About Loyalty Traveler
Ric Garrido is the Loyalty Traveler and a hotel loyalty program specialist focused on consumer value for travelers.
I am not an expert on every hotel. There are 25,000+ hotels just in the top 10 hotel loyalty programs. While I may not be able to help you with a particular hotel, I can show you how to travel the world of hotels using hotel loyalty programs to greatly increase the value received with your hotel spending.
I have a high degree of knowledge on hotel loyalty programs since I made it my business to study this niche of the travel world.
Over the past ten years I have been a top elite loyalty program member in Starwood, Hilton, and Hyatt over multiple years. I have held lower elite status in a few other hotel loyalty programs. I average between 40 and 80 nights a year in hotels. I travel on a middle class salary and rarely spend more than $150 per night for a room. I frequently stay in rooms that would cost $300 per night, but I get complinetary upgrades. I am not upgraded by hotels for being the Loyalty Traveler.
I get upgraded by being a loyalty traveler.
Loyalty travelers are the hotels' best friends. They know it. I know it. Loyalty travelers have a mutually beneficial non-binding contract. Loyalty by the frequent guest is rewards by value-added benefits by the hotel.
I hope you enjoy your hotel travel.
Loyalty Traveler is based on the simple principle that the do-it-yourself travel planner can find the best value on the internet, if you know where to look and you learn how to navigate hotel websites for special rates.
Being Ric Garrido
"Hotel Value for Frequent Guests" is the Loyalty Traveler monthly column written for
Original research on hotel loyalty programs and is available on an independent contract basis for publication articles and hotel travel-related work.
Media inquiries and interviews please feel free to contact me at
Interviews:
- USA Today, August 7, 2009
Loyalty Traveler History
I wrote notebooks of information while traveling the world this past decade. From about 2000 on I repeatedly wrote out business plans for a consumer education travel business. My objective was a simple one. Explain to others how I travel the world in nice style for comparatively little money.
Loyalty Traveler is a licensed business in Monterey, California since April 2006.
Loyalty Traveler provides independent consumer-focused hotel loyalty program research and travel advice from a traveler's perspective.
Loyalty Traveler Mission Statement
Loyalty Traveler educates travelers about the benefits of hotel travel loyalty programs and strategies to earn free hotel nights, room upgrades, and plan for better hotel stays with elite frequent guest status.
Loyalty Traveler strives to promote the best internet sites for business and vacation travel planning.
Disclosure
Loyalty Traveler is not a seller of travel (a travel agency).
Loyalty Traveler consulting services are targeted for the traveler. Loyalty Traveler hotel travel strategies are opinion and analysis about the value of hotel loyalty programs and online booking options based on ten years of hotel rate analysis.
Loyalty Traveler has never accepted free accommodation from hotels for services.
Ric Garrido has received over 200 free room nights earned through participation as a member in hotel loyalty programs over the past decade.
Pub Sign, Prague, CZ (February 2007 trip)