Point Systems Leaders Club

Hotel
Get a clear overview of this award program, including earning shortcuts, recommended cards, transfer options, sweet spots, and helpful booking tips.
Leaders Club

Leaders Club

#8 Among Hotels

Point Value

8.0 ¢

Hobby Score

5.0

View Ratings

Sweet Spots

Casa Polanco
The Setai Hotel Miami Beach
Fifth Avenue Hotel
See More Sweet Spots

Top Transfers

5:1
Citi ThankYou Rewards
100% Value Retained

Booking Tips For This Reward Program

Check Amex and Chase too
Monitor bonus offers
Avoid These Pitfalls

Key Takeaways

Leaders Club is a boutique hotel program focused on luxury stays

  • The footprint is small compared to the big chains, with 400+ properties across 80+ countries
  • Members receive valuable perks like room upgrades, continental breakfast for two, and late checkout
  • The cheapest redemption is 4000 points, which is strong value, but points are hard to earn
  • There is no co-branded credit card, so the only ways to earn points are by staying at Leaders Club properties or transferring Citi points at a 5:1 ratio

Reward Program Ratings

8.0¢
Point Value
Yes Fixed
Points Expire
Clock Yes Instant
Transfer Time
No
Sharing

Hobby Score

5.0
Broad Coverage 3
Everyday Usefulness 3
Earn/Redeem Efficiency 6
Policy Fairness 5
Ease Of Holding 4
Product/Transfer Quality 9

Travel Partner Transfers

Transfers In

Citi ThankYou Rewards
100% Value Retained
5:1

Transfers Out

No direct transfers out of Leaders Club. Leaders Club generally cannot be moved to other point programs.

Points Transfer Guide

5,500 Leaders Club Points

Transferable Points

Transfer to
Spouse
5,219,403
19,000
74% Value Retained
No
125,000
45,000
85% Value Retained
Yes
34,950
2,000
12% Value Retained
Yes
Total Points Available Including all transfers
30,480

How to Earn Points

There are no lucrative ways to earn a lot of Leaders Club points, but the system for earning points through stays is straightforward. There is no co-branded credit card, and Leaders Club has only one credit card transfer partner.

Earn by Staying at Leaders Club Properties

  • Members earn 1 point per $1 on eligible stays
  • Sterling Elite members receive a 5% stay bonus
  • On-property spending does not earn additional points

Earn by Opening Citi Cards

Our Favorite Cards

Personal Card
Citi Strata

Citi Strata

Signup Bonus
20,000
Minimum Spend
$1,000
Annual Fee
$0
First Year Value
$1,660
Personal Card
Citi Strata Elite

Citi Strata Elite

Signup Bonus
75,000
Minimum Spend
$6,000
Annual Fee
$595
First Year Value
$5,765

Other Options to Earn

Leaders Club does not offer additional ways to earn points through shopping, dining, or partner activity. The only earning methods are staying at Leaders Club properties, transferring from Citi, or purchasing points.

  • Points normally cost 12¢ per point and can be purchased in increments of 1000
  • You can buy up to 50,000 points per year, with the option to gift points
  • Occasional promotions offer discounted purchase rates, sometimes as low as 6¢ per point

How to Redeem Points

The only way to redeem your Leaders Club points is for stays at one of their properties. They don’t have any airline or other travel partners to redeem points with. Searching for a hotel to book with points is straightforward. You can toggle the “View with Points” button on or off to see prices in points. When it is on, results display both the points price and the cash price, making it easy to see how many cents per point your redemption is worth.

Sweet Spots Finder

Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.

Booking Tips

If you are eyeing a Leader's Club property, check American Express and Chase’s booking portals. Many Leaders Club properties are part of Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts and Chase Edit hotels. Prices vary, so they can be cheaper through either of those systems, and if you have a premium card with either system, you could be eligible for benefits associated with that card.

Who is it best for?

Leaders Club is best for travelers who prefer boutique luxury hotels and a more personalized experience. The footprint is small, with about 400 properties across 80 countries, but the stays are high end and offer a different feel from major hotel chains.

Redemptions start at just 4000 points per night, which is low for a luxury program, but earning points is slow. You earn 1 point per dollar on paid stays, there is no co-branded credit card, and Citi is the only transfer partner. Transfers are at a 5:1 ratio, so you need an 8–9 cent per point redemption to make transfers worthwhile. Fortunately, those redemptions do exist.

Status Levels Explained

There are two Elite Status levels with Leaders Club. You become a Club member simply by signing up for a free account, and the free tier includes a surprising number of benefits. To reach Sterling Elite, you must spend at least $5000 in a calendar year on rooms at Leaders Club properties.

Once you reach Sterling, you keep that status for the rest of the year you earn it and the entire following calendar year. So if you earn it in June 2025, you will hold Sterling benefits through December 2026.

Elite Status Levels

Here are the two elite status levels for Leaders Club, what it takes to reach each level, and benefits of each

  • Upgrade priority at arrival
  • Daily continental breakfast for two
  • Early check-in and late checkout considerations
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Sixt status match (Sixt Gold status)
  • Unlock 1 pre-arrival upgrade when you complete a paid stay, then earn 1 per year annually on January 1

FAQs

Is LHW membership worth it?
Yes, it is completely free to join Leaders Club, and you get solid perks just for signing up. Benefits include upgrade priority, free breakfast for two, early check-in, late checkout, and a pre-arrival upgrade after completing your first paid stay.
What are LHW hotels?
LHW stands for Leading Hotels of the World, a collection of boutique luxury properties. There are over 400 hotels across more than 80 countries, each focused on preserving its own identity rather than operating as part of a large hotel chain.
Are LHW hotels independently owned?
Yes. All Leading Hotels of the World properties are independently owned and undergo a strict screening process before joining. They are unique, high-end hotels that participate in a shared loyalty program while maintaining their independence.