Expedia Elite Plus Now Offering Free Hotel Room Upgrades

UPDATE: Sorry, we got too excited. Expedia Elite Plus is NOT the new Expedia loyalty program that will replace ThankYou points. This is an existing VIP program. Thanks to Gleff for pointing this out in comments. We'll update you when the new program is out.

After doing away with ThankYou Points a few months ago, Expedia is now offering its own hotel loyalty program called Expedia Elite Plus that offers members a sweet perk we could get into: free room upgrades.

To live up to the "Elite" in its name, membership is by invitation only; you must complete 15 stays or spend $10,000 through Expedia in a year and you'll automatically get entered into the program.

Aside from the free upgrades, if rooms are available, membership benefits include a "hotel price guarantee." It basically says if you find a cheaper rate than what you booked through Expedia, the company will honor the lower price.

You'll also receive late checkout; early access to sales; priority customer service; and dedicated concierge service for Orlando, Hawaii and Vegas. Plus, hotels will dole out their own individual rewards, like a bottle of bubbly at check-in.

One downside is that not all hotels listed on Expedia qualify. When Expedia launched the program in October, it started with 84 hotels in Florida. But December marks a bigger roll-out of the program, with added hotels in Atlanta; Charleston, S.C.; Denver; Los Angeles; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; San Francisco; San Jose; and Seattle. You can spot member hotels by a "VIP Access" logo on the Expedia listings.

We'll be keeping an eye on Expedia Elite Plus but if you are a member or are trying to be one, keep us updated on how the program is doing? Send us your thoughts!

Comments (3)

Return to » Expedia Elite Plus Now Offering Free Hotel Room Upgrades

I've been an Expedia Elite Plus member for the last 2-3 years. (I was a member of their VIP program before that.)

The hotel benefits at a limited set of properties are a new addition to the program, but then they've also taken away some of the earlier benefits as well (such as membership in the paid Mileage Manager service).

This doesn't replace Thank You Points earning, this is a recognition program not a redemption program.

Was wondering about this because Expedia mentioned they had been testing it out since October. Will update the story. Do you know when the new program will roll out?

Expedia promised the new loyalty program in the new year and their website still says "Coming Soon." We'll be checking on this frequently, starting at 1/1/11 at 12:01am.

HotelChatter

Select a Destination:

Hotel Loyalty Programs / Loyalty Program News / Expedia / Expedia Elite Plus / Hotel News / → All Tags