Wyndham to Give Free Gold Status to Essential Workers Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

To honor the people keeping life running during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts are offering complimentary Gold membership status in their loyalty program to all essential workers.

The #EverydayHeroes initiative includes healthcare workers, truck drivers, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, construction workers, sanitation workers, grocery associates and more. Anyone who is working on the frontlines during the outbreak can apply online.

“We’re humbled to honor such a deserving group of individuals: everyday people who have been performing herculean tasks in the face of danger,” Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said in a statement. “This is one small way we can help make their next trip—whether it be to visit loved ones, friends, or simply to get away—as special as it deserves to be. They’ve earned it.”

Applicants with qualifying jobs will receive instant upgrades to their membership status so they can begin planning hotel stays once travel restrictions are lifted.

Essential workers who are not yet a part of the Wyndham Rewards loyalty program can join online before applying for Gold status.

Gold membership level perks include free late checkout, the ability to request a preferred room and accelerated earning, which offers 10 percent more points on stays so members can get to the next loyalty level faster.

All Gold, Platinum and Diamond Wyndham Rewards members (regardless of whether or not they’re #EverydayHeroes) will have their membership levels automatically extended until December 31, 2021. And Wyndham is pausing the expiration of all points until September 30, 2020.

Wyndham announced that they will also roll out other initiatives, like decreasing member level earning requirements, due to the coronavirus pandemic. But because the situation is still evolving, the company is not releasing specific details at this time.

Other major hotel chains across the U.S. have also contributed to relief efforts.

Marriott has launched a $10 million initiative to house health workers for free, while Hilton has donated 10 million rooms to first responders in a partnership with American Express.

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