Choice Privileges members have more upscale properties to choose from when redeeming points now that the program has added a fourth award tier to its Preferred Hotels Group awards.

There are now 500 participating Preferred Hotels Group properties available for point redemptions. Awards at Preferred Hotels Group are available for 30,000, 40,000, 50,000 or 60,000 points (from 30,000, 45,000 or 60,000 points). Last year, there were three award tiers and only 300 hotels participating. Preferred Hotels Group includes many independent luxury and upscale hotels and resorts around the world, including Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal in Venice, Italy; Hotel Balzac in Paris, France; Dromoland Castle Hotel in County Clare, Ireland and Grand Hotel Zermatterhof in Zermatt, Switzerland. As Ric Garrido of Loyalty Traveler enthusiastically explains, “This is like being able to munch on 50 hotel donut holes and then eat your free fancy bakery cake too!”