Choice Privileges hotel loyalty program has just announced some positive changes that will take effect in early 2026. Details on some of these changes are scant, but here’s what we know so far.
Lower requirements for existing elite levels
Starting in 2026, each existing Select Privilege elite level will require a reduction of five nights per year. So you only need to stay 5 nights per year to earn Gold Elite status, stay 15 nights to earn Platinum Elite status, and stay 35 nights to earn Diamond Elite status.
As a reminder, you can also enjoy free elite status and earn elite-qualifying nights through: Choose Privileges® Mastercard® and Choose Perks® Choose Mastercard®.
Information on Select Privileges and Select Privileges is collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
So far, Choice Privileges has not announced any changes to elite benefits at these levels. Gold Elite members are currently eligible for early check-in, late check-out, elite welcome gifts upon check-in, and room upgrades based on available space, so this may be a membership worth earning, especially since only five qualifying nights are required per calendar year.
RELATED: Comparing the Best Hotel Elite Tiers and How to Earn Them
New top select privilege status
Choice Privileges will also add new top-tier memberships to its program in 2026. Starting in 2026, you will be able to earn this new top-tier Titanium Elite status by staying 55 nights per calendar year or accruing 110,000 Elite Qualifying Points per calendar year.
Choice Titanium members receive a compelling benefit: Titanium Travel Rewards. With Titanium Travel Rewards, you can book up to 7 nights at 50% off Points at over 400 Premier Collection privileged hotels.
I anticipate that Titanium members will also receive some other benefits, such as more bonus points on qualifying stays. But we will have to wait until Select Privilege announces all the details of this new status.
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Related: Best Picks of Europe’s Hotels to Book with Points
Other changes
Finally, Choice Privileges announced several other positive changes that will begin in 2026 and beyond. These changes include:
- Members earn 1,000 bonus points after their second and third qualifying stay each year
- Earn milestone rewards such as bonus points and gift cards for every five nights between tiers
- Elite members have no points expiry date
- Soft landing of status starting in 2027, meaning elite members who do not regain status or higher will only drop one level each year
- Points sharing is launching later in 2026, meaning members will be able to transfer points to friends and family
Currently, Select Privilege Points expire if you do not complete any qualifying points activity within 18 months. Presumably, members who earn Select Privilege elite status will earn qualifying points at least once every 18 months, so this change is relatively minor. However, especially given the status soft landing starting in 2027, this could leave upper elite members with declining status levels and points balances for a few years without any activity.
Bonus points and milestone rewards will provide small perks but will be welcome, especially since it looks like the first milestone reward may be available after just 10 nights in the year. Likewise, the points-sharing feature also sounds promising, although we don’t yet know if there will be a cost or other issues involved.
Related: The World’s Best Hotel Rewards Programs: Which One Is Right for You?
bottom line
It’s great to see hotel loyalty programs making customer-friendly changes.
In a press release announcing the changes, Nandika Suri, vice president of loyalty at Choice Hotels International, said: “What sets Select Benefits apart is our commitment to making rewards richer and more accessible, and we are leading the loyalty space by offering more benefits more often. These changes are part of our continued evolution of Select Benefits and reflect what today’s travelers expect from a modern loyalty program.”
However, we’ll have to wait until we see the full details of these changes and the new Titanium status before we can make a final judgment on whether these changes make it more attractive to choose the Perks plan.
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