Here’s an updated look at hotel tier extensions and reservations waivers due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Covid-19 became a global pandemic that countries are finally getting under control, and hopefully, all travel restrictions and entry bans are lifted in due course.
You can access our page for all airline, hotel, and car rental loyalty status extensions policies here.
Here are the current status extensions & reservation cancellation waivers:
Accor Live Limitless
Accor has a very confusing customer-unfriendly Covid-19 cancellation policy.
Accor Reservation Cancellation Covid-19 Policy Update (June 9, 2020)
Accor decided to extend all ALL members by a year.
Accor Live Limitless Updated Status Extension Policy
Accor Live Limitless Rollover Status / Nights Clarification
Accor has teamed up with AXA to launch ALLSAFE.
Accor is offering ALL members a status boost due to coronavirus pandemic.
Accor Live Limitless Status Boost Euros & Nights For 2020
Accor Live Limitless Status Boost Points & Nights For 2020 Have Posted
Accor Plus members will see their membership and certificates extended.
Accor Plus ALL Status Extension Policy (May 25, 2020)
Accor Live Limitless members in Greater China will get 12 month-long status extension.
Accor Live Limitless Greater China 12-Month Status Extension
Accor is extending paid ibis BUSINESS subscriptions by six months.
Accor Extends Ibis BUSINESS Memberships By 6 Months
Best Western Rewards
Best Western Rewards allows cancellations for reservations through June 30, 2020, and extends member tiers until January 2022.
Best Western Covid-19 Reservation Waiver Policy & Status Extensions Until January 2022
Choice Privileges
Choice Privileges has decided to extend member tiers by a year and offer status fast tracks.
Choice Privileges Tier Extension & Status Fast Track For 2021
Choice waives points expiry through December 31, 2020.
Choice Privileges Waives Points Expiry Until December 31, 2020
Choice Privilege members can cancel without a fee through June 30, 2020.
Choice Hotels Updated Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cancellation Waivers
Hilton Honors
Hilton’s updated coronavirus reservation cancellation policy is valid until August 31, 2020.
Hilton Updates Global Travel Waiver & Refund For Arrivals & Reservations Through August 31, 2020
Hilton Honors has extended member tiers by a year.
Hilton Honors 2019 & 2020 Status Extensions Due To COVID-19 Pandemic
Hilton Honors is extending Weekend Night certs through August 31, 2021.
Hilton Honors Extends Weekend Night Reward Certificates Through August 31, 2021
Hilton has teamed up with Lysol to come up with CleanStay to provide a cleaner hotel stay during Covid-19.
Hilton CleanStay With Lysol Coming In June 2020
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire cardmembers are eligible for enhanced benefits.
Hilton Honors America Express Aspire Limited-Time Enhancements
Hilton and American Express donate up to 1,000,000 rooms for medical professional use in the United States.
Hilton & American Express Donate Up To 1,000,000 Rooms To Medical Professionals
World of Hyatt
Hyatt allows all reservations to be canceled for any arrival date if done on or before July 31, 2020.
Hyatt’s Updated Covid-19 Reservation Policy Through July 31, 2021
World of Hyatt is extending status and all certificates by a year.
World Of Hyatt Global Tier Status & Certificate Extensions
World of Hyatt extends free night awards through December 31, 2021.
World Of Hyatt Free Night Award Extensions Processed Through December 31, 2021
World of Hyatt is offering healthcare heroes 30% to 50% off rates through June 30, 2021.
World Of Hyatt “Healthcare Heroes” 30% To 50% Off Rate Plan For Stays Through June 30, 2021
IHG Rewards Club
IHG has several reservation cancelation policies due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
IHG Global Cancellation Fee Waiver Update (April 6, 2020)
IHG Global Cancellation Fee Waiver Update (April 4, 2020)
IHG has a new Clean Promise-program for enhanced cleanliness.
IHG Rewards Club extends tiers by a year and free nights too.
IHG Rewards Club One Year Member Tier & Free Night Extensions Due to Covid-19
IHG has extended Royal Ambassador and Inner Circle tiers by a year through January 2022.
IHG InterContinental Royal Ambassador & Kimpton Inner Circle Renewals Through January 2022
IHG has lowered elite tier requirements for 2020.
IHG Rewards Club Revised 2020 Elite Qualifying Criteria
IHG is offering Ambassador members an additional three-month extension (total six).
InterContinental Ambassador Additional Extension May 28, 2020
IHG has waived points expiry through December 31, 2020.
IHG Rewards Club Points Expiry Waived Through December 31, 2020
IHG Rewards Club has launched a status extension policy for members whose account address is in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan on or before February 17.
IHG Rewards Club Elite & Ambassador Status Extensions Due To Coronavirus
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott’s updated coronavirus reservation cancellation and refund policies are valid through July 5, 2020.
Marriott Updates COVID-19 Cancellation Policy (June 4, 2020)
Marriott has launched a new cleanliness campaign due to Covid-19.
Marriott New Cleanliness Initiatives Due To Covid-19
Marriott has an enhanced cleaning process (explained here).
Marriott “Commitment To Clean” Update
Marriott Bonvoy extends elite tiers by a year through February 2022.
Marriott Bonvoy Extends Elite Status Levels Through February 2022
Marriott Bonvoy is extending points expiration, suite and free night awards
Marriott Bonvoy Points Expiration, Suite & Free Night Awards Expiration Change
Radisson Rewards
Radisson is only offering modification and credits for reservations canceled through June 30, 2020.
Radisson Hotel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cancellation Policy (March 31, 2020)
Radisson has new cleanliness standards planned with SGS.
Radisson Teams Up With SGS For New Cleanliness Standards
Radisson Rewards is extending elite statuses by a year and points expiry by six months.
Radisson Rewards Points & Elite Status Extensions
Wyndham Rewards
Wyndham’s Covid-19 reservation cancellation policy.
Wyndham Covid-19 Reservation Cancellation Waivers
Wyndham Rewards extends member tiers by 12 months, and points expiry is waived until September 30, 2020.
Wyndham Rewards Elite Tiers Extended 12 Months + Points Expiry Until September 30, 2020
Conclusion
The gold standard for Covid-19 reservation waivers and status extensions is to offer refunds for canceled stays (not credits or funny money) and extend elite tiers and paid memberships by up to a year.
Covid-19 has created havoc when it comes to airlines and hotels due to travel and entry bans, which will be around for a while.
