Best Western this week launched a new functionality that allows Best Western Rewards members to gift a free night award to a close family member.
Best Western Rewards members must issue the award by choosing the appropriate point amount, and the award reservation must be called in (per the information on BW’s website).
You can access Best Western’s page or gifting award here.
READ MORE: Best Western Rewards Rate & Bonus Points Offers
Information Best Western has up on the website about gifting awards:
Give the gift of a free night. Select the point amount needed for the free night and complete the order below. Reservations must be made by calling one of our Global Reservation Centers.
Free night stays may only be gifted to immediate family members (spouse, partner, children, parents, in-laws, siblings).
Once issued, the free night award is not transferable. Guest is financially responsible for any portion of charges exceeding the free night stay.
You can choose the award value from the dropdown menu:
Best Western’s Press Release:
BWHSM HOTELS INVITES REWARDS MEMBERS TO
GIVE THE GIFT OF TRAVEL
Members of the award-winning Best Western Rewards® program are encouraged to gift points to friends and family for milestone trips around the world
With a season filled with celebratory milestones, BWH Hotels’ award-winning loyalty program – Best Western Rewards (BWR®) – is excited to announce its new “Gift of Travel” program. With the Gift of Travel program, BWR loyalty members can provide travel experiences to their loved ones at any BWH Hotels (BWH) property around the globe by gifting rewards points to other BWR members for momentous trips.
These gifts will allow their loved ones to embark on amazing journeys, whether it be a cross-country road trip or a celebratory adventure. BWR members can extend the “Gift of Travel” in one of two ways:
- Gifting a Free Night: BWR members can gift a one-night stay to immediate family members through the “Gift a Free Night” option in their BWR account.
- Redeeming a Best Western Gift Card: BWR members can redeem their points for a Best Western Gift Card and gift that to friends and family. Members can access this option in the redemption section of their BWR account.
“The Gift of Travel program allows globetrotters of all ages to celebrate life’s most cherished moments through travel. By allowing our valued BWR members to use their points – which never expire – towards free nights or gift cards for loved ones, it has never been easier to gift experiences that will undoubtedly last a lifetime,” said Larry Cuculic, President and CEO, BWH. “By choosing one of our hotels around the world for their travels, our loyal guests will enjoy the exceptional hospitality they have come to know and love.”
Conclusion
The press release talks about gifting points, while the page itself awards, and needing to call the reservation in.
I cannot test how this gifting of award night works, but Best Western may issue an award with a specified max point value that you can use by calling the reservations.
Wouldn’t it be just easier to allow point transfers between accounts?
