Estate planning as a Best Western Rewards account holder

Best Western Rewards is the loyalty program for Best Western Hotels & Resorts, covering thousands of hotels across the Best Western, Best Western Plus, Best Western Premier, SureStay, Aiden, and WorldHotels brands. Best Western is unusually estate-friendly for a hotel program: its published terms address divorce, death, and incapacitation directly, and allow a one-time, full point balance transfer to a designated beneficiary at Best Western International's discretion upon receipt of the required documentation.

When a Best Western Rewards account holder dies, their points may be transferred to a designated person at Best Western International's sole discretion. A transfer is not guaranteed, and satisfactory documentation is required before processing any request.

Members can transfer points to other Best Western Rewards participants while their account is active. Fees generally apply, but this is the most direct way to move points to family members.

What happens at death

The Best Western Rewards Terms and Conditions carry a section headed "DIVORCE, DEATH OR INCAPACITATION." On death it states: "In the event of a Member's death, and at BWI's discretion, we will allow a one-time, full point balance to be transferred to the designated beneficiary upon receipt of the required documentation." The terms then list the documentation Best Western must receive before doing so: a death certificate, and "Documentation of the first and last page of the legal document showing the surviving or designated Best Western Rewards Account Member as the executor or beneficiary of the estate with a legal seal of affirmation." The transfer moves the full balance in a single transaction, and the wording ("the surviving or designated Best Western Rewards Account Member") means the recipient must already hold a Best Western Rewards account. The same section covers two neighbouring situations. On divorce: "In the event of a Member's divorce, and at BWI's discretion, Points may be transferred from one (1) Member's account to another Member's account upon receipt and review of the required legal documentation." On incapacitation: "In the event of a Member's incapacitation, and at BWI's discretion, we will allow a one-time full point balance to be transferred to the designated Member with the required documentation or for the name on an Account to be changed," which requires a letter from a doctor at the hospital or medical facility stating the person is incapacitated, a court order, and a power of attorney or other legal document establishing the requestor's authority. The section closes: "Elite status will transfer for death or incapacitation only per Program rules. VIP Membership Status benefits will not transfer to the recipient of the Points for any type of transfer." Every path in the section is conditioned on Best Western International's discretion, so the program contemplates the transfer without entitling anyone to it.

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