A hotel credit card works similar to a rewards or cash back card but usually focuses its rewards around hotel partnerships. Often these cards will come with high rewards rates on hotel bookings and include perks like credits for hotel stays.
There are many types of hotel credit cards. One is a co-branded hotel card that works through a partnership between an issuer and a hotel brand. These cards usually include enrollment in the hotel's loyalty program. Another type of hotel credit card is a general travel rewards card that offers hotel-related perks and benefits without being exclusively associated with a single hotel chain. Read on for more details.
Types of hotel cards
Hotel credit cards can be general travel cards, co-branded cards, business cards or personal cards. Some of these cards can fit into more than one category, such as general travel business cards or co-branded personal cards.
When deciding on which type of hotel card you get, consider how much you travel, which brands you love, the card’s rewards rates and the additional perks. Perks could include hotel credits, travel protections or even business perks. Keeping these factors in mind helps narrow down the options to find the perfect card(s) for you.
Co-branded vs general
When it comes to co-branded cards versus general travel cards that offer hotel benefits, the biggest difference is flexibility. With co-branded cards, the credit card is attached to a specific hotel chain, such as Hilton or Marriott. Because of this, you not only get high rewards on stays with the brand, you also get perks like complimentary silver or gold status and room upgrades. However, a downside is that the best perks only apply to one specific hotel brand, while other perks may fall short.
For general travel cards, you can book anywhere with any brand. Some cards even let you earn big on Airbnb stays and flights. They can also come with perks like luggage protection and travel credits. A downside can be that these cards can lean into rewarding flights more than hotel stays and might not be as rewarding for those who tend to stay at the same hotel.
Business vs personal
Personal and business cards differ in accessibility. Personal hotel cards are the most common, available to people who meet the credit score and application requirements. They come with perks that can enhance your vacation stays, including generous welcome offers and perks that you can personalize to your lifestyle.
Though many people can get personal hotel credit cards to use for leisure, not everyone can receive a business hotel credit card. You must have a qualifying business, whether a corporation or small business. If you don’t travel often for work, a business hotel card may not have much value. That being said, if you do find yourself booking hotels for work, these cards often come with better perks than the non-business versions.