Will your hotel stay count for 2016 or 2017 credits?

There’s a lot of us traveling over New Year’s especially over New Year’s eve, so the question seems to pop up every year as to which year hotel stays spanning December 31 will count towards. You check-in in 2016, but you check-out in 2017. If you’re looking for a last minute stay to complete your elite status for 2016, you may be out of luck in certain cases, while if you’re trying to start 2017 off on the right foot, you may have a few more nights in the bank thanks to the New Year.

I surveyed several different hotel chains and gave them the hypothetical example: “If I check in on December 31 and check out on January 1, which year will the stay/night credit count towards?” Here are the responses I received:

• Hyatt – 2016
• SPG – 2016 – If you check in on the 30th Dec and check out on the 2nd Jan (2 nights will go into 2016 and 2 into 2017) I find this answer to be really strange, and frankly, believe both nights will go to 2017.
• IHG – 2017 – since it wouldn’t be posted until checkout
• Marriott 2017 – since you are checking out in the New Year
• Hilton – 2017 – stay counts after you check out
• Club Carlson – 2017 – counts when the guest checks out, and thats when it is earned.
• Choice Hotels – 2016 – check in date
• Kimpton – 2016 – credit is carried over to the next month/year

These are simply the answers I received after contacting each hotel chain separately, though you may have a different experience or answer. If so, post in the comments below!