Platform Comparison · 2026

IMPT vs Hotels.com — Price Comparison for 2026

Q: What happened to Hotels.com's free night reward?

Hotels.com replaced its popular 'stay 10 nights, get 1 free' programme with One Key points shared across Expedia Group. The effective return dropped from ~10% to roughly 2%. IMPT offers 5% back on every stay from day one — more generous and simpler.

Updated May 2026 · Verified features and pricing comparison

Hotels.com was once the go-to for simple hotel booking with a killer loyalty programme: stay 10 nights, get 1 free. That programme is gone. Replaced by Expedia's One Key points system, Hotels.com's distinctive advantage evaporated — leaving it as essentially another Expedia skin at standard OTA prices with approximately 2% loyalty return. IMPT offers up to 10% cheaper rates, 5% back from day one, and 1 tonne of CO₂ removed per booking. Here's the full comparison.

🌿 IMPT: up to 10% cheaper than Hotels.com. 5% back on every stay. 1 tonne CO₂ removed per booking.

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IMPT vs Hotels.com — Side by Side

Feature	IMPT	Hotels.com
Hotels available	8M+ hotels	~3M properties (Expedia Group)
Countries	195	200+
Pricing	Up to 10% cheaper	Standard OTA rates
Sign-up bonus	€5 free credit	None
Loyalty programme	5% back every stay	~2% (One Key, shared w/ Expedia)
Old "10 nights" deal	N/A	Discontinued
Carbon offset	1 tonne CO₂ per booking	None
Shopping cashback	25,000+ retailers, up to 45%	Not available
Free cancellation	Yes (up to 48h)	Yes (flexible rates)
Corporate travel	Free–$250/mo with ESG reporting	Not available
Referral programme	€15 both sides, no cap	None

The Fall of Hotels.com's Loyalty Programme

Hotels.com's "stay 10 nights, get 1 free" was genuinely excellent — effectively a 10% return on every booking. For frequent travellers, it was the single best reason to use Hotels.com over Booking.com or Expedia. Then Expedia Group killed it.

In 2023, Hotels.com replaced its loyalty programme with One Key — a unified points system shared across Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. The result? Your effective return dropped from ~10% to roughly 2%. Points are complicated, tiered, and diluted across three platforms. The simplicity that made Hotels.com special is gone.

IMPT's loyalty programme fills exactly this gap: 5% back on every stay, from your first booking, with no tier requirements. It's simpler than the old Hotels.com deal and more than double the new One Key return.

Why IMPT Beats Hotels.com on Every Metric

Price

IMPT rates are up to 10% cheaper on the same room. Hotels.com, now using Expedia Group's pricing engine, charges standard OTA rates. Add IMPT's €5 signup credit and 5% loyalty return, and the total cost difference widens further.

Hotel Inventory

IMPT offers 8 million+ hotels via the Gimmonix supply network. Hotels.com, through Expedia Group, lists approximately 3 million properties. For hotel bookings specifically, IMPT has more than twice the inventory.

Environmental Impact

Hotels.com has no carbon programme. IMPT retires 1 tonne of UN-verified carbon removal credits on Ethereum per booking — 28 times the CO₂ an average hotel night produces. If sustainability matters to you, Hotels.com offers literally nothing.

Ecosystem Value

Hotels.com is a hotel booking site. IMPT is a sustainability ecosystem: hotel bookings, 25,000+ retail partners with up to 45% cashback, carbon gifts, corporate travel with ESG reporting, and a referral programme paying €15 both sides. Every interaction contributes to verified carbon retirement.

If you switched from Hotels.com because they killed the "10 nights free" deal, IMPT's 5% loyalty return is the closest replacement — and it works from booking number one, not booking number ten.

🏨 More hotels. Lower prices. Better rewards. Real carbon impact. €5 free credit to start.

Search Hotels on IMPT →

When Hotels.com Might Still Work

If you've accumulated significant One Key points across Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, staying within the Expedia ecosystem makes sense until you've used them. Hotels.com's app is also well-designed with strong review aggregation and a user-friendly interface. For travellers deeply embedded in the Expedia Group ecosystem, the cross-platform points can add up.

For everyone else — especially anyone who loved the old "10 nights free" programme — IMPT is the better deal in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IMPT cheaper than Hotels.com?

Yes. IMPT rates are up to 10% cheaper than Hotels.com on the same hotel. Hotels.com uses the same Expedia Group supply with standard OTA pricing. IMPT's leaner model passes savings directly to travellers.

What happened to Hotels.com's free night reward?

Hotels.com replaced its popular "stay 10 nights, get 1 free" programme with One Key points shared across Expedia Group. The effective return dropped from ~10% to roughly 2%. IMPT offers 5% back on every stay from day one — more generous and simpler.

Does Hotels.com offer carbon offsets?

No. Hotels.com has no carbon offset programme. IMPT retires 1 tonne of UN-verified carbon removal credits on Ethereum for every booking, funded from IMPT's commission at no extra cost to the traveller.

Which has more hotels — IMPT or Hotels.com?

IMPT offers 8 million+ hotels across 195 countries. Hotels.com, as part of Expedia Group, lists approximately 3 million properties. For hotel-only inventory, IMPT has significantly more options.

Can I earn cashback shopping through Hotels.com?

No. Hotels.com is accommodation-only. IMPT offers up to 45% cashback at 25,000+ retail partners including Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress — with each purchase contributing to carbon retirement.