What happens to Best Western Rewards points when the owner dies
Best Western International has a formal process for transferring points after an account holder dies
Best Western Rewards Customer Service (North America)
Best Western Rewards Customer Service (deceased-member point transfer; no separate estates team is published)
Best Western publishes no processing timeline for the death-of-member point transfer. The terms condition the transfer on Best Western International's discretion and set no service standard, so the executor should ask Customer Service for an expected review time when the request is submitted.
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.
How to request a transfer
Follow these steps to initiate a transfer of Best Western Rewards points after the account holder's death:
- •A death certificate
- •Documentation of the first and last page of the legal document (will, trust, or letters testamentary) showing the surviving or designated Best Western Rewards account member as the executor or beneficiary of the estate, and that document must carry a legal seal of affirmation
Required Documents
- Death certificate
- First and last page of the legal document (will, trust, or letters testamentary) showing the surviving or designated Best Western Rewards account member as the executor or beneficiary of the estate
- That legal document must include a legal seal of affirmation
- The deceased member's Best Western Rewards account number
- The designated beneficiary's active Best Western Rewards account number
Timeline
Best Western publishes no processing timeline for the death-of-member point transfer. The terms condition the transfer on Best Western International's discretion and set no service standard, so the executor should ask Customer Service for an expected review time when the request is submitted.
Frequently asked questions
The Best Western Rewards Terms and Conditions provide that in the event of a member's death, and at Best Western International's discretion, the full point balance may be transferred in a one-time transaction to the designated beneficiary once the required documentation is received. Best Western requires two documents: a death certificate, and the first and last page of the legal document (will, trust, or letters testamentary) showing that person as executor or beneficiary of the estate, carrying a legal seal of affirmation. The recipient must hold an active Best Western Rewards account, because the balance is credited into a member account. The transfer is discretionary, so Best Western decides whether to make it.
With limitations. The terms contemplate a one-time full balance transfer to a designated beneficiary at Best Western International's discretion, which is more than most hotel programs publish, but the transfer is not an entitlement. The points are credited into the beneficiary's own active Best Western Rewards account rather than paid to the estate, and the whole balance moves in a single transaction, so it cannot be divided among several heirs. Elite status may also transfer for death per program rules, but VIP Membership Status benefits do not.
Two documents, per the Best Western Rewards Terms and Conditions. First, a death certificate. Second, documentation of the first and last page of the legal document (will, trust, or letters testamentary) showing the surviving or designated Best Western Rewards member as the executor or beneficiary of the estate, and that document must include a legal seal of affirmation. Have the deceased member's account number and the recipient's active Best Western Rewards account number ready as well. Start by calling Best Western Rewards Customer Service at 1-800-237-8483, which directs where to send the request and the documents.
The terms state that elite status will transfer for death or incapacitation only per program rules. They also state that VIP Membership Status benefits will not transfer to the recipient of the points, for any type of transfer. Both provisions sit in the same section of the terms as the death transfer itself. Elite status transfer is unusual among hotel loyalty programs.
Open one first. The terms describe the recipient as "the surviving or designated Best Western Rewards Account Member," so the transfer credits points into an existing member account rather than paying a sum to the estate. Enrolling the intended recipient before the request is submitted is what makes the request answerable, and enrollment is free. Confirm the recipient's account number and include it with the request.
The recipient can use transferred points under the program's normal terms. Keeping the deceased account holder's account number and contact details on file simplifies this process for the executor or surviving family.
Sources
Data sourced from Best Western International primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
Best Western Rewards Customer Service (North America)
Best Western Rewards Customer Service (deceased-member point transfer; no separate estates team is published)
Best Western publishes no processing timeline for the death-of-member point transfer. The terms condition the transfer on Best Western International's discretion and set no service standard, so the executor should ask Customer Service for an expected review time when the request is submitted.
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