How NerdWallet Rates
Hotels and Hotel Rewards Programs
NerdWallet does not assign star ratings to hotel brands or hotel rewards programs, but we evaluate them annually for inclusion in NerdWallet's Best-Of Awards. As the nature of travel evolves, so do our ratings systems. Below, you'll find links to the methodologies used in the current awards cycle.
Best Hotel Rewards Program
NerdWallet has chosen an award winner for "Best Hotel Rewards Program" each year since 2020.

2025 methodology.
Best Hotel Brand
NerdWallet first chose an award winner for "Best Hotel Brand" in the 2024 cycle.

2025 methodology.
The review team
The review team is made up of expert writers and editors who cover airlines, travel rewards, credit cards and airline alliances, as well as related travel topics such as hotels, budget travel, cruises, rental cars and destination-specific travel. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet’s strict guidelines for editorial integrity.

In addition to appearing on NerdWallet, the work of our team members has been published by The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Nasdaq, MSN, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance and other national and regional media outlets. The travel team’s writers and editors combined have more than 40 years of experience in travel, travel rewards and credit cards.