March 5 Update: Episode 40 of our Podcast now available for download, Club Carlson officially becomes Radisson Rewards and more!

Episode 40 of the Rewards Canada Round Up Podcast is here! You can listen to or download it on Apple iTunes, Google Play, our website and Soundcloud.  In this milestone episode we discuss the hot topic of No Foreign Transation fee credit cards, new IHG hotels in Canada, Hyatt's new stay promotion and the very valuable new RBC Avion Visa Infinite sign up bonus!

As we mentioned a few weeks ago, Carlson Hotels and their Frequent Guest Program Club Carlson were going to be re-branded under the Radisson moniker. That change officially happened today with the company now being called Radisson Hotel Group and the FGP being renamed to Radisson Rewards. Most of the program remains the same save for two parts: Elite status qualifying and points earning on stays.

The Elite qualifying requirements have been relaxed, especially for reaching the first level, Silver:

• Silver Qualification: 9 nights or 6 stays (used to be 15 nights or 10 stays)
• Gold Qualification: 30 nights or 20 stays (used to be 35 nights or 20 stays) 
• Platinum Qualification: 60 nights or 30 stays (used to be 75 nights or 30 stays)  

This is good news if you are a Club Carlson Radisson Rewards regular as you can now qualify sooner. Remember as well if you have the Platinum Card from American Express you get Radisson Rewards Gold status automatically.
For points earning, the adjustment to easier elite qualifying doesn't come without any detraction as Silver and Gold members will now earn a little bit less on stays:

• Base earn rate: 20 points per US$ (no change)
• Silver earn rate: 22 points per US$1 (used to be 23)
• Gold earn rate: 25 points per US$1 (used to be 27)
• Platinum earn rate: 35 points per US$1 (no change)

Learn all about the new Radisson Rewards program here

Posts since our last update:

• Air France KLM Flying Blue Promo Awards - Save 25% on Business Class award tickets between Calgary and Europe
  The newest set of Air France KLM's Promo Awards were released last week and this time we only see…
• British Airways Executive Club: 35% Bonus Avios when you transfer hotel points until March 31
  British Airways Executive Club has brought back their transfer bonus for moving points from hotel programs into Avios. The…

Travel Deals
Contiki: 25% off Europe Trips on Select Departures from Canada with Contiki! Full details & online booking

Remember to visit Rewards Canada's Travel Booking site to book travel directly with many of your favourite airlines, hotels and more!

Canadian Bonus Offers
AIR MILES
Get up to 500 AIR MILES Bonus Miles plus 3x the Miles on all your purchase in the first 3 months with the Shell AIR MILES MasterCard from BMO. More...

BMO Rewards
Get up to 20,000 BMO Rewards welcome points when you apply for and receive the BMO Rewards Mastercard. More...


Other Bonus Offers
AeroMexico Club Premier
- 2,000 Bonus Club Premier Points for stays of 2+ nights at participating hotels in Latin America and the Caribbean. More... Until Dec 15, 18

American AAdvantage
- 750 Bonus AAdvantage Miles for stays at any Best Western Hotels worldwide. More... Until Apr 1, 18

British Airways Executive Club
- Earn up to 16,000 Bonus Avios when you fly between the U.K. and Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine. More... Until Jun 30, 18
- 35% Bonus Avios when you convert hotel points from Carlson Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Marriott Hotels, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts to British Airways Executive Club. More... Until Mar 31, 18

Delta SkyMiles
- Up to 1,000 Bonus SkyMiles on your 1st booking with airbnb. More... Ongoing

Stash Hotel Rewards
1,000 Bonus Stash Rewards Points when you book any hotel (including non-Stash Hotels) worldwide via Stash Rewards Travel. More... Book by Mar 31 ,18

Follow Rewards Canada: