Tracking Points & Transfer Options
#7 Among Hotels
Point Value
0.5 ¢
Hobby Score
5.5
IPrefer is a niche luxury hotel program
Yes
Earning IPrefer points is not easy, since their footprint is much smaller than major hotel chains like Marriott or Hilton. You will earn points by staying at Preferred Hotels and Resorts properties, but loyalty can be tough with limited locations. They also do not have co-branded credit cards, and Citi is their only transfer partner.
IPrefer is a unique loyalty system because there are only two ways to redeem your points. You can use points to “purchase” a set-value Rewards Certificate for use at participating hotels, but this gives you roughly 0.2 cents per point. It is a very poor redemption.
The best way to redeem is to book a room directly at a Preferred Hotels and Resorts property, especially if you transfer points from a Citi Strata Elite or Premier card at the 1:4 ratio. Award nights start at 15,000 points, so transferring 3,750 Citi points would cover an entry-level room. Higher-end rooms can cost up to 150,000 points per night.
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
Some properties only have cash booking options, and you won’t know until you’re actually searching. This can be a frustrating part of using this program
If a property is bookable by both IPrefer and Choice Privileges, you may notice that the award price is actually lower through Choice Privileges. But if you have a Citi Strata Elite or Premier card, you can transfer to IPrefer at 1:4, so you will most likely still get a better value this way
The IPrefer rewards system is best for travelers who want boutique, luxury hotel experiences. Since the footprint is small and earning opportunities are limited, it’s tough to build a large points balance unless you regularly stay at Preferred Hotels and Resorts. Citi is the only transfer partner, but a 1:4 ratio with the Strata cards can unlock excellent sweet spot redemptions.
Elite benefits are weaker than what you’ll find with major hotel chains, but status is easier to earn. Silver status is automatic when you sign up and comes with a few worthwhile perks. Because many Preferred properties are independently run, the consistency of elite benefits varies from hotel to hotel.
This isn’t a program we’d recommend pursuing aggressively for points or status. But it’s worth including in your search when planning a trip, especially if you have Citi ThankYou points from a Strata card. The 1:4 transfer ratio can offer real value, so it’s smart to check for opportunities before booking elsewhere.
There are three levels of Elite status with Preferred Hotels and Resorts. This program lags behind most major hotel loyalty systems in terms of elite benefits, but the requirements are easier. The free Silver tier offers a decent set of perks considering all you have to do is sign up.
Advancing through each tier depends entirely on the number of points you earn. There are no separate qualifying methods and no stay requirements. Your progress is tied to how much you spend on eligible stays. Most hotels award 10 base points per dollar, so a $250 room earns 2,500 points toward both award redemptions and elite status.
Here are the three levels of elite status for Choice Privileges and what it takes to reach each level, along with benefits of each
