Shortcuts to elite hotel status - Revision history

Editor at 23:15, 17 September 2021

2021-09-17T23:15:06Z

Editor: /* Typical shortcuts to elite status */

2021-08-24T01:10:38Z

‎Typical shortcuts to elite status

Editor: /* Typical shortcuts to elite status */

2021-08-03T19:22:49Z

‎Typical shortcuts to elite status

Editor: /* Typical shortcuts to elite status */

2021-08-03T19:22:11Z

‎Typical shortcuts to elite status

Editor: /* Hotel credit card status summary */

2021-07-01T21:16:05Z

‎Hotel credit card status summary

Editor: /* IHG */

2021-06-09T01:07:25Z

‎IHG

Editor: /* The other big programs */

2021-06-09T01:06:50Z

‎The other big programs

Editor: /* GHA Discovery */

2021-06-05T22:43:13Z

‎GHA Discovery

Editor: /* Big opportunities at small hotel programs */

2021-06-05T22:41:19Z

‎Big opportunities at small hotel programs

Editor: /* IHG */

2021-06-05T22:35:27Z

‎IHG

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 {{Box|Status Extended Through 2021}}
-'''If you had hotel status in 2020, you'll still have status in 2021'''. All of the major hotel programs extended the status you had in 2020 (which was based on your activity in 2019).
+'''If you had hotel status in 2020, you'll still have status in 2021'''. All of the major hotel programs extended the status you had in 2020 (which was based on your activity in 2019). Hilton has gone a step further and extended your status for 2022.
-'''In addition, each program has reduced the requirements to earn status in 2021'''. If you can take advantage of these lowered requirements, you'll reap the associated benefits through all of 2022 (and usually a few months of 2023) when travelling will have hopefully returned to close-to-normal.
+'''In addition, each program has reduced the requirements to earn status in 2021'''. If you can take advantage of these lowered requirements, you'll reap the associated benefits through all of 2022 (and usually a few months of 2023) when travelling will have hopefully returned to close-to-normal. Once again, Hilton has gone further and reduced the requirements to earn status in 2022 for the 2023 status year.
 {{/Box}}

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 === Typical shortcuts to elite status ===
-{{Box|Hyatt Status Challenge}}
+{{Box|Easy Hyatt Status}}
-'''Hyatt is currently offering a very nice shortcut to their high-level Globalist  status'''. When you register, you'll automatically be given their mid-level (but not that valuable) Explorist status until the end of the year. If you stay just 10 nights, you'll keep your status until February 2023. Even better, if you stay 20 nights, you'll earn Hyatt's very valuable high-level Globalist status. Globalist status normally requires 60 nights, but the requirements were reduced to 30 nights for this year. 20 nights is even lower. However, only the nights from the time you register onwards will count for the challenge. According to [//viewfromthewing.com/free-hyatt-mid-tier-elite-status-and-fast-track-to-globalist-open-to-everyone/?utm_source=pocket_mylist View From the Wing], you'll need to call a Hyatt hotel's sales department to register.
+Over the course of the last 12 months, Hyatt has introduced a number of short-term opportunities to much more easily earn their valuable high-level Globalist status. Check out the Hyatt section below for more detail.
 {{/Box}}

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 {{Box|Hyatt Status Challenge}}
-Hyatt is currently offering a very nice shortcut to elite status. When you register, you'll automatically be given their mid-level (but not that valuable) Explorist status until the end of the year. If you stay just 10 nights, you'll keep your status until February 2023. Even better, if you stay 20 nights, you'll earn Hyatt's very valuable high-level Globalist status. Globalist status normally requires 60 nights, but the requirements were reduced to 30 nights for this year. 20 nights is even lower. However, only the nights from the time you register onwards will count for the challenge. According to [//viewfromthewing.com/free-hyatt-mid-tier-elite-status-and-fast-track-to-globalist-open-to-everyone/?utm_source=pocket_mylist View From the Wing], you'll need to call a Hyatt hotel's sales department to register.
+'''Hyatt is currently offering a very nice shortcut to their high-level Globalist  status'''. When you register, you'll automatically be given their mid-level (but not that valuable) Explorist status until the end of the year. If you stay just 10 nights, you'll keep your status until February 2023. Even better, if you stay 20 nights, you'll earn Hyatt's very valuable high-level Globalist status. Globalist status normally requires 60 nights, but the requirements were reduced to 30 nights for this year. 20 nights is even lower. However, only the nights from the time you register onwards will count for the challenge. According to [//viewfromthewing.com/free-hyatt-mid-tier-elite-status-and-fast-track-to-globalist-open-to-everyone/?utm_source=pocket_mylist View From the Wing], you'll need to call a Hyatt hotel's sales department to register.
 {{/Box}}
 There are several techniques for getting elite hotel status, often without needing a single actual hotel stay.

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 {{Main|article}}
 === Typical shortcuts to elite status ===
 There are several techniques for getting elite hotel status, often without needing a single actual hotel stay.

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 {{/Table}}
-All variations of the '''{{Card|PlatinumCard|only}}''' give you Hilton and Marriott Gold status. $550-595, but comes with a large number of credits and benefits.
+All variations of the '''{{Card|PlatinumCard|only}}''' give you Hilton and Marriott Gold status. $595-695 (but comes with a large number of credits and benefits).
 {{/Main|article}}

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 <li>'''The {{Card|IHG|only}} gives you automatic high-level Platinum status''', as well as a free night certificate every year. But that won't entitle you to free breakfast or even much of a chance of a substantial room upgrade (at least within the United States). It'll get you a much bigger bonus (50%) on points from stays, a 72-hour room guarantee, and a better chance of a somewhat upgraded room and extended check out. Along with Gold members, you'll get a nice $10 "raid the bar" credit at Kimpton hotels. {{Link|IHG Benefits}}.</li>
-<li>'''The Intercontinental Ambassador program also provides automatic IHG Platinum status, along with a number of extra benefits, but costs $200 per year'''.  Probably the most valuable extra benefit is a certificate good for a free second night on a weekend hotel reservation (even for upgraded rooms). It also provides a guaranteed one category upgrade, guaranteed 4pm checkout, complimentary premium internet, free water, and a $20 food and beverage credit. These extra benefits are only available for stays at the Intercontinental hotel brand (and Regent hotels until the end of 2021). Even better benefits, including free breakfast for two, a free massage or local experience, and wellness platter are available to Ambassadors at IHG Six Senses hotels. [//www.ihg.com/intercontinental/content/us/en/ambassador Ambassador website].</li>
+<li>'''The Intercontinental Ambassador program also provides automatic IHG Platinum status, along with a number of extra benefits, but costs $200 per year'''.  Probably the most valuable extra benefit is a certificate good for a free second night on a weekend hotel reservation (even for upgraded rooms). It also provides a guaranteed one category upgrade, guaranteed 4pm checkout, complimentary premium internet, free water, and a $20 food and beverage credit. These extra benefits are only available for stays at the Intercontinental hotel brand (and Regent hotels until the end of 2021), not at other IHG hotel brands. Even better benefits, including free breakfast for two, a free massage or local experience, and wellness platter are available to Ambassadors at IHG Six Senses hotels. [//www.ihg.com/intercontinental/content/us/en/ambassador Ambassador website].</li>
 </ul>

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 <ul class="bulletlist">
 <li>'''The {{Card|IHG|only}} gives you automatic high-level Platinum status''', as well as a free night certificate every year. But that won't entitle you to free breakfast or even much of a chance of a substantial room upgrade (at least within the United States). It'll get you a much bigger bonus (50%) on points from stays, a 72-hour room guarantee, and a better chance of a somewhat upgraded room and extended check out. Along with Gold members, you'll get a nice $10 "raid the bar" credit at Kimpton hotels. {{Link|IHG Benefits}}.</li>
 </ul>

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 ==== GHA Discovery ====
-GHA Discovery is a loyalty program that works across around three dozen mostly higher-end hotel brands. You'll receive benefits when you stay in any of the hundreds of participating hotels.  {{Link|GHA}}.
+GHA Discovery is a loyalty program that works across hundreds of hotels from around three dozen mostly higher-end hotel brands. {{Link|GHA}}.
 One of the unique and valuable aspects of the program are access to free GHA local experiences. You'll earn one experience voucher when you reach Platinum level each year and another when you reach Black level. Platinum and Black members also get a voucher whenever they stay at a new GHA brand for the first time.
@@ Line 183: / Line 183: @@
 {{Image|GHAExperiences.png}}
-Vouchers can then be redeemed at experiences offered by the various GHA hotels around  the world. Each hotel offers their own set of experiences. For example, in Singapore there are dozens of possibilities. At the lower "Platinum" level, these include a Vintage Sidecar Tour, gourmet picnic, or bespoke tailor-made shirt. Premium "Black" level experiences include a commercial flight simulator experience, Rum appreciation masterclass, or several different five-course meals. In some cases, you need to stay at the hotel to redeem. At other cases, you don't. So you could earn a certificate on a stay in Singapore and then redeem in your home city or the next time you visit a different city (like Paris). [//www.gha.com/Local-Experiences View activities here].
+Vouchers can then be redeemed at experiences offered by the various GHA hotels around  the world. Each hotel offers their own set of experiences. For example, in Singapore there are dozens of possibilities. At the lower "Platinum" level, these include a Vintage Sidecar Tour, gourmet picnic, or bespoke tailor-made shirt. Premium "Black" level experiences include a commercial flight simulator experience, Rum appreciation masterclass, or several different five-course meals. In some cases, you need to stay at the hotel to redeem. In other cases, you don't. So you could earn a certificate on a stay in Singapore and then redeem in your home city or the next time you visit a different city (like Paris). [//www.gha.com/Local-Experiences View activities here].
 Fortunately, there are some shortcuts to getting Platinum status (which normally requires 10 nights per year) or Black status (which normally requires 30). GHA will often give you a bump based on your status with other hotel programs. And because many of the GHA brands have their own loyalty programs, you can parlay a status match or promotion with any of the participating brands into benefits at all of them.

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 === Big opportunities at small hotel programs ===
-If you are staying with a hotel that belongs to a smaller loyalty program (which you don’t expect to frequently use), it is often worthwhile to try for status match before ANY stay.
+==== In general ====
-==== In general ====
+If you are staying with a hotel that belongs to a smaller loyalty program (which you don’t expect to frequently use), it is often worthwhile to try for status match before ANY stay. They are less likely to have or enforce a once-in-a-lifetime rule, and if they have some limits, it is likely that you'll have a better opportunity to take advantage at some later date.
-'''Because smaller programs often have provide more valuable elite status benefits, status matching can often unlock some very nice perks for an upcoming stay'''. Whenever you are staying at a hotel that belongs to a smaller loyalty program, check to see if they will match the status you have with the large programs, even if you only have that status because of a credit card. You might be pleasantly surprised with free breakfast, a room upgrade, or other valuable benefits.
+'''Because smaller programs often provide more valuable elite status benefits, status matching can often unlock some very nice perks for an upcoming stay'''. Whenever you are staying at a hotel that belongs to a smaller loyalty program, check to see if they will match the status you have with the large programs, even if you only have that status because of a credit card. You might be pleasantly surprised with free breakfast, a room upgrade, or other valuable benefits.
 ==== Sonesta ====
-Sonesta was a relatively small hotel program that grew significantly in 2020. It is now one of the largest hotel programs in the United States.
+Sonesta was a relatively small hotel program that grew significantly in 2020. It is now one of the largest hotel programs in the United States, although with a limited number of higher-end hotels.
 Their high-level "Elite" status compares favorably to high level status from the big three US programs. It entitles you to club lounge access (or continental breakfast), discounted suite upgrades, a free drink, and a welcome amenity at Royal Sonesta, Sonesta Hotels, and Sonesta Resorts, a $15 "sip 'n snack" credit at Sonesta ES Suites, early check-in and late check-out, and a set of additional minor benefits. {{Link|Sonesta Benefits).

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 ==== IHG ====
-'''The {{Card|IHG|only}} gives you automatic high-level Platinum status''', as well as a free night certificate every year. But that won't entitle you to free breakfast or even much of a chance of a substantial room upgrade (at least within the United States). It'll get you a much bigger bonus (50%) on points from stays, a 72-hour room guarantee, and a better chance of a somewhat upgraded room and extended check out. Along with Gold members, you'll get a nice $10 "raid the bar" credit at Kimpton hotels. {{Link|IHG Benefits}}.
+<ul class="bulletlist">
 ==== Choice ====