Can Social Media Earn You Travel Rewards?

Timeshare resorts and hotels are using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to connect with guests. By using social media platforms, hospitality brands are engaging owners and improving customer service. Plus, it’s a great way to advertise their brands.

You too can benefit from social media by earning points towards future vacations. Recently, brands like Starwood Vacation Ownership are using these platforms to thank guests with rewards and incentives. For posting pictures, tweets, or reviews guests now have the ability to earn more rewards.

Today Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants launched their own social media rewards program, Kimpton Karma Rewards. This new loyalty program will reward guests for sharing Kimpton amenities and events on social media. Post may include activities such as attending a resort happy hour, dining at the resort restaurant, or uploading an original picture of the resort. Guests can redeem these rewards for individualized perks such as in-room spa treatments or a meeting with the company’s CEO.

Senior director of guest marketing at Kimpton, Maggie Lang said, “Loyalty as a concept is not just about transactions. Karma is rewarding engagement.”

Additional timeshare brands such as InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) Rewards Club are providing rewards to use as at resort venues including their gift shops, restaurants, and spas.
Lang continued, “We empower each hotel to do something different.”

Marriott recently launched a similar program in May known as PlusPoints. This program allows Marriott owners and guest to earn rewards points for uploading pictures to Instagram, checking in on Facebook, and tweeting about their stay.

VP of Marriott Rewards Rich Toohey said, “As we started to think about new ways to allow the next generation of traveler to connect with […] and participate in rewards, we thought this was an interesting idea. It was a cool opportunity for them to take advantage of and participate by doing what they’re already doing.”

Members of Marriott Rewards can earn up to 2,000 points a month by following the hotel’s social media accounts and re-tweeting content with #MRPoints. Since the social media program started Marriott has grown from 50 hotels to include over 360 resorts worldwide.

Many timeshare brands allow members to enroll in the same loyalty programs as traditional hotel guests. So the next time you visit your timeshare, make sure to inquire about their rewards programs. You could be earning points just by posting pictures of your trip!