Bilt Adds Preferred Hotels & Resorts as Transfer Partner for Members

Bilt added Preferred Hotels & Resorts and its I Prefer Hotel Rewards program as a transfer partner, giving members access to more than 700 hotels, resorts and residences worldwide, according to a Monday (Jun. 22) press release. The partnership begins immediately, with Bilt Points convertible to I Prefer points at a 1:2 ratio.

Bilt members can transfer 1,000 Bilt Points into 2,000 I Prefer points, which can be redeemed across properties in 85 countries. Transfers are available in 1,000-point increments, with a minimum of 1,000 points for Silver, Gold and Platinum members and 2,000 points for Blue members.

Preferred Hotels & Resorts is the largest independent hotel brand globally, with more than 625 hotels, resorts, residences and collections in more than 80 countries. Its I Prefer program covers over 700 participating properties worldwide, according to the announcement.

To move points, members can use the Transfer tab in the Bilt app or on Bilt.com and link their I Prefer accounts. The company directed users to its website for further details.

The new relationship gives Bilt another hotel redemption path at a time when loyalty programs are competing to retain high-value members through broader transfer options and more flexible travel benefits. Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Bilt said the arrangement is designed to give members access to distinctive independent properties rather than the large global chains that dominate much of the hotel-loyalty market.

Launched in 2021, Bilt is a membership loyalty and rewards platform spanning housing payments, neighborhood services and hospitality.

Earlier this year, some Bilt users said they received Wells Fargo Autograph cards even after they had chosen to close their accounts, according to reporting on the February transition. Wells Fargo and Bilt said at the time that the cards were sent because mailing timelines overlapped with the customer-decision deadline, and that accounts requested for closure would still be closed.

In June, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said it met with Bilt to review the card mix-up. According to the CFPB, Bilt told the agency it had contacted potentially affected customers and offered reimbursement for overdraft, late and insufficient-funds fees related to the switch. The bureau said Bilt had also addressed the technical problems behind the transition and that the company’s documentation indicated its systems were back on track.