Last edit by: FlyinHawaiian
Active thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-hotel-chains/1958660-global-hotel-alliance-discovery-loyalty-program-q-thread-2018-present.html
Global Hotel Alliance unveils loyalty program
#151
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YSC (and all its regularly scheduled flights)
Posts: 2,504
Any GHA Plat experience with Kempinski Bangkok
Hi all,
Does anyone have any experience with GHA recognition at the Siam Kempinski Bangkok? I will be in town for a day or two in mid-November and was planning to stay at a Marriott (I have a free cert) or the Conrad where I'm a diamond, but I have a GHA Plat Experience to use and the desert cooking lessons looks pretty cool! If I do stay, I'd also like lounge access, but how much luck have people had getting upgrades from the level below ('Premier').
Thanks
Dr. PITUK
Does anyone have any experience with GHA recognition at the Siam Kempinski Bangkok? I will be in town for a day or two in mid-November and was planning to stay at a Marriott (I have a free cert) or the Conrad where I'm a diamond, but I have a GHA Plat Experience to use and the desert cooking lessons looks pretty cool! If I do stay, I'd also like lounge access, but how much luck have people had getting upgrades from the level below ('Premier').
Thanks
Dr. PITUK
#152
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Paris, France
Programs: A3*G, Accor ALL Gold
Posts: 597
GHA status recognition can be disappointing. I sent an email to Anantara Bangkok Sathorn hotel, inquiring about lounge access. I just received a standard answer saying the booking office was closed and no one ever came back to me, answering my request.
I sent the same email to Sofitel So Bangkok (I am also a platinum member with Le Club Accor). I received an enthusiastic and friendly answer the next day.
As a consequence, I made a reservation with Sofitel (although I could have redeemed a local experience award with Anantara).
In short : poor customer service > less business.
I sent the same email to Sofitel So Bangkok (I am also a platinum member with Le Club Accor). I received an enthusiastic and friendly answer the next day.
As a consequence, I made a reservation with Sofitel (although I could have redeemed a local experience award with Anantara).
In short : poor customer service > less business.
#153
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry
Posts: 6,812
From all the reports given so far, GHA seems to be a waste of time. Even Accor just revamped their loyalty program and so far it seems positive.
#154
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry
Posts: 6,812
#155
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ヒルトン大阪
Programs: ゴールデングローブ
Posts: 1,982
Not at all. GHA is often frustrating but by no means worse than Accor. GHA do upgrade you if you ask and they accept 3rd party bookings towards status and they have nice hotels. It's not useless at all.
#156
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Beijing, Paris, Edinburgh
Programs: Marco Polo Diamond, Flying Blue Platinum for Life, GHA Black, IHG Platinum
Posts: 435
Regarding GHA, I have asked for a double room upgrade on seven occasions at participating hotels, at the time of reservation, and it has been granted without any trouble each time. The best was at Kempinski Beijing where they in fact gave me a triple upgrade!
#157
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ヒルトン大阪
Programs: ゴールデングローブ
Posts: 1,982
Parkroyal on Beach Road in Singaopore invented a new rule: Airline miles only for rooms that cost at least 222++ SGD. I am really tired of arguing so often at GHA
#158
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 304
I've used my GHA Platinum membership at over 4 properties and got recognised every time. Always offered an upgrade and late check-out (except for one property). Redeemed the Local Experience for Lounge Access (as these can be pricey depending on property).
Excellent programme in my opinion.
Excellent programme in my opinion.
#160
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry
Posts: 6,812
I've used my GHA Platinum membership at over 4 properties and got recognised every time. Always offered an upgrade and late check-out (except for one property). Redeemed the Local Experience for Lounge Access (as these can be pricey depending on property).
Excellent programme in my opinion.
Excellent programme in my opinion.
#161
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: HHonor Dia, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 547
Wow, that blows.
I rather like the Local Experience bonus. It's good for the buffet in Singapore, which can be rather costly.
I thought as long as you're booking directly at GHA, no matter how low the rate, you're eligible?
Some of the flash rate sale can be quite good.
I rather like the Local Experience bonus. It's good for the buffet in Singapore, which can be rather costly.
I thought as long as you're booking directly at GHA, no matter how low the rate, you're eligible?
Some of the flash rate sale can be quite good.
#162
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: HKG, TXL
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 566
well, from my experience, those rates are usually more expensive than the ones you find on the participating hotel sites. I have never booked through the GHA site but you might be right that with those rates you'll be eligible.
#164
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ヒルトン大阪
Programs: ゴールデングローブ
Posts: 1,982
I am also of the opinion that booking via GHA or hotel website does always count.
Further to that, I never had any issue with 3rd party website bookings. Only the Parkroyal Beach Road Singapore creates problems in this aspect
#165
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ヒルトン大阪
Programs: ゴールデングローブ
Posts: 1,982
3rd party bookings no longer count
GHA DISCOVERY TERMS & CONDITIONS
Effective as of December 3, 2013
...
1.8. "Ineligible Rates" shall include, without limitation: (1) Wholesaler rates; (2) OTA/Third party websites bookings (regardless of rate paid); and "opaque" bookings where the brand may or may not be known at the time of reservation; (3) tours series rates and charter rates (4) room rates for airline staff and crew where rooms are pre-booked and paid for by the airline or directly; (5) travel-industry staff rates; (6) any employee rates, employee family or employee friends discount rates; (7) other discounted rates; (8) any complimentary, free, traded or bartered night stays, or any stays in connection with gift certificates or other awards or vouchers.
...
3rd party bookings did count in the past and this was a very strong point (if not a USP) of the GHA program.
What is left? - Not much...
Where the changes communicated? - Not at all...
Conclusion: GHA
Effective as of December 3, 2013
...
1.8. "Ineligible Rates" shall include, without limitation: (1) Wholesaler rates; (2) OTA/Third party websites bookings (regardless of rate paid); and "opaque" bookings where the brand may or may not be known at the time of reservation; (3) tours series rates and charter rates (4) room rates for airline staff and crew where rooms are pre-booked and paid for by the airline or directly; (5) travel-industry staff rates; (6) any employee rates, employee family or employee friends discount rates; (7) other discounted rates; (8) any complimentary, free, traded or bartered night stays, or any stays in connection with gift certificates or other awards or vouchers.
...
3rd party bookings did count in the past and this was a very strong point (if not a USP) of the GHA program.
What is left? - Not much...
Where the changes communicated? - Not at all...
Conclusion: GHA