Brian Kelly on The Points Guy Brand, the Future of Travel, and His Quest to be a Father

If you’re a traveler, you’ve probably been bombarded with credit card applications to enroll in a variety of loyalty programs for air travel, hotels, and more. Trying to make sense of how points and miles work with different credit cards can be a daunting task. For more than 10 years, Brian Kelly, the founder and CEO of The Points Guy, has led his team in creating a trusted travel and lifestyle media platform that helps people maximize their lives and travel the world by leveraging loyalty programs and credit card points. 

It’s been an incredible rise for the 38-year-old jetsetter, who was raised in Jamison, Pennsylvania, but currently, calls nearby Carversville and New York City his hometowns. He’s a busy guy, so we wanted to catch up with Kelly to not only talk about his long-term vision for The Points Guy, and we also wanted to capture the man behind the brand. So, we also chat about what inspires him to travel, where he wants to travel in 2022, if being a gay traveler influences his travel planning, and what’s next for the business mogul. You might be surprised!

Vacationer: What inspired you to create the points-and-miles blog that would eventually evolve into a lifestyle media brand? 

Brian Kelly: I’ve always been a points and miles maximizer, ever since I was a kid. It always amazed me that smart people think these programs are too complicated, so I started a points and miles blog as a side hobby which quickly exploded beyond my wildest imaginations.

What do you think is one of the major misconceptions about points or miles rewards programs?

The major misconception we hear is that points and miles are worthless. They are so valuable, and I love watching someone learn about rewards and be positively impacted by them. People have had their lives materially changed due to travel and redeeming points and miles. 

You’re the go-to guru for using points and miles to save money and or receive cool travel perks and experiences. What are some of your most memorable travel experiences directly tied to rewards or loyalty programs?

I love using points and miles to give back and support charities I am passionate about. I am a global ambassador for a nonprofit organization called PeaceJam that develops the next generation of young leaders around the world. So, I do a lot of travel to visit youth with noble peace prize winners in countries such as Ghana, Guatemala, South Africa, and Liberia. I also love donating/raising miles for Rainbow Railroad, a nonprofit organization that saves LGBTQIA people from persecution and violence and gets them asylum.

You recently launched The Points Guy App to help travelers improve their spending habits, maximize rewards, and track their progress toward their dream trips. How are people responding to the app? How are you measuring its success?

The TPG App is amazing! People are still confused about points and miles so while content is great, I really want to continue to create great tools that help people maximize their earnings.

We measure success by listening to what our readers have to say about how our content and services. Our reader testimonials are a great way for us to get both positive and constructive feedback about what we are putting out on our platforms.

The TPG brand has started to expand internationally. Talk about that a little and where you see the overall brand in 5 or 10 years?

The launch of TPG UK was a big global expansion for us and I also think the launch of the TPG App has been a great way for us to expand globally. I’d also love to have our content available in Spanish. Travel and loyalty programs are already a global phenomenon and are only getting bigger and more popular.

Personally, where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years? 

Number one is becoming a father. I’m currently in the process of surrogacy. I’d love to be married. I also just got a Golden Visa in Portugal so I am an EU resident and in five years I can apply for full citizenship.

You identify as a gay male. Does that directly impact how you travel? 

I am proud, but also aware that there are places that I love traveling too, such as countries in Africa, that have antiquated LGBTQ+ laws. I always make sure to travel to places that I feel safe while also being open to experiencing new environments and types of cultures. 

You’ve been an important travel pioneer and provided inspiration to so many people, including queer travelers. Do you think it’s important to see LGBTQ+ people in the travel industry in key positions or leadership roles? 

Absolutely, it’s inspirational. There aren’t a lot of out LGBTQ+ executives in the travel and credit cards industries. I love seeing Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas, pave the way in the travel industry as an out gay executive. Visibility is so important not just for gay men but for all types of minorities. At The Points Guy, we have created an Advisory Panel comprised of different leaders in the travel space to encourage us to make our content and services more diverse and inclusive. We are trying to highlight stories and experiences from different types of people when they travel.

Who were your role models growing up?

My dad has definitely been my biggest role model. He was a business traveler who I learned how to use points and miles at a young age. He is a caring and kind man who I call the original points guy and we are both the third son of three boys and one girl. We also are both named Brian Kelly, so I like to think of myself as a mini-me of my dad even though I am 6’7 and he is 6’3.

At what age did you get your first passport? What was your first trip?

I was 13 and used my family’s points to go to Grand Cayman. Then I studied abroad in Madrid in college and got into the points and miles game.

What inspires you to travel?

I absolutely love wildlife and animals. Whether it’s swimming with whales in Morea, trekking with gorillas in Rwanda, or even cage diving with great white sharks in South Africa, I love any experience I can get with animals in their natural environments. 

What travel trend or change in the travel industry are you most excited to see happen?

I’m excited to see more consumer-friendly policies like no change fees as consumers are looking for more flexibility than ever before

What U.S. and international destinations do you think will be popular for travelers in 2022?

Within the US, I think people miss culture and arts so I think visiting cities such as NYC will become popular again, especially as we get more comfortable with the virus. Internationally, I think people miss traveling to Asia and hopefully, destinations like Japan and Thailand become popular again in 2022. 

What top three places are on your list to visit in 2022?

Ecuador – Galapagos for scuba diving

Peru – Machu Picchu

Raja Ampat, Indonesia for scuba diving

What is one thing you never forget to pack when traveling?

A pen! Especially during the pandemic when there are more forms than ever.


For more information on how you can maximize points and miles programs to improve how you travel, visit The Points Guy website and follow the TPG team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Keep up with Brian Kelly’s latest adventures on Instagram.