With industries like airlines to chain restaurants now selling subscriptions to their regular customers, hotels have become the latest to enter this space with membership programs in which one can pay a monthly or annual fee to get access to anything from late check out and automatic upgrades to set prices for booked nights.
At the start of October, French hotel giant Accor launched the ALL Accor+ subscription card in which one can pay €215 a year for a 15% discount on bookings and two complimentary nights alongside other perks like additional discounts and accelerated points collection during that time period.
The Disney Plus subscription offers discounted stays at certain resort properties while Dutch hotel chain CitizenM has had a similar membership program since 2022. Amid rising sign-ups, the price will be raised from $125 to $175 a year for U.S. customers later this year.
Wyndham to launch Insider subscription program for $95 a year
The latest hotel giant to launch a paid membership program is Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Expanding the regular loyalty program known as Wyndham Rewards, the New Jersey-based giant between 9,200 hotels globally has announced the Wyndham Rewards Insider for those who want to shell out $95 a year for additional perks.
These include 10% off standard rates at Wyndham properties around the world, an automatic boost to the Gold loyalty status that would otherwise be reached after five nights at a qualifying property and discounts of between 5% and 10% on flights, vacation packages, cars, tours and concert and other activity tickets booked through the chain’s various travel and transportation partnerships.
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Those who sign up before the end of 2025 will receive 14 months with status lasting until the end of 2026 unlike a year from when one signed up as will be the case for those who sign up next year and a 7,500-point bonus that can be used to book additional stays.
expedia.com
Wyndham says “historically such benefits were reserved only for the travel elite”
“The world of travel rewards is changing,” Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Chief Commercial Officer Scott Strickland said in a statement. “[…] Historically, such benefits were reserved only for the travel elite, off-limits to those without high-fee, premium credit cards. Wyndham Rewards Insider flips that script, putting the power back in the hands of everyday travelers — all for less than the cost of a night out.”
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- US government issues sudden warning on Switzerland travel
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As such hotel subscriptions become more common and increasingly start to get adopted by bigger chains, several industry analysts have weighed in on whether they are worth it or will become yet another subscription that one signs up for and forgets about until the charge reappears on one’s credit card.
In general, hotel subscriptions can still be useful to travelers who do not spend enough to accrue status since they can translate into an immediate discount or free night through the sign-up points bonus but will only be maximized for those who travel regularly and consistently stay with the same brand. Without the sign-up bonus, the discount offered immediately at sign-up will usually not be enough to make up for the annual fee.
Related: All-inclusive hotels are once again having a moment (thanks to Gen Z)
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