to use points for travel experiences and gift cards,” Macarius explained.
Indian travellers benefit from the programme’s global flexibility, earning points domestically and redeeming them internationally.
Wyndham also runs annual initiatives like “Member Month,” offering bonus points, discounts, and surprise rewards to help travellers accelerate their earnings.
Similarly, Marriott International operates Marriott Bonvoy, one of the largest loyalty platforms globally with over 271 million members, says Khushnooma Kapadia, Vice President – Marketing, South Asia.
“Members earn points on stays across 30+ brands and can redeem them for free nights, room upgrades, curated experiences, and lifestyle rewards through Marriott Bonvoy Moments,” she said.
For Indian consumers, points can also be earned through everyday spending via co-branded credit cards, and partnerships with Flipkart and Swiggy, making it easier to accumulate rewards even without frequent travel.
To further bring the idea of effortless loyalty to life, Marriott Bonvoy has recently collaborated with renowned Sri Lankan family tea brand Dilmah to launch Loyal-Tea by Marriott Bonvoy, a limited-edition India-exclusive tea blend. This special blend will be available in a public pop-up in Mumbai on 21–22 March, where members can also stand a chance to win 10 lakh Marriott Bonvoy points.
Real-time rewards and tech-driven programmes
Boutique and domestic chains are taking loyalty a step further with instant, tech-driven rewards.
Arjun Baljee, Founder of ICONIQA and President of Royal Orchid Hotels, explains that Regenta Rewards allows members to earn points on stays, dining, and in-room services in real time. Points can be redeemed immediately at booking or checkout, or used for curated shopping vouchers.
“Signing up is seamless via mobile OTP, and benefits start from the very first transaction,” Baljee says.
Plans for co-branded credit cards and partner collaborations will expand earning opportunities beyond hotel stays.
Similarly, THE Park Hotels runs THE Park Preferred (TPP), a points-based programme with no joining fee.
Yazad Marfatia, Corporate Director & Head of Sales & Marketing, notes, “1-point equals INR 1, and points can be used for stays, dining, and wellness experiences with complete flexibility and no blackout dates. Members earn and redeem points digitally in three simple steps: login, book, pay.”
Loyalty beyond ooints: Experiences and personalisation
Some boutique luxury properties focus on experiential loyalty rather than points accumulation.
Vaibhav Gupta, General Manager of The Astor Goa, explains that their approach centres on creating memorable stays, such as extended breakfast hours, complimentary minibar restocks, chef’s table experiences, and artisanal café offerings.
“True loyalty comes from guests feeling genuinely cared for and wanting to return,” he says.
Meanwhile, Dhruv Verma, Founder & CEO of Thriwe, highlights that integrated loyalty ecosystems are redefining engagement by linking travel, dining, and local experiences. “Data-driven insights and lifestyle intelligence allow hotels to deliver rewards that feel timely and relevant, moving beyond points to meaningful, curated experiences,” he adds.
How travellers can maximise benefits
To make the most of hotel loyalty programmes:
- Book directly through the hotel website or app to earn maximum points and access member-exclusive rates.
- Use co-branded credit cards or partner platforms like Flipkart and Swiggy to accelerate point accumulation.
- Plan for special promotions or seasonal bonus campaigns.
- Redeem strategically, whether for free nights, room upgrades, or experiences, to extract real value.
- Explore experiential programmes at boutique hotels where loyalty comes from personalised services and memorable stays.
