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Choice Privileges may not be the most beloved hotel loyalty program, but it's worth being on your radar. As a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Points, and Wells Fargo Rewards, it's incredibly easy to earn Choice Privileges points and redeem them for a free night at over 7,400 properties worldwide.
If you've been hesitant to invest your time in Choice Privileges, that's about to change. Choice has just announced a major overhaul of the Choice Privileges program, and the changes are almost entirely positive. Here's everything to know about the all-new rewards experience coming in 2026 — including a new elite status tier, milestone rewards, and more.
Upcoming Choice Privileges Changes
Here's a look at some of the most notable changes coming to Choice Privileges:
- Milestone rewards: For every five qualifying nights you stay, you'll earn a milestone reward. You can select bonus points or gift cards to popular restaurants and retailers.
- Lower thresholds for elite status: You will earn Gold Elite status after 5 qualifying nights, Platinum Elite status after 15 nights, and Diamond Elite status after 35 nights. This is five fewer nights than what's currently required.
- New elite status tier: Diamond Elite is no longer the top-tier elite status. Choice is adding Titantium Elite, which is earned after 55 nights or 110,000 Elite Qualifying Credits. Members will receive a Titanium travel award, which allows you to book a room for up to seven nights at more than 400 premium properties worldwide for half the points required.
- Bonus points on return stays: After your second and third qualifying stays each year, you'll earn 1,000 bonus points.
- Status soft landing: Starting in 2027, you will only drop a single elite status tier per year. So, if you earn Titanium status and then don't travel much the following year, you'll only drop to Diamond Elite status rather than starting from scratch.
- Points sharing: Beginning later in 2026, you will be able to transfer your points to friends and family.
- Earn Elite Qualifying Credits with credit cards: You will earn elite credits on travel and everyday purchases with your Choice Privileges® Mastercard® and Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®.
Rates & Fees
- 5x points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties plus on Choice Privileges point purchases
- 3x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plan services
- 1x points on other purchases
Rates & Fees
- 10x points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties plus on Choice Privileges point purchases
- 5x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and on phone plan services
- 1x points on other purchases
Related: Choice Privileges Transfer Partners
Titanium Travel Award
Among the most exciting changes is the Titanium travel award, which essentially provides a 50% discount on an award redemption up to seven nights at select properties.
For example, a room at the Radisson Blu Bariloche in July 2026 costs 35,000 Choice Privileges points per night — meaning a 7-night stay would cost 245,000 points. With the Titanium travel award, you'd pay just 122,500 points for the stay.
Keep in mind that both Citi ThankYou Points and Wells Fargo Rewards transfer to Choice Privileges at a 1:2 ratio. That means you could transfer just 62,000 Citi or Wells Fargo points to Choice Privileges to book this Titanium travel award stay. Considering a cash rate of $2,261, you'd get a value of over 3.6 cents per transferable point!
Related: Current Choice Privileges Hotel Promotions
Bottom Line
The changes coming to Choice Privileges are very positive. Choice didn't remove benefits from lower elite status tiers to create room for a new tier. Instead, elite status is easier to earn and just as rewarding — if not more so. If you plan to work toward the new top-tier Titanium status, be sure to consider the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® or Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® to get you there faster.
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