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How to Use Loyalty Points for Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences

By U.S. News & World Report

Ever wanted to throw the first pitch at a World Series game, experience the Super Bowl in person or attend the Grammys? These one-of-a-kind experiences are just a few enticing benefits offered through today’s hotel loyalty programs. Major hotel brands, including Marriott, Hilton and InterContinental Hotels Group have begun broadening the ways their loyalty members can redeem points, affording unique opportunities like VIP access to exclusive events. And with the Marriott-Starwood merger, loyalists can not only take advantage of exciting exclusive experiences, but also transfer points between programs and redeem stays at more than 30 different hotel brands, among other opportunities. Whether you want to leverage your points for elite-status upgrades or access to premiere sporting events, concerts and other exclusive experiences, here’s your guide to getting the best return on your loyalty.

[Read: What to Expect From Hotel Loyalty Programs in 2017.]

Redeem Points for Amazing Award Options

The types of experiences loyalty members can choose from run the gamut, from sports and concerts to cultural events and travel packages. Many loyalty programs offer access to sporting events of all types, including the U.S. Open and PGA Tours, as well as NBA, NFL and MLB games. “For some of the most talked about and exciting sports moments of the year, we’ve managed to put our members in the center of that experience,” says David Flueck, senior vice president of Starwood Preferred Guest and revenue management at Marriott International. “It’s a memory they will remember forever and cherish with their families,” he adds.

Starwood Preferred Guest features unique experiences through SPG Moments, and has a variety of partnerships with a variety of companies. The Major League Baseball is an SPG partner, and offers members the chance to enjoy extraordinary experiences, such as singing the national anthem and scoring a prime seat at a Chicago Cubs game. “We had a member who threw out the first pitch for Games 5 and 7 of the World Series,” Flueck says. “Cubs fans absolutely loved access to Moments during the World Series,” he adds.

Meanwhile, Marriott sent members to the Super Bowl last year and has experiences that include tickets to the Kentucky Derby, the Daytona 500 and the Bank of Hope Founders Cup. And In January, the IHG Rewards Club sent two guests to the International Motor Sports Association’s Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, where they got to not only watch the race from a VIP suite, but see the cars up close, and interact with the drivers and teams.

Music is another pillar of many experiential-driven loyalty program perks. SPG Moments lets guests redeem points for concerts at major venues to see stars such as Billy Joel, John Mayer and Bon Jovi and also has tickets to Coachella and the New Orleans Jazz Fest & Heritage Festival. Marriott Experiences is sending members to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and to see Barbra Streisand, while Hilton Honors lets members redeem points to see legendary bands such as U2, Sting and Twenty One Pilots.

There are some game-changing VIP opportunities available as well. The Marriott Rewards Experiences marketplace offers film aficionados an exclusive viewing of the Oscars red carpet. Meanwhile, SPG Moments enables foodies to attend a taping of the Rachael Ray Show.

[Read: 6 Insider Tips for Choosing a Hotel Loyalty Program.]

Collect Points Strategically

Most VIP experiences require a significant number of points, though there are some opportunities available at a lower redemption threshold. For example, attending MLB spring training games require only 5,000 SPG Starpoints. To quickly collect a large number of points, take advantage of promotions that allow loyalists to earn bonus points, use a brand-backed credit card and make online purchases through your preferred program’s shopping portal.

Justin and Tracy Uselton, the writers behind the travel blog ACouplefortheRoad.com, attended a symphony performance in Miami, using a 30,000-point bonus they earned by signing up for the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card from American Express. The couple enjoys attending symphonies around the world and said they scored excellent seats by redeeming their points for two tickets through SPG Moments.

Bid and Redeem Wisely

Most loyalty programs offer several ways to gain access to their exclusive experiences, which usually includes either bidding or purchasing them for a set amount of points. For the more coveted experiences, such as attending the Super Bowl or throwing the first World Series pitch, expect experiences to be auctioned off. Members may bid on the experience until the time and date of close at which point the highest bidder wins.

Other experiences may be redeemed for a set amount of points. This is an easier way to secure an experience. However, there is typically a fixed number of experiences available for each service or experience, so redeem points as early as possible before the experience sells out if there’s an event you’re particularly interested in.

[See: The 2016-17 Best Hotel Rewards Programs.]

Anthony Ingham, global brand leader for W Hotels Worldwide recalls a couple in their 50s who bid and won a chance to attend a seven-day boot camp for DJs in Ibiza. He said they have stayed in contact with him four years later. “That has such a strong impact on these two guests being part of that experience. They became raving brand fans forever,” he says.

More from U.S. News

How to Maximize Travel Rewards Points and Perks for Your Family

5 Loyalty Program Trends to Watch

4 Loyalty Program Changes That Should Be on Your Radar

How to Use Loyalty Points for Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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