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When it comes to exclusive, boutique-style hotels, there aren’t nearly as many opportunities to earn and use points as you’d find with traditional hotel brands. While some options exist through Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) properties, Mr & Mrs Smith, or programs like American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, many independent hotels remain out of reach for points travelers. That’s where the Journey loyalty program comes in.
Journey is a new program built around a collection of luxury hotels, designed to reward members with a unique approach to earning and redeeming points to enhance their stays. Here's what you need to know about it and how it works.
Page Contents
What Is Journey?
Journey features a collection of over 1,300 luxury hotels and short-term rentals, with plans to expand in the coming months. The platform includes everything from upscale glamping sites and treehouses to ski condos and unique properties like Nihi Sumba in Indonesia. Journey goes beyond traditional hotel brands and leverages AI to enhance the experience for both guests and its hotel partners.
How to Earn and Redeem Points Through Journey
Journey is designed to benefit both guests and property owners by encouraging direct bookings over online travel agency (OTA) reservations. Since properties often pay up to 30% in OTA fees, Journey incentivizes direct bookings by passing those savings on to guests through its rewards structure:
- 5X points per dollar on direct bookings
- 1X point per dollar on OTA bookings
Members can also pool points with friends and family, making it easier to grow your balance and unlock rewards faster.
While full redemption details are still a bit vague, Journey plans to use “AI-powered analytics to predict guest behavior, preferences, and likelihood of repeat visits” to create a more personalized and engaging experience.
One interesting feature is the ability to use “pending” points. For example, on a $500 direct booking (earning 2,500 points at 5X), you could use a portion of those points to offset some of the cost on that same stay.
Points can also be redeemed to enhance your stay. For instance, you could use points to upgrade your room, book a spa treatment, or enjoy a cocktail — all without pulling out your wallet. While it’s still unclear if you’ll be able to use points directly to cover room rates, Journey has confirmed a minimum redemption value of 1 cent per point, with the potential for even greater value depending on how you redeem them.
Related: How to Use Points and Miles at Hotels With No Rewards Program
Journey elite status tiers
Journey offers six elite tiers, each unlocking additional perks as you earn more points:
- Traveler (entry level) – Automatically granted upon signup. Includes 50% pending point utilization, a free trial of Dorsia, and access to Suite Elevation upgrades.
- Nomad (18,000 points) – Adds a Status Milestone Gift, a “Magical Moment” surprise experience, and a Timeless Stay Award.
- Navigator (50,000 points) – Includes waived resort fees, a $20 in-stay experience credit, and an additional Timeless Stay Award.
- Ambassador (125,000 points) – Adds a LiftUp Award (gift a status upgrade to someone else) and the ability to lock in your current status for the following year.
- Legend (250,000 points) – Boosts pending point utilization to 90%, includes a $75 in-stay experience credit, and grants access to a 24/7 personal concierge.
- Icon (500,000 points) – Unlocks 3 Suite Elevation Awards and exclusive VIP experiences, in addition to all previously earned benefits.
How to Sign Up for the Journey Rewards Program
You can join Journey by visiting the official website or downloading the mobile app. Signing up is simple; just enter your name and phone number to get started. You’ll also have the option to share your preferences, home address, and Instagram handle, though these are optional.
Once you’re in, you can start browsing properties and tracking your status.
When you search for a property, Journey will link you directly to the independent hotel’s website to complete your booking. For instance, a stunning five-bedroom house near Joshua Tree National Park is listed for $2,589 for three nights — or just $173 per night per couple if you split it between 10 friends.
Related: Which Luxury Brands Offer the Best Value for Points?
Bottom Line
Journey is aiming to bring a meaningful loyalty experience to independent hotels — something that hasn’t really existed until now. For travelers who prefer boutique and luxury stays, this opens up a new opportunity to earn and redeem points in ways that you previously couldn't.
While full details on redemptions are still to come, we’ll have a clearer picture of the program’s true value once more information is available. Of course, paying cash for these high-end properties won’t be for everyone. That said, the ability to earn rewards and offset costs at one-of-a-kind hotels around the world is a neat development, especially in a space where points haven’t traditionally played much a role. Journey may just be worth considering for your next unforgettable stay.
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