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UPDATE 17 August 2024: The access code is no longer working and that would suggest that the offer has been pulled.
Radisson Rewards has had quite the journey over the past few years. It was born out of the revamp of the Club Carlson program, it devalued its currency to the point where it’s now mostly worthless, and then, courtesy of US regulations, it was split into two parts with Choice Hotels running the show in the Americas and the remainder of Radisson Rewards focusing on the rest of the world.
Now, thanks to a heads up from Loyalty Lobby, we know that Radisson Rewards (the non-US bit) is offering people up to two years of top-tier elite status just for clicking a link.
The Radisson Rewards elite status offer
Ostensibly, the top-tier (VIP) elite status offer that Radisson Rewards has launched is for members of the SAS Eurobonus program, but the reality appears to be that anyone can participate.
The link to the sign-up page is here, and you’ll need to use access code 8325840fa7.
That will open a page that allows you to either set up a new Radisson Rewards account using the SAS Eurobonus promo code (AMBVIP1) or to upgrade an existing account.
I clicked through the link to upgrade an existing account and as I was already logged in, this is the page that I was presented with (with my account details filled in).
Clicking on the ‘Register’ link generated a ‘success your registration is complete’ page and caused my elite status to change immediately from ‘Club Member’ (no status at all) to ‘VIP Member’ (top-tier elite).
Clicking through to my account details shows that I now have VIP top-tier status for a whole year …
… and considering VIP elite status normally requires a member to complete 20 stays or to stay for 30 nights, that’s good news.
Anecdotal evidence from around the internet suggests that if you create a new account using the sign-up page linked above, Radisson will give you VIP top-tier status for two full years.
Note: We have no idea how long this promotion will be available and as a lot of the bigger travel/miles & points will pick this up (or have already picked it up) I suspect that it will get pulled quite quickly as the number of sign-ups goes through the roof.
What Radisson VIP elite status gets you
Radisson Rewards is the program for the following brands outside of the Americas …
- Radisson Collection
- Radisson Blu
- Radisson
- Red by Radisson
- Radisson Individuals
- art’otel
- Park Plaza
- Park Inn
- Country Inn & Suites
- Prizeotel
… so any stays made at hotels under these brands will see a Radisson Rewards member enjoy elite status benefits.
Radisson Rewards points are mostly useless, so let’s focus on the in-stay benefits that Radisson VIP elites are offered:
- Member only rate (at least 15% off rates offered to non-members).
- Priority line at check-in.
- 15% off food and drinks at participating hotel restaurants.
- Upgrade to the best category of room at check-in subject to availability (suites are only available in select properties).
- Free early check-in and free late check-out subject to availability.
- Exclusive benefits at one property that you designate as you ‘favourite hotel’.
- Get your favorite room at your favorite hotel assigned to you.
- Leave up to 2 suitcases in storage at your favorite hotel (terms apply).
- Exclusive VIP contact center.
- Free breakfast for two on every day of your stay.
- Access to designated VIP areas in select hotels.
Some of those aren’t going to be hugely useful, but upgrades, discounts on food and drinks, and free breakfasts have real world value so they’re very nice to have.
Also, keep in mind that even if you don’t think you’ll have much use for Radisson VIP elite status (e.g. if you don’t travel outside of the Americas very much), there’s always a chance that a more useful loyalty program will offer a status match for VIP elites, and that should be a good enough reason to get your status boosted today.
Link to Radisson Rewards benefits page.
Bottom line
Radisson Rewards and SAS Eurobonus have launched an incredibly generous promotion in which existing Radisson Rewards elites can have their status boosted to top-tier VIP elite status for a full year, and new sign-ups can enjoy VIP elite status for two full years.
If you think this status boost may be of use to you, sign-up quickly as I suspect this promotion may not be around for very long. In fact, I’ll be surprised if it’s still around this time tomorrow.
