Wyndham Debuts a Paid Loyalty Plan: $95 a Year for Discounts and Higher Status

Wyndham launched a $95-a-year subscription service on Tuesday that lets customers access discounts on hotels, flights, and cruises and receive other perks, such as elevated status in its loyalty program.

Wyndham Rewards Insider runs on a site where members can book bundled travel and receive free help from "a concierge service" when booking ticketed events and experiences. It's for U.S. customers only at launch.

The subscription gives access to discounts of at least 10% on rates at over 8,000 properties (excluding only Wyndham's Echo Suites brand).

“It basically stacks your discounts,” said Scott Strickland, chief commercial officer. “So if it was going to be 10% off as a promotional rate, and then Insider is an additional X percent, you get the 10% plus you get another on top of it.”

Executives said that terms were structured to shield hotels from taking a hit. “It doesn't impact the hotel,” Strickland said. “So, in terms of t