Using the successes of its bigger rivals as a spring-board, Red Lion Hotels has launched a totally redesigned version of http://www.redlion.com.

Among the site’s tools and functions are reference rates that give a guest an idea of costs even if the guest does not know travel dates, the ability to compare Red Lion’s rates against rates on other travel sites, online access to a live reservation agent, and online redemption of the company’s proprietary “Only4Me Web Deals.”

Red Lion is offering members of its GuestAwards program 7,500 bonus points for the first reservation they make on the site until Sept. 30 for arrival dates through Dec. 30. Free stays at Red Lion properties begin at 10,000 points.

Members of GuestAwards can now redeem their points for free nights online, with instant confirmations of their awards and automatic account updates performed at the time of booking. The site also allows GuestAwards redemption stays to be canceled online with the points automatically being re-deposited in members’ accounts.