• by Danielle Oster , 2 hours ago

A lot can go wrong around the holidays.

Actress Beverly D’Angelo, best known for portraying Ellen Griswold in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” a holiday comedy in which a lot of things do go wrong, promises that Wyndham Rewards can make the holidays more enjoyable. In “Our Holiday Gift to You,” Griswold addresses the audience directly, with a reference to the famous holiday lights scene in “Christmas Vacation: “Some people plug in their lights … and nothing happens. Or worse, they get a big old spark!”

She then goes on to explain Wyndham Rewards’ promotional offer of a complimentary, limited time, one-level status upgrade: “Translation – extra perks when they matter most.”

The upgrade could result in perks including early check-in, late checkout, a preferred room, and, for those upgrading from Platinum status to Diamond, suite upgrades. For Wyndham Rewards members who are already Diamond status members, Wyndham is offering 5x points for booking, the program’s largest points multiplier of the year.

“We all know what travel looks like this time of year—crowded airports, packed cars and family gatherings that always seem to grow by a few unexpected guests,” Wyndham Hotel & Resorts GVP, Loyalty and Guest Engagement said in a statement. “Whether it’s one night at a Days Inn, a long weekend at a La Quinta, or an all-out, well-deserved splurge at a beautiful Wyndham Grand, this upgrade is our way of reminding travelers that with Wyndham Rewards, every stay shines a little brighter.”

Wyndham Rewards members can apply for the upgrade through Dec. 31 to request a one-level membership bump. The offer also allows people who sign up for a free membership to then apply for the upgrade.

It’s not a surprise that the company is focusing the holiday campaign around its reward program, which has helped sustain financial success in recent quarters. During an earnings call with investors to discuss Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ Q3 earnings, the company reported 18% growth in ancillary fees on the quarter, and 14% year-to-date growth.

“A key contributor to this growth is the continued strength of Wyndham Rewards,” Wyndham Hotels & Resorts CEO Jeff Pilate said during the call, “which achieved a record 53% share of occupancy contribution for our domestic hotels and an 8% increase in our global membership enrollments.”