Choice Hotels' Social Networking Strategy Marries Loyalty, Mobile Check-ins

Travelers can now earn extra hotel rewards simply by tweeting about their hotel or checking-in on Foursquare, Facebook, Twitter or Gowalla. Choice Hotels’ Choice Privileges members can now earn points when using Facebook Places, Twitter, Gowalla and Foursquare to tell their contacts about their stays at Comfort Suites, Quality and Cambria Suites brand hotels with the help of Topguest.

 

The new Choice Privileges partnership with Topguest, a new service that gives real travel rewards from nearly 10,000 hotels, airports and restaurants for virtually "checking-in," will reward Topguest members staying at any Comfort Suites, Quality or Cambria Suites brand hotel with 50 Choice Privileges bonus points when they document their travel experiences virtually by checking-in with major applications. That includes apps like Facebook Places, Foursquare, Twitter and Gowalla.

 

"Since many guests at Comfort Suites, Quality and Cambria Suites brand hotels are already conducting virtual check-ins, this pilot program with Topguest allows Choice Privileges members to be rewarded for actively participating in the exciting new social media universe of geo-location," says Greg Brown, vice president of loyalty and relationship marketing for Choice Hotels International, Inc.

 

To take advantage of this special new partnership, travelers can sign up for their free Choice Privileges membership and download the new Topguest iPhone or Android application. The Topguest application will easily and automatically notify travelers in real time whenever they receive a Topguest reward or unlock bonus points and perks.