Wyndham Rewards tops USA TODAY loyalty ranking for ninth year - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Wyndham Rewards has been voted the No. 1 Hotel Loyalty Program in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the ninth consecutive year. The programme, operated by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, currently has more than 126 million enrolled members worldwide.

The latest recognition follows another first-place ranking from U.S. News & World Report in July. At the same time, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card was named the No. 1 Hotel Credit Card by USA TODAY readers for the eighth consecutive year.

Fixed redemption rates remain a key feature

Wyndham positions simplicity as one of the main characteristics of its loyalty programme. Unlike programmes using dynamic award pricing, Wyndham Rewards applies fixed redemption levels, meaning the number of points required for a free night does not increase according to seasonal or peak demand.

Members currently earn at least 1,000 points for every qualifying stay. Free-night redemptions start at 7,500 points, with Wyndham planning to lower the entry level to 5,000 points per night from September.

The network covers thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals in around 100 countries, ranging from roadside accommodation to upscale, luxury and all-inclusive resorts.

“Great loyalty programs don't just reward travel—they give members a reason to keep coming back,” says Scott Strickland, Chief Commercial Officer at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Our focus has always been on delivering meaningful value, whether a member is checking a bucket-list destination off their list or simply making everyday spending more rewarding.”

Points extend beyond hotel stays

Wyndham has gradually expanded the ways in which members can use their points beyond traditional hotel-night redemptions.

Wyndham Rewards Experiences allows members to bid for experiences including live events and sporting activities. Partnerships include Madison Square Garden and Caesars Rewards.

The Wyndham Travel Bundles service extends earning and redemption opportunities to flights, cruises, rental cars and activities. Wyndham has also introduced Wyndham Rewards Insider, its first travel subscription programme, which includes automatic Gold status, travel discounts and additional opportunities to earn points.

Credit card portfolio expanded

The loyalty programme is complemented by a range of co-branded credit cards issued in partnership with Barclays. The portfolio includes the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card, Earner Plus Card, Earner Business Card and the recently introduced Earner Premier Card.

Wyndham revised the portfolio earlier this year, expanding opportunities to earn points on hotel stays and everyday spending including restaurants, groceries, fuel and electric vehicle charging.

The Earner Card has no annual fee and remains the entry-level product in the range. The new premium Earner Premier Card includes a 25 percent discount on free-night redemptions and benefits that Wyndham values at more than $400 annually. It also includes Wyndham Rewards Insider membership and introduces non-expiring points for cardholders.

Two rankings reinforce programme’s position

The USA TODAY 10Best ranking is based on a public vote following nominations selected by a panel of travel industry experts. U.S. News & World Report uses a different methodology, evaluating factors including membership benefits, network coverage, the ease of earning and redeeming points, property diversity and hotel quality.

For Wyndham, the two first-place results within a matter of weeks provide independent recognition from two different ranking systems at a time when hotel groups are increasingly using loyalty programmes to strengthen direct customer relationships.

“Seeing travelers continue to rank the program #1 is a powerful validation that we're delivering on what our members expect,” Strickland says.

Image Credit: Hodges Bay Resort & SPA © Wyndham Hotels & Resorts