Your guide to the Wyndham Rewards program

As the loyalty program of upscale and lifestyle hotels like Wyndham and TRYP by Wyndham, as well as midscale and value chains such as Ramada and Travelodge, Wyndham Rewards is your key to points and perks.

Those perks begin from your very first stay with free WiFi for all entry-level blue members, and with a Gold card – currently yours after just three nights – there's free late check-out, too.

Wherever your travels may take you in 2021 and beyond, here's what you need to know about Wyndham Rewards. 

What is Wyndham Rewards?

As a global hotel loyalty program, Wyndham Rewards members can earn and spend points at over 9,000 hotels worldwide.

These are spread across 80+ countries, with 20 brands participating in the program, as below. 

Which hotels are affiliated with Wyndham Rewards?

Wyndham Rewards encompasses a wide range of accommodation brands ranging from higher-end luxury through to 'value'-based chains and extended stay properties.

At that higher end of the spectrum, Wyndham and Wyndham Grand are of course covered, as are Dolce Hotels and Resorts properties.

TRYP by Wyndham, Esplendor, Dazzler and Trademark are affiliated too, as is Ramada, La Quinta, Wingate by Wyndham, Wyndham Garden, AmericInn, Ramada Encore and Baymont hotels.

Travelodge, Howard Johnson, Super 8, Days Inn, Microtel by Wyndham and Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham round out the program.

Wyndham Rewards membership tiers

Beyond the entry level of Blue, Wyndham Rewards has three elite membership levels.

• Blue membership is that beginner-level tier, given immediately upon joining. Right off the bat, you'll get free WiFi and can earn points with every stay, as well as access to discounted room rates ('The Rewarding Rate'), which may be lower than a hotel's Best Available Rate.
• Gold membership can be yours after just three nights, offering all the benefits of Blue plus late check-out (subject to availability), 10% bonus points earned on every stay, a higher priority for bedding requests (such as for a single king bed, when you've booked a twin room), and more.
• Platinum membership is unlocked after nine nights, combining all the perks of Blue and Gold but with a higher 15% points bonus on hotel stays, plus free early check-in upon request, car rental upgrades with Avis and Budget in the USA and Canada, an elite status match to Caesars Rewards, and more.
• Diamond membership is achieved after 24 nights. Being the program's top tier, you'll enjoy all the rewards of the lower levels (with a higher points bonus of 20%), plus upgrades to hotel suites (subject to availability), a complimentary snack or beverage at check-in, and free Gold membership for a friend or family member.

The figures above for qualification are based on the reduced 2021 levels. Different requirements may be in place from 2022 and beyond.

How do I earn Wyndham Rewards points?

For every qualifying stay at a hotel affiliated with Wyndham Rewards, you're guaranteed to earn at least 1,000 points.

However, there's a good chance you can earn more, with an earn rate of 10 points per US$1 spent covering most bookings.

This means if your hotel folio is equivalent to US$100 or less, you'll earn that 1,000-point minimum. If your bill is US$101 or more, you'll instead earn 10 points per US$1, giving you in excess of 1,000 points.

Alternatively, you can opt to earn points or miles directly into your frequent flyer account in lieu of Wyndham Rewards points.

Wyndham Rewards Blue and Gold members get one mile per US$1 spent on eligible stays with most airline partners, while Platinum and Diamond members get 2 miles per US$1 on the same.

Additionally, Wyndham Rewards points can be earned via online shopping, Avis car rentals, or indeed by purchasing points directly from the program itself.

Read: Here's why you shouldn't buy hotel loyalty points right now

How do I use Wyndham Rewards points?

Wyndham Rewards points can be used in several ways, but the most common path is to spent them on hotel stays.

Wyndham hotel stays using Wyndham Rewards points

The program offers the choice between "Go Free" and "Go Fast" rewards.

Go Free bookings are complimentary stays purchased entirely with points – requiring either 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 points per night, depending on the hotel – while Go Fast reservations are similar to the 'cash plus points' option at other hotel chains.

These Go Fast bookings allow members to spend just 1,500, 3,000 or 6,000 points per night, plus a cash amount on the side as part of the reservation.

This allows members to use their points faster and save money on bookings by cashing in their points, although some travellers may naturally prefer the concept of 'free' stays, via the Go Free path.

Convert Wyndham Rewards points into airline miles, rail points

Although hotel bookings using points generally provide better value in Wyndham Rewards, members can also convert their Wyndham Rewards points into frequent flyer points or miles with a range of airline partners, plus others on the ground.

These transfers take place at a 5:1 rate across all programs, with a minimum conversion amount of 6,000 Wyndham Rewards points per transfer.

This makes 6,000 Wyndham points equal to 1,200 frequent flyer points (or 1,200 points in other ground-based programs).

Conversion partners include:

• Aeromexico Club Premier
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air China PhoenixMiles
• American Airlines AAdvantage
• Avianca LifeMiles
• HNA Group's Fortune Wings Club
• Frontier Airlines' Frontier Miles
• Payback Points
• Turkish Airlines' Miles & Smiles
• United MileagePlus

While Wyndham has no Australian frequent flyer partners, the airlines it does partner with still provide many opportunities for Australian travellers to spend their points.

For example, American Airlines' frequent flyer program enables flight bookings right across the Oneworld alliance, including Qantas domestic flights within Australia.

Virgin Australia flights, on the other hand, can be booked using miles from Fortune Wings Club: the loyalty program of Hainan Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines.

More broadly, flight bookings across Star Alliance are possible from the frequent flyer programs of Air Canada, Air China, Avianca, Turkish Airlines and United, while AeroMexico unlocks reward flights across SkyTeam.

Of course, given the 5:1 conversion rate to these programs from Wyndham Rewards, the best use of these conversions would be to top-up an existing mileage balance, if you're just a small stack of miles short of your desired reward.

Even so, the earning rate of at least 10 points per USD spent to begin with – plus bonus points offered to elite Wyndham Rewards members – could still make this option more rewarding than earning miles directly, as outlined above.

Use Wyndham Rewards points for merchandise, gift cards

Like many loyalty programs, Wyndham Rewards members can also use their points to purchase various items, activities and gift cards.

The number of points needed for each reward option may vary, although again, using points for hotel stays – or failing that, to top-up your frequent flyer account – may be a better option.

Also read: Your guide to the IHG Rewards Club program