Which hotel loyalty program???

[Foreigner]

Hi everyone, I am interested to know which programs are better for travellers within Australia and Asia (and maybe the USA too)? I realise the views are subjective but would like to hear from readers so that I may consider signing up for one for next 12 months.

 

[simongr]

My experience in the past twelve months has been interesting. A very sdteep learning curve compared to the FF program learning. The thing that could influence your decision or comparisons is your travelling style - is it lots of short stays, multiple cheap stays, occasional expensive stays.

I am with Hilton Honors and that is serving me well. I fell into that program as I was booked for three weeks into a Hilton in London. The thing I like about Hilton is that you can qualify on the amount of money you spend rather than nights or stays.

I also think the redemption costs (availability is a different matter potentially) are reasonable. It will be interesting to look back in a year for me and see what my actual experience ended up like

 

[ditto]

We are with SPG, Hyatt and Sofitel.

SPG is the one we are most familiar with and the one we tend to use the most as we stay at the Westin & Sheraton quite often.

SPG is a little different to the others in that you can only earn points by booking through their website. We have booked Hyatt and Sofitel thru QF Ready Rooms and have received QFF points plus the hotel award points.

One aspect of SPG that I have just discovered is that you can top up your points for $35 USD per 1000 up to 100,000 points per year and you can also book 'points & cash' accomodation. We are off to Bali in Sept staying at the Westin Nusa Dua. Best rate through SPG was $150 USD per night plus taxes 21% so roughly $221 AUD per night inc b/fast and best rate outside SPG was $180 AUD inc taxes/b'fast. Double dipping in both the 'top up points' and 'points and cash' I have managed to get us 5 nights at the Westin for $60 AUD per night. No breakfast included but we still are miles in front. Go figure!!!

We have always been upgraded and never had a request for a late checkout refused.

Hyatt have 'top up points' @ $10USD per 500 with a limit of 10000 per year and you can only top up 10% of the total points you need for the booking.

Sofitel have neither program.

Hope this helps.

 

[IainF]

I am a convert to the PC scheme. I used to stay at Hiltons & Sheratons to a lessor extent...
Dave Noble and Lindsay Wilson introduced me to the PC hotels and I got Platinum (top tier) in a very short period of time.
I now have stayed at a considerable number of Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Intercontinental hotels around the world, mainly in Australia, but also in Asia, UK and USA.

I am rarely disappointed, and have received plenty of benefits during my stays.
I have also redeemed a number of awards now and have usually got what I want, when I want.

My point balance is currently over 200k but am burning a few at a stay in the BKK IC next month.

I wouldcertainly give PC a look, but YMMV...

Cheers
IainF

 

[Foreigner]

Thanks to all the information. The calls I have got come with high sales pitch and I prefer to do homework before signing up. IainF, what is the PC scheme?

 

[IainF]

PC is Priority Club Rewards Hotel Reservations | The Official Web Site
This is the rewards system for IC hotels group.

It is probably the most generous for earning points.

This is an example of the earning possibilties

18 May 2007 5

DARLING HARBOUR-SYDNEY

SYDNEY,
AUSTRALIA

Bill Not Available | Add To Favorites ​

Overlapping Stay 71760 pts.

71760 pts. 17 May 2007 3

DARLING HARBOUR-SYDNEY

SYDNEY,
AUSTRALIA

Bill Not Available | Add To Favorites ​

Qualifying Stay 25204 pts.

25204 pts.



That is 100,000 points from one stay....

not bad when you consider that will get me 4 nights at most holiday inns or two nights at an Intercontinental...

 

[Febs]

SPG is a little different to the others in that you can only earn points by booking through their website.

Err...que? Are you talking about QFF points or SPG points?

I booked three recent Starwood stays and received points for all of them. One was booked through the web, one through the phone and the other wasn't "booked" at all (missed my flight, AA gave me a voucher to use for a free night at the local Westin).

Received points for all three.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Mal]

PC is Priority Club Rewards Hotel Reservations | The Official Web Site

Quite a good scheme, and one that I'm slowly trying to wean myself off Hilton to move to

 

[Foreigner]

PC is Priority Club Rewards Hotel Reservations | The Official Web Site
This is the rewards system for IC hotels group.

It is probably the most generous for earning points.

This is an example of the earning possibilties

18 May 2007 5

DARLING HARBOUR-SYDNEY

SYDNEY,
AUSTRALIA

Bill Not Available | Add To Favorites ​

Overlapping Stay 71760 pts.

71760 pts. 17 May 2007 3

DARLING HARBOUR-SYDNEY

SYDNEY,
AUSTRALIA

Bill Not Available | Add To Favorites ​

Qualifying Stay 25204 pts.

25204 pts.



That is 100,000 points from one stay....

not bad when you consider that will get me 4 nights at most holiday inns or two nights at an Intercontinental...

That's a timely reminder that I already have such membership, following a stay at the Holiday Inn in Fiji. Must check my account and the website.

About double-dipping, when I stayed at the Novotel Harbourview in HKG in April, I asked for but was refused QFF points because I had booked through an Wotif. The hotel agent said I would have got points if booked directly with hotel or through the Accor website.

 

[serfty]

... About double-dipping, when I stayed at the Novotel Harbourview in HKG in April, I asked for but was refused QFF points because I had booked through an Wotif. The hotel agent said I would have got points if booked directly with hotel or through the Accor website.

I received 600 QFF points for my April stay at the Harbourview. Booked though Adv+ and the Asia Accor website.

 

[ditto]

Sorry Febs, I should have said booking/dealing directly with them (I'm so used to booking online) I can't comment about the AA voucher and subsequent points.

I once challenged SPG about why I could get a better rate on e.g. Wotif than was available on the SPG site and why I couldn't earn points on all bookings made directly or otherwise. Their reply was that they considered their program to be a true loyalty reward program - they wanted you to choose to stay with them (the loyalty) and therefore if you wished to earn points (the reward) then you had to deal directly with them.

I can't even go into their 'best rate' guarantee requirements it is so convoluted.

 

[NM]

I am also a PC concert. Last year I used my HH Diamond status for a status match to Platinum. It took me 7 nights and 5 stays to get the 60,000 points needed to requalify for platinum for this year. The earn rate is significantly better than Hilton, and the burn rate is generally better too. And in Australia, there is so much more choice and availability. Instead of only having one or a maximum of two properties in each major location, you have a choice of several.

Generally the properties are a lower standard that most Hilton properties, especially in Australia. However, as a PC Platinum member you are generally well treated. And if you find a hotel that does not treat their Plats well, then use another property.

I have now used PC properties in Australia, UK and USA and expect t use the CP in KL next week.

 

[Keith009]

I have now used PC properties in Australia, UK and USA and expect t use the CP in KL next week.

I love the CP KL! It is easily IC-standard and certainly much much nicer than CPs in general.

I guess I'm with SPG not because of a rational cost-benefit analysis, but because I've generally had better experiences with SPG properties, particularly W hotels and the LM Art and Techs - of which there are no equivalent brands in other chains. And unlike airline FFPs, it is impossible to simply pick a 'great' program and continue staying/accruing with your favourite chain.

HH is my back up program - but I've no idea how I am HH Gold because I certainly haven't stayed enough at HH properties to achieve Gold. In fact...stay count was single digit the last year.

 

[JohnK]

I received 600 QFF points for my April stay at the Harbourview. Booked though Adv+ and the Asia Accor website.

I lodged paperwork and didn't receive any QFF points booking through Accor and staying in the Mercure in Broome. I was told that it was not a qualifying stay. It cost $120/night and it is a dump. Never again....

 

[serfty]

I lodged paperwork and didn't receive any QFF points booking through Accor and staying in the Mercure in Broome. I was told that it was not a qualifying stay. It cost $120/night and it is a dump. Never again....

How did you book?

FWIW, Advantage + discount stays in the normal course of things don't earn airline points; sometimes these point slip thru the cracks ... (The savings are generally worth more than the points anyway.)

I use the HPC & ADV+, with ~30 room nights per year they are worth it to me.

BTW, I received a stay credit for my Q3FN stays in BOS last week, this is not supposed to happen.

 

[JohnK]

How did you book?

Through the Accor website. The only reason I picked it was for the QFF points. It is only 360 QFF points but Accor refused to credit the points saying that the rate was a prepaid rate and ineligible. As far as I can see $120 was a very standard rate for Mercure Inn Continental Broome and it was eligible for QFF points. The room did not even have air conditioning only a fan.

I know the points are not a big deal but because Accor pulled this stunt they will lose any future business from me unless I have no choice than to stay in one of their hotels.

 

[straitman]

I am also a PC concert. Last year I used my HH Diamond status for a status match to Platinum. It took me 7 nights and 5 stays to get the 60,000 points needed to requalify for platinum for this year. The earn rate is significantly better than Hilton, and the burn rate is generally better too. And in Australia, there is so much more choice and availability. Instead of only having one or a maximum of two properties in each major location, you have a choice of several.

Generally the properties are a lower standard that most Hilton properties, especially in Australia. However, as a PC Platinum member you are generally well treated. And if you find a hotel that does not treat their Plats well, then use another property.

I have now used PC properties in Australia, UK and USA and expect t use the CP in KL next week.

Like NM I am fast becoming a PC 'convert' (rather than concert) as they status matched my HH Gold to PC Platinum. I haven't had many stays yet but the 60,000 points for requal appear to be quite easy to achieve. They even found 6000+ points stashed away from way back in the past. Suspect I'll now us Hilton as a backup program.

 

[NM]

Like NM I am fast becoming a PC 'convert' (rather than concert) ...

I guess that must mean I am singing the praises of PC .

 

[straitman]

I guess that must mean I am singing the praises of PC .

I hope your singing is better than mine :!: (it doesn't have to be very good)

 

[NM]

I hope your singing is better than mine :!: (it doesn't have to be very good)

Not according to Mrs NM. I am always relegated to the other end of the microphone cable :!: .