Key Points

• Capital One Travel now allows loyalty point earnings at select hotels, marking a significant improvement to the portal.
• The feature currently appears on limited properties with an "Earn hotel loyalty" label, but availability varies by destination.
• This change brings Capital One's offering closer to Chase's The Edit collection, which already provides loyalty earnings on portal bookings.

Introduction

Capital One just quietly rolled out one of the most requested features for its travel portal: the ability to earn hotel loyalty points on select bookings. For years, one of the biggest drawbacks of booking through Capital One Travel was forfeiting hotel points and elite night credits. That limitation just got a lot smaller.

While this isn't a complete overhaul yet, it's a meaningful step forward for anyone juggling Capital One miles with hotel elite status goals. Here's what you need to know about this update and how it changes your booking strategy.

What Changed: Select Hotels Now Earn Loyalty Points

When you search for hotels through Capital One Travel, some properties now display an "Earn hotel loyalty" label. These bookings allow you to earn both hotel loyalty points and elite night credits directly with the hotel's program—something that historically hasn't been possible when booking through third-party portals.

This means you can now earn your Capital One miles (10x per dollar with the Venture X cards through the portal) while simultaneously building toward hotel elite status and racking up loyalty points. Previously, you had to choose one or the other.

Limited Availability—For Now

The catch? This feature is currently available on select properties only. When testing multiple cities with various travel dates, we found just a handful of hotels displaying the loyalty earnings label in each market.

For example, searches in Phoenix showed the Crowne Plaza Phoenix Airport with the "Earn hotel loyalty" designation, indicating the stay would earn IHG One Rewards points and elite night credit. Similarly, in Miami, the InterContinental Miami appeared with the label.

There's no clear pattern yet to which hotels qualify. It's not limited to specific chains, and availability seems inconsistent even within the same brand. The best approach: look specifically for that "Earn hotel loyalty" label before booking if this benefit matters to you.

How This Compares to Chase Travel

This move brings Capital One closer to what Chase already offers with its Sapphire Reserve cards. Through Chase Travel's The Edit hotel collection, Sapphire Reserve cardholders can book hotels and earn both Chase Ultimate Rewards points and hotel loyalty benefits—a model that's proven popular with travelers who value both credit card rewards and hotel elite status.

The key difference: Chase's The Edit collection is clearly defined with specific properties, while Capital One's implementation appears more scattered at this stage. We don't yet know if Capital One plans to expand this to a broader collection or if it will remain limited to select bookings.

What This Means for Your Booking Strategy

If you hold a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Business Card, this development changes the math on when to book through the portal versus directly with hotels.

When to book through Capital One Travel now:

• Properties with the "Earn hotel loyalty" label offer the best of both worlds: 10x Capital One miles plus hotel loyalty benefits
• You're maximizing the $300 annual travel credit on the Venture X
• The portal rate is competitive with direct booking rates

When to still book directly:

• The hotel you want doesn't have the loyalty earnings label
• You're pursuing hotel elite status and every night counts
• Hotel-specific promotions or member rates beat the portal pricing
• You want to guarantee room upgrades and elite benefits beyond just points

Verifying Your Loyalty Earnings

If you book one of these labeled properties, make sure to add your hotel loyalty number at check-in or during the booking process. While Capital One states these bookings earn loyalty benefits, it's smart to confirm your stay is properly credited to your account.

Check your hotel loyalty account within a few weeks of your stay to ensure points and elite night credits posted correctly. If they don't appear, contact the hotel's loyalty program directly with your confirmation details.

The Bigger Picture

This update signals Capital One's commitment to making its travel portal more competitive with Chase and other premium travel rewards programs. For years, the inability to earn hotel loyalty benefits was one of the portal's biggest weaknesses.

While the current implementation is limited, it's a meaningful improvement for travelers who value both credit card rewards and hotel elite status. If Capital One expands this feature to more properties, it could significantly shift the value proposition of the Venture X cards.

What to Watch For

Capital One hasn't made any formal announcement about this feature, which suggests it's still being tested or rolled out gradually. Keep an eye on:

• Whether more hotels add the loyalty earnings label over time
• If Capital One creates a dedicated hotel collection similar to Chase's The Edit
• Updates to which Venture cards can access this benefit
• Any official communication from Capital One about expanded availability

Conclusion

Capital One Travel's addition of hotel loyalty earnings on select bookings is a welcome change for anyone trying to maximize both credit card rewards and hotel status. While availability is currently limited, this update makes the Venture X cards more attractive for frequent travelers who care about hotel elite benefits.

The key is knowing when to use it: always check for that "Earn hotel loyalty" label before booking. When you find it on a property you want, you're getting the best of both worlds—10x Capital One miles and progress toward hotel elite status.

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