What Omni Hotels offers and how their rewards program operates

Omni Hotels and Resorts is a chain owned by Omni Hotels Limited that operates over 60 properties across North America, with locations in major cities, resort destinations, and smaller markets. The chain includes full-service hotels, resorts, and some extended-stay properties. Like most hotel chains, Omni runs a rewards program called Omni Select Guest that lets you earn points on stays and redeem them for free nights, room upgrades, and other benefits.

The program is free to join. You create an account through Omni's website or mobile app, provide your email and phone number, and start earning points when ready on any reservation you make at an Omni property. Points accumulate in your account and do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months.

Omni Select Guest has three membership tiers: Select, Select Plus, and Select Premier. You move up tiers by staying a certain number of nights in a calendar year. Each tier unlocks additional perks like room upgrades, late checkout, and bonus points on stays.

Key Takeaways

  • Omni Select Guest is a free rewards program where you earn points on hotel stays and redeem them for free nights or other rewards at any Omni property.
  • The program has three tiers based on how many nights you stay in a calendar year, with each tier offering additional benefits like upgrades and bonus points.
  • Points do not expire as long as you have at least one account activity every 24 months, such as a stay or a points transfer.
  • You can earn points faster by booking directly through Omni's website or app rather than through third-party booking sites, and by using a co-branded credit card if you have one.
  • Redemption options include free nights, room upgrades, dining credits, and transfers to airline partners, though availability and point costs vary by property and date.

How points are earned and the earning rates

When you stay at an Omni property as a registered Omni Select Guest member, you earn points based on the room rate you pay. The standard earning rate is 10 points per dollar spent on your room. This means a $150 night earns 1,500 points. Points are posted to your account after checkout, not during the stay.

You earn bonus points when you book directly through Omni's website, mobile app, or by calling Omni's reservations line. Booking through a third-party site like Expedia or Booking.com may not earn points, or may earn a reduced amount — this varies by property and the specific third-party site. Always check the terms before booking if points are important to you.

If you hold an Omni Hotels credit card, you earn additional points on stays and on all other purchases made with the card. The card also typically offers a sign-up bonus of points after you meet a minimum spending requirement. Credit card terms and earning rates change, so check the card issuer's current offer if you are considering this option.

Elite members — those in the Select Plus or Select Premier tiers — earn bonus points on top of the base rate. The exact bonus percentage depends on your tier and changes periodically.

Membership tiers and what each one includes

The Select tier is the entry level and is what you receive when you first join. There are no night requirements to maintain it. Select members receive the base 10 points per dollar on stays, access to member-only rates, and the ability to redeem points for rewards.

The Select Plus tier requires 10 nights or 25,000 points earned in a calendar year. Select Plus members receive a 10% bonus on points earned during stays, room upgrades when available at check-in, late checkout (usually until 4 p.m.), and complimentary internet if the property charges for it. They also receive a welcome gift of bonus points each year they maintain the tier.

The Select Premier tier requires 25 nights or 70,000 points earned in a calendar year. Select Premier members receive a 25% bonus on points earned during stays, may provide room upgrades (one category higher than booked, when available), late checkout until 6 p.m., complimentary internet, suite upgrades on select properties, and a higher annual welcome bonus. Premier members also receive priority customer service and access to a dedicated phone line.

Your tier status is based on activity during the calendar year (January through December). If you do not meet the night or point requirement in a given year, you drop back to the tier below. However, Omni occasionally offers status matches or challenges that let you reach a higher tier with fewer nights if you are a member of another hotel chain's loyalty program.

How to redeem points and what rewards cost

Points are redeemed through your Omni Select Guest account on the website or mobile app. The most common redemption is a free night certificate, which covers one night's room rate at a specific property. The point cost varies widely by property, season, and how far in advance you book. A free night at a budget Omni property in an off-season month might cost 20,000 to 30,000 points, while a free night at a resort property during peak season could cost 50,000 points or more.

Omni publishes a redemption chart on their website that shows the point cost for free nights at each property, organized by category. This chart is updated periodically and is the most reliable way to see what a specific stay will cost before you search for dates.

Beyond free nights, you can redeem points for room upgrades (if you are staying and want to upgrade your booked room), dining credits at hotel restaurants, spa services, or gift cards to retail partners. You can also transfer points to airline partners, though the transfer rate is typically less favorable than redeeming for a hotel stay.

Some properties offer package deals that bundle points with cash to cover a stay, which can be useful if you do not have enough points for a free night but want to use some of them.

Blackout dates and redemption restrictions

Omni does not publish a formal blackout date calendar the way some other hotel chains do. Instead, point availability for free nights is tied to room availability. If a property has no rooms available for a particular night, you cannot redeem points for that night, even if you could pay cash for a room.

This means popular properties during peak seasons (holidays, summer weekends, major events) may have limited or no point availability. You can search for point availability on the Omni website by entering your desired dates and property, and the system will show you whether points can be redeemed for those dates.

Some properties have a minimum length-of-stay requirement for point redemptions during certain periods, meaning you may need to book at least two or three nights to use points, even if you only want to stay one night.

Comparing Omni to other major hotel chains

Omni's earning rate of 10 points per dollar is standard for many hotel chains. Marriott Bonvoy, for example, also earns 10 base points per dollar, while Hilton Honors earns 10 base points per dollar as well. The difference often comes down to elite benefits and how straightforward it is to reach higher tiers.

Omni's tier requirements are moderate compared to some chains. Reaching Select Plus requires 10 nights, which is achievable for occasional business travelers. Marriott's Silver Elite tier also requires 10 nights, while Hilton's Silver Elite requires 4 nights. Reaching the highest tier at Omni (Select Premier) requires 25 nights, which is more demanding than some competitors but comparable to Marriott's Platinum Elite.

One advantage of Omni is that points do not expire as long as you have account activity every 24 months. Some chains require activity every 12 months or have stricter expiration policies. However, Omni's portfolio of properties is smaller than Marriott or Hilton, so you have fewer redemption options if you travel widely.

If you stay primarily at Omni properties and value the tier benefits, the program is competitive. If you stay at many different chains, a larger program like Marriott or Hilton may give you more flexibility and faster tier advancement.

How to maximize points and common redemption strategies

Book directly through Omni's website or app whenever possible. This ensures you earn the full point rate and any bonus points for direct bookings. Booking through a third-party site may earn fewer or no points, which adds up over time.

If you stay at Omni properties regularly, consider whether the co-branded credit card makes sense for you. The sign-up bonus alone can cover a free night at many properties, and earning points on all purchases — not just hotel stays — accelerates your progress toward elite status.

Stack your benefits by combining points with cash when you are close to a free night redemption. Some properties let you use a smaller number of points plus a cash payment to cover a stay, which can be more efficient than saving up for a full free night.

Plan redemptions around the redemption chart. Free nights at lower-category properties cost fewer points, so if you are flexible on where you stay, you can stretch your points further. Booking well in advance also increases your chances of finding point availability at popular properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do points expire if I do not use them?

Points do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months. Activity includes a hotel stay, a credit card purchase, a points transfer, or even logging into your account. If you go 24 months with no activity, your account and points may be closed.

Can I transfer points to someone else or use them for someone else's stay?

You can transfer points to another Omni Select Guest member's account, though there may be a small fee or point cost to do so. You can also book a free night for someone else if you provide their name and contact information at the time of redemption. Check Omni's current policy on transfers, as terms can change.

What happens to my tier status if I do not meet the night requirement?

If you do not reach your tier's night or point requirement by December 31, you drop back to the tier below on January 1. However, Omni sometimes offers a grace period or allows you to challenge for status by earning nights in the first few weeks of the new year. Check your account in December to see if any options are available.

Can I use points at properties outside the United States?

Omni operates properties in Canada and the Caribbean in addition to the United States. Points can be redeemed at any Omni property worldwide. However, the point cost for international properties may be higher, and availability can be more limited, so check the redemption chart before planning a trip.

What is the best way to redeem points for the most value?

Free night redemptions typically offer the best value per point, especially at higher-category properties. Dining credits and other redemptions usually cost more points relative to their cash value. Transferring points to airline partners is generally the least valuable option unless you have a specific airline goal.