#135: The Future of Loyalty Rewards for Hotels | with Brian Kelly, The Points Guy

02/11/25 • 48 min

Did you know that there are highly effective strategies for maximizing travel rewards through loyalty programs?

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Kelly, the founder and CEO of The Points Guy, to talk about travel hacking, loyalty programs, and making the most out of points and miles.

Brian shares his personal journey, from booking his first family vacation with points at age 12 to building a multi-million-dollar business that helps travelers unlock luxury experiences for less.

Key Topics includes:

The biggest mistakes people make with points
Why airline status isn’t what it used to be
The future of hotel loyalty and how independent properties can level up
His new book, "How to Win at Travel", packed with insider tips
The best travel hacks for scoring premium flights and hotels

If you want to stop leaving money on the table and start traveling smarter, this episode is a must-listen. 🚀

Watch the FULL EPISODE now & learn how to master the art of points and miles: https://youtu.be/XqGwZgUM8rQ

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepointsguy/

The Points Guy: https://thepointsguy.com/

Books:
How to Win at Travel: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Travel-Brian-Kelly/dp/1668068656

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/135

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Did you know that there are highly effective strategies for maximizing travel rewards through loyalty programs?

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Kelly, the founder and CEO of The Points Guy, to talk about travel hacking, loyalty programs, and making the most out of points and miles.

Brian shares his personal journey, from booking his first family vacation with points at age 12 to building a multi-million-dollar business that helps travelers unlock luxury experiences for less.

Key Topics includes:

The biggest mistakes people make with points
Why airline status isn’t what it used to be
The future of hotel loyalty and how independent properties can level up
His new book, "How to Win at Travel", packed with insider tips
The best travel hacks for scoring premium flights and hotels

If you want to stop leaving money on the table and start traveling smarter, this episode is a must-listen. 🚀

Watch the FULL EPISODE now & learn how to master the art of points and miles: https://youtu.be/XqGwZgUM8rQ

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepointsguy/

The Points Guy: https://thepointsguy.com/

Books:
How to Win at Travel: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Travel-Brian-Kelly/dp/1668068656

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/135

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Previous Episode

#134: Inside the Only 100% Electric, Zero Emission Hotel in the United States | Hotel Marcel with Ben Webster

What does it really mean to be a sustainable hotel?

In this episode, Ben Webster, General Manager of Hotel Marcel, joins us to break down how his property became the first and only all-electric, solar-powered, LEED Platinum-certified, fossil-fuel-free hotel in the U.S..

From historic preservation to cutting-edge energy solutions, Ben shares insights for hoteliers looking to embrace sustainability, the real costs (and savings) of going green, and why so many companies talk the talk but don’t walk the walk when it comes to hosting sustainable events.

Key Topics:

What does it truly mean for a hotel to be sustainable?
How does the hotel engage guests in its sustainability efforts?
The Challenges and Trends in Sustainable Hospitality
Why do many Fortune 500 companies claim to prioritize sustainability but fail to book sustainable venues?

If you're in hospitality, this episode is a wake-up call—because sustainability isn’t just a trend; it’s the future.

Watch the FULL episode here: https://youtu.be/s5wShlHrLAc

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-webster-cha-91390181/

Hotel Marcel: https://www.hotelmarcel.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/134

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Next Episode

#136: How Accor is Handling Procurement & Sustainability | with Caroline Tissot

In this episode of The Modern Hotelier, we welcome Caroline Tissot, Chief Procurement Officer at Accor, for an eye-opening conversation on procurement, sustainability, and the evolving landscape of the hospitality industry.

Caroline shares her journey from consulting to leading procurement at one of the world’s largest hotel groups, giving insights into how Accor is driving sustainable practices, eliminating single-use plastics, and optimizing supply chains globally.

We also dive into:

How procurement is shaping the future of hospitality
Challenges and successes in sustainability initiatives
Emerging trends like AI and carbon footprint reduction
Caroline’s personal career advice for aspiring C-level executives

Whether you're a hotelier, industry leader, or just passionate about the future of hospitality, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

Watch the FULL EPISODE now and elevate your industry knowledge: https://youtu.be/k4NPGpoCmWw

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Caroline on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-tissot-0a8955/

Accor: https://group.accor.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/136

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...