If you travel frequently or even occasionally, hotel loyalty points can offer significant value — from free nights and room upgrades to exclusive perks like late checkout and lounge access. But many travelers don’t realize that these points don’t last forever. Depending on the loyalty program, your hard-earned hotel points could expire — sometimes sooner than you think.
Understanding hotel loyalty point expiration rules is essential. Without knowing the expiry timeline, travelers often log into their accounts only to discover their balances have vanished. Every major hotel group has different policies — some reset your expiration timer with any activity, while others are stricter. Whether you're a road warrior or a once-a-year vacationer, this post breaks down exactly how long hotel loyalty points last, which actions keep them alive, and what you need to avoid losing them.
We'll cover the major hotel loyalty programs, including Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, and World of Hyatt, along with lesser-known but important brands like Accor Live Limitless, Wyndham Rewards, and Choice Privileges. Each section will provide accurate, up-to-date information based on 2025 policies.
By the end, you’ll know precisely how to protect your hotel points, extend their lifespan, and maximize their value before they disappear. No fluff, just facts — so you never lose out on rewards you’ve rightfully earned.
Expiration Policy: Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity on your account. “Inactivity” means no earning or redeeming points within that period.
To keep your Marriott Bonvoy points active, you need qualifying activity, such as:
Staying at a Marriott property and earning points.
Redeeming points for free nights or upgrades.
Earning points through Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.
Transferring points to a frequent flyer program.
Purchasing points.
Receiving points from promotions or partners (like Uber or Hertz).
Notably, transferring points to another Bonvoy member does not count as activity, but receiving points does count. Also, gifting or donating points won't reset the expiration clock.
Marriott suspended point expirations during the pandemic, but as of 2023, regular expiration rules apply. However, if your account is active through a Bonvoy credit card, the expiration clock can remain reset indefinitely.
If your account goes inactive for over 24 months, all points are forfeited automatically, with no grace period. Once expired, points are usually not reinstated, even with a paid request.
To avoid losing Marriott points:
Log in regularly and monitor your activity.
Set calendar reminders every 18 months to perform a qualifying activity.
Use a Marriott Bonvoy credit card to make small purchases periodically.
Keeping your account active is easy, but you must be intentional. Marriott does not send advanced warnings before points expire — the responsibility lies with the user.
Expiration Policy: Hilton Honors points expire after 24 consecutive months of inactivity. Like Marriott, the key is earning or redeeming within that time frame.
Any of the following qualifies as account activity:
Completing a stay at a Hilton hotel.
Redeeming points for a stay, experience, or partner offer.
Using a Hilton Honors credit card to earn points.
Purchasing Hilton points.
Transferring points from partners like American Express Membership Rewards.
Additionally, earning points through dining programs, ride-sharing partners, and shopping portals can help keep your account active.
Unlike Marriott, Hilton allows you to redeem as little as 5,000 points for basic hotel rooms — a practical option to reset the expiration clock. Furthermore, Hilton Honors points are non-transferable once they expire, and there’s no reinstatement policy for expired balances.
If you have elite status, you must still maintain activity — status alone doesn’t stop point expiration.
Use the Hilton Honors App to track your point expiration.
Set an annual calendar alert to redeem or earn something — even buying a few hundred points can reset your expiration.
Connect your account to Hilton Dining Rewards to passively earn points.
A single transaction every two years is enough to retain your balance — but forgetting will result in a complete wipeout of your hard-earned rewards.
Expiration Policy: IHG One Rewards points expire after 12 months of inactivity — making it one of the strictest expiration policies among major hotel loyalty programs.
Your account must show at least one qualifying activity every 12 months, such as:
Earning points by staying at IHG hotels (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton, etc.).
Redeeming points for reward nights or partner offers.
Earning points through the IHG One Rewards credit card.
Buying or gifting points.
Transferring points from select airline or credit card partners.
Even booking a stay with points counts — even if you cancel later (as long as the transaction logs).
If you reach elite status (Gold, Platinum, or Diamond), your points do not expire as long as you maintain that elite level. Once your status lapses, the 12-month rule resumes.
This gives regular travelers an incentive to achieve and maintain status, especially if they don’t redeem points frequently.
IHG used to allow points reinstatement for a fee, but that policy has become stricter. In 2025, once points expire, they’re gone unless IHG runs a limited reinstatement offer, which is rare.
Make a small redemption (such as a digital magazine or merchandise) if you’re not traveling.
Consider using the IHG mobile app regularly to stay updated.
Link your IHG account to airline partners to convert small points and reset expiration.
Twelve months is not long. If you’re not paying attention, your entire balance can disappear in a single calendar year.
Expiration Policy: World of Hyatt points expire after 24 months of no account activity. Hyatt clearly defines “activity” as any earning or redeeming of points.
The following actions keep your Hyatt points alive:
Staying at Hyatt properties (Park Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Regency, etc.).
Earning points with a Hyatt co-branded credit card.
Redeeming points for free nights or upgrades.
Converting points to airline miles.
Purchasing or gifting points.
Like others, transferring points away from your account doesn’t count, but receiving points does.
Hyatt does send email warnings before points expire — a practice not all hotel chains follow. However, it's still your responsibility to act on those warnings.
If your points have expired, you can call customer service and request reinstatement within a reasonable window (usually under 90 days). Approval isn’t guaranteed and is often reserved for loyal members.
Hyatt Globalist, Explorist, and Discoverist members benefit from early warnings and personalized notifications. But elite status does not automatically exempt you from expiration — only activity matters.
Stay at least once every 18–24 months — even a one-night booking helps.
Use your Hyatt credit card to buy coffee or groceries.
Redeem points for experiences on the Hyatt FIND platform.
Hyatt’s expiration policy is fair but requires attention. A single missed deadline can cost thousands of points if you’re not careful.
Expiration: Points expire after 18 months of inactivity.
Resetting activity: Earning or redeeming resets the clock.
Hard cap: All points fully expire after 4 years, regardless of activity.
Expiration: Points expire after 18 months of inactivity.
No exception for elite members.
Reminders: Choice sends expiration emails around the 15-month mark.
Expiration: Points expire 12 months after your last eligible stay or earning activity.
Must stay at an Accor property — no partner earning resets it.
Strictest of all: Points can only be extended by paid stays, not purchases or redemptions.
Expiration: Points expire after 24 months of inactivity.
Earn or redeem to stay active.
Expiration: Points do not expire for members in good standing, making it one of the most generous programs.
Use a points-tracking app like AwardWallet or Points.com.
Sign up for email alerts from each program.
Consolidate accounts where possible and redeem smaller balances periodically.
Lesser-known programs often have tighter policies or less customer service flexibility. Knowing the rules ahead of time saves frustration later.
Hotel loyalty points are valuable travel currency — but only if you keep them from expiring. As we've seen, expiration timelines range from 12 to 24 months, depending on the brand. Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt give you 24 months, while IHG and Accor offer only 12. Wyndham imposes a 4-year cap regardless of activity, and Best Western doesn’t expire points at all.
To avoid losing your points:
Know the specific rules of each program you participate in.
Track expiration dates using tools like AwardWallet.
Perform a qualifying activity — even a minor one — every 6–12 months.
Use branded credit cards for occasional purchases to maintain activity.
Read loyalty emails — some include warnings or exclusive offers that reset expiration.
Consolidate your travel into 1–2 programs you use most.
Hotel brands aren't obligated to restore expired points, and customer service reps often can’t override expiration policies. Once points are gone, they’re usually permanently lost.
Developing a few simple habits — like checking your accounts quarterly, setting calendar reminders, and occasionally redeeming a small reward — can safeguard your rewards for future travel.
By understanding how long hotel loyalty points last and what actions keep them active, you’ll be able to maximize their value and never lose them to inactivity again. Stay smart, stay active, and keep your points working for you.
Lina Zhou is a globe-trotting travel writer from Chengdu, China. With a passion for hidden gems and cross-cultural experiences, she shares practical tips, visa guidance, and immersive stories from every corner of the world. When not exploring, she’s sipping tea while planning her next adventure.
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