Hi Everyone,
I've been doing a ton of research into Hotel Loyalty Programs as I try to pick the one that suits me the best.
Thought I'd post up my summary of the programs I'm studying at present and hopefully it can benefit others.
Please note, this was done by a FF Newbie, so please correct as necessary
Also, most of my travel will be to Sydney, so I've put a bit of a focus on this, please feel free to add on!
Loyalty Name
Hilton Hhonors
Number of properties in AU/NZ Capital Cities
4 NZ
14 AU
Status tiers/Benefits
Blue: Automatic
- Late Check Out
- In room internet access
- Express Check out
- 2nd Guest Stays Free
Silver: 4 Stays or 10 Nights
- 15% Bonus on Points
- Gym Access
- 2 Bottles of Water Free
Gold: 20 Stays or 40 Nights or 75,000 Base Points (Generally considered best value, best mid-level loyalty program)
- 25% Bonus
- 5th night free on Reward stays of 5 nights or more
- Room Upgrades
- Complimentary Breakfast
Diamond: 30 stays, 60 nights, 120,000 Base Points
- 50% Bonus
- 48 hr Room Guarantee
- Lounge access
Approx. Cost of 1 night in a hotel in Sydney
$250-$500 AUD; Varies incredibly depending on dates
Range of properties in Sydney
None, only the Hilton Sydney
Additional Comments
One of the better Hotel Loyalty Programs in Australia in terms of great perks for elite Status
Gold often considered the best value in this program (not many additional perks for Diamond)
Status Boosters
Macquarie Platinum Hhonors card gives instant gold status for holders
Loyalty Name
SPG
Number of properties in AU/NZ Capital Cities
11
Status tiers/Benefits
Preferred: Automatic
· In Room internet access
· Bottled water
Gold: 10 Stays or 25 Nights
· 3 Starpoints per USD vs 2 points
· Late checkout
· Room upgrades
· Welcome Gift (250 points, free drink or internet)
Platinum: 25 stays or 50 nights
· Welcome gift (500 points, local gift or breakfast)
· Best available room upgrade (Including suites)
Approx. Cost of 1 night in a hotel in Sydney
Four Points by Sheraton: $260 - $320
Sheraton: $280 - $480
Westin: $375 - $400
Range of properties in Sydney
Good, Four Points offers a more budget friendly option, with the Sheraton and Westin offering the more luxurious options.
Additional Comments
Often considered to give the best luxury perks of the hotel loyalty program
Fastest path to very elite treatment (only 50 nights)
Hotels generally very expensive; even Four Points
Upcoming merger with Marriott, some concern about the program
Status Boosters
World mastercard holders obtain instant gold status after one night in a SPG hotel
Loyalty Name
IHG Rewards (intercontinental hotels)
Number of properties in AU/NZ Capital Cities
22
Status tiers/Benefits
Club: Auto
· Late check out
· Complimentary newspaper
· Internet
Gold: 10 Nights or 10,000 Points
· 10% Bonus on Points
· Priority check in
Platinum: 40 Nights or 40,000 Points
· 50% Bonus on Points
· Room upgrades
· Guaranteed room availability (but not really applicable on peak periods)
· Excess Nights “roll-over” into following year’s status
Spire: 75 nights or 75,000 Points
· 100% Bonus on Points
Approx. Cost of 1 night in a hotel in Sydney
Holiday Inn Darling Harbour: $240
Holiday Inn Old Sydney: $340
Intercontinental Hotel Sydney: $350 - $370
Range of properties in Sydney
Not bad, but both very central locations (HI Old Sydney and Intercon) are rather expensive options.
Budget friendly option in HI Darling Harbour, but for me personally, not as good a location as the other two.
Additional Comments
Numerous complaints about elite status not being recognised
Numerous complaints about elite status not providing sufficient benefits
Good feedback regarding value of redeeming points for free nights
Status Boosters
Able to purchase gold level benefits with Ambassador ($200)
Loyalty Name
Accor Leclub
Number of properties in AU/NZ Capital Cities
Too many to count .. well over 60
Status tiers/Benefits
Blue: Auto
Silver: 10 Nights or 2500 Points
· Free internet worldwide
· Welcome Drink
· Late Check out
Gold: 30 Nights or 10,000 Points
· Late check out OR early check in
· Guaranteed Room up to 3 days before arrival
· Room upgrades
· “VIP Treatment” – depending on hotel; often a free gift in room
Platinum: 60 Nights or 25,000 Points
· Late check out AND Early check in
· Guaranteed Room up to 2 days before arrival
· Access to executive lounge if available (Except Sofitel Melbourne)
Approx. Cost of 1 night in a hotel in Sydney
Sofitel: $260 - $310
Pullman harbour: $360
Pullman Hyde Park: $200 - $220
Novotel Darling Harbour: $186 - $250
Range of properties in Sydney
Large range, in addition to the properties above, numerous Ibis hotels cater to budget travellers.
Numerous luxurious hotels from Pullmans, MGallery and Sofitels also present, as well as middle market brands such as Mercures and Novotels.
Additional Comments
Numerous complaints about elite status not being recognised
Difficulties getting points to post
Difficulties getting staff to acknowledge status at many hotels
Points redeem at 2000 = 40 Euros, which may not be the best value IMO
Status Booster
Gold status with Ibis Business Card (90 Euros)
Amex Platinum Charge Card gives platinum status with Leclub
I've been doing a ton of research into Hotel Loyalty Programs as I try to pick the one that suits me the best.
Thought I'd post up my summary of the programs I'm studying at present and hopefully it can benefit others.
Please note, this was done by a FF Newbie, so please correct as necessary
Also, most of my travel will be to Sydney, so I've put a bit of a focus on this, please feel free to add on!
Loyalty Name
Hilton Hhonors
Number of properties in AU/NZ Capital Cities
4 NZ
14 AU
Status tiers/Benefits
Blue: Automatic
- Late Check Out
- In room internet access
- Express Check out
- 2nd Guest Stays Free
Silver: 4 Stays or 10 Nights
- 15% Bonus on Points
- Gym Access
- 2 Bottles of Water Free
Gold: 20 Stays or 40 Nights or 75,000 Base Points (Generally considered best value, best mid-level loyalty program)
- 25% Bonus
- 5th night free on Reward stays of 5 nights or more
- Room Upgrades
- Complimentary Breakfast
Diamond: 30 stays, 60 nights, 120,000 Base Points
- 50% Bonus
- 48 hr Room Guarantee
- Lounge access
Approx. Cost of 1 night in a hotel in Sydney
$250-$500 AUD; Varies incredibly depending on dates
Range of properties in Sydney
None, only the Hilton Sydney
Additional Comments
One of the better Hotel Loyalty Programs in Australia in terms of great perks for elite Status
Gold often considered the best value in this program (not many additional perks for Diamond)
Status Boosters
Macquarie Platinum Hhonors card gives instant gold status for holders
Loyalty Name
SPG
Number of properties in AU/NZ Capital Cities
11
Status tiers/Benefits
Preferred: Automatic
· In Room internet access
· Bottled water
Gold: 10 Stays or 25 Nights
· 3 Starpoints per USD vs 2 points
· Late checkout
· Room upgrades
· Welcome Gift (250 points, free drink or internet)
Platinum: 25 stays or 50 nights
· Welcome gift (500 points, local gift or breakfast)
· Best available room upgrade (Including suites)
Approx. Cost of 1 night in a hotel in Sydney
Four Points by Sheraton: $260 - $320
Sheraton: $280 - $480
Westin: $375 - $400
Range of properties in Sydney
Good, Four Points offers a more budget friendly option, with the Sheraton and Westin offering the more luxurious options.
Additional Comments
Often considered to give the best luxury perks of the hotel loyalty program
Fastest path to very elite treatment (only 50 nights)
Hotels generally very expensive; even Four Points
Upcoming merger with Marriott, some concern about the program
Status Boosters
World mastercard holders obtain instant gold status after one night in a SPG hotel
Loyalty Name
IHG Rewards (intercontinental hotels)
Number of properties in AU/NZ Capital Cities
22
Status tiers/Benefits
Club: Auto
· Late check out
· Complimentary newspaper
· Internet
Gold: 10 Nights or 10,000 Points
· 10% Bonus on Points
· Priority check in
Platinum: 40 Nights or 40,000 Points
· 50% Bonus on Points
· Room upgrades
· Guaranteed room availability (but not really applicable on peak periods)
· Excess Nights “roll-over” into following year’s status
Spire: 75 nights or 75,000 Points
· 100% Bonus on Points
Approx. Cost of 1 night in a hotel in Sydney
Holiday Inn Darling Harbour: $240
Holiday Inn Old Sydney: $340
Intercontinental Hotel Sydney: $350 - $370
Range of properties in Sydney
Not bad, but both very central locations (HI Old Sydney and Intercon) are rather expensive options.
Budget friendly option in HI Darling Harbour, but for me personally, not as good a location as the other two.
Additional Comments
Numerous complaints about elite status not being recognised
Numerous complaints about elite status not providing sufficient benefits
Good feedback regarding value of redeeming points for free nights
Status Boosters
Able to purchase gold level benefits with Ambassador ($200)
Loyalty Name
Accor Leclub
Number of properties in AU/NZ Capital Cities
Too many to count .. well over 60
Status tiers/Benefits
Blue: Auto
Silver: 10 Nights or 2500 Points
· Free internet worldwide
· Welcome Drink
· Late Check out
Gold: 30 Nights or 10,000 Points
· Late check out OR early check in
· Guaranteed Room up to 3 days before arrival
· Room upgrades
· “VIP Treatment” – depending on hotel; often a free gift in room
Platinum: 60 Nights or 25,000 Points
· Late check out AND Early check in
· Guaranteed Room up to 2 days before arrival
· Access to executive lounge if available (Except Sofitel Melbourne)
Approx. Cost of 1 night in a hotel in Sydney
Sofitel: $260 - $310
Pullman harbour: $360
Pullman Hyde Park: $200 - $220
Novotel Darling Harbour: $186 - $250
Range of properties in Sydney
Large range, in addition to the properties above, numerous Ibis hotels cater to budget travellers.
Numerous luxurious hotels from Pullmans, MGallery and Sofitels also present, as well as middle market brands such as Mercures and Novotels.
Additional Comments
Numerous complaints about elite status not being recognised
Difficulties getting points to post
Difficulties getting staff to acknowledge status at many hotels
Points redeem at 2000 = 40 Euros, which may not be the best value IMO
Status Booster
Gold status with Ibis Business Card (90 Euros)
Amex Platinum Charge Card gives platinum status with Leclub
Last edited: