Leaders Club Transfer Partners

Last updated: February 2026

Citi ThankYou Points is the only credit card program that transfers directly to Leaders Club, the loyalty program of Leading Hotels of the World (LHW). The ratio is 5:1, meaning 5,000 Citi points become 1,000 Leaders Club points. No other major transferable points currency—Chase, Amex, Capital One, Bilt, or otherwise—offers a direct transfer path.

That single partnership, combined with a steep conversion ratio, makes Leaders Club transfers a niche play. It can work well for travelers who specifically want to book independent luxury properties in the LHW portfolio, but it’s a poor default choice for most hotel redemptions. This page breaks down exactly when transferring makes sense, when it doesn’t, and how to avoid costly mistakes.

Key Takeaways

• Only one direct transfer partner exists. Citi ThankYou Points transfers to Leaders Club at a 5:1 ratio. Chase, Amex, Capital One, Bilt, Wells Fargo, and Rove do not offer direct transfers (per the ATH table).
• The 5:1 ratio is expensive. At an estimated Leaders Club point value of ~1.6 cents per point, you’re getting roughly 0.32 cents per Citi point—well below the 1.5–2.0 CPP most travelers target with Citi transfers to airlines.
• Transfers are one-way and irreversible. Once Citi points move to the Leaders Club, they cannot be moved back or redirected.
• Leaders Club competes with Virtuoso and Amex FHR. Both alternatives often deliver similar or better luxury hotel perks without spending transferable points.
• Best for: Travelers with a specific LHW property in mind where points redemption beats the cash rate and no other booking channel is available.

Quick Answer: Which Programs Transfer to the Leaders Club?

Only Citi ThankYou Points transfers directly to Leaders Club, at a ratio of 5 Citi points → 1 Leaders Club point. Every other major U.S. transferable points program lacks a direct partnership.

For a full breakdown of every bank’s transfer options, see the complete credit card transfer partners guide.

What Is Leaders Club and Why Does It Matter?

Leaders Club is the free loyalty program run by Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), a collection of over 400 independent luxury hotels across 80+ destinations. Unlike Marriott, Hilton, or Hyatt, LHW doesn’t own or franchise hotels. It curates a portfolio of independently operated properties—boutique palaces in Europe, safari lodges in Africa, beach resorts in Southeast Asia—that meet specific luxury standards.

Leaders Club membership tiers offer perks like:

• Complimentary breakfast at most properties
• Room upgrades (subject to availability)
• Early check-in and late checkout
• Welcome amenity or property credit
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

These benefits are similar to what you’d receive through a Virtuoso travel advisor or Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR). The key difference: Leaders Club lets you earn and redeem points within the LHW network, while Virtuoso and FHR are booking channels that don’t involve a separate points currency.

Who this program is for: Travelers who regularly stay at LHW properties and want to stack loyalty benefits on top of their stays. It’s a niche program—not a general-purpose hotel loyalty currency.

Who it’s not for: Anyone looking for broad hotel coverage, predictable award charts, or high-value redemptions across thousands of properties. Mainstream programs like Hyatt (via Chase) or Hilton (via Amex) offer far more flexibility.

How the 5:1 Leaders Club Transfer Ratio Works

In plain English: for every 5 Citi ThankYou points you transfer, you receive 1 Leaders Club point. This is a fixed ratio with no published minimum transfer amount beyond what Citi’s portal requires.

Here’s what that looks like at common transfer amounts:

What the 5:1 ratio means for your points value

This ratio is significantly steeper than Citi’s other hotel transfer partners. For comparison:

The 5:1 ratio means Leaders Club demands five times as many Citi points per loyalty point as Accor, and the gap widens further against Choice and Preferred Hotels. This doesn’t automatically make it a bad deal—Leaders Club points may deliver more value per point at luxury properties—but the math needs to work in your favor before you transfer.

For a deeper look at all Citi ThankYou transfer options, check the Citi Transfer Partners guide.

Value Check: Does Transferring to Leaders Club Make Sense?

This is the most important section on this page. The 5:1 ratio creates a high bar for value, and most travelers will find better uses for their Citi points elsewhere.

The math, step by step

Industry estimates place Leaders Club points at roughly 1.6 cents per point (CPP) when redeemed for hotel stays. Using that benchmark:

1. Start with 50,000 Citi ThankYou Points.
2. Transfer at 5:1 → you receive 10,000 Leaders Club points.
3. Redeem 10,000 Leaders Club points at ~1.6 CPP → approximately $160 in hotel value.
4. Effective Citi point value: $160 ÷ 50,000 = 0.32 cents per Citi point.

You can run this calculation yourself using the Award Travel Hub points calculator to compare against other redemption options.

How 0.32 CPP compares

Most intermediate points-and-miles users target 1.5–2.0+ CPP when transferring Citi points to airline partners for premium cabin awards. For example:

• Transferring Citi points to Turkish Miles & Smiles for Star Alliance business class can yield 2.0+ CPP.
• Transferring to Air France-KLM Flying Blue during promo awards can exceed 2.5 CPP.
• Even the Citi Pay Yourself Back or travel portal options typically deliver 1.0–1.25 CPP.

At 0.32 CPP, the Leaders Club transfer delivers roughly one-fifth the value of a solid airline transfer. That’s a significant gap.

Bottom line: The Leaders Club transfer only makes sense if the specific redemption you’re targeting delivers substantially more than 1.6 CPP per Leaders Club point—or if the property and experience are worth the premium to you regardless of the math.

When the transfer could make sense

• A specific LHW property has high cash rates (e.g., $500+/night), and the points cost is modest relative to those rates.
• You’ve already exhausted better Citi transfer options and have surplus points with no immediate airline redemption planned.
• You value the Leaders Club elite perks (breakfast, upgrades) that you wouldn’t get booking through other channels at that property.
• A transfer bonus is actively running. Transfer bonuses can temporarily improve the ratio, but none are verified as of this writing. Always confirm on Citi’s transfer portal before acting.

When the transfer doesn’t make sense

• You have airline redemptions available. Almost any Citi-to-airline transfer will deliver better CPP for premium cabin awards. See options like AAdvantage via Citi or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.
• You can book the same property through Virtuoso or Amex FHR and get comparable perks (upgrades, breakfast, credits) without spending points.
• You’re transferring speculatively. Never transfer points to Leaders Club “just in case.” Transfers are irreversible.

Leaders Club Transfer Partners vs. Alternative Booking Channels

Before transferring Citi points, compare what you’d get through other luxury hotel booking channels. Leaders Club competes directly with several alternatives that don’t require spending transferable points.

Key insight: Virtuoso advisors often provide a $100+ food and beverage credit that Leaders Club members don’t receive for the same property. If you’re paying cash anyway, booking through a Virtuoso advisor frequently delivers more total value than booking through Leaders Club directly.

The Leaders Club points earning and redemption cycle only makes sense if you stay at LHW properties often enough to accumulate meaningful balances—or if you’re topping up with Citi transfers for a specific redemption.

How to Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to Leaders Club

If you’ve done the math and a transfer makes sense for your situation, here’s the step-by-step process.

Step-by-step transfer instructions

1. Log in to your Citi ThankYou account at thankyou.com or through the Citi mobile app.
2. Navigate to “Use Points” → “Transfer Points.”
3. Select “Leaders Club” from the hotel transfer partner list.
4. Enter the number of Citi points you want to transfer. Remember: 5,000 Citi points = 1,000 Leaders Club points.
5. Enter your Leaders Club membership number. You must have an existing Leaders Club account. If you don’t, create one at lhw.com before initiating the transfer.
6. Confirm the transfer. Review the conversion amount carefully before clicking submit.
7. Wait for points to post. Transfers typically process within 24–48 hours, though some users report near-instant transfers.

Before you transfer: pre-flight checklist

• ✅ Confirm award availability at your target LHW property before transferring. Contact the property or check on lhw.com.
• ✅ Calculate the CPP you’ll receive. Use the Award Travel Hub calculator to compare against alternatives.
• ✅ Verify your Leaders Club number is correct. A wrong number can delay or complicate the transfer.
• ✅ Check for active transfer bonuses on Citi’s portal. Bonuses can meaningfully improve the ratio, but are infrequent.
• ✅ Understand that transfers are irreversible. Once points leave your Citi account, they cannot be returned.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Leaders Club Transfers

Transferring points to a niche hotel program carries specific risks. Here are the most frequent pitfalls.

1. Transferring before confirming availability

Leaders Club award availability is less transparent than that of mainstream hotel programs. Unlike Hyatt or Marriott, there’s no robust online search tool showing real-time award pricing across the portfolio. Always confirm that your target property has award availability at a reasonable points cost before moving any Citi points.

2. Ignoring the opportunity cost

Every Citi point transferred to the Leaders Club is a Citi point that can’t go to an airline partner. If you have an upcoming travel where 50,000 Citi points could book a Business Class flight worth $2,000+ through a partner like Air France-KLM Flying Blue, that’s a dramatically better use of the same points.

3. Transferring round numbers without checking the math

Don’t transfer 50,000 points because it’s a clean number. Transfer exactly what you need for a confirmed redemption, plus a small buffer if required. Leftover Leaders Club points are only useful if you have another LHW stay planned.

4. Overlooking Virtuoso or FHR alternatives

If you hold an Amex Platinum card or have access to a Virtuoso travel advisor, you may get equivalent or better perks at the same LHW property without spending a single transferable point. Check these channels first.

5. Assuming transfer bonuses will appear

Some travelers hold points in anticipation of a Leaders Club transfer bonus. While bonuses do occasionally appear across Citi’s partner list, there’s no predictable schedule for Leaders Club specifically. Don’t build a booking strategy around an unconfirmed bonus.

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Use Leaders Club Transfer Partners

Best for:

• Travelers with a strong preference for a specific LHW property and no better booking channel available
• Citi ThankYou cardholders with large point balances and no immediate airline redemption needs
• Repeat LHW guests who are building toward a Leaders Club elite tier
• Situations where the points-to-cash value clearly exceeds 0.5 CPP on the Citi side (meaning the Leaders Club redemption delivers well above the 1.6 CPP average)

Not for:

• Travelers seeking the best CPP from their Citi points (airline transfers almost always win)
• Anyone without a confirmed LHW booking target
• Travelers who hold an Amex Platinum or have Virtuoso access and can get similar perks through those channels
• Points hoarders who might need flexibility later—Leaders Club points have a narrow use case

How Leaders Club Compares to Other Hotel Transfer Partners from Citi

Citi ThankYou Points currently transfer to four hotel programs. Here’s how Leaders Club stacks up.

Accor stands out as the strongest hotel transfer from Citi on a pure CPP basis. Choice and Preferred Hotels deliver reasonable value for their categories. Leaders Club trails significantly in effective CPP but targets a distinct luxury niche.

For a complete view of all bank transfer partners—including airline options that typically deliver higher value—visit the Bank Transfer Partners overview.

Real-World Example: When a Leaders Club Transfer Could Work

Scenario: You want to book a two-night stay at a boutique LHW property in Tuscany. The cash rate is $600/night ($1,200 total before taxes). The property offers an award stay for 15,000 Leaders Club points per night (30,000 total).

Transfer math:

• 30,000 Leaders Club points needed × 5 = 150,000 Citi ThankYou Points
• Value received: $1,200 ÷ 150,000 = 0.80 CPP

Verdict: At 0.80 CPP, this is better than the average Leaders Club transfer but still well below what you’d get transferring those same 150,000 Citi points to an airline partner for a Business Class flight (often 1.5–3.0+ CPP). The transfer only makes sense if:

• You have no upcoming flights to redeem for
• The Tuscany stay is your priority
• You can’t access comparable perks through Virtuoso or FHR at this property
• You value the experience enough to accept the lower CPP

Alternative approach: Pay cash for the hotel ($1,200), earn Citi points on the purchase (1x–5x depending on card and category), and save the 150,000 Citi points for a premium cabin redemption worth $3,000–$4,500 through an airline partner. This is almost always the better travel rewards math.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which credit card programs transfer to Leaders Club?

Only Citi ThankYou Points transfers directly to Leaders Club, at a 5:1 ratio. Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Bilt Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards, and Rove Miles do not have a direct transfer partnership with Leaders Club.

What is the Citi to Leaders Club transfer ratio?

The ratio is 5:1. For every 5,000 Citi ThankYou Points transferred, you receive 1,000 Leaders Club points. This ratio has been stable since the partnership launched in 2024.

How long do Citi to Leaders Club transfers take?

Transfers typically process within 24–48 hours, though some users report near-instant posting. Plan ahead and don’t wait until the last minute before a booking deadline.

Can I transfer Leaders Club points back to Citi?

No. All transfers from Citi ThankYou to Leaders Club are one-way and irreversible. Once points leave your Citi account, they cannot be returned or redirected to another program.

Is transferring to the Leaders Club a good value?

In most cases, no. The effective value is roughly 0.32 cents per Citi point at average Leaders Club redemption rates, which is well below the 1.5–2.0+ CPP achievable through airline transfer partners. It can make sense for specific high-value LHW redemptions where no better booking channel exists.

Do Leaders Club points expire?

Leaders Club points are subject to the program’s terms, which may include expiration after a period of account inactivity. Check the current Leaders Club terms on lhw.com before accumulating a large balance.

Can I earn Leaders Club points without transferring from Citi?

Yes. You earn Leaders Club points by booking stays directly through lhw.com or the LHW app at participating properties. The Citi transfer is a supplemental way to top up your balance.

Does Leaders Club have an award chart?

Leaders Club uses a flexible pricing model where award costs vary by property and dates. There is no fixed award chart like some airline programs use. Always check the specific points cost for your target property and dates before transferring.

Are there transfer bonuses for Citi to the Leaders Club?

Transfer bonuses are possible but infrequent and unpredictable. No active bonus is verified as of this writing. Always check the Citi transfer portal for current promotions before initiating a transfer.

How does Leaders Club compare to Hyatt for luxury hotel stays?

World of Hyatt (accessible via Chase Ultimate Rewards at 1:1) generally offers better value for points-based hotel stays, with a broader luxury portfolio including Park Hyatt and Alila brands. Leaders Club’s advantage is access to unique independent properties not found in any chain’s portfolio.

Can I use Amex points for Leaders Club?

No. Amex Membership Rewards does not transfer to Leaders Club. However, Amex Platinum cardholders can access similar luxury hotel perks through Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection, which include some LHW properties. See the Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners guide for Amex’s actual hotel options.

Can I use Bilt points for Leaders Club?

No. Bilt Rewards does not offer a direct transfer to Leaders Club. For Bilt’s actual hotel and airline transfer options, see the Bilt Transfer Partners guide.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Leaders Club transfer partners come down to a single option: Citi ThankYou Points at a 5:1 ratio. It’s a narrow, expensive transfer path that serves a specific niche—luxury travelers targeting independent LHW properties where points redemption delivers clear value over cash rates and alternative booking channels.

Here’s the decision framework:

1. Check if your target LHW property is available for an award stay and note the points cost.
2. Run the math using the Award Travel Hub calculator. If the effective Citi CPP falls below 0.5, look elsewhere.
3. Compare against Virtuoso and Amex FHR. If either channel offers comparable perks at the cash rate, pay cash and save your Citi points.
4. Consider airline alternatives. Could those same Citi points book a premium cabin flight worth significantly more? Check Citi’s full transfer partner list for options.
5. Only transfer if you have a confirmed plan. Never move points to the Leaders Club speculatively.

For most travelers, Citi ThankYou Points deliver far more value when transferred to airline partners for Business Class or First Class redemptions. But if you’ve found the right LHW property at the right price, and the math checks out, the Leaders Club transfer is a legitimate tool in your booking strategy.

Related reading:

• Complete Credit Card Transfer Partners Guide
• Citi ThankYou Transfer Partners
• Capital One Miles Transfer Partners
• Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners

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