We’re going to start to see lucrative hotel promotions, as occupancy rates begin to fall. The only question is when. So far we know that it won’t be with Hilton’s upcoming promotion Points Unlimited which runs January 6 to May 3 (registration required):

• 2000 bonus points per stay, plus
  
• 10,000 points every 10 nights

Hilton needs lucrative promotions because the basic program is less rewarding than other chains. However this promotion is less rewarding for most members than their standard double points offer.

A Hilton Honors point is worth about 4/10ths of a cent. With this offer you get $8 back per stay, and then an average of $4 per night every 10 nights if you stay at exactly 10 night increments (which is rare).

Still you’re definitely going to want to register and do it now even if you don’t expect to stay at Hiltons because you’ll never remember to go back later to do it when you wind up with an unexpected stay.

Conrad Bora Bora Nui

Meanwhile Hilton is back selling points at the lowest price Honors points are ever offered – half a cent apiece through a 100% bonus on purchase points valid through December 28.

The 100% bonus applies as long as you’re buying 10,000 or more points and you can buy up to 160,000 points, receiving 320,000 points at a cost of $1600 (though of course you don’t need to go all in that way, you can just top off an account if you wish).