Nation’s Largest Point-Based Rewards Program for Independent Hotels Helps Build Repeat Guest Loyalty
SEATTLE, 2013-08-06— /travelprnews.com/ — As a new school year approaches, many families are planning trips to university campuses around the country – and a large number of local hotels are now making their visits more rewarding. Hotels across the U.S. are attracting college-bound travelers by offering Stash Hotel Rewards, the nation’s largest point-based loyalty program for independent hotels.
More than 75 independent hotels located either on or near major U.S.university campuses are part of the Stash Hotel Rewards program – making it possible for incoming families to get an up-close look at campus life, while also earning and redeeming rewards points at some of the country’s most unique hotels.
Since its debut in 2010, the Stash Rewards program has grown its network of hotel partners located on or near universities by 80% each year.This rapid growth points to the value that a rewards program provides independent hotelsthat are looking to capture repeat campus visitors.
Stash members earn 5 points for each dollar spent on eligible room rates – and because Stash points never expire, and there’s noblackout dates or category restrictions found in many chain programs, travelers are able to redeem points during the busiestcollegiate occasions of the year.Freshman orientation, parent’s weekend, and homecoming are allearly opportunities for campus visitors to start earning Stash Rewards – and for hoteliers to enroll new Stash members and begin building guest loyalty.
“We make every effort to get the parents involved in the Stash Rewards program upon their first visit to campus,” said Tom Fernandez, Director of Business Development at Hotel Skyler, located in the heart of the Syracuse University campus in Syracuse, NY. “By providing a terrific experience and the added incentive of Stash Rewards, we can have 4 or 5 years with these families.”
Many of these hotels are immersed in campus history, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the school’s culture and tradition while also providing a truly authentic collegiate experience.
“The Stash program is the first one to get it right,” said Kim Kudelka, General Manager of Inn at Saint Mary’s, a boutique hotel located on the Saint Mary’s College campus and adjacent to University of Notre Dame. “We don’t have to choose between a rewards program and our independent nature. We are able to maintain our deep connection with both Saint Mary’s College and the University of Notre Dame, while still honoring our devoted guests.”
By seizing these early opportunities to connect with their guests, independent college-town hotels can drive greater frequency in guest visitsand help parents save during what can be an expensive time in their lives.
“On average, we see parents visiting Texas Tech between 4 and 10 times a year,” said Kurt Metcalf, General Manager of Overton Hotel & Conference Center in Lubbock, TX. “By partnering with Stash, we are able to reward these frequent guests, as well as offer them a way to save throughout their child’s college career.”
For hotels interested in partnering with Stash, contact partner@stashrewards.com. Travelers can join Stash for free at www.stashrewards.com – especially if you’re planning to visit to any of the following campuses this year:
| University | Location | Stash Partner Hotel (within 5 miles) |
| Anaheim University | Anaheim, CA | Ayres Hotel Anaheim |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | The Hotel at Auburn University |
| Binghamton University | Binghamton, NY | Traditions at the Glen |
| Boise State University | Boise, ID | Hotel 43 |
| Boston University | Boston, MA | The Lenox Hotel, The Hotel Veritas |
| Brown University | Providence, RI | Hotel Providence |
| California State University Long Beach | Seal Beach, CA | Ayres Hotel Seal Beach |
| California State University Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | Larkspur Landing Sacramento |
| Catholic University of America | Washington, DC | Capitol Hill Hotel, The Liaison Capitol Hill (an Affinia Hotel), Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill |
| Clark University | Worcester, MA | Beechwood Hotel |
| Coastland University | Mission Viejo, CA | Ayres Hotel & Spa Mission Viejo |
| College of the Holy Cross | Worcester, MA | Beechwood Hotel |
| Colorado State University | Fort Collins, CO | Armstrong Hotel |
| Columbia University | New York, NY | Affinia 50 Hotel, Affinia Gardens, The Benjamin, The Mansfield,YOTEL New York |
| Dartmouth College | Norwich, VT | The Norwich Inn |
| DePaul University | Chicago, IL | Hotel Felix, The James Chicago, The Talbott Hotel |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | The Independent |
| Georgetown University | Washington, DC | The Liaison Capitol Hill (an Affinia Hotel), Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | Artmore Hotel, Stonehurst Place |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA | Artmore Hotel, Stonehurst Place |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | The Hotel Veritas |
| Harvard University | Boston, MA | The Lenox Hotel |
| Howard University | Washington, DC | Capitol Hill Hotel, The Liaison Capitol Hill (an Affinia Hotel), Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill |
| La Sierra University | Riverside, CA | Ayres Inn Corona East |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, IL | Hotel Felix, The James Chicago, The Talbott Hotel |
| Lubbock Christian University | Lubbock, TX | Arbor Inn & Suites |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI | Ambassador Hotel |
| MIT | Cambridge, MA | The Hotel Veritas |
| MIT | Boston, MA | The Lenox Hotel |
| Northeastern University | Boston, MA | Seaport Hotel, The Lenox |
| Northeastern University | Cambridge, MA | The Hotel Veritas |
| NYU | New York, NY | Affinia 50 Hotel, Affinia Dumont, Affinia Gardens, Affinia Manhattan, Affinia Shelburne, Duane Street Hotel, Park South Hotel, Shoreham Hotel, The Benjamin, The James New York, The Mansfield, The MAve, The Strand Hotel, YOTEL New York |
| NYU | Brooklyn, NY | NU Hotel |
| Old Dominion University | Lynchburg, VA | Craddock Terry Hotel |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | San Antonio, TX | Menger Hotel |
| Penn State | State College, PA | The Nittany Lion Inn, The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel |
| Portland State University | Portland, OR | Hotel deLuxe, Hotel Lucia, The Governor Hotel |
| Providence College | Providence, RI | Hotel Providence |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach, VA | The Founders Inn and Spa |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago, IL | Hotel Felix, The James Chicago, The Talbott Hotel |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | The Plaza Suites |
| St. Mary’s College | South Bend, IN | Inn at Saint Mary’s Hotel & Suites |
| Stanford University | Palo Alto, CA | Creekside Inn |
| State University of New York, Old Westbury | Old Westbury, NY | Viana Hotel & Spa |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | Genesee Grande Hotel, Hotel Skyler, Parkview Hotel |
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | The Independent |
| Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX | Overton Hotel |
| Tulane University | New Orleans, LA | Dauphine Orleans Hotel, Hotel Le Marais |
| Tufts University | Medford, MA | The Hotel Veritas |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | Lodge on the Desert |
| University of California, Riverside | Moreno Valley, CA | Ayres Hotel & Spa Moreno Valley |
| University of Colorado | Boulder, CO | Hotel Boulderado |
| University of Colorado at Denver | Denver, CO | Hotel Teatro |
| University of Louisville | Louisville, KY | The Brown Hotel |
| University of Massachusetts | Amherst, MA | The Lord Jeffrey Inn |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | Weber’s Boutique Hotel |
| University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | The Commons Hotel |
| University of Nevada, Reno | Reno, NV | John Ascuaga’s Nugget Casino Resort |
| University of Notre Dame | South Bend, IN | Inn at Saint Mary’s Hotel & Suites |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | The Independent |
| University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | The Priory Hotel |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | O Hotel |
| University of Southern Maine | Portland, ME | Portland Regency Hotel & Spa |
| University of Washington | Seattle, WA | Edgewater Hotel, Hotel Ändra, Hotel Max |
| University of Wisconsin | Madison, WI | The Dahlmann Campus Inn |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa, CA | Ayres Hotel & Suites Costa Mesa-Newport Beach |
| Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis, MO | Moonrise Hotel |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester, MA | Beechwood Hotel |
About Stash Hotel Rewards
Stash Hotel Rewards frees travelers from the uninspired offerings of existing hotel reward programs by making it easy to break free from big, bland hotel chains and stay at amazing hotels. Stash was founded on a belief in the happiness-producing power of traveling to places that convey a unique and interesting story – places with soul. It’s a belief that is shared with the independent hoteliers and the independently-minded travelers the company was created to serve. Launched in May 2010, Stash was founded by a team of travel and e-commerce veterans from Expedia, Amazon, Microsoft, and Zillow. Stash is headquartered in Palo Alto with offices in Seattle and Miami.
Press Contact
Jeff Pecor
Tailwind Public Relations
802.497.1932
jeff@tailwindpr.com