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
#31
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: FB Silver, platinum priority club, platinum GHA, LHW member, hertz gold, BA silver, slh member, SPG
Posts: 7
Platinum level is meaningless
We have the platinum level of gha but it's worth nothing. Before we were private concierge members of Kempinski this was better.
To give examples. According to the platinum level you get a complimentary upgrade based on availability. Although some hotels are not fully booked you do not get an upgrade. Free Internet in the room, if the Internet is working and if it is via cable not wireless (still don't understand that). Late check out or early checking. Always: sorry hotel is fully booked we need the room or we did not clean it yet, even if you sent flight details upfront.
Never tried a local experience as some are just regular tours you can buy elsewhere too.
I'm not a happy customer. Love some hotels therefor I return, but you are not recognized as loyal customer in my opinion.
To give examples. According to the platinum level you get a complimentary upgrade based on availability. Although some hotels are not fully booked you do not get an upgrade. Free Internet in the room, if the Internet is working and if it is via cable not wireless (still don't understand that). Late check out or early checking. Always: sorry hotel is fully booked we need the room or we did not clean it yet, even if you sent flight details upfront.
Never tried a local experience as some are just regular tours you can buy elsewhere too.
I'm not a happy customer. Love some hotels therefor I return, but you are not recognized as loyal customer in my opinion.
#32
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: HKG, TXL
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 566
Has anyone had experiences with the local experiences of the omni berkshire (GHA New York).
On the website the following are listed:
Gold: Federal Reserve Bank Tour
Gold: 'Skip the line at the MoMa in NYC'
Plat: Wicked, The Broadway musical
Since I will be staying in NYC over newyears, these might be quite nice. I have no clue though if the MoMa does have a line to skip or if this Federal Reserve Bank Tour is worth it...
thx for input.
On the website the following are listed:
Gold: Federal Reserve Bank Tour
Gold: 'Skip the line at the MoMa in NYC'
Plat: Wicked, The Broadway musical
Since I will be staying in NYC over newyears, these might be quite nice. I have no clue though if the MoMa does have a line to skip or if this Federal Reserve Bank Tour is worth it...
thx for input.
#35
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3
Which included lounge access, free breakfast etc etc.
Last edited by Bakagomi; Mar 20, 2012 at 10:04 am
#36
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3
Which included lounge access, free breakfast etc etc.
#37
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CHA/TYS
Programs: The Mac Daddy of Heimlich County (and low-ball status)
Posts: 2,868
anyone know the local (gold) benefit for William Penn Omni in Pitt?
#38
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Heading to Costco for more popcorn...
Programs: UA 1K 2MM Flier, SPG Plt, Hilton Dia
Posts: 8,461
As a Black it was a dish of candied pecans (I think it may be the same for all levels at this property).
Enjoy the Wm Penn -- I used to stay there several nights/month and they have some truly wonderful people on their team. When you receive the advance welcome email from their Ambassador (she's AWESOME), definitely let her know if there's anything she can help you with. Also, ask for a room on 6, 7 or 10 -- those are the floors that have been renovated the most recently (unless others have been done in the past year).
Enjoy the Wm Penn -- I used to stay there several nights/month and they have some truly wonderful people on their team. When you receive the advance welcome email from their Ambassador (she's AWESOME), definitely let her know if there's anything she can help you with. Also, ask for a room on 6, 7 or 10 -- those are the floors that have been renovated the most recently (unless others have been done in the past year).
#39
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: WOH (G)lobotimized, SPG Tarnished Gold
Posts: 498
Can anyone with Black status speak to their experience with the "double upgrade" benefit?
I'm particularly interested in learning about two things:
I'm particularly interested in learning about two things:
- How common it is for domestic properties to honor this benefit.
- Whether the upgrades are meaningful (e.g., From "Deluxe" to "Superior" to "Suite, instead of "Deluxe" to "Superior without a view" to "Superior with a view").
#40
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA, AA, JP Morgan Palladium, Amex Platinum, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, GHA Black, et. al
Posts: 14
#41
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Frankfurt
Programs: LH SEN , UA 1K, SPG Platinum, HH Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Silver, GHA Black
Posts: 429
Can anyone with Black status speak to their experience with the "double upgrade" benefit?
I'm particularly interested in learning about two things:
I'm particularly interested in learning about two things:
- How common it is for domestic properties to honor this benefit.
- Whether the upgrades are meaningful (e.g., From "Deluxe" to "Superior" to "Suite, instead of "Deluxe" to "Superior without a view" to "Superior with a view").
#42
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Frankfurt
Programs: LH SEN , UA 1K, SPG Platinum, HH Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Silver, GHA Black
Posts: 429
Local experiences?
Not every Hotel offers right now Black LOCAL EXPERIENCES. Does anyone know if this how it should work or should I contact the hotel directly and ask if they offer one.
#44
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Heading to Costco for more popcorn...
Programs: UA 1K 2MM Flier, SPG Plt, Hilton Dia
Posts: 8,461
Can anyone with Black status speak to their experience with the "double upgrade" benefit?
I'm particularly interested in learning about two things:
I'm particularly interested in learning about two things:
- How common it is for domestic properties to honor this benefit.
- Whether the upgrades are meaningful (e.g., From "Deluxe" to "Superior" to "Suite, instead of "Deluxe" to "Superior without a view" to "Superior with a view").
+ Omni William Penn (Pittsburgh) -- was always upgraded from the basic room to at least a junior suite or full suite (I also spent approx 30 nights/year with them so that may have helped a bit). This is a property that also runs (or did) high occupancy during the week so a double upgrade wasn't always possible but always at least to an executive room.
+ Omni Parker House -- upgraded from a basic room to a one-room suite
+ Omni San Antonio at the Colonnade -- upgraded from basic room to one-room suite
+ Omni Berkshire Place (New York) -- upgraded from basic rooms to full one-bedroom suites (twice) and a junior suite (once)
+ Omni Austin Southpark -- no upgrade
+ Omni Indianapolis -- no upgrade beyond a high floor
+ Omni Chicago -- upgrade from a deluxe suite to an executive suite
Last edited by cawhite; Jun 8, 2012 at 9:36 am
#45
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 54
I'm a Black card member thanks to stays with new Omni in Dallas (1,001 rooms but very nice BTW) and with Kempinski and First Hotels in Europe over the last year. I usually get at least a single upgrade and had a double this week in Geneva. I don't know how many on this forum are in the UK but there has been a big promotional push on by GHA over the summer with emails most weeks since the Jubilee in early June. It looks as if they've overhauled the "Local Experiences" and there are a lot more to choose from, although some of them are perhaps a bit less exclusive than the old ones.
For example if you stay in London you can get a free Kindle Touch with leather case in exchange for a Black award, or you can get a 150 shopping voucher for Harrods or Liberty (both pretty nice London shops). I don't really need to stay in London since I live near there - but is sounds like these are pretty easy rewards to take. I think they just give you the Kindle at the check-in desk if you book it online.
On the downside I see that they have said that they are phasing out Gold "Local Experiences" completely. You still get the Gold level rewards like free wifi and free water and you still earn nights on your account but there won't be any dedicated Gold "Local Experiences" after 31 December. Most of them looked a bit useless anyway, to be honest...
For example if you stay in London you can get a free Kindle Touch with leather case in exchange for a Black award, or you can get a 150 shopping voucher for Harrods or Liberty (both pretty nice London shops). I don't really need to stay in London since I live near there - but is sounds like these are pretty easy rewards to take. I think they just give you the Kindle at the check-in desk if you book it online.
On the downside I see that they have said that they are phasing out Gold "Local Experiences" completely. You still get the Gold level rewards like free wifi and free water and you still earn nights on your account but there won't be any dedicated Gold "Local Experiences" after 31 December. Most of them looked a bit useless anyway, to be honest...