New and enhanced hotel credit for sapphire reserve cards

The battle with premium credit cards happens to be Chase’s latest move to get steeper.

Starting from January 1, 2026 Chase SapphireReserve® (See rates and fees) and Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business- (See Rates and Fees) Cardholders will automatically receive $250 for twice a year, totaling $500 per year.

Currently, the editorial credit is divided into two $250 stated credits: one is issued between January 1 and June 30 and the other is available between July 1 and December 31.

To add sugar to the deal, on January 1, 2026, cardholders will also receive a new $250 credit for the Select ChaseTravel℠ Hotel used in the 2026 calendar year.

“When you look at the way we build the plan, when you look at the entire package of the sapphire reserve, it’s a response to our customer demands rather than matching everything the market does,” Sam Palmer, general manager of Chase Sapphire, said in an interview with TPG.

Here’s what you need to know about these changes and how to maximize them.

New $250 Chase Travel Hotels

Starting from January 1, 2026, Sapphire Conservation Area and Commercial sapphire reserves A $250 credit will be obtained for select Chase travel hotels.

Credit is valid on prepaid hotel reservations (lasting at least two nights) and has the following brands:

• IHG Hotels and Resorts
• Secondary hotels
• Montage Hotels and Resorts
• Omni Hotels & Resorts
• Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts
• Pendry Hotels & Resorts
• Virgin Hotel

Cardholders can also earn Chase Ultimate Reward Points on any spending over $250 in credit. The most passionate development is that cardholders will join all qualified brands to win hotel loyalty program points and elite night points.

This credit will be available on December 31, 2026. However, earning loyalty program points with the aforementioned hotel partners is unlimited.

$500 Edit Credit Now Flexible

Sapphire Reserve refresh and debuted in June of this year, especially on the new $500 credit line for editing hotel reservations. Fast forward three months and Chase is increasing credit to make it easier for cardholders to use.

Starting January 1, 2026, cardholders will automatically receive credit for each prepaid (two nights or more) booking (up to $500 per year) booking (up to $500 per year). Credit will no longer be biennial and will be allocated every six months; instead, it applies to any prepaid two-night reservation.

For example, you can book a qualified property from March 1 to 3, March 1 to 3, 2026 and make another qualified booking from March 24 to 26, 2026. As long as you prepaid booking is over $250, you’ll get all $500 lenders.

“We plan to keep investing in this product,” Palmer said. “No one big refresh and then finish. You will see this continuous addition, removal, adjustment, adjustment, adjustment based on how customers respond. … We want to make sure that these credits are as easy to use as possible.”

Related: Editor of Chase Travel: How do you get Elitelike Elitelike Perks without status

How to maximize these credits

These changes are a huge improvement for both sapphire reserve cards. To maximize these credits, consider stacking $250 editing credits and getting new $250 hotel credit and existing $300 annual travel credit.

For example, you can choose a property that qualifies for $250 hotel credit, which is also part of the editor, such as Pendry Park City, Utah.

The property costs $1,640 for two nights. If you stack the three points above, you can effectively reduce the total cost to $840.

It is also worth noting that if you use a $500 annual editing credit, opt for the $250 credit and a $300 travel credit at Chase Travel Hotels, you’ve squeezed out $1,050 worth of value from your card, which is well above the $795 annual fee.

These changes to both sapphire reserve cards are appealing given the ability to stack points.

Related: Enjoy luxury privileges at our favorite hotels, part of the editorial of Chase Travel

Bottom line

Frequent travelers will like the latest enhancements to both Sapphire Conservation Area and Commercial sapphire reserves.

If you don’t have a card in your wallet, Sapphire Reserve will offer a welcome bonus of 125,000 after spending $6,000 in the first three months of opening the account, while Chase Sapphire’s business offers cardholders 200,000 bonus points, which will cost $30,000 in the first six months of opening the account.

What we often see is updating credit card benefits shortly after the release, but it is definitely a move that will surely win against existing cardholders and attract new ones. These changes make Sapphire Reserve a more attractive option compared to their main competitors American Express Platinum Card®which will get its own refresh.

To learn more, read our full review of Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business.

Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Reserve Business Reserve: Which Reserve is right for you?

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