Hotel loyalty programs reward frequent travellers with perks like free nights, upgrades, and exclusive benefits. From boutique stays to luxury chains, these programs are essential for maximising the value of your hotel bookings. Check below for tips and guides on how to make the most of hotel loyalty programs.
Most hotels take customer service very seriously. And it’s not hard to see why. Most cities have literally hundreds of hotels, and all offer the same basic service. So, personalised customer service is seen as a key differentiator to drive loyalty and attract repeat business – especially for high-end hotels. At some hotel chains, it … Continued
Diners Club has removed the ability to transfer reward points to Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), which recently merged with Marriott Rewards. As of last Thursday, Diners Club Rewards points can also no longer be transferred to American Airlines AAdvantage or EVA Air Infinity MileageLands. Until recently it had been unclear how Diners Club transfers to … Continued
The ACCC is suing hotel booking website Trivago in the Federal Court for misleading advertising. It alleges that Trivago misleads customers into believing they are getting the best hotel price when this is not always the case. Trivago, which is owned by Expedia, is an aggregator website that compares the cost of hotel rooms on … Continued
Last weekend, the long and arduous process of merging Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) and Marriott Rewards accounts began. The SPG/Marriott Rewards merge began on 18 August. The process has been taking longer than originally expected, but the new combined loyalty program is slowly starting to take shape. Merging your SPG and Marriott Rewards accounts If … Continued
The latest IHG PointBreaks list has just been released, and there are two Australian hotels included. IHG Rewards Club points can be redeemed for hotel stays or transferred to a range of airline frequent flyer programs. When redeeming for Reward Nights, hotel rooms normally cost between 10,000 and 70,000 points per night. But there are … Continued
Update (3 July 2018): SPG will merge with Marriott Rewards on 1 August 2018. From this date, transfers from Amex to the new SPG/Marriott program will take place at a new rate of 3 Amex points = 2 Marriott Rewards points. Unfortunately, this represents a significant devaluation. Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) points are an extremely … Continued
When booking accommodation, you have the option to book hotels direct or to use a third-party website like Expedia or Booking.com. If you book directly with the hotel, you can earn points and status with the hotel’s loyalty program. But you won’t receive any hotel benefits if you book with a third party. So, is … Continued
There are rumours that Hilton Hotels could soon be returning to Melbourne with up to three new properties. The popular American hotel chain is planning to open a new Hilton-branded hotel, alongside a Curio Collection and Double Tree. AFF moderator JessicaTam has the scoop on the new Hilton hotels in Melbourne. Initially, Hilton had planned to … Continued
This week our members share a clever strategy to save money on hotel bookings. It’s often difficult to know when the cheapest time to book a hotel will be. But, unlike plane tickets, most hotel bookings allow for free changes. In fact, many hotel bookings allow you to cancel free of charge until the day … Continued
American Airlines is offering 25% bonus points on SPG transfers to AAdvantage. The bonus is also available when transferring points from several other hotel loyalty programs to the American Airlines AAdvantage program. This offer expires on 31 May 2018. American Airlines AAdvantage is a popular frequent flyer program for Australians. AAdvantage miles can be redeemed … Continued
After much speculation, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) and Marriott Rewards have announced details of their new combined loyalty program. Starwood and Marriott hotels merged back in 2016, but their respective loyalty programs have remained separate… until now. The SPG, Marriott Rewards and also Ritz-Carlton Rewards programs will become a single loyalty program from 1 August … Continued
Hilton Honors members are truly spoilt for choice when travelling to London. There are 30 Hilton properties in central London, and dozens more on the city’s outskirts! So, as AFF member Notyourbag asks, which Hilton hotels in London offer the best value? And which look after Gold and Diamond Hilton Honors members the best? Heading … Continued