Radisson Rewards is the rewards and loyalty program from Radisson Hotels. The current rewards program, formerly known as Club Carlson, allows members to earn impressive rewards points for stays at the over 1,400 hotels and 200,000+ rooms and suites that make up the Radisson Hotels group of properties.
Points in the Radisson Rewards program have one of the lowest redemption values in the hotel loyalty program sector, but for those who prefer to stay with Radisson, the ability to earn large amounts of points – especially through co-branded credit cards – there can be great value for money.
Radisson credit cards, offered by U.S. Bank, offer great points-earning potential and slid perks. This is especially true of the Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Card, which earns an impressive 10x points on stays with Radisson, as well as 85,000 bonus points after meeting introductory spending requirements.
Hotels in the Radisson Hotel Group Portfolio
The following hotels and resorts make up the Radisson portfolio, and participate in the Rewards Program:
- Radisson Collection
- Radisson Blu
- Radisson
- Radisson Red
- Park Plaza
- Park Inn
- Country Inn & Suites
Value of Radisson Rewards Points
Current Value of Radisson Points: .35 to .4 cents per point
Valuing rewards points is not an exact science. Point valuations continuously fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including the ease of earning points, sign-up bonuses, changes in room rates, and the availability of award bookings. While points valuations change often, there are practical steps that can be taken to come up with an estimated value for rewards points, such as Radisson Rewards.
At HotelCards, we use several metrics to determine the point value of hotel rewards programs. These metrics include how many points it would take to book standard hotel rooms in different geographical areas with points, and how this compares to bookings with cash. These calculations are made for rooms of different tiers and locations, as well as for peak and off-peak booking times, to reach a general estimate of the value of points.
Based on current calculations, Radisson Rewards points have a value of between $.0035 to $.004 (.35 cents to .4 cents) per point.
How to Earn Points
Hotel Stays
The most straightforward way to earn Radisson Rewards points is through booking stays with any member of the Radisson family of hotels.
Points from hotel stays vary depending upon the membership status of the individual with the points breakdown for hotel stays is as follows:
- Club: Club members earn 20 points for every $1 spent with Radisson.
- Silver: Silver tier members earn 22 points for every $1 spent with Radisson.
- Gold: Gold tier members earn 25 points for every $1 spent with Radisson.
- Platinum: Platinum tier members earn 35 points for every $1 spent with Radisson.
Travel Partners
Radisson Rewards points are also earnable when booking vehicle rentals through select car rental partners worldwide. Current partners include:
- Alamo: Members earn 300 points for every day of their qualifying rental.
- Avis: Earn 750 points when booking with Avis, as well as 25% discounts on Avis base rates.
- Budget: Earn 750 points when booking with Budget, as well as 25% discounts on Budget base rental rates.
- Enterprise: Members earn 300 points for every day of their rental in Europe.
- Europcar: Radisson Rewards members can earn up to 1,800 points on eligible car rentals.
- National: Members receive a 25% discount on every qualifying rental and earn 300 points for every day of their rental with National.
- Sixt: Members receive 750 points for every Sixt care rental worldwide, as well as a 15% discount. Radisson Rewards Gold members also receive a free upgrade when available.
Wine Club
Radisson Rewards members can earn up to 12,500 points when they join Vinesse Wines’ wine club. Members earn 5,000 points when they join the club and order their first wine shipment, as well as 7,500 additional points when they order their second shipment. Members earn ten points for every dollar sent on all other wine or wine accessory purchases.
Shopping
Rewards members earn points when shopping with select Radisson partners, including FTD Flowers and the Bicester Village Shopping Collection.
- Bicester Village Shopping Collection: Members earn ten points for every yuan spent on purchases with Bicester Village Shopping Collections in China, as well as ten points for every euro spent on purchases with Bicester in Europe.
- FTD Flowers: Rewards members earn 1,500 points when they order flowers through FTD and enter their Radisson membership.
Special Events
Travel agents and small-to-medium-sized companies receive ten points for every dollar spent on bookings with over 1,100 Radisson properties worldwide. Event planners who are Rewards members earn five points for every dollar spent on events or meetings booked with Radisson.
Credit Cards
Co-branded credit cards offer one of the best ways to earn additional points with the Radisson Rewards loyalty program. U.S. Bank – a leading credit card issuer – offers two Visa credit cards in association with Radisson Hotels. These cards allow members to earn additional points when booking stays through Radisson hotels, as well as for other everyday purchases.
The Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® Card Is the pinnacle of the Radisson Rewards credit cards, offering the ultimate in points-earning potential. This card offers complimentary Gold tier status and allows holders to earn an additional 10x points on Radisson stays, plus 5x points for every other purchase made with the card. Each year of membership with the card also comes with an annual bonus of 40,000 points, and new accounts earn an impressive 85,000 additional points when they spend at least $2,500 on purchases in the first 90 days of opening the account. The Premier Visa Signature has an annual fee of $75, which is a very modest price to pay for those who favor the Radisson brand.
The Radisson Rewards™ Visa® Card is the other option available from U.S. Bank. The straightforward Visa card does not feature an annual fee, making it an excellent choice for those who love the Radisson brand and want to earn points – but don’t travel enough to justify the $75 annual fee.
The Radisson Rewards Card earns an additional 3x points for Radisson stays and a single point for all other purchases made with the card. New accounts also benefit from in introductory bonus of 30,000 points hen they use their card to make just $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days – a very achievable goal.
For more information about Radisson co-branded hotel rewards credit cards, please visit our dedicated Radisson Credit Cards page.
Other Ways to Earn Points
- Buy Points: Radisson allows members to buy points through their dedicated “Purchase Points” portal. Rewards points can be purchases in increments of 1,000 points for $7 (up to 80,000 points per account), placing the value of points at $.007 (.7 cents per point). This valuation is far higher than the redemption value of Radisson Rewards points, which currently is around .4 cents per point, making purchasing points a less-than-favorable option for earning points in the loyalty program.
- Gift Points: Radisson also allows members to either share their points with a loved one through gifting. Points gifts must be in increments of 1,000 points, up to a maximum of 80,000 points.
Limitations on Points Earning
As with other hotel loyalty programs, Radisson places restrictions on how members can earn points. Points, for example, cannot be earned on bookings made through third-party discount websites, such as Trivago, Orbitz, Priceline, Booking.com, Expedia, Kayak, Hotwire, Travelocity, or others.
How to Redeem Points
Free Night Awards
The most obvious – and simplest – way to redeem Radisson Rewards points is by booking free night stays with any of Radisson’s seven brands and 1,400 properties worldwide. As Radisson separates its features into seven distinct categories based upon the location, amenities, and quality of the room being booked, the number of points required for each free night stay will vary.
Free night bookings with Radisson can be made either through points or “Cash + Points,” with redemption rates starting as follows:
- Points: Points are the primary method of redemption within Radisson Rewards, with free nights starting at 9,000 points for off-peak stays in standard rooms at Category 1 properties, and 13,500 for premium rooms in similar properties.
- Points + Cash: Points + Cash allows Rewards members to pay for part of their stay with points – paying the rest with cash. Redemptions using Points + Cash start as low as 5,000 points and cash at Category 1 properties.
How to Transfer Points to Airlines
Radisson Rewards points also transfer to the frequent flyer rewards programs of many of the world’s leading airlines. The following airlines are partners with Radisson:
- Aeromexico
- Air Astana
- Air Baltic
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air France
- American Airlines
- Asiana Airlines
- Avianca
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Delta Airlines
- Emirates
- Etihad
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Finnair
- Frontier Airlines
- Gulf Air
- Hainan Airlines
- Japan Airlines
- Jet Airways
- KLM
- Kuwait Airlines
- LATAM
- Lufthansa
- Malaysia Airlines
- Oman Air
- Philippines Airlines
- Qantas
- Qatar Airlines
- SAS Scandinavian Airlines
- Saudia Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South Africa Airways
- Southwest
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines
Points Transfer Rules
Radisson stipulates that members transfer their points to airline miles through one of three options: 2,000 points for 200 air miles, 50,00 points for 5,000 miles, or 100,000 points for 10,000 miles.
Other Ways to Redeem Points
- Express Points: Rewards points are redeemable for instant access to Radisson perks and upgrades during stays at participating hotels. Members can quickly redeem points for in-room entertainment options, room upgrades or enhancements, in-hotel food or beverage purchases, or even spa access where available.
- Shopping: Radisson Reward points are redeemable for gift cards in values of $10, $25, and $50. $10 gift cards cost 7,000 points, $25 gift cards cost 18,000 points, and $50 cards cost 34,000 reward points. Gift cards are also available in both euros and British pounds for European travelers.
- Gift cards are also available as prepaid Visa cards, at the cost of 20,000 points for a $25 Visa prepaid card, 35,000 points for a $50 prepaid card, and 67,000 points for a $100 Visa prepaid card.
- Priority Pass: Members can redeem 125,000 points for a Priority Pass Standard Plus membership (a $249 value). Priority Pass Standard Plus membership entitles holders to ten free visits per year to the over 1,000+ airport lounges in the Priority Pass network. After the tenth visit, subsequent lounge visits cost $27 per visit. 125,000 points for a year‘s membership values rewards points at around .2 cents per point, meaning points are better used for booking stays – not lounge access.
- TSA Precheck: Members can also redeem 65,000 points to cover the cost of a TSA Precheck application – normally valued at $85. This redemption places the value of Radisson Rewards points at roughly .15 cents per points, meaning it isn’t the best way to redeem points – instead pay for the application fee with your Radisson Rewards credit card.
- Charitable Donations: Points can be donated to support SOS Children’ Villages, the American Red Cross, or First Climate, a non-profit that promotes climate protection projects.
- Gift Points: Radisson also allows members to either share their points with a loved one through gifting. Points gifts must be in increments of 1,000 points, up to a maximum of 80,000 points.
Rewards Program Tier Levels
Club
Club is the entry-level tier in the Radisson Rewards program, offering basic perks and benefits to all members.
Club Benefits
Club members can expect the following perks:
- 10% savings on hotel bookings made online with Radisson
- 20 points/$1 on Radisson purchases
- 5% food and beverage discount at participating hotel restaurants
- Complimentary two bottles of water per stay
Silver
Silver is the next tier in the Radisson loyalty program and offers enhanced perks beyond those of Club members.
Silver Requirements
Reservations Per Year: Nine nights or six stays in a calendar year
Silver Benefits
Silver members can expect the following perks on top of what Club members receive:
- 22 points/$1 on Radisson purchases
- 10% food and beverage discount at participating hotel restaurants
- Eligible nights automatically rollover towards Elite status for the next year
- Complimentary room upgrades when available
- Early check-in/ late check-out
Gold
Gold is the next tier of the Elite status tiers in the Radisson Rewards program, offering further enhancements than those of Silver tier.
Gold Requirements
Reservations Per Year: 30 nights or 20 stays in a calendar year
Gold Benefits
Gold members can expect the following perks and benefits in addition to Silver-tier perks:
- 25 points/$1 on Radisson purchases
- 15% food and beverage discount at participating hotel restaurants
- In-room welcome gift upon arrival
- 72 hr. room availability guarantee
Platinum
Platinum is the premier tiers in the Radisson loyalty program and offers the program’s most–exceptional perks and benefits.
Platinum Requirements
Reservations Per Year: 60 nights or 30 stays in a calendar year
Platinum Benefits
Titanium Elite members can expect the following perks:
- 35 points/$1 on Radisson purchases
- 20% food and beverage discount at participating hotel restaurants
- 48 hr. room availability guarantee
- Complimentary breakfast at participating hotel restaurants during stay
- Exclusive 24/7 access to Platinum Member Service line for bookings and travel assistance
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