Preferred Hotels & Resorts Enhances I Prefer Hotel Rewards Benefits Through Introduction of Limited-Time Biddable Travel Experiences

New I Prefer Auctions enable loyalty program members to use earned points to bid on future independent hotel stays and inspired curated experiences

NEW YORK – January 21, 2021: Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand, has unveiled a new benefit for valued members of its I Prefer Hotel Rewards program with the introduction of I Prefer Auctions – a limited-time bidding initiative that provides an exciting, fresh way to use points earned during past travels to purchase future one-of-a-kind hotel experiences. Exclusive to I Prefer members, the pilot launch runs from today through February 3 and comprises a hand-picked selection of experiences available across 11 independent hotels in North America to be enjoyed through 2021– ranging from overnight stays to locally inspired tasting menus and personalized spa treatments – all of which can be paid for with points accrued in 2019 and 2020.

“In anticipation of greater travel freedoms to come, we are thrilled to spark inspiration among our loyal I Prefer members by inviting them to use their points to bid on new experiences to enjoy once they resume their adventures,” said Jeri Salazar, Vice President of Loyalty for Preferred Hotels & Resorts. “We understand that many travelers’ priorities may have shifted over the past several months, and through I Prefer Auctions, we aim to address their new needs and aspirations by offering more personalization in the options they have when looking to redeem their points, while inciting the excitement of finally planning a future trip.”

To participate in the inaugural I Prefer Auction, I Prefer members must login to IPrefer.com and bid on their favorite experience via the auction site, with choices dependent on their personal allotment of available points. The I Prefer member with the highest bid at the time of auction close will win that offer and receive full details of their successful bid and the redemption process via email. Experiences up for bid include:

• Penthouse suite stay and dinner for two at The Joule in Dallas, Texas: Bids are open for an overnight stay in a 2,000 sq. ft. penthouse featuring fine artwork, communal living, kitchen, and dining areas, and private outdoor terrace with downtown views. The offer also includes dinner for two at on-property restaurant CBD Provisions – an acclaimed modern Texas brasserie.
• Overnight stay for two with in-suite dining at Hotel Gault in Montreal, Canada: Members can tender points for an indulgent one-night stay at this boutique hotel housed in an elegant 19^th century Greystone building in the heart of Old Montreal. Choosing from either a Terrace Suite with city views or a spacious, residential-style apartment, the winner and one guest can stay in until check out by enjoying in-room dinner from a Japanese-Peruvian “Best of Tiradito” menu or a Peruvian-Chinese “Best of Chifa” menu, before waking up to a gourmet breakfast in bed.  
• Couples spa experience at Las Brisas Acapulco in Acapulco, Mexico: This offer is ideal for travelers planning a stay at the romantic hillside resort, which extends private casitas with outdoor pools across 40 acres of beachfront estate. Members can bid to win two 60-minute treatments at the resort’s luxurious ESPA Spa, with treatment options including body wraps, hot stone or bamboo massages, and personalized facials. Nightly rates at Las Brisas Acapulco start at US$123.
• Dine, laugh, play, and stay at Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas: This thrilling getaway experience is packed with entertainment and escapism, inclusive of a two-night stay in a deluxe one-bedroom suite, a $200 dining credit to use at any of the hotel’s six food and drink outlets, two tickets for a comedy show, and $100 in match play per person for two people on the casino floor.

Members can view the full list of experiences available through the inaugural I Prefer Auction, in addition to the complete terms and conditions, by visiting the I Prefer Rewards Suite after logging in at IPrefer.com.

I Prefer Auctions is the latest initiative Preferred has introduced to enhance its suite of I Prefer member benefits amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This launch follows the recent announcement that the points expiration date for all I Prefer members globally has been further extended through June 30, 2021, and that all I Prefer Elite members will maintain their status through June 30, 2022.

Debuted in 2013, I Prefer is the world’s largest global points-based guest loyalty program for independent hotels, with more than 3.7 million members currently enrolled. Complimentary to join, I Prefer provides valuable benefits to travelers who favor the independent hotel experience, including points redeemable for cash-value Reward Certificates, exclusive member rates for direct bookings, and other valuable benefits such as room upgrades upon availability, early check-in, and late check out for eligible stays at more than 650 participating properties worldwide.