3 Lesser-Known Hotel Programs I’m Eyeing After Hyatt’s Recent Changes

I’ll never forget staying at what I still consider to be my favorite hotel in Bangkok: the glamorous So/Bangkok (formerly the SO Sofitel Bangkok). It had colorful rooms and massive soaking tubs, a gorgeous pool with skyline views, and a breakfast buffet that somehow included ice cream.

At the time, I didn’t realize the hotel was part of a group called Accor, because I was mainly focused on maximizing Starwood points at nearby hotels (RIP!). The stay was totally by chance, but it was incredible. Back then, I didn’t think much about Accor Live Limitless — it felt like a “random” program. But now, I’m paying a lot more attention.

That’s because most major, mainstream loyalty program hotels, such as Hilton and Marriott, continue to devalue points or move toward dynamic pricing. The latest hotel loyalty program casualty? World of Hyatt has revamped its award chart in a way that increasingly feels like dynamic pricing in disguise.

Now that the major brands — Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hilton — are making it harder to find solid points-and-deal options, I’m looking around. I’m not fully jumping ship just yet, but I am chasing the deals — and right now, those are leading me to a few lesser-known (or at least less talked-about) programs: Accor Live Limitless (Accor), I Prefer (Preferred Hotels & Resorts), and Choice Privileges (Choice Hotels).

Here’s why these programs are catching my attention.

1. Accor Live Limitless (ALL)

Accor Live Limitless (ALL) is the loyalty program for the Accor Group, which operates more than 5,000 across 53 brands worldwide. You may recognize brands like Sofitel, Fairmont, Faena, Banyan Tree, Raffles, The Hoxton, Swissotel, Novotel, and Ibis.

Earning and Redeeming Accor Points

One thing I really like about the program’s rewards structure is its simplicity.

For every 2,000 points you redeem, you get €40 (about $47) off your stay, so you can either cover the full amount or simply use fewer points. Even though the best points price is directly tied to the cash price, I still appreciate how easy it is to understand the system as a whole.

For example, when I checked rates at the SO/Bangkok, they were around $800 for 4 nights ($200 per night). This means I would spend around 34,000 Accor points for 4 free nights — less than 9,000 points per night.

You can earn points through hotel stays, transfer partners, airline partners, and even the ALL Collections shopping portal.

Hot Tip:

There are lots of ways to earn Accor Live Limitless Reward points. Our guide can tell you about them.

Transfer Points to Accor

The following points transfer to ALL at these rates:

• Bilt Rewards: 3:2
• Citi ThankYou Points: 2:1
• Capital One miles: 2:1
• Rove: 1.5:1

If I’m being honest, these ratios aren’t thrilling. Chase and Amex, if you’re listening, please add Accor at a 1:1 ratio, at least. That said, transfer bonuses can make a big difference. For example, in February 2026, Bilt’s Rent Day featured a higher ratio transfer to Accor — up to 3:4.5, depending on your Bilt status level and whether you were willing to redeem some Bilt Cash.

Citi has also offered bonuses on points transfers to the brand in the past. You can also transfer some airline currencies to ALL, but make sure to do the math first to see if it’s a good deal.

What To Know About the Accor Program

Accor Live Limitless has 5 elite status levels: classic, silver, gold, platinum, and diamond — all of which offer various rewards, perks, and bonus points earnings on stays. The brand also offers ALL Accor+ subscription cards, where you pay a flat annual fee and get discounts on stays, fast-track to elite status, and other perks.

Your points expire in a year if you don’t have any qualifying earning activity.

Bucket-List Hotel Stays With Accor

I’d love to check out the emblematic Raffles Singapore. It was recently renovated, and its Long Bar is reportedly home to the famed Singapore Sling cocktail. I’m also eyeing the Hoxton Paris, a boutique-style property in a historic Parisian building in the 2nd arrondissement.

2. I Prefer (Preferred Hotels & Resorts)

I Prefer is the Preferred Hotels loyalty program, which includes independent, boutique hotels in 650 destinations across 80 countries. It also features hotels from Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide, as well as sustainability-focused properties from Beyond Green.

Earning and Redeeming I Prefer Points

You can earn points through hotel stays, and redemption pricing is more traditional (each hotel requires a specific number of points), typically ranging from 15,000 to 150,000 points per night.

Start by creating an account, and then search for your destination. The site often pulls up more results if you’re logged in, and make sure to click the points box to see the rates in points.

Transfer Points to I Prefer

This is where things start to get fun. Both Capital One and Citi are transfer partners of Preferred Hotels. But the ratio of each works highly in the consumer’s favor, essentially the opposite of Accor’s transfer rates:

• Capital One miles: 1:2
• Citi ThankYou Points: 1:2

This means that for a 2-night stay at a hotel that costs 15,000 I Prefer points per night (30,000 points in total), you’d only need to transfer 15,000 Capital One miles or 7,500 Citi ThankYou Points to complete the redemption. This is definitely a sweet spot that I plan to take advantage of in the future.

Hot Tip:

If you have Capital One miles to burn, the issuer is offering a 30% transfer bonus to I Prefer through April 1, 2026. It’s still not as great as Citi, but it brings the transfer ratio up to 1:2.6.

What To Know About the I Prefer Program

Your points expire after 2 years if you have no earning or redemption activity. I Prefer has 3 different elite tiers: silver, gold, and titanium — each with its own set of perks and bonus points per stay.

There aren’t any guarantees, but back in September 2025, I emailed I Prefer (at IPreferemail@preferredhotels.com) to request a status match. I sent over my IHG Platinum status and Wyndham Diamond status and was immediately classified as a Titanium member — the highest level of I Prefer elite status.

Bucket List Hotel Stays With I Prefer

There are fewer than 100 Preferred Hotels in the United States, so this program is better suited to those traveling abroad, where you can find many of the best stays. For example, the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is on my list, but I’ll wait until Bad Bunny does his next residency on the island.

I’m also eyeing the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, which features a pool floating directly on Lake Como.

Hot Tip:

Earn 2,500 bonus I Prefer points on stays at the newest addition hotels (22 properties) through June 30, 2026, when you book by March 31. No registration is needed, but make sure you’re logged in to your I Prefer account to book.

3. Choice Privileges

The Choice Privileges program associated with Choice Hotels underwent a major revamp in 2026. Unlike other recent loyalty program overhauls (such as Hyatt’s recent changes with 5 different award categories), Choice’s was mostly positive. It features rewards for every 5-night stay, an easier path to elite status, and the brand-new Titanium Elite tier.

Choice operates more than 7,500 hotels across 22 brands (including Radisson) in 50 countries.

Earning and Redeeming Choice Privileges Points

Though you can get co-branded cards like the Choice Privileges^® Mastercard® and Choice Privileges^® Select Mastercard®, you can also earn Choice points by staying at Choice hotels.

Redemption rates start at 6,000 points per night and can reach more than 75,000 points per night, based on dynamic pricing, which varies by demand.

Transfer Points to Choice Privileges

Transfer from the following banks to Choice (not including 15 airline partners):

• American Express Membership Rewards: 1:1
• Capital One miles: 1:1
• Citi ThankYou Points: 1:1.5 (If you have a non-premium Citi credit card, the transfer ratio is 1:1.05.)
• Wells Fargo Rewards: 1:2

This is one of the more flexible hotel programs when it comes to transfer partners. And, my Citi Strata Elite℠ Card has some of the top transfer ratios for all 3 hotel brands mentioned in this article, as well as the ability to transfer to American Airlines and other partners.

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,200

Annual Fee

$595

APR

20.49% to 28.49% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is a great option for frequent travelers, foodies, and those who are fans of the Citi ThankYou Rewards ecosystem thanks to its combination of bonus categories, perks, and annual credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
• 6x points on airfare through Citi Travel
• 6x points on dining on Citi Nights (Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and 3x points on dining at all other times

Cons

• $595 annual fee
• Boosted dining rewards are limited to 2 nights per week

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening
• 12x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com
• 6x points on air travel booked on cititravel.com
• 6x points at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, and 3x points any other time
• 1.5x points on all other purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Up to $300 annual hotel benefit
• Up to $200 annual Splurge credit
• Up to $200 annual Blacklane credit
• 4 American Airlines Admirals Club passes every calendar year
• Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to partners like American Airlines
• Complimentary Priority Pass membership
• No foreign transaction fees

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% to 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

This is why it’s one of the top cards in my wallet.

What To Know About the Choice Program

Although many of Choice’s brands are economy and midscale, I’m hoping to find ideal redemptions in Europe, especially in Nordic countries, where breakfast is often included.

Choice now has 5 membership levels: member, gold, platinum, diamond, and titanium. Usually, you get the most value from your points by booking higher-end, upscale hotels rather than budget ones. Use your points within 18 months (earn, redeem, or spend on a co-branded card or buy points), or they expire.

Hot Tip:

You can actually book some Preferred Hotels properties using Choice Privileges points.

Bucket-List Hotel Stays With Choice

Right now, I’m eyeing the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort, a 20-acre island paradise, with tropical gardens, a waterfall, and a swimming pool. I’m also intrigued by seeing the northern lights, which Ryan Smith, news managing editor for Upgraded Points, experienced during his stay at the Icehotel in Sweden.

The property is part of the Ascend Collection, and he booked it for just 20,000 Choice points per night when cash rates were $481 per night — an amazing deal.

Final Thoughts

I’m not giving up on the major hotel groups just yet, but I am expanding my list of hotel brands that aren’t necessarily the most common or popular. Programs like Accor, Preferred, and Choice may not always get the same attention as Hyatt, Marriott, or Hilton, but they’re starting to offer compelling value in their own ways.

And because I’m focusing on accruing flexible rewards, I can follow deals, such as consumer-friendly transfer ratios, transfer bonuses, and other promotions to find affordable points stays at Accor, Preferred, and Choice hotels, among others.