(EXPIRED) Choice Privileges Elite Members Can Save 25% On Select Gift Cards When Redeeming Points

Choice Hotels has launched a new benefit for elite members of their Privileges program, offering a 25% discount when redeeming points for select gift card brands. While this currently offers poor value for the brands on offer, it might represent a better deal in the future if it stacks with one of their periodic promotions.

The Deal

• Choice Privileges elite members can save 25% when redeeming points on the following gift card brands:
  • Panera Bread
  • Darden
    • Olive Garden
    • LongHorn Steakhouse
    • Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen
    • Yard House
    • Bahama Breeze
    • Seasons 52
  • Cabela’s
  • Bass Pro Shops
• Direct link to offer.

Key Terms

• To qualify for this offer, you must be a US Choice Privileges Reward Program Elite member (i.e., Gold, Platinum or Diamond member).
• This offer applies to the specified gift cards only and your purchase must be completed between 2 AM ET January 28, 2020 and 11:59 PM ET April 7, 2020.

Quick Thoughts

Choice usually charges 16,000 points for $50 gift cards, so these select gift card brands only require 12,000 points with the 25% discount. At 0.42 cents per point, that’s still pretty poor value and so I personally wouldn’t consider redeeming that many points at that rate.

This benefit is potentially worth bearing in mind for the future though. Choice often runs a promotion where you earn 5,000-8,000 bonus points when staying twice within the promotion period. Those promotions sometimes include an additional feature where you can redeem 8,000 points for select $50 gift cards (e.g. here and here). If this new benefit stacks with that type of promotion, you could redeem 6,000 points for a $50 gift card which is much better value as that works out to be 0.83cpp.

The brands on offer might differ depending on what status level you’re at in the Choice Privileges program. The four brands listed above are what’s displayed under ‘Gold Elite Member Discounts’, so Platinum and Diamond members might have a wider selection of brands to choose from.

I’m not sure if these brands will be available until the expiry date of April 7 with a new selection of brands starting after that, or if the brands will be rotated every week or so with this 25% discount completely ending on April 7. I’ll be keeping an eye on this, so I’ll update the post if and when there are any changes.

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