What's your hotel loyalty path?

[samh004]

I don't consider hotel status important to me, I already have enough worries with airline status

The few times I will consider a chain, is if travelling with my dad, who will be picking up the tab and is SPG Platinum, But I still try to find the best deal, and if it's too pricy, we look elsewhere. We recently stayed a night at the Sheraton, a night at the Westin, and then booked the last night through Qantas Hotels to still get some points, but at a vastly cheaper rate than what was offered through SPG.

At the end of the day I think my Qantas points balance clouds my mind, but at least I'm focused on just the one balance, not multiple programs.

 

[Flashback]

I find RocketMiles is good for the initial sign up bonus but not much use after that. It has a very small hotel selection and it's rates are quite high....... YMMV!

 

[Fifa]

In the past I found it easy to attain and maintain status with IHG but all those great promos have dwindled. I have received heaps of free nights over the years and I still stay at the odd IHG hotels and do enjoy the club lounge at the Sydney IC.

VA Platinum ensured I got Honours Diamond and with a bit of juggling I have been able to maintain it. Like kpc I like all the guaranteed benefits and rarely pay full price for a room.

After only 5 stays per year I have also maintained Rydges Platinum which gives 15% off all rates. These hotels can often be found in towns where other major chains do not have a presence. Sydney Airport Rydges is ideal for early departures or late arrival flights and is priced very well if you book early enough. But I really don't like the bathrooms and the wifi is abysmal .

And for most other hotels, I book via the Velocity website (Agoda) to get 3 points/$ plus the gold bonus so its a win win.

 

[Moindardt]

I have settled on SPG predominately because of the multiple rooms and BRG. We don't spend 50 nights at hotels but will do 20 a year with 2-3 rooms. The fact that most places extend Plat benefits to each room (in the case of breakfast) is awesome and saves us lots of money (or will next month when I hit platinum). The single biggest thing is the BRG. We generally book 5-7 nights at a place so 20% off the cheapest can be incredible savings. With 2 rooms, I am usually $300+ better off a day with BRG. Combine that with the Platinum benefits makes for great time. I always book the room I need and assume there won't be any upgrades, if I do get any then it will be a super-bonus. Another easy thing is a mattress run. Almost did one when I was in the states but will hit 50 nights so didn't need to. Book a $50 hotel at an airport for 3 rooms for x nights, doesn't take long to get across the line.

 

[Pablo]

I've become very loyal to Accor properties for a number of reasons. Firstly, at the hotels I stay at a lot, I have now come to the point of receiving additional benefits because of my loyalty not just to Accor, but to the individual hotel. So room upgrades can be better, quicker service and more personalized service.
I've found recently the point promotions with Accor have been sensational and have given me some amazing opportunities for holidays (Sofitel Dubai was one - saved thousands in cash)
Also, in Aust, the number of Accor properties is sensational and so there is often plenty of choice in hotels in the price range I need, and the Accor Plus cards dining benefits are sensational.
So I've become very loyal, especially where there is a hotel with Exec lounge. I do fly Y all the time (unless I can get upgrades) so I probably find that the hotel has more luxury/comfort over the flight.

 

[tuapekastar]

Some very sensible points made in that OP Flashback. I gave no thought whatsoever to hotel loyalty prior to a RTW trip in 2010, where i booked many (but not exclusively) IHG properties - mostly HI and HIX - and got mid-level status. I have to say it did not give me much, and not with any consistency either, but it was better than nothing. I subsequently took the QF to VA status match at Platinum level which in turn enabled me to match to IHG or HH at their top level. I chose HH (Diamond) and thoroughly enjoyed the free breakfasts, free wi-fi, Exec Lounge access, room upgrades etc. - it was worlds away from IHG mid-level.

I re-qualified (just) the next year at the Gold level (simply insufficient travel/nights to re-do Diamond), and it was still pretty good. I then dropped down to silver HH, but fortuitously ) ) also dropped from Plat to Gold on VA. This revived the status match offer, this time to HH Gold rather than Diamond, which is what I did. Unless there is a change in circumstances that I do not foresee, I would always struggle to qualify mid or top tier at a hotel chain, except maybe in a year i did some 'big' trips. But if i can somehow jag a HH Gold or Diamond via a status match then I would look to do so. I particularly like the HH service/benefits given at Asian hotels. But if I cannot 'short cut' my way to this status then I too would be looking at a BHOD type situation, and forsake the lounge access etc. I actually do this now sometime - will go the HH hotel if I can, but look elsewhere if the prices etc. are unattractive.

 

[Sprucegoose]

These days I book where I need to stay dictates loyalty.....ie to myself !!

 

[11sjw]

To the more experienced Road Warriors,

A little early on my part and I'm possibly jinxing myself but here goes...

I'm down to the final two for a role that will see me on the road through Oceania for between 80-100 nights per year. Some basic calcs with relevant hotel loyalty programs show that that kind of stay will generate 3-5 free nights (current exchange rate reduces the benefit significantly when spends are measured in USD or EUR!!), not including any promo type point hauls.

Our holiday destinations tend to be HKG (a friend there so we stay a few nights with them out of the say 10 we'd be away) and North America (Outlaws to see!).

Which would be the best Hotel program to go with? SPG is out as there are no properties in NZ. I believe I'm down to IHG and LeClub Accor. I'm guessing my budget will be restricted to say the $250/night mark which doesn't seem to go too far in most major cities.

Here's hoping I haven't just killed off my chances for the role!!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I believe I'm down to IHG and LeClub Accor. I'm guessing my budget will be restricted to say the $250/night mark which doesn't seem to go too far in most major cities.

Without knowing the cities, it's hard to get informed comment. With those kind of nights, you'd likely be in line for Royal Ambassador but that will depend on where you're going. Are all nights possible in a chain, or are some destinations devoid of chain hotels? RA also seems to be under some change management plan as well, with the website requirements changing frequently of late, with no clear intention of where it's headed........but RA would certainly be worth a stab.

 

[11sjw]

Without knowing the cities, it's hard to get informed comment. With those kind of nights, you'd likely be in line for Royal Ambassador but that will depend on where you're going. Are all nights possible in a chain, or are some destinations devoid of chain hotels? RA also seems to be under some change management plan as well, with the website requirements changing frequently of late, with no clear intention of where it's headed........but RA would certainly be worth a stab.

Main cities would be as follows Sydney, Melb, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart, Auckland, Wellington, Noumea, Port Moresby and Nadi. I realise the budget will get blown in some places, eg Moresby, so I'll just need to show that there wasn't a reasonable choice under the number.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I'm Accor plat, as they seem to suit my travel patterns reasonably well. However, when they're located in silly places, or have a ridiculous price, I would use sites such as Agoda or Hotels.com where I would get 7% off most non-chain hotels.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

The VA partnership has sucked me into becoming loyal to the Hilton chain. I am currently HH Gold due to the partnership and have almost requalified but will wait until 1 January to opt in for Diamond as I am now VA platinum. I do a reasonable amount of travel throughout Asia and to Sydney and Melbourne and have never failed to be upgraded to at least an executive room when paying the base rate and sometimes even using various corporate codes to half the going rates. As such, the amount of money I have saved on breakfasts, drinks and the occasional dinner when I am too lazy to go out is not insignificant. Whilst the rooms can be uninspiring, particularly Hilton Singapore, the welcome you receive and consistency of benefits mean I now feel at home at Hiltons. I have at least another 50 years of travel left and believe that SPG is the most aspirational brand so will soon start accumulating SPG status after a mind-blowing recent stay at the Westin in Singapore.

I echo the sentiment that hotel status, when obtained within reason, is equally as important as airline status as so often poor hotel experiences can ruin trips.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I am currently HH Gold due to the partnership and have almost requalified but will wait until 1 January to opt in for Diamond as I am now VA platinum.

If I could make a suggestion, as you're about to requal. gold, which will give you gold status through until end of March 2017, why not wait until January 2017 to use your VA plat. (assuming you'll still have VA plat in 2017). Of course you have the gamble that they may can this benefit before then.

 

[leadman]

I'm Accor plat, as they seem to suit my travel patterns reasonably well. However, when they're located in silly places, or have a ridiculous price, I would use sites such as Agoda or Hotels.com where I would get 7% off most non-chain hotels.

Hotel stays, like air travel, come back to common sense; Marriott Pt life does not mean I stay at their chain all the time. For example, Singapore is just ridiculous with the JW there SIN$600++ for an OK room! Accor Novotel much cheaper at Clarke Quay.


I have had to argue a few times in my working life about staying predominately in one chain, but when I challenge them to find an internet cost or minibar bill or breakfast charge on my bills they can quickly see the benefit.

 

[drron]

I will get lifetime SPG plat sometime in 2018.Like leadman that does not mean I will always stay at Starwood hotels after that.However I am aiming for it so I can stay at those hotels we enjoy whilst not having to stay in some substandard places just to get to 50 nights.Looking forward to trying some of the places reviewed on AFF over the years.
At present if no Starwood hotels we do seek out something special and have had some great stays over the last 2 years at small boutique hotels.

 

[OATEK]

I only stay at hotels for about 40 nights a year, and I have not tried to gain status. Back when I travelled about 80-90 days each year, it was mostly to small country towns where I stayed in motels (eg Golden Chain).

These days I have an IHG Card, because it gives me late checkout in MEL at the Rialto, being where I travel to most often in Oz. And I got a Marriott Silver a few years ago on a promotion. But for me the selection of Hotels generally comes down to comfort, general ambiance and location. Sometimes we stay in somewhere OTT, like the Adlon in Berlin, but most of the time like drron, we look at a lot of "small boutique hotels", or those with character.

I can see why many would seek status when they are on the go a good deal, but happily the long business trips with every night in a different town are well behind me.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

SPG here. Been platinum for 5+ yrs.
Whys:
- BRG
- Good perks including breakfast, etc
- Good locations in cities. I loath commuting from one end of town to another. For example, just checked into Westin Melbourne, 3 meetings tomorrow all on Collins Street, 5 min morning walk to first meeting. Today off to Telstra on Exhibition, too easy. Sydney, use SOTP primarily. Singapore, Sheraton or Westin. Tokyo, Ebisu Westin, 10 minute walk to trains. Just stayed in St Louis at the Westin, across the street from Cardinals stadium and in Chicago W Lakefront, easy train to Wrigley Field. San Jose, downtown, 5 mins to office or airport, free parking as I usually drive up from LA. San Fran, v central locations, close to AT&T Park plus new software HQ's.

But, BRG is where the rubber meets the road. Use stayangel.com or do it yourself (tedious).

Cheers
BF

 

[Timtammi]

While I have chased Hilton status to a degree I find that I have a different POV depending on whether I am travelling for leisure or for work. My work travel is all Asia and the USA (once per year) and when travelling for work I like having status and staying with the Hilton group as I know what I am going to get, there is a consistency and sameness to the rooms and amenities that I like, breakfast in the exec lounge before heading out to meetings is convenient etc. I'm time poor and just want convenience and comfort.
But when I'm travelling for leisure that is different. I will seek out the interesting boutique hotel that looks lovely in a nice location, as that's what I want when I'm on holidays, its part of the experience. That said, I would also use some points earnt while travelling for work for free nights when on holiday when the hotel suits and is in a location I want to be in.
I should add, it's my company, and I set the travel budget so I can basically do what I want when it comes to business travel.

 

[leadman]

But when I'm travelling for leisure that is different. I will seek out the interesting boutique hotel that looks lovely in a nice location, as that's what I want when I'm on holidays, its part of the experience. That said, I would also use some points earnt while travelling for work for free nights when on holiday when the hotel suits and is in a location I want to be in
.

My biggest problem now travelling on holidays where I would love to find that boutique, "off the beaten track" hotel; absolute no chance, my family love using the Exec lounge, upgrades, hotel spoils etc.

 

[JohnK]

I travel overseas regularly and stay ~50 nights or more a year.

It makes no sense to chase status unless that status is earned easily or via fast tracks. IHG Platinum was good for a while as that was easy to earn/maintain and Hilton Diamond and then Hilton Gold via Velocity was also handy but I would not to be spending AUD150+/night for a room when I can get a similar room in a less popular hotel for 3 nights including breakfast.

To each their own.