tl;dr – ThankYou points transfers to Choice Hotels and Preferred Hotels just became a bit less compelling.
Citi just sent out an email indicating that points transfers to two of its hotel partners will be devalued, effective April 19, 2026.
Written simply, the ratios are changing as follows:
Citi to Choice Privileges transfer from 1:2 to 1:1.5.
Citi to I Prefer transfers move from 1:4 to 1:2.
Admittedly, Citi isn’t the strongest transfer partner for hotels. You can’t transfer ThankYou points to any of the ‘big four’ (IHG, Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt), at least directly. For hotels, Citi partners with Accor, Leading Hotels of the World, Preferred Hotels and Resorts, and Choice.
Choice Hotels has some low-key, sneaky properties. There are some sleepers in the Cambria lines as well as the Ascend Collection. Choice will soon open its first safari property, and it’s part of Ascend. Preferred Hotels has a great portfolio of luxury and upscale properties. The better redemption deals come from using Choice points on eligible Preferred properties.
It’s interesting to see this devaluation occur for these two hotel partners. Choice and Preferred Hotels have a long-running partnership that allows members to redeem Choice Privileges points for stays at select Preferred properties.
