As brands fight for our ever diminishing travel dollar, and travelers become more budget savvy, there has never been a better time to be a member of a hotel loyalty program. While you can expect discounted room rates and a chance to earn points for free nights, not all programs are created equal – some offer more freebies for your membership. Here are my top five loyalty schemes and what you can expect to gain from them: Ritz Carlton Rewards/Marriott Rewards/Starwood Preferred Guest Now these three giants of the hotel industry are in the process of merging, you can link your accounts for extra earning power as well as match…