As a professional who travels and stays in hotels across the globe over 200 nights a year, I use hotel.com to collect the reward nights. 'This hotel is phenomenal, great location, amazing service. And this hotel is not even part of the hotel.com VIP gold member exclusive, and it's worth it. Although hotel.com itself has declined greatly, the deals are now often the worst rooms in the hotel, hotels are not aware of the VIP member exclusive, and we never receive "guarantee late check out." at any of the gold exlsuive member hotels.