The Best U.S. Hotels to Book in 2026 Using Your Loyalty Rewards

The hotel loyalty game may be changing, but for people who remain, well, loyal to select programs and hotel brands, there is still a certain thrill that comes when they finally cash in on hard-earned rewards.

Whether your points are invested in the Marriott Bonvoy program, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, or IHG One Rewards (or any combination therein) these are our favorite hotels where you can redeem them in 2026, including a mix of new properties, recently updated resorts, and hotels with unique perks (like a pet-friendly place to rest your head in the heart of New York City).

W Hollywood

Long past the party-hard energy that defined W in the early 2000s, the reimagined W Hollywood reflects a brand more focused on connection than disruption. Designed by Rockwell Group, which also created the original W concept, the multiyear renovation completed in October 2024 has been a full-circle moment for the brand’s West Coast flagship.

The 319-room hotel opens into a sunken living room wrapped in greenery and statement-making emerald seating, balanced by stone and marble surfaces in restrained tones of gray, teal, and beige. The mood is social but measured. A house-party-in-the-Hills narrative plays out through color-coded spaces: green-toned public areas, blue guest rooms, and a red-accented rooftop Wet Deck (W speak for the pool area).

Downstairs, curved sight lines, circular elevators, and a colossal round bar keep the space open and easy to navigate, while accordion doors connect interior lounges to a garden courtyard. Upstairs, guest rooms also point to W’s evolution: cleaner-lined, calmer, and more grown-up than the brand’s clubbier past, with color, lighting, and texture used thoughtfully rather than theatrically.

Enhanced acoustics throughout ensure music remains present but never overpowering, creating a lounge-like atmosphere where conversation comes first and sound is finely tuned rather than overwhelming.

The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

Courtesy of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort distinguishes itself from most Florida beachfront hotels by operating as a true destination resort. Set across 18 acres with nearly 800 feet of private quartz-sand beach, the 166-room property offers the breadth and variety more often associated with high-end resorts in the Caribbean or Mexico, without the need for a passport or long-haul flight.

Water shapes much of the experience, from multiple pools designed for different moods (from family fun to adults-only serenity) to a lazy river and an expansive saltwater lagoon, all of which give the resort uncommon scale for a domestic property. The 20,000-square-foot spa reinforces that sense of escape with a comprehensive hydrothermal circuit and ocean-facing vitality pools.

Guest rooms are contemporary and light-filled, with floor-to-ceiling glass, generous balconies, and oversize marble bathrooms. Dining spans rooftop Nikkei-inspired fare (a mix of Japanese and Peruvian), coastal Italian, a classic steakhouse, and the signature St. Regis Bar, so you can have a well-rounded stay without ever leaving the property.

Casa Marina Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton

Courtesy of Casa Marina, Curio Collection, Key West

Few hotels define Key West the way Casa Marina does. Opened in 1920 and revived following an $80 million renovation completed in 2025, the island’s grande dame once again is worthy of its reputation. Set on the quieter southern edge of the island, the property pairs historic gravitas with something genuinely rare for the destination: more than 1,100 feet of private sandy beachfront (versus the rocky shoreline common throughout the destination).

The renovation strikes a careful balance between preservation and refresh. Public spaces retain soaring ceilings and original architectural details, while the 311 rooms and suites introduce a breezy, Keys-appropriate mix of rattan, woven textures, and light-wood finishes. Outdoors, two oceanfront pools, twin piers, and a wide stretch of sand give the hotel a true resort feel.

Arizona Biltmore, LXR Hotels & Resorts

Courtesy of Arizona Biltmore

Few American hotels carry the architectural weight of the Arizona Biltmore. Originally opened in 1929 and long a pinnacle of Frank Lloyd Wright design, the landmark property today is confidently settled into its next chapter as part of Hilton’s LXR portfolio, a new and growing luxury collection under Hilton Hotels and Resorts that comprises upscale, independent properties rife with personality.

Spread across 39 acres at the base of the Phoenix Mountains, the resort balances historic integrity with a contemporary sensibility. Wright’s distinctive “texture block” style dominates the exteriors while guest rooms and restored cottages speak Wright’s geometric language through textured walls, custom millwork, and desert-forward palettes.

Public spaces remain central to the experience, from the celebrated Aztec Room to the back-lit geometric stained-glass re-creation of Wright’s 1927 Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flower drawing found in the lobby to 19 Solemn Sprites statues, each born from an original sculpture designed by Wright for the Midway Gardens in Chicago in 1914. Wellness now plays a larger role at the hotel, centered on the Tierra Luna Spa and Sol Garden, which was built in 2021, where hydrotherapy and outdoor relaxation connect guests directly to the surrounding landscape.

Ulum Moab

Courtesy of Ulum Moab

Ulum Moab is the most compelling expression of Hyatt’s partnership with Under Canvas, translating glamping into a points-friendly gateway to Utah’s red-rock country. Open seasonally from March 5 through October 26, 2026, the camp sits just north of Moab, within easy reach of Arches and Canyonlands national parks.

Accommodations come in the form of safari-style tents designed for comfort while remaining chic, complete with proper beds, private bathrooms, and wood-burning stoves for cool desert nights. Days revolve around hiking, biking, climbing, or simply absorbing the surrounding sandstone landscape. Evenings belong to the sky: Ulum earned DarkSky certification in 2025, making stargazing a defining part of the experience.

New for 2026, there will be expanded wellness programming (precise details are still forthcoming), positioning Ulum as both an adventure base camp and a place to slow down.

Thompson Savannah

Courtesy of Hyatt

Opened in 2021 in Savannah’s Eastern Wharf district, the 193-room Thompson Savannah brings a modern edge to a city better known for historic inns. Fronting the Savannah River and bordering a linear waterfront park, the hotel has immediate access to green space and a riverside esplanade that encourages ambles beyond the city’s well-trodden center.

The Thompson’s clean-lined design sets it apart locally, with guest rooms favoring warm woods, tailored furnishings, and a contemporary palette. For pet owners, it’s one of the most accommodating hotels in the South. Dogs of all sizes are welcomed with no fees or restrictions, along with thoughtful touches like size-appropriate beds, local treats, and a concierge-curated guide to pet-friendly walks and dining. Fleeting, the hotel’s signature restaurant, serves globally influenced Southern fare with outdoor seating that makes dining with dogs easy.

Kimpton Theta New York – Times Square

Courtesy of Kimpton Theta

On a map, Kimpton Theta’s address may raise eyebrows, but the hotel is surprisingly removed from the surrounding frenzy. Positioned between the Theater District and Hell’s Kitchen, it offers a sense of calm that aligns with its name, a reference to theta brain waves associated with deep relaxation.

The 364-room property occupies a midcentury building originally designed by Morris Lapidus and reimagined in 2023 by Crème with Jun Aizaki Architecture & Design. Interiors balance Lapidus’s expressive legacy with a more residential feel, evident in sculptural lobby forms and softened sight lines.

Guest rooms layer warm woods, concrete grays, and deep blues with abstract wall coverings, geometric headboards, and subdued lighting. Kimpton’s signature extras round out the stay: complimentary evening wine hour, yoga mats on request, and the Plant Pals program for solo travelers (yes, a plant companion to keep you company). Pets stay free and are welcome throughout the hotel.

Acme Hotel Chicago, Outset Collection by Hilton

Courtesy of Hilton

Hilton has spent the past few years actively reshaping its portfolio, expanding beyond traditional categories through moves such as its partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the growth of Graduate by Hilton, and the launch of newer lifestyle concepts, including Motto and the Apartment Collection.

Introduced in late 2025 with plans for 60 outposts, the Outset Collection continues that evolution, focusing on hotels that are individual, locally rooted, and value-driven. The 130-room Acme Hotel Chicago, which joined the collection in December 2025 as the sophomore entry—Slackline Moab was the first—serves as an early example. Set in River North, a few blocks from the Magnificent Mile, the hotel upcycles a former Comfort Inn & Suites into a property with a distinctly urban sensibility.

Graphic details, art-forward interiors, and an easygoing atmosphere give it character without tipping into a theme. It’s a refreshing alternative to Chicago’s larger downtown hotels that prioritize scale over personality.