Every major US hotel program runs its own inactivity clock. Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt give you 24 months. IHG gives you only 12. Choice gives you 18. Best Western gives you forever. Use the right number for the right account.
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All windows run from the date of your most recent qualifying activity.
| Program | Inactivity window | Elite exemption |
|---|---|---|
| IHG One Rewards | 12 months | None for points (status separate) |
| Choice Privileges | 18 months | None standard |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 24 months | Lifetime Elite (all tiers) |
| Hilton Honors | 24 months | Diamond and Lifetime Diamond |
| World of Hyatt | 24 months | Globalist and Lifetime Globalist |
| Wyndham Rewards | 18 months | Diamond members |
| Best Western Rewards | Never expires | N/A |
| WorldHotels Rewards | Never expires | N/A |
Marriott Bonvoy points forfeit after 24 consecutive months without qualifying activity. The terms read clearly: "If a Member Account is inactive for twenty-four (24) consecutive months, that Member Account will forfeit all accumulated Points." Lifetime Elite members are exempt. Find your last qualifying activity under Points Activity → All Qualifying.
Hilton Honors points expire after 24 months of inactivity. Any earning or redemption activity resets the clock for another 24 months. Diamond and Lifetime Diamond members are exempt. Hilton Honors AmEx cardholders rarely run out of time as long as the card is active.
The shortest window of any major US program. IHG One Rewards points expire after just 12 months of inactivity. If you split nights across hotel brands, this is the account most likely to lapse first. Standard members get no expiration exemption regardless of status for points (only earned status nights and milestones reset annually).
Hyatt points expire after 24 months of inactivity. Globalist and Lifetime Globalist members are exempt. Buying points outright counts as activity, so the program\'s points-purchase feature can serve as a last-minute reset.
Choice Privileges points expire after 18 months of inactivity. Any activity resets the clock. The program covers Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Cambria, Radisson Americas, and others, so Choice activity usually picks up incidentally if you travel to budget brands.
Best Western Rewards points have no expiration date. They sit in your account indefinitely without any required activity. This is the rare program where forgetting about your balance costs nothing.
The other half is remembering it months from now. Set an email reminder for 30 days before each expiration date. Use a separate reminder per program, since the windows differ. The IHG one is the most urgent since it fires every 12 months. See how to keep hotel points from expiring for the full list of qualifying actions, and the main reminder page for setup.
IHG One Rewards. Points expire after just 12 months of inactivity, half the window of Marriott, Hilton, or Hyatt. If you split nights across brands and don't use IHG often, this is the program most likely to catch you out.
Yes. Best Western Rewards points have no expiration date. WorldHotels Rewards is similar. Many elite tiers in major programs are also exempt: Marriott Lifetime Elite, Hilton Diamond and Lifetime Diamond, World of Hyatt Globalist and Lifetime Globalist, and I Prefer Hotel Rewards elite members.
No, not annually. Marriott points expire only after 24 consecutive months without qualifying activity. Any single earn or redeem resets the clock. The 24 months runs from the date of your most recent qualifying activity, not from a calendar year.
Most programs surface it inside the points balance page. Marriott shows it under "Points Activity" with a "All Qualifying" filter. Hilton shows it under "My Account → Honors Points". IHG displays it on the points summary screen. Hyatt and Choice show it in the rewards dashboard. The date you want is "next expiration" or "points expire on".
Often, but not universally. Marriott Lifetime Elite (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador) members never lose points. Hilton Diamond and Lifetime Diamond members are exempt. World of Hyatt Globalist and Lifetime Globalist members are exempt. Standard members of all these programs are not.
Buying points counts as a transaction and resets the clock by the program's standard window. Buying status, where available, may grant exemption only while you hold the status. Once status lapses, the standard expiration timer kicks back in.
Free email reminder, no account needed. Get notified 30 days before any program's deadline so you have time to act.
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