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Travel tip: save money with great hotel loyalty programs you’ve never heard of

Luxury Travel Expert

Friday newsletters always feature luxury travel contests, tips, series, or news.

Today (July 13, 2018): save lots of money with under the radar loyalty programs of luxury hotels.

Booking a stay directly via the hotel website can be cost saving, especially when that hotel is part of a hotel loyalty program. The latter allows you to collect points and spend them on free nights. In addition, top tier members of certain hotel loyalty programs will also receive additional benefits, such a complimentary breakfast, a room upgrade, and flexible check-in or check-out times.

However, for hotels on the luxury level (5 stars and beyond), if you want more for less, you should always book your stay via one of the world’s top travel agents, otherwise you’re leaving money on the table. Not only will they match the benefits you would get as a top tier member of a hotel loyalty program (even when you’re not), but additionally they get you access to dining and spa credits, guaranteed upgrades at the time of booking, complimentary airport transfers and so on. Some of these programs also protect you from getting walked when the hotel is oversold, and give you waitlist priority to get in. So, these travel agents will get you benefits beyond what you would get as a top tier elite member at a hotel, even though you’ve never stayed with the hotel chain before. Lance and Ania from Classic Travel ( a Virtuoso travel agency) belong to to this select club of top selling luxury travel agents; I use them for my own travels and I highly recommend them.

While the exact perks vary from hotel to hotel, in a one-week stay, they can easily be worth $1,000 USD or more. These benefits and amenities cannot be accessed by booking directly with the hotel, but only via top travel agents. That’s because many of the world’s most exclusive hotel groups – even those that don’t offer loyalty programs – have established invitation-only programs for top producing travel agents, in order to foster a relationship with these agent and to increase sales. To give you an idea, this is what you can save when you book a luxury hotel via a top luxury travel agent:

These benefits are a bit similar to the perks offered by Virtuoso or Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, although these invitation-only programs for top producing travel agents cover much more properties than those offered by Virtuoso or Amex Fine Hotels a Resorts. Let’s have a look a the most beneficial programs of the world’s best hotel brands (including companies like Rosewood, Four Seasons, Belmond, Ritz-Carlton, and Shangri-La to name a few).

ROSEWOOD PHUKET

1. Belmond Bellini Club

Belmond – formerly known as Orient-Express – has dozens of iconic hotels, trains and river cruises in its portfolio, including properties such as Belmond Cipriani in Venice, Belmond Caruso on the Amalfi coast, Belmond Maroma in Riviera Maya, Belmond Mount Nelson in Cape Town, Belmond Copacabana Palace in Rio De Janeiro, Belmond Cap Juluca in Aguilla, and more.

When you book a Belmond hotel through a travel agent that is member of the exclusive Belmond Bellini Club, you will get the following benefits:

2. Dorchester Diamond Program

Established in 2006, The Dorchester Collection has a portfolio of nine of the world’s finest luxury hotels in Europe and the US, including its namesake hotel in London next to Hyde Park, the Plaza Athenee and Le Meurice hotels in Paris, the Beverly Hills Hotel and Bel-Air properties in Los Angeles, plus top properties in Rome, Geneva, and Milan.

When you book a Dorchester Collection hotel through a travel agent that is member of the exclusive Dorchester Diamond Program, you will get the following benefits:

3. Four Seasons Preferred  

Four Seasons is one of the world’s premier ultra-luxe hospitality brands and the company is rapidly expanding its already impressive global portfolio which consists of 100 properties in more than 40 countries (with many more developments in the pipeline).

When you book a Four Seasons hotel through a travel agent that is member of the invitation-only Four Seasons Preferred Program, you will get the several benefits. These benefits depend from property to property, but most Four Seasons Preferred Partners hotel generally have the following benefits:

4. Jumeirah Passport to Luxury Program

Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts are regarded as among the most luxurious and innovative in the world and have won numerous international travel and tourism awards. The Burj al Arab in Dubai might be its most famous hotel but its wings stretch to other destinations in the Middle East as well as Frankfurt, London, Istanbul, the Maldives and China.

When you book a Jumeirah hotel through a travel agent that is member of the exclusive Jumeirah Passport to Luxury Program, you will get the following benefits:

5. Mandarin Oriental Fan Club

Over the past 50 years, Mandarin Oriental has grown from a well-respected Asian hotel company into a global brand, and has a rich and proud history which began with the opening of the brand’s flagship property, The Mandarin, in 1963 in Hong Kong.  Today, the group operates more than 30 hotels worldwide, with each property featuring a distinctive oriental design (reflecting its heritage) and a unique sense of place.

When you book a Mandarin Oriental hotel through a travel agent that is member of the exclusive Mandarin Oriental Fan club, you will get the following benefits:

6. Langham Hotel Couture Program 

Hong Kong based Langham Hotels and Resorts is a portfolio of luxury hotels located in prime destinations across the globe. Each Langham hotel reflects today’s interpretation of sincere service, innovation, captivation of the senses and exceptional design, all of which dates back from 1865 when The Langham, London opened as one of Europe’s first “Grand Hotels”.

When you book a Langham hotel through a travel agent that is member of the Langham Hotel Couture Program, you will get the following benefits:

7. Oetker Pearl Partner

Oetker Collection has several 5-star elite hotels in its portfolio that embodies the finest of traditional European hospitality. These elite luxury hotels are strung together like ‘pearls on a chain’, explaining the name ‘Oetker Pearl Partner’. Oetker’s hotels include Fregate Island in the Indian Ocean, Le Bristol in Paris, The Lanesborough in London, and Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, to name a few.

When you book an Oetker Collection hotel through a travel agent that is member of Oetker Pearl Partner, you will get the following benefits:

8. Peninsula’s Pen Club Loyalty Program

Established in 1928, the prestigious Peninsula Hotels group now operates luxury properties in 10 major cities across the globe. The Peninsula Hotels group sets their sights high and their standards higher, aiming always to delight their customers, and in many cases they are now serving the third generation of their loyal guests.

When you book a Peninsula hotel through a travel agent that is member of Peninsula’s Pen Club Loyalty Program, you will get the following benefits:

9. Ritz-Carlton Stars

Ritz-Carlton is an American hotel company, founded in 1983, that is part of Marriott International. The company manages more than 90 luxury hotels and resorts across 30 countries and territories in the world, including famous properties such as Hotel Arts in Barcelona and the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong. Ritz-Carlton has been recognized with numerous awards for being the gold standard of hospitality.

When you book a Ritz-Carlton hotel through a travel agent that is member of Ritz-Carlton Stars, you will get the following benefits:

10. Rosewood Elite

Rosewood manages a distinctive collection of highly individual, luxurious, residential-style hotels across the globe, including world-famous properties such as The Carlyle in New York and Hôtel de Crillon in Paris. Each property delivers a one-of-a-kind ambience and style, in which location, culture, history and geography are part of the fabric of the hotel, reflecting the company’s “Sense of Place” philosophy.

When you book a Rosewood hotel through a travel agent that is member of Rosewood Elite, you will get the following benefits:

11. Shangri-La Luxury Circle

The Shangri-La story began in 1971 with a deluxe hotel in Singapore. Today, the Hong Kong based luxury group has increased its global presence with more than 100 hotels throughout Asia Pacific, North America, the Middle East and Europe, with a room inventory of over 40,000. Inspired by the legendary land featured in James Hilton’s 1933 novel, Lost Horizon, the name Shangri-La encapsulates the serenity and service for which our hotels and resorts are renowned worldwide.

When you book a Shangri-La hotel through a travel agent that is member of Shangri-La Luxury Circle, you will get the following benefits:

12. Starwood Luxury Privileges

Starwood, which was acquired by Marriott last year, includes several luxury brands such as St. Regis, Luxury Collection and W Hotels. While only few of these brand’s most luxurious properties participate in the Virtuoso and American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts programs, all others are part of Starwood Luxury Priviliges program, which is designed to reward and foster Starwood loyalty among travelers.

When you book a best available rate (BAR) at a St Regis, Luxury Collection or W Hotel through a travel agent that is member of Starwood Luxury Priviliges, you will get the following benefits:

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