Estate planning as a Radisson Rewards account holder

Radisson Rewards is the loyalty programme of Radisson Hotel Group, covering Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, art'otel, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson and Prize by Radisson properties. The programme is run by Radisson Loyalty Management B.V. of Brussels and its Program Terms are governed by Belgian law. It is one of the few hotel programmes to publish a death clause: an "Upon Death" provision permits points to be transferred to the account of a deceased member's beneficiary at Radisson's sole discretion, on proof of death and proof of authority, if the request is made within one year of the date of death. Points otherwise carry no cash value, "do not constitute member property", and may not pass by inheritance or operation of law. Radisson Rewards Americas is a separate, terminated programme: Choice Hotels acquired Radisson Hotel Group Americas and integrated those members into Choice Privileges, so a balance earned at an Americas property now sits in a Choice Privileges account and is governed by Choice's rules, not by this record.

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

Members can transfer points to other Radisson 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 Radisson Rewards Program Terms contain an "Upon Death" provision in the Transferring Points section: points belonging to a Radisson Rewards or Radisson Rewards for Bookers and Planners member who is deceased may be transferred to the account of the deceased member's beneficiary or beneficiaries in Radisson's sole discretion. Three conditions are stated. The membership must have been in good standing at the time of death. The request must include documentation showing proof of death, such as a death certificate, and proof of authority to make the request, such as court documents or the decedent's will. And the request must be made within one year of the date of death, failing which the deceased member's account is closed and all points are forfeited. Two other clauses frame what the transfer is not. Section 6.g provides that points "have no cash value and do not constitute member property", and that the only right a member acquires in points is the opportunity to surrender them for redemption. Section 7.i provides that membership, points, Award Nights, Elite Tier and other programme benefits may not be transferred or given away "including without limitation as part of a domestic relations matter, divorce, inheritance, or otherwise by operation of law", except as the Program Terms expressly allow — the Upon Death clause being that express allowance. The transfer is therefore a discretionary route to a named beneficiary, not an estate asset. The Terms say nothing about whether Elite Tier or accrued stay credit follow the points; Section 7.i lists Elite Tier among the benefits that may not be transferred.

Frequently asked questions