For both business and leisure travelers, the Choice Privileges® rewards program is a simple way to accrue reward nights and additional benefits. Exciting enhancements are set to roll out in early 2026, designed to help members gain rewards more frequently. An increasing number of travelers are recognizing the advantages that Choice Privileges brings to their journeys. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Choice Privileges?
Choice Privileges is the rewarding program of Choice Hotels, which boasts over 7,500 properties across 45 countries. More than 350 of these hotels are situated in Canada, providing a diverse range of offerings from economy to upscale, as well as extended-stay options. Notable brands include Comfort™, Quality®, Radisson®, and the Ascend Hotel Collection®, giving travelers a wealth of choices to cater to their needs.
A standout feature of Choice Hotels is their online best price guarantee. If you find a more favorable price elsewhere, they will match it and even give you a $50 CAD reward card (terms apply).
Enrolling in the program is completely complimentary, and you can do it through the website or the mobile app. The app conveniently allows you to search for hotels, manage reservations, and redeem your Choice Privileges points.
Key Program Features
Members of Choice Privileges can earn up to 10 points for every $1 USD spent on eligible guest room charges during qualifying stays. While points are ideally suited for future stays, they can also be exchanged for gift cards, airline miles, or unique experiences.
Membership offers access to exclusive rates, personalized benefits, and distinctive deals as you accumulate rewards and achieve higher membership levels.
Understanding Membership Tiers
Starting in 2026, there will be five membership tiers, highlighted by the new Titanium tier, which offers the highest level of exclusivity. To reach these statuses, members must accumulate nights as follows:
- Member: Entry tier for all new applicants.
- Gold: Achieved after 5 nights or 10,000 credits.
- Platinum: Earned through 15 nights or 30,000 credits.
- Diamond: Reached after 35 nights or 70,000 credits.
- Titanium (new): Attained after 55 nights or 110,000 credits.
Progressing through the tiers doesn’t take long, and the rewards become quite appealing:
After just five nights, you can enjoy perks such as increased earning potential, early check-in and late check-out, and room upgrades.
Once you achieve Diamond status after 35 nights, complimentary breakfast becomes available for you and a guest, alongside guaranteed room availability.
Reaching Titanium status grants the ability to reserve stays of up to seven nights for just half the points required.
Noteworthy Changes for 2026
For current members, some elements of the program may look new or modified. Here are the updates that will enhance your membership experience:
- Accelerated status advancement: Members will need fewer nights to qualify for room upgrades and benefits like elite welcome gifts and preferred parking.
- Milestone rewards: Members will earn bonuses, including extra points and gift cards for every five qualifying nights.
- Bonus points: After your 2nd and 3rd qualifying stays annually, members will receive 1,000 bonus points.
- No expiry for Elite status points: Elite members will retain their points even if travel frequency decreases.
- Point transfers: Members will have the option to transfer points to friends and family.
What If I’m Already Enrolled?
If you’re already a member, your existing capabilities will be seamlessly retained in the new structure. Any previously earned Elite status will be honored, along with the new enhancements being introduced.
If you’re not yet a member, now is an excellent time to join!
Participating Hotel Brands
Through the Choice Privileges program, members can explore numerous hotels worldwide and hundreds across Canada.
Here are the brands categorized by tier:
- Travel With More:
- Cambria Hotels
- Radisson
- Ascend Collection Hotels
- Radisson BLU
- Radisson Individuals
- RED Radisson
- Park Plaza by Radisson
- Radisson Collection
- Travel and Relax:
- Comfort
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
- Sleep Inn
- Quality Inn
- Clarion
- Clarion Pointe
- Radisson Inn & Suites
- Travel Simply:
- Park Inn by Radisson
- Econo Lodge
- Rodeway Inn
- Travel Longer:
- Everhome Suites
- MainStay Suites
- Suburban Studios
How to Earn Choice Privileges Points
Accumulating Choice Privileges points is straightforward. Members will earn up to points per $1 USD spent at qualified hotels.
At present, there isn’t a Choice Privileges credit card available in Canada, nor any Canadian loyalty programs that allow points transfer to Choice Privileges.
Optimal Ways to Use Choice Privileges Points
When redeeming points, members can apply them toward future hotel stays, gift cards, or transfer them to various airline programs via the Choice Hotels website or app, although the value varies by redemption type.
Redeeming Points for Future Stays
Using points for future stays typically offers the best value. Redemptions start at just 6,000 points, providing access to unique vacations and luxury accommodations at partner brands.
Here are a few examples for reference:
To determine the cost per point (CPP) for any redemption, you can apply the following calculation:
(Cash price X 100) / Points needed = CPP
This means Radisson Blu provides a CPP of .61, while Quality Inn stands at .60, indicating similar redeemable value in this scenario.
Remember that no fixed value exists for your points. This calculation is a useful guideline for assessing point value, especially when comparing different properties. Additionally, factors such as dynamic pricing can influence the CPP, so values may fluctuate.
To examine the same dates in New York:
It’s crucial to mention that when I searched for this data, a promotional price was available, affecting the CPP. Moreover, the rates listed were in USD, unlike the Toronto prices in CAD.
Upon converting to CAD, the night rates become $194 for Cambria and $178 for Mayfair, resulting in CPP values of .41 and .40. While this shows lower redemption value, the cash prices nonetheless remain attractive. Also, Choice is reinstating the famed Radisson Hotels Americas redemption tool that facilitates reward night bookings starting at 6,000 points, reduced from the former minimum of 8,000.
Redeeming for Gift Cards
Another option for utilizing your rewards is through gift card redemption. The Choice Privileges program allows members to obtain gift cards from various retail and restaurant partners across Canada.
As a reference, you can redeem 8,000 points for a $25 gift card, which equates to a CPP of .31. Generally, redeeming for hotel stays may yield better value than for gift cards.
Transferring Points to Airline Miles
If you travel frequently by air, transferring your Choice Privileges points to airline miles could be beneficial. The program collaborates with 15 different airline rewards programs, offering varied value for each partner.
- Aeroplan: 5,000 Choice Privileges points equal 1,000 Aeroplan miles.
- Aer Lingus: 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Avios.
- Aero Mexico: 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Aero Mexico Rewards.
- Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines: 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Atmos Rewards.
- Avianca: 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 LifeMiles.
- British Airways: 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Avios.
- Flying Blue: 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Flying Blue Miles.
- Iberia: 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Avios.
- Saudia: 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 ALFursan miles.
- Turkish Airlines: 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 Smiles & Miles.
- United: 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 MileagePlus miles.
- LATAM: 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 LATAM Pass miles.
- Qantas: 2,000 Choice Privileges points equal 800 Frequent Flyer points.
- Southwest: 6,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,800 Rapid Rewards points.
- Velocity: 2,000 points for 800 frequent flyer points.
Note: By late 2026, members will have options to transfer points to family or friends. Stay tuned for these enhancements.
Conclusion
The Choice Privileges rewards program has introduced some exciting new features. As Canadian travelers are increasingly opting to explore domestically, these enhancements provide outstanding value for both business and leisure trips, enriching each journey with rewards. Not a member yet? Now is the ideal moment to join. Sign up today and start reaping the rewards.