Elite guests may be gamers too.
Today’s luxury travelers typically have elite-level status with brand and credit card loyalty programs. They also appear to be elite-level system gamers.
More than 63% report layering multiple loyalty benefits (examples include combining elite hotel status, travel advisor perks, and exclusive credit card privileges) to extract maximum value from each stay. They claim this is less about “being loyal” and more about playing the game well. They are not passive recipients of upgrades, nor are they “too expensive” for the benefits. They know how the systems work, and they’ve optimized the engines.
They’ll book with whoever offers the right blend of exclusivity, service, and ROI.
As we explored the top 1% of travel budgets, the loyalty games started to have less influence. Still, travelers at that price point appear to pass the planning and logistics of stacking benefits off to their travel advisors or personal assistants.
Quote from the Tribe:
“Between credit cards and all the travel we do, the perks add up, and my advisor just hooks all of that together with her connections to get us something special.”
Commercial Takeaway:
Make it easy for elite travelers to see the value they’re unlocking. Visualize benefit stacking in your marketing: show how their Amex Platinum + advisor booking + your loyalty tier results in concrete upgrades or amenities. Consider offering digital tools to help them or their advisor combine rewards. If it doesn’t feel like a win, they’ll book elsewhere.
Message us to discuss how your approach compares.
About the MODIV Tribes Series
Since 2022, MODIV’s always-on Mindset® study has engaged more than 48,000 frequent travelers across 25 countries. Our mission: decode the why behind traveler behavior—so travel and hospitality brands can act smarter, faster, and with greater commercial precision.
Our Tribes series distills what hospitality leaders need to know—direct from the source. Each quarter, we engage Business Travelers, Luxury Travelers, Zillennials, and Meeting Planners through our proprietary Mindset® study, then translate what we hear into strategic insights you can use.
This isn't one-and-done research. Each quarter, we go back to a tribe to test sharper questions based on what you tell us you need to know. Got a question you want answered? We invite you to add your voice in the comments or reach out directly.
About the Luxury Travel Tribe
This study reflects insights based on a blended qualitative and quantitative session with 87 travelers from 9 countries who are high-net-worth and prioritize luxury hotel brands and ADRs.