4 reasons you need a credit card with your favorite hotel loyalty program

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Many consumers only want to have a few credit cards. But even if you don’t want a wallet full of travel cards, it’s likely worth getting and keeping a cobranded hotel credit card. I get far more value from my hotel …

Jun 16, 2025 - 15:54

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Many consumers only want to have a few credit cards. But even if you don’t want a wallet full of travel cards, it’s likely worth getting and keeping a cobranded hotel credit card.

I get far more value from my hotel cards than the annual fees I pay on these cards. So, here are four reasons you need a credit card with your favorite hotel loyalty program.

The annual fee is often worth it

There are no-annual-fee hotel credit cards, but it’s usually worth getting the annual-fee version, as these cards offer more perks and sometimes even a free night certificate each year.

In most cases, it’s relatively easy to get more value from the free night certificate than the annual fee you pay to keep the card. For example, the World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees) has a $95 annual fee but provides a free night at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year after your cardmember anniversary.

If you redeem your free night at a Category 4 Hyatt hotel, you should easily get more than $95 in value from this perk.

hotel payment — HISPANOLISTIC/GETTY IMAGES

Meanwhile, some cards offer enough bonus points on each account anniversary to justify the annual fee. For example, the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card has a $95 annual fee, but cardholders get 15,000 bonus points each anniversary year.

TPG’s June 2025 valuations peg 15,000 Wyndham Rewards points at $165, more than the card’s annual fee.

The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Enjoy extra perks and bonus earnings

Each hotel credit card is different, but most offer bonus earnings at hotels within their program. For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio.

A man checking into a hotel — ANCHIY/GETTY IMAGES

Most hotel credit cards also offer other program-related perks.

Take the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees) as an example. It offers automatic Platinum Elite status and access to IHG’s great fourth reward night benefit. The latter is an extremely valuable perk that lets you pay zero points for every fourth night when you redeem IHG points for award stays of four nights or longer.

Snag a valuable welcome offer

Several hotel credit cards currently have limited-time offers that are higher or different from usual. Here’s a look at some of these offers:

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn five free nights after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (each free night is valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 60,000 points; offer ends July 23). According to TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $1,500.
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (offer ends July 23). According to our valuations, this welcome offer is worth $600.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn five free night awards after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within three months of account opening (each free night award is valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 50,000 points). According to TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $1,750.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 60,000 bonus points and one free night award after spending $2,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months from account opening (the free night award is valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 50,000 points). According to our valuations, this welcome offer is worth $770.

These offers let you earn points or free nights quickly, which can be useful if you’re running low on your favorite hotel points.

Maintain elite status with less effort

Some credit cards help you earn status or offer complimentary hotel elite status. Even if you don’t stay in hotels frequently, having elite status when you do stay can be useful.

For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card gives automatic top-tier Diamond status with Hilton.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Young woman on vacation relaxing on bed after arriving to her hotel room — VIKTOR CVETKOVIC/GETTY IMAGES

But some cards also help you obtain higher tiers of hotel elite status. For instance, Marriott credit cards offer elite night credits every calendar year that can help you earn higher tiers of Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Meanwhile, the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® (see rates and fees) provides 10 elite night credits toward Choice Privileges elite status each calendar year, while the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® (see rates and fees) offers 20 elite night credits toward elite status each calendar year.

Bottom line

If you have a favorite hotel brand or program, you should consider getting one of their cobranded credit cards. In many cases, the annual free night certificate or bonus points will more than justify paying your hotel card’s annual fee. Plus, most hotel credit cards provide bonus earnings and extra perks when staying at the program’s hotels.