Hyatt is set to broaden its portfolio by acquiring Standard International, the parent company of The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels. The acquisition, expected to finalize by late 2024, includes management and franchise rights for 21 properties totaling around 2,000 rooms. Hyatt will initially pay $150 million, with the potential for an additional $185 million as more hotels join the portfolio. Following the acquisition, these hotels will be integrated into the World of Hyatt loyalty program.

The Standard is a well-known lifestyle hotel brand with properties in major cities such as New York, Miami, London, and Ibiza, popular for its focus on nightlife and hip, trendy experiences. This acquisition continues Hyatt’s efforts to grow its global footprint in the lifestyle and upscale segments, adding to previous purchases like Two Roads Hospitality and Apple Leisure Group.

Additionally, Hyatt is establishing a new dedicated lifestyle group in New York City, led by Amar Lalvani, Executive Chairman of Standard International. The group will concentrate on innovation in guest experiences, design, and entertainment, while benefiting from Hyatt’s extensive operational infrastructure. This strategic move emphasizes Hyatt’s continued focus on expanding its lifestyle brand presence through targeted acquisitions.

The latest Choice Sweet Spot Rewards promotion offers Choice Privileges members the chance to book hotel stays for up to 25% fewer points. This limited-time offer is valid for stays through November 30, 2024, and includes discounted award nights at 26 select Choice Hotels properties across the U.S., Canada, France, and the U.K.. For travelers looking to maximize the value of their points, this is a fantastic opportunity.

During this promotion, participating properties are offering award nights for as few as 10,000 points, with discounts ranging from 15% to 25% off the usual point requirements. While typical awards may cost more, this promotion significantly reduces the number of points needed, allowing members to stretch their points further and enjoy stays in popular cities like Las Vegas, Orlando, and Nashville.

Key Promotion Details:

• Valid for stays through November 30, 2024.
• Discounted points nights range from 10,000 to 35,000 points.
• Available at 22 U.S. hotels, 2 in Canada, and 1 each in France and the U.K..
• Discounts range from 15% to 25%.

How to Make the Most of This Promotion:

• Book early: Limited rooms are available at discounted rates.
• Be flexible: Adjust your travel dates or destinations for the best deals.
• Target higher-end properties: Take advantage of discounts at higher-tier hotels for better value.

To book, simply log into your Choice Privileges account, search for participating hotels, and redeem points at the discounted rate. With availability limited, now is the perfect time to plan your next trip using your Choice points.

Bask Bank’s Mileage Savings Account provides a unique opportunity for you to earn American Airlines AAdvantage® miles instead of traditional cash interest. Offering 2.5 miles per dollar saved annually, the account is great frequent travelers looking to accumulate miles without making airline purchases. Currently, Bask Bank is running a promotion where new customers can earn 20,000 bonus miles by depositing $50,000 and maintaining that balance for 180 days. In total, with the bonus and regular miles, account holders can accumulate 81,600 miles over six months. This promotion is available until August 31, 2024.

One advantage of this account is the monthly deposit of miles, ensuring that your AAdvantage® miles remain active and don’t expire due to inactivity. With no account fees or minimum balance requirements, the account is accessible for a variety of savers. If you value miles at 1.5 cents or more per mile, this option can potentially provide a better return compared to the national average savings rate of 0.45%, especially for those focused on travel rewards.

For those who prefer earning cash interest, Bask Bank also offers a 5.10% APY Interest Savings Account, which is highly competitive in the current market. Whether you’re aiming to maximize miles for future travel or earn a high return on your savings, Bask Bank’s options are designed to meet different financial goals.

Europe in the summer is always more expensive, so anytime you see some good deals, you should take advantage! This business class deal is from Los Angeles to Frankfurt on Condor Airlines for 55,000 miles + $49 with a few dates available in July. The flight is booked through Alaska Airlines, which doesn’t have transferable points unfortunately. Below are a few dates.

Dates – 7/4,7/5,7/9,7/11,7/13,7/14,7/16,7/17

Capitol One Merges with Discover

Capital One acquired Discover in an all-stock purchase valued at $35.3 billion, making it one of the largest credit card issuers and positioning itself to compete with rivals like American Express and Chase. It will be interesting to see the effects on current credit card issuers and the potential impacts on the points and miles landscape. Hopefully this will mean more credit card options and larger signup bonuses!

United Airlines Raises Baggage Fees

United Airlines will raise its baggage fees for checked bags by $5, effective February 24th. The first checked bag will cost $40, and the second checked bag will cost $50. This announcement follows similar increases by JetBlue and American Airlines

Miami to Bogota on Emirates

Emirates announced its newest fifth freedom flight, which will be from Miami to Bogota. This provides another excellent fifth freedom flight option, expanding booking choices for flights to South America. The exact aircraft to be used has not been announced yet, but the route is expected to begin operating on June 3, 2024.