When to Book Hotel Award Nights
Master the art of timing your hotel award bookings to secure the best availability and lowest point prices. Our data-driven guide reveals optimal booking windows for Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt properties worldwide.
What You'll Learn
Optimal Award Booking Windows
The Golden Rule
There's no single "best" time to book award nights. The optimal window depends on your destination, flexibility, hotel category, and the specific program's policies.
Based on analysis of millions of award bookings, here are the most successful booking windows:
Best Booking Windows by Property Type
Luxury/Aspirational Properties
330-355
Days in advance
Book the moment award space opens. Popular properties like Maldives overwater bungalows, Park Hyatt Tokyo, or St. Regis resorts fill within hours of release.
City Center Hotels
21-90
Days in advance
Business hotels release more inventory as dates approach. Best availability appears 3-4 weeks out when business travel plans solidify.
Resort Properties
90-180
Days in advance
Sweet spot balances availability with pricing. Too early means peak pricing, too late means limited selection.
Book Early When:
- ✓ Traveling during peak season
- ✓ Specific property is a must
- ✓ Group travel (need multiple rooms)
- ✓ Popular events/holidays
- ✓ Limited award inventory properties
Wait to Book When:
- ✓ Flexible on specific property
- ✓ Off-season travel
- ✓ Business-heavy destinations
- ✓ Watching for price drops
- ✓ Hilton (dynamic pricing)
The Cancellation Window Strategy
Most programs offer free cancellation 24-72 hours before arrival. Use this to your advantage:
- 1. Book early to secure a room
- 2. Set alerts for price drops
- 3. Rebook if prices decrease
- 4. Cancel and rebook up to cancellation deadline
Award Availability Patterns
Understanding when hotels release award inventory helps you time your searches perfectly:
The Award Availability Lifecycle
355 Days
Initial Release
90 Days
Adjustment Period
21 Days
Final Release
0 Days
Check-in
Phase 1: Initial Release (330-355 days out)
Hotels load their standard award inventory when the booking window opens:
- Typically 5-20% of rooms allocated to awards
- Best selection of room types available
- Lowest point prices (for programs with variable pricing)
- Must book immediately for ultra-popular properties
Phase 2: The Dead Zone (90-330 days out)
Limited new availability during this period:
- Mostly cancellations become available
- Hotels holding inventory for cash bookings
- Set alerts but don't expect much movement
- Exception: Hilton's dynamic pricing can fluctuate
Phase 3: Revenue Management Release (21-90 days out)
Hotels reassess and often release more award space:
- Unsold inventory converted to award space
- Best time for business hotel bookings
- Point prices may increase (Marriott peak pricing)
- Suite availability often appears
Phase 4: Last-Minute Inventory (0-21 days out)
Final push to fill empty rooms:
- Great for flexible travelers
- Premium rooms at standard prices
- Risky for must-stay properties
- Cash rates may be better value
Program-Specific Booking Strategies
Each loyalty program has unique policies that affect when you should book:
Marriott Bonvoy Timing
Best Practices
- • Book exactly at 355 days for peak dates
- • Monitor peak/off-peak calendar changes
- • Rebook if pricing drops from peak to standard
- • PointSavers released monthly - check regularly
Unique Considerations
- • Fixed pricing within categories
- • 5th night free benefit calculation
- • Blackout dates at some properties
- • Suite awards require calling
Pro Tip: Book popular resorts at 8am hotel local time exactly 355 days before check-in
Hilton Honors Timing
Best Practices
- • More flexible - pricing changes daily
- • Set multiple price alerts
- • Check 14-21 days out for drops
- • Weekend rates often lower
Unique Considerations
- • No award charts to reference
- • Premium rooms bookable online
- • Points & Cash always available
- • 5th night free (Silver+)
Pro Tip: Hilton prices correlate with cash rates - book when cash rates are low
World of Hyatt Timing
Best Practices
- • Book early for Suite awards
- • Check Guest of Honor availability
- • Off-peak provides best value
- • Points + Cash often available
Unique Considerations
- • Award chart transparency
- • Confirmed suite upgrades
- • Limited footprint = book early
- • SLH properties have quirks
Pro Tip: Hyatt releases Regency/Grand/Park Hyatt suites 60-90 days out
Seasonal Booking Strategies
Timing varies dramatically based on when and where you're traveling:
Peak Season Travel
Summer (June-August)
Book 10-11 months out for Europe, beach resorts
Holidays (Dec 20-Jan 3)
Book maximum advance (355 days) or last minute
Spring Break (March)
Book by October for warm destinations
Off-Peak Opportunities
Shoulder Seasons
Book 2-3 months out for best selection + pricing
Weekday City Stays
Sunday-Thursday often 50% fewer points
Hurricane Season Caribbean
Amazing last-minute deals if weather cooperates
Major Event Considerations
Conventions
- • CES Las Vegas (January)
- • Art Basel Miami (December)
- • Comic-Con San Diego (July)
Sports Events
- • Super Bowl cities
- • March Madness venues
- • Formula 1 race weekends
Cultural Events
- • Mardi Gras New Orleans
- • Oktoberfest Munich
- • Cherry Blossoms Japan
Book maximum advance for events - availability vanishes quickly and prices spike
Last-Minute vs Advance Booking
Both strategies have merit depending on your travel style and destination:
| Factor | Advance Booking | Last-Minute Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Best selection | Limited options |
| Point Prices | Standard rates | Often discounted |
| Room Types | All categories | Often suites only |
| Planning Security | High certainty | Very risky |
| Best For | Fixed plans | Flexible travelers |
When Last-Minute Works
- ✓ Major cities with many properties
- ✓ Business hotels on weekends
- ✓ Shoulder season travel
- ✓ Flexible on specific property
- ✓ Hilton dynamic pricing drops
- ✓ Backup plan available
When to Book Early
- ✓ Small/boutique properties
- ✓ Island resorts with limited rooms
- ✓ Specific dates required
- ✓ Group travel coordination
- ✓ Peak season destinations
- ✓ Once-in-lifetime trips
Monitoring and Alert Strategies
Success in award booking often comes down to persistence and smart monitoring:
The Multi-Layer Monitoring Approach
Set Multiple Alerts
Create alerts for different date ranges, room types, and nearby properties
Check Key Windows
Focus manual checks at 90, 60, 30, and 14 days before travel
Morning Searches
New inventory often loads overnight - check early morning
Book Immediately
Award space disappears quickly - book first, think later
Automated Tools
-
Hotel Redemptions Pro
Real-time monitoring across all programs
-
ExpertFlyer
Some hotel award space alerts
-
Award Wallet
Track balances and expiration
Manual Techniques
-
Browser Bookmarks
Save searches for quick daily checks
-
Calendar Reminders
Set for key check windows
-
Flexible Date Search
Always check ±3 days from target
Pro Monitoring Tips
The Tuesday Effect
Many hotels update inventory on Tuesday mornings - prime checking time
Call for Waitlists
Some programs offer unpublished waitlists - always worth asking
Check Partner Sites
Sometimes SLH properties show availability on Hyatt but not their own sites
Mobile App Advantages
Some inventory appears on mobile apps before desktop sites
Never Miss the Perfect Booking Window
Automate your award searches and get instant alerts when space opens at your target properties
Track availability • Price drop alerts • Booking window reminders