G L OB A L AWA R D S
B E S T T R A V E L A P P I N T HE WO R L D
BOOKING.COM
WORDS CALUM MCSWIGGAN
Six reasons to use
Booking.com
B E S T HO T E L L O Y A L T Y
P R O G R A M M E IN T H E W O R L D
As a full-time travel writer and creator, I’m always on the road and I’ve racked up over 100 bookings
through
Booking.com this year alone. Here are six
reasons why it’s my go-to travel provider, and tips on how I get the most out of its award-winning app.
1
MARRIOTT BONVOY WORDS JAKE JONES
WITH MORE THAN 9,000 properties and 1.7 million rooms worldwide, Marriott Bonvoy boasts the largest global footprint among hotel groups, offering
travellers extensive lodging options across 36 brands, including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis and JW Marriott. What can you do with 150,000 points? Quite a lot,
actually. One of the programme’s standout features is the Stay for 5, Pay for 4 perk, granting a fifth night free when redeeming points. This makes aspirational stays more attainable, such as five nights at The Ritz-Carlton
Kuala Lumpur (148,000 points) or Jakarta (120,000 points). In South America, the JW Marriott Quito (120,000 points) and The Westin Lima (136,000 points) offer exceptional value for extended stays in vibrant, culture-rich cities. Earning elite status is also straightforward: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite requires just 35-45 qualifying
nights per year with the right co-branded credit cards. Benefits include a 75 per cent points bonus, lounge access, complimentary breakfast at
select brands, and automatic United Premier Silver and Hertz Five Star status.
Marriott’s strength lies in its unmatched reach and range – but does Bonvoy truly deserve the top spot? Many argue that World of Hyatt
remains the smarter programme. Its fixed redemption chart consistently delivers
better value, with five-star properties like the Park Hyatt St. Kitts costing as little as 100,000 points for four nights – less than a single night at many Bonvoy
resorts. Hyatt’s Globalist status also outshines Titanium Elite with perks such as free suite upgrades, waived resort fees and the ability to share status through its Guest of Honor feature.
G E N I US L O Y A L TY
Booking.com’s loyalty
programme, Genius, offers perks like free breakfast,
free upgrades and up to 20 per cent off selected stays. It doesn’t require a huge financial commitment, either, as it’s based on number of bookings rather than spend. You can start receiving discounts
from the moment you join the programme.
2
EV E R Y TH I N G I N O N E P L A C E
Unlike many other apps, with
Booking.com you can book everything
from hotels and flights to
attractions, taxis and rental cars in one easy interface – which means no more searching your emails for
several different bookings. 3
O F F L I N E A C C E S S
You can access all your bookings within the app without being connected to the internet – perfect for checking your
itinerary mid-flight, or
preparing for immigration questions about your accommodation before you’ve sorted a local SIM.
4 TR A V E L P R O U D
Booking.com offers free LGBT+ inclusivity training to accommodation providers around the world. With over 100,000
properties now enrolled in the programme, you can see which properties are proud to welcome LGBT+ guests by looking for the rainbow suitcase within the app.
5 R E A L - T IM E N O TI F I C A TI O N S
Instant alerts about any changes or disruptions to your itinerary will come straight through to your phone. You can also enable dynamic pricing alerts to be notified when prices drop for your desired accommodation or flights.
6
B E S T P R ICI N G W OR L D W I D E
With over 6 million
properties across more than 200 different countries, it offers a
‘One of the programme’s standout features is the Stay for 5, Pay for 4 perk’
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025
best-price guarantee and will match the difference if you find a better price. It often offers
additional discounts for accommodations booked on mobile, too.
BUSINESS TRAVELLER ASIA-PACIFIC 57
IMAGES ALAMY; ADOBE STOCK
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