The world of loyalty rewards is constantly evolving, from airlines driving loyalty in the air to hotels and lifestyle brands rewarding you on the ground.
There is one a lot of As detailed in our recent list of the best new hotels of 2025 and TPG’s 2025 Trends Report , the points hotel space saw some changes last year. From major hotel chains launching new brands, to the beginnings (and a few endings) of exciting new partnerships, plus the outdoor-centric hotel trend taking over, our team of hotel experts had a lot to unpack ahead of this year’s TPG Awards.
But beyond travel, everyday loyalty programs are also leaving their mark on the industry.
We’ve launched five hotel awards categories in 2026 to recognize hotels and programs that have excelled this year, wowed our editorial team and proven that loyal members will stay loyal. Additionally, we’ve added a new category dedicated to recognizing the best daily rewards programs that tend to reward and enhance people’s experiences in their daily lives.
With so many incredible hotels set to open in 2025, choosing a top new hotel won’t be an easy decision. But below, you’ll find three hotels—two brand new and one a redesigned iconic property—that are worth planning your entire trip. While most awards are determined by our team of subject matter experts, two categories—Best Hotel Elite Status and Best Hotel Loyalty Program—are selected using a data-backed approach.
Closer to home, these are the hotels and loyalty programs that wowed us in this year’s On the Ground TPG award categories.
Best Hotel Elite Status: Hyatt Globalist World
Once an industry leader, always an industry leader, it appears the popularity of the coveted World of Hyatt Globalist status shows no sign of slowing down as Hyatt once again takes the cake for elite hotel status.
From its beloved Confirmed Upgrade program to its unparalleled free breakfast offer for up to two adults and two children and other perks like guaranteed 4pm check-out, bonus point earnings and VIP awards, Globalist continues to set the standard for elite status travelers want.
“These benefits are unmatched by other programs, and I love knowing that any issues I have during my stay are likely to be quickly resolved by the My Hyatt Concierge team,” said Katie Genter, points and miles specialist at TPG.
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The Best Hotels Elite Tier Award is determined through specific data analysis, where we analyze two important areas of what the program offers to frequent travelers:
- Return on expenditure for properties within a given portfolio (30% of final score)
- Detailed numerical analysis of the benefits you unlock upon qualification (70%)
Best Hotel Loyalty Program: Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy won the award for Best Hotel Loyalty Program for the second year in a row. As one of our data-driven awards, the assessment is based on numerical analysis of four key areas (each equally weighted). This includes:
- Project’s global impact (25% of final score)
- Ability to earn points on stays and other activities (25%)
- Redeem points value (25%)
- Achievability and value of the program’s elite status offering (25%)
Marriott remains a very popular loyalty program among frequent travelers thanks to its massive global reach (the company has more than 9,000 hotels under its umbrella and counting, under its 30-plus brands), and its relatively easy path to achieving valuable elite status (especially with one of its many co-branded cards).
Despite a string of currency depreciations in 2025, coveted perks like the famous Fifth Night Free offer (members who book five or more consecutive award nights earn 0 points for the lowest rates) and dozens of transfer partners keep members coming back to Marriott to plan their travels.
Best New All-Inclusive Points Hotel: W Punta Cana, Adults All-Inclusive
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Tanner Sanders/Essential Guy
The world’s first W-branded all-inclusive resort was a game-changer for the industry; not only did it bring the power of a big brand to the segment, it also proved that all-inclusive resorts could directly become cool.
Surrounded by towering palm trees and pristine beaches, guests at W Punta Cana will enjoy truly high-quality all-inclusive experiences, such as experiential multi-course tasting dinners; wellness and healing-focused activities; gorgeous design details, including a picturesque infinity pool overlooking the beach; and some of the friendliest staff in the Dominican Republic. It also pushes the all-inclusive industry into the future, making us wonder: Which famous brand will be the next to challenge the limits?
Best New or Renovated Hotel: Waldorf Astoria New York
After years of closures and renovations, the Waldorf Astoria New York—the hotel that created the luxury hotel experience as we know it—has reopened. Although the hotel has reduced its guest room count, it hasn’t skimped on grandeur, and one of the highlights of the renovation is the meticulous detail that went into restoring this legendary New York landmark.
Traveling through the property is like stepping back in time, but you’ll also discover many new details, including updated guest rooms that exude Upper East Side style, a bar and restaurant from chef Michael Anthony and renowned mixologist Jeff Bell, and the return of the Guerlain Spa, grand ballroom and on-site residences.
Best New Outdoor Experience: Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge
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Emilia Woski/Essentials Expert
One thing was clear last year: 2025 is the year major hospitality companies put nature center stage. We’ve seen the emergence of multiple outdoor-themed hotel collections from various hotel companies, as well as the debut of nature-focused hotel brands that allow travelers to enjoy the great outdoors while still enjoying the luxury of an upscale hotel. Currently, no one does it better than Under Canvas.
The brand launched one of its newest hotels last year, nestled along the Columbia River Gorge with sweeping views of Mount Hood and access to some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest outdoor adventure experiences.
Carly Helfand, director of points, miles and credit card content at TPG, said this upscale glamping resort is unique not only because of its absolutely stunning location and pristine views, but also because the hotel provides everything guests need in a tent and nothing else.
“It’s small, there’s nothing superfluous; you still feel like you’re in nature, but it has all the right things,” Carly said of her stay shortly after the hotel opened. “That applies to the entire hotel. There’s enough connectivity, enough programming and things to do when you’re nearby, but not so much that it doesn’t encourage you to take advantage of the surrounding area.”
Each year, the TPG Awards recognize excellence in credit cards, loyalty programs and travel. Please click here Learn more about the selection process and methodology for the 2026 TPG Awards winners.
Best Daily Rewards Program: Bilt Rewards
TPG also launched a new category this year to recognize the best daily rewards program, and Bilt Rewards took home the award.
While Bilt’s credit card and its ability to earn points on rent (and now mortgages) get a lot of attention, the program offers several other ways to earn lucrative, transferable points when you’re not traveling — even if you don’t have a card from one of the issuers.
With Bilt, you can accumulate points on everything from dining out to prescription drugs, with opportunities covering nearly every stage of life and every stage of the day. Especially in 2025, Bilt is introducing several new ways to earn and redeem points for everyday expenses, such as earning points when shopping online through Rakuten and using points to pay for Lyft rides.
The past year has been an exciting one for the hospitality industry, and projects like Bilt are helping people maximize their spending on everyday items and experiences. Hopefully 2026 will be just as exciting, with new hotels opening and loyalty programs continuing to innovate.
