American Express Membership Rewards - Centurion (Hong Kong) is loosing the hotel status!

^_ :(
As a Centurion memebr in HK, I noted that recently we are lossing most of the hotel status:

Hilton Gold VIP discontinued!
Hyatt GP Diamond will end this year and member need to need 15 stays to keep the status
Starwood Platinum is the only remaining benefit!

Why should I keep the card paying US$1000 a year??

The airline upgrade and companion is the same for Platinum Card members!

cardiology,

Really??
I was very surprised!
Is the Hong Kong Centurion members only Starwood-Platinum?

thanks,
masahiro

Yes, the only elite status left is the SPG Platinum.

Cardiology, If this proves to be so, this is a serious downgrade indeed. Were you sent a letter informing you of this change and if so, were any reasons given? What is the status of Centurion in Hong Kong - I was under the impression that it was quite well regarded and harder to obtain than elsewhere. If so, is seems extremely counterproductive to downgrade at all.

Does this spell changes for the Centurion benefits elsewhere I wonder?

Flyer26, I totally agree with you. They confirm the discountinuation of the Hilton and Hyatt elite status on the CS hotline.
Other benefits like free upgrade and companion for airlines are the same. So new free club memberships like the China Club, Kowloon Club and American Club is the same. Also free family travel insurance, purchase protection etc the same.

I am seriously thinking of downgrading to Plat AMEX upon renewal!

I enjoyed the hotel elite status as I do not travel frequently (mainly for lesiure) and I reliy a lot on the elite hotel status for free room upgrades.

Stay 10 times in SPG property this year to keep PL status.
By the way, I pay HK$9800 for the annual fee, how come Cardoilogy pay only only U$1000 :confused:

Stay 10 times in SPG property this year to keep PL status.
By the way, I pay HK$9800 for the annual fee, how come Cardoilogy pay only only U$1000 :confused:

britra,
Yes,I think so.
I have a question to HKG-Cent members.
HKG-Centurion card's annual fee was 9,800.00HKD,right?

Yes, I pay $9800 for the annual fee, I am sorry that I just quote the approx value in US$ to ease overseas readers to get the feel of the approx fee.

I thought that the SPG Platinum status is complimentry!! If I need to saty 10 times each year, that means my only remaining elite status for SPG will be gone next year! ^_

I wonder how you found out about this change? Was it notified to members?

Shouldn't AE Centurion at least notify all Centurion Members right away since:

1. If their elite status with SPG and Hyatt next year depends on the no. of stays this year, they ought to be told in advance that to retain elite status, they have to stay enough *this year* and that they cannot rest on their laurels like before. It would be unfair to only reveal the change when it is too late for the members to even try to collect enough nights. It must be the case that some (but not all) members would be able to rack up enough stays if they realized that they had to do it on their own, but that if they assumed that AE would get them status as Centurions, they wouldn't bother to use their own names for the booking (eg just let the spouse's name be used).

At any rate, each person might have a reason for planning differently if they had known that his/her status next year would depend on what is done this year.

2. Each cardholder's renewal time is different. The subscription for Centurion being quite hefty, at least some choose to have the Centurion for the SPG and Hyatt benefits. If a change such as dropping automatic elite status is not sufficiently publicized until the member tries to use it a few months after he has renewed his AE card, it would be unfair.

What about the no. of nights (as opposed to no. of stays) required to achieve Platinum for SPG or Diamond for Hyatt under the *new* AE Centurion position to be adopted later this year?

Does anyone know?

deleted as duplicitous.

deleted as duplicitous.

^_ :(
As a Centurion memebr in HK, I noted that recently we are lossing most of the hotel status:

Hilton Gold VIP discontinued!
Hyatt GP Diamond will end this year and member need to need 15 stays to keep the status
Starwood Platinum is the only remaining benefit!

Why should I keep the card paying US$1000 a year??

The airline upgrade and companion is the same for Platinum Card members!

Hi all,

I must say that JPN Cent changed the benefit. :(
Hyatt GP Diamond discontinued.
JPN Cent will be end in Feburary,2005. We will be downgrade to GP-Platinum from March, 2005.
JPN Cent members can get the Hilton-Gold VIP and SPG-Platinum.

Where are the China Clubs, Kowloon Club, and American Club that you are talking about. I am interested in finding out more, I travel to Hong Kong Quite Often, thank you

Where are the China Clubs, Kowloon Club, and American Club that you are talking about. I am interested in finding out more, I travel to Hong Kong Quite Often, thank you

China Club is located at the top of the old Bank of China Building opposite Cheung Kong Building in Central. American Club is near the Exchange Sqare in Central and Kowloon is in TST opposite the harbour close to New World Centre.

Well at least you are not like us Aussie Cent where we need 25 stays or 50 nights to keep our plat SPG.

I think it is best for every Cent member to work out how much their Cent is costing them vs. the value of the benefits (ie. upgrades, etc). If the value of the benefits are less than the annual fee, MOVE! We are better off using a 'normal' card and just pay for the 'upgrades' that we want ourselves.

If anyone from AMEX is reading this, don't say you haven't been warned! Amex Centurion is sliding........

China Club is located at the top of the old Bank of China Building opposite Cheung Kong Building in Central. American Club is near the Exchange Sqare in Central and Kowloon is in TST opposite the harbour close to New World Centre.


What do these clubs offer? Anything interesting? Does it cost us Cent holders anything to walk in?

What do these clubs offer? Anything interesting? Does it cost us Cent holders anything to walk in?

Fine dining, good service, nice and restricted access by members, some ahve gyms.

Just called HK Centurion service today, and found out that SPG benefit is now gone too.... :mad: They said that they are working to get other chains signed up, and they would inform cardholders when the details are worked out... Sounds to me like a bunch of BS... :rolleyes:
I can already see the other benefits (what is left of it), gone pretty soon too...

Just called HK Centurion service today, and found out that SPG benefit is now gone too.... :mad: They said that they are working to get other chains signed up, and they would inform cardholders when the details are worked out... Sounds to me like a bunch of BS... :rolleyes:
I can already see the other benefits (what is left of it), gone pretty soon too...

I agree. In any case, there arent that many chains around to replace hyatt and spg, Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula, Four Seasons etc are higher class but they do not and will not provide like programs, to Centurions or others.

What is more, the HK annual fee is going up by 100% this year. Maybe the loss of Hyatt and SPG is the justification :p

I agree. In any case, there arent that many chains around to replace hyatt and spg, Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula, Four Seasons etc are higher class but they do not and will not provide like programs, to Centurions or others.

I agree with that.. I don't think there are other chains out there, besides maybe Leading Hotels of the World, which gives out Leaders Club invitations for free pretty much to anyone.. Now if they gave out CX Marco Polo Diamond to all the HK members only, that would be a different story... :D

I've heard that in Hong Kong, there is a joining fee in addition to the annual member's fee.

the joining fee is something around USD$3k and the annual membership is $2.5k.

I wonder if it's really worth it? ;)

The annual fee will increase to HK$19800.

Intercontinenetal Membership will be added but most of the hotel memberships are gone (*wood, Hyatt, Hilton)




I've heard that in Hong Kong, there is a joining fee in addition to the annual member's fee.

the joining fee is something around USD$3k and the annual membership is $2.5k.

I wonder if it's really worth it? ;)

Hi,

I'm wondering if the Centurion Card can gain entrance to the American Club, the China Club, and the Kowloon Club, then why would any of the Cent cardholders would want to pay for a membership? It seems it would be a bad thing for these clubs to let Cent cardholders in because they are the same clientele except these ones don't pay the membership fees (usd250k+)

just a thought.

cheers,
ktp

Hi,

I'm wondering if the Centurion Card can gain entrance to the American Club, the China Club, and the Kowloon Club, then why would any of the Cent cardholders would want to pay for a membership? It seems it would be a bad thing for these clubs to let Cent cardholders in because they are the same clientele except these ones don't pay the membership fees (usd250k+)

just a thought.

cheers,
ktp

Well, none of these clubs have membership fees of usd 250+. Of the 3, the American Club is probably the most expensive but for the past 2 years it has been in dire financial straits, even the proper restaurant, the grill in Tai Tam had to close down. In any case, its facilities cannot compete with those of the other better clubs. It had been trying to seek membership of a range of non-americans at about US30K with mixed success. China Club is really a dinner club. Kowloon Club has been far from successful in the sense of being top notch. In any case, it costs a lot to keep the restaurants going and I suppose it was thought wise to invite Cent members to dine their so as to defray basic overheads to keep the places afloat.

The Dutch Centurion Card is made of Titanium, how is the HK card?
Still made of plastic?

The annual fee will increase to HK$19800.

Intercontinenetal Membership will be added but most of the hotel memberships are gone (*wood, Hyatt, Hilton)

The Intercontinental membership will be the Platinum level of Priority Club. I will be new to this program. How do the benefits and perks of Priority Club platinum compare with our previous benefits under the Hyatt Diamond Gold Passport and Starwood Platinum?

The Intercontinental membership will be the Platinum level of Priority Club. I will be new to this program. How do the benefits and perks of Priority Club platinum compare with our previous benefits under the Hyatt Diamond Gold Passport and Starwood Platinum?

This bunch of hotels, save a few better InterCons such as the ex-Regent in Hong Kong, is at best mid-range, nowhere Centurion stuff, and certainly not the reason for doubling Centurion fees. The hotels in this category are the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo (what is this?), Candlewood Suites (what is this?). I am not saying Centurion members are necessarily snobs but the perks ought to be commensurate with the supposed high sounding life-style the Centurion advertises that the card supports AND charges its cardmembers.

PC Platinum has almost no perks except for a room upgrade if available on check-in. No breakfast, no early check-in, no late check-out.

The status you really want is Royal Ambassador, which gives a guaranteed (on booking) suite upgrade at InterContinental-branded hotels and a free mini-bar! But you won't be getting that ......!