What to do when a Best Western Rewards account holder dies
Contact Best Western International to request a transfer of points after an account holder dies
OverviewWhen someone dies
Best Western Rewards Customer Service
Phone1-800-237-8483
Timeline
At BWI's discretion; no specific processing timeline published
WebsiteFile estate claim→
(General customer service)
Verified Apr 2026
Per the Best Western Rewards Terms and Conditions: "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 transfer is the full balance in a single transaction at BWI's discretion. The recipient must be an active Best Western Rewards member. The TOS also provides for incapacitation: "in the event of a Member's incapacitation, and at BWI's discretion, Best Western 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." Elite status may transfer upon death or incapacitation, but VIP Membership Status benefits do not transfer.
How to request a transfer
Follow these steps to initiate a transfer of Best Western Rewards points after the account holder's death:
1
Contact Best Western Rewards Customer Service at 1-800-237-8483 to report the death of a member and initiate the transfer process.
2
Submit required documentation:
- •First and last page of the legal document (will, trust, or letters testamentary) showing the designated beneficiary or executor
- •The legal document must include a legal seal of affirmation
3
The designated beneficiary must have an active Best Western Rewards account to receive the transferred points.
4
The transfer is a one-time, full point balance transfer. Points cannot be split among multiple recipients.
5
Elite status may transfer upon death, but VIP Membership Status benefits do not transfer to the recipient.
Required Documents
- First and last page of the legal document (will, trust, or letters testamentary)
- Legal document must include a legal seal of affirmation
- Deceased member's Best Western Rewards account number
- Beneficiary's active Best Western Rewards account number
Timeline
At BWI's discretion; no specific processing timeline published
Frequently asked questions
At BWI's discretion, the full point balance can be transferred in a one-time transaction to a designated beneficiary who has an active Best Western Rewards account. Required documentation includes the first and last page of a legal document (will, trust, or letters testamentary) with a legal seal of affirmation.
Yes, with limitations. The terms allow a one-time full balance transfer to a designated beneficiary at BWI's discretion. The transfer is not guaranteed but is explicitly provided for in the program terms. Elite status may also transfer, but VIP Membership Status benefits do not.
Elite status may transfer upon death or incapacitation. However, VIP Membership Status benefits do not transfer to the recipient of the points. This is an unusual provision among hotel loyalty programs.
Transferring points during your lifetime is the most reliable way to ensure a family member receives them. Lifetime transfers can be made in 1,000-point increments to any active Best Western Rewards member, up to 150,000 points per rolling calendar year. The post-death transfer process is at BWI's discretion and requires legal documentation, so lifetime transfers eliminate that uncertainty.
Per the Best Western Rewards Terms and Conditions, the executor must submit the first and last page of a legal document (will, trust, or letters testamentary) showing the designated beneficiary or executor, and that document must include a legal seal of affirmation. The beneficiary must have an active Best Western Rewards account to receive the points.
The Best Western Rewards Terms and Conditions also address incapacitation: at BWI's discretion, the program will allow a one-time full point balance transfer to a designated member with the required documentation, or for the name on the account to be changed. This is a separate provision from the death-of-member transfer and is uncommon among hotel loyalty programs.
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.
Best Western Rewards Customer Service
Phone1-800-237-8483
Timeline
At BWI's discretion; no specific processing timeline published
WebsiteFile estate claim→
(General customer service)
Verified Apr 2026