After 2 Devaluations for Choice Privileges Points at Preferred Hotels, Prices Have Improved

Updated: October 9, 2024, 12:12am CDT

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Quick Recap on Using Choice Points at Preferred Hotels
Devaluations of Choice Points at Preferred Hotels in 2024
Decrease in Points Cost in October 2024
Final Thoughts

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Choice Hotels isn’t usually a brand that makes you think of luxury. That’s why people got excited when you could start redeeming your Choice Privileges points at Preferred Hotels — especially when you could start doing this online in early 2024.

However, the number of points needed for these properties jumped twice over the past few months. But now, we’re actually seeing … what’s the opposite of a devaluation? Revaluation? Upvaluation?

Here’s a look at the latest change regarding redemptions of Choice Privileges points at Preferred Hotels.

Quick Recap on Using Choice Points at Preferred Hotels

Choice Privileges is the loyalty program of Choice Hotels. Preferred Hotels is a completely separate, independent collection of luxury properties. It runs its own loyalty program, called iPrefer.

While Preferred Hotels & Resorts has over 650 independent properties in more than 80 countries, only just over 300 of these participate in the partnership with Choice Hotels, letting you use your Choice Privileges points at these properties.

In the past, you had to call to make these bookings, but online bookings became available in early 2024.

Devaluations of Choice Points at Preferred Hotels in 2024

Using Choice points for Preferred Hotels may be the best way to use Choice points, considering the value you can get from these redemptions. Earlier this year, you could redeem just 55,000 points per night at these luxury properties — properties where nightly rates can easily top $500.

In the first half of 2024, the maximum number of points you’d need for a night at Preferred Hotels was 55,000 Choice points. However, that number went up to 87,000 points in June. In September 2024, the maximum price jumped to 118,000 points per night, as first reported by Frequent Miler.

Heading to the partnership page (where you’ll book Preferred Hotels properties with Choice points), you can sort properties by the most expensive rates. At the time of the increase, 4 properties were charging up to 118,000 points per night, and another 8 properties were charging over 100,000 points per night.

Choice points Preferred Hotels sorted by most expensive — Earlier this year: The most expensive properties per night when using points. Image Credit: Preferred Hotels

Just a few months previously, the maximum price was 55,0000 points per night, so that number nearly doubled during the summer.

Decrease in Points Cost in October 2024

It’s not often that we report on award currencies becoming more valuable, so you might want to remember this one. The maximum price on Preferred Hotels has dropped back to 87,000 Choice Privileges points, which is welcome news.

Choice Privileges Preferred Hotels highest award cost 87000 — The new maximum price as of October. Image Credit: Preferred Hotels

Hot Tip:

Unsure whether you should use points or pay cash for your upcoming travel? We break down the math to show you what makes the most sense.

Final Thoughts

As always, it’s worth checking the cash rate of a hotel and the number of points required to see if it’s a good deal. The answer has changed at some of these properties, now that they require fewer points. The Choice and Preferred Hotels partnership is interesting, and we’re happy to see the price return to previous levels. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that the price won’t change again.