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Tag Archive: loyalty programmes

  1. How to Obtain Elite Hotel Frequent Stay Status…..Quickly

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    Much like airlines, hotels provide elite status to their most loyal members with a range of benefits and services. But what if you are switching brands, or your travel patterns change; you don’t want to start from a basic level again. Here are some ways to get Elite status at some of the major hotel chains.

    Club Carlson (Status Match)

    Although it’s not currently publicly offering status matches, Club Carlson apparently does so discreetly on an ongoing basis. To get your status matched, email them here and include a screen shot of your current hotel elite status, your Carlson Gold Points number and request a status match. They match to both Silver and Gold status (low and mid-tier respectively) but almost never match to their highest Concierge level.

    Hyatt (Status Challenge)

    Hyatt currently has a Diamond Trial Offer available. You will receive trial Diamond membership for 60 days with proof of top-tier status with one of its competitor programs. However, you must complete 12 nights in 60 days to maintain Diamond membership through February of 2015. You will also receive 1,000 bonus points on your first six eligible nights within 60 days, up to a maximum of 6,000 bonus points. Be aware that the earning period for the promotion begins at the time of enrollment. Email goldpassport@hyatt.com to sign-up for this offer.

    IHG Rewards Club (Status Match)

    IHG Rewards/Priority Club will offer a status match for their competitors. Make sure you first sign-up for a IHG Rewards Club account. To request a status match send an email to PriorityClub@ihg.com with a screenshot of status from a competitor. Depending on your status, they may offer you a challenge or a status match.

    Kimpton (Status Match)

    Kimpton offers two membership levels: InTouch and Inner Circle. To match your current hotel status to Kimpton, take a screenshot and attach your current statement in an email asking for a match to: GuestLoyalty@KimptonGroup.com.
    Marriott (Status Challenge)
    There is no formal status match with Marriott, however if you email elite.member@marriott.com and express your interest they may offer you a Platinum Challenge. Typically this would require nine stays in 3

  2. Hotel Loyalty Rewards Programmes

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    Much like airlines, hotel chains such as Starwood, Hyatt, Hilton, Best Western, and many others have created loyalty rewards programmes. While the hotel isn’t what’s getting you to your destination, it’s likely that you’ll be staying in one when you’re there. Hotels don’t give you miles, but rather they award you points for stays. Some will give you a fixed point number per night, per room category; others look at the dollar amount you spend on your room and allocate points based on your spend. In a way, these programmes are more complex and intricate than airline programmes that traditionally have awarded you points based on the distance flown; but even airlines are starting to change their point systems.

    Hotels are present in a far more competitive environment. While there may only be one or two airlines serving the city you are travelling to; hotels are usually much more plentiful. Because of this, hotels have to do everything they can to get you to book their room. Often this means that the hotels will compete on price. If you are a member of their loyalty programme, and you have reached an elite tier, you will find that the benefits can be quite rewarding, even if you’ve booked the cheapest room.

    Hotels like airlines will over-sell their rooms, which means that they will do what they can to fill every room. Now you may not have paid for the suite, but if the hotel can make the sale of a regular room they’re not going to let the room go empty just because they didn’t get full price for it. Being a top-tier elite member in their programme could mean that they decide to give you the suite as a reward.

    So next time you are considering where to stay; look at your overall patterns and see what loyalty programme might be a good fit, and give you some very nice benefits for those nights spent away from home.