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
#62
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
Local Experiences
Local experiences can be earned by
That sounds appealing to me and makes me to try all the GHA hotel chains.
But what once I have earned all my "hotel chain local experiences"? Earning one single local experience is not really rewarding enough to extend my black level status.
Your inputs, guys?
- sleeping for the first time in a hotel chain (e.g. when you stay the first time in a Kempinski hotel or firt time in an Anantara hotel)
- reneving the status (e.g. the black level status)
That sounds appealing to me and makes me to try all the GHA hotel chains.
But what once I have earned all my "hotel chain local experiences"? Earning one single local experience is not really rewarding enough to extend my black level status.
Your inputs, guys?
#63
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 54
I think you are right in some ways Mr TallestHiJ. Once you have collected from all the chains (I count 14) then the only way to earn a Local Experience is to renew your status or move up to the next tier. The only other benefits you are getting is the double upgrade - when available - and the extended check-in/out and little gifts plus wifi and water. I like the upgrade so would probably keep it just for that.
Also I still have quite a few GHA chains to cross off my list of stays!
But you are right that they should think of some way to benefit members who have stayed at lots of chains already. Maybe they could
I guess the scheme hasn't been going so long so they haven't worked this out.
Also I still have quite a few GHA chains to cross off my list of stays!
But you are right that they should think of some way to benefit members who have stayed at lots of chains already. Maybe they could
- Reset your chain count to zero when you've reached 5 chains, so that you get a new LE for the first stay in every chain after that
- Give members who reach say 8 chains a 5 year Black status
- Restart the chain count after 2 years as a Black tier member, so that all chains count as new again
I guess the scheme hasn't been going so long so they haven't worked this out.
Last edited by Bossarb; Nov 16, 2012 at 8:49 am
#64
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ヒルトン大阪
Programs: ゴールデングローブ
Posts: 1,982
What I may do is let me downgrade to Platinum by not qualifying to Black by the end of this year. Then collect all 14 Platinum amenities and then go back to Black.
#65
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 54
I could be wrong though.
#66
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 contacted GHA in this matter.
A black member who falls down cannot earn local experiences in the new category, i.e. in platinum level.
A platinum member who becomes a black member - on the other hand - can earn another 14 local experiences (in the black category).
It makes no sense to me. And also, what keeps me loyal once I earned all my local experiences? It is a very, very nice program. But "something" is missing - points earning maybe? Or special promotions, e.g. sleep twice and get a free night?
A black member who falls down cannot earn local experiences in the new category, i.e. in platinum level.
A platinum member who becomes a black member - on the other hand - can earn another 14 local experiences (in the black category).
It makes no sense to me. And also, what keeps me loyal once I earned all my local experiences? It is a very, very nice program. But "something" is missing - points earning maybe? Or special promotions, e.g. sleep twice and get a free night?
#67
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry
Posts: 6,814
I contacted GHA in this matter.
A black member who falls down cannot earn local experiences in the new category, i.e. in platinum level.
A platinum member who becomes a black member - on the other hand - can earn another 14 local experiences (in the black category).
It makes no sense to me. And also, what keeps me loyal once I earned all my local experiences? It is a very, very nice program. But "something" is missing - points earning maybe? Or special promotions, e.g. sleep twice and get a free night?
A black member who falls down cannot earn local experiences in the new category, i.e. in platinum level.
A platinum member who becomes a black member - on the other hand - can earn another 14 local experiences (in the black category).
It makes no sense to me. And also, what keeps me loyal once I earned all my local experiences? It is a very, very nice program. But "something" is missing - points earning maybe? Or special promotions, e.g. sleep twice and get a free night?
#68
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: HKG, TXL
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 566
Im quitting GHA. Ive stayed at quite a few hotels within the GHA network this year and not one single night got credited to my account. There have been problems with the crediting to the program since ive joined and as much as I love staying at the pan pacific hotels its just a nuisance to run after them every time ive stayed somewhere to get the nights credited.
Even though apparently according to the GHA website I havent stayed at any GHA brand this year they have offered me to extend my platinum membership by only staying one more night this year at any brand in the network. Going to kingly refuse this offer since the program brings exactly 0 value. Tried to use a local experience last NYE in new york and it failed. A few have already expired too... when are we supposed to use them?!
And if I decide to stay at the pan pacific in the future, gold level will do as fine, free internet and no other benefits too that which wouldnt change at platinum anyways.
[rant over]
Even though apparently according to the GHA website I havent stayed at any GHA brand this year they have offered me to extend my platinum membership by only staying one more night this year at any brand in the network. Going to kingly refuse this offer since the program brings exactly 0 value. Tried to use a local experience last NYE in new york and it failed. A few have already expired too... when are we supposed to use them?!
And if I decide to stay at the pan pacific in the future, gold level will do as fine, free internet and no other benefits too that which wouldnt change at platinum anyways.
[rant over]
#69
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HK
Programs: Qantas (Lifetime Gold), PAL (Elite), British Airways (now sadly blue), Cathay MPO DM
Posts: 641
I just tried to book a Local Experience in Yangon - I only booked at the Parkroyal to FINALLY try and use an experience - all my others expired before I got to even try them. And the website says there is NOTHING available! What a fraud.
Has ANYONE got any use out of this programme? Mainly I did it for the free internet but it seems pretty pathetic compared to SPG and other proper programmes.
Has ANYONE got any use out of this programme? Mainly I did it for the free internet but it seems pretty pathetic compared to SPG and other proper programmes.
#70
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 32
Although the GHA program leaves a lot to be desired. I just wanted to COMPLIMENT the (USA based) GHA agents. I have found them to be wonderful in handling any requests made (Platinum level here). and so much better in customer service deliverance than many larger hotel programs. I personally, don't think the (novel as it maybe) "Local Experience" is such an attractive benefit, and hope this will improve, or be replaced, over time. However, the basic platinum and black level of "Room Upgrade" is hard to beat. I have never experienced a problem with room nights posting (Pan Pacific included), but do with airline miles.
Take care everyone and enjoy your travels.
Take care everyone and enjoy your travels.
#71
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: HKG, TXL
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 566
Anyways, I'm quite done with GHA, I will obviously use the benefit of the gold level in the future of getting free internet access....
#72
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Dubai
Posts: 54
I just tried to book a Local Experience in Yangon - I only booked at the Parkroyal to FINALLY try and use an experience - all my others expired before I got to even try them. And the website says there is NOTHING available! What a fraud.
Has ANYONE got any use out of this programme? Mainly I did it for the free internet but it seems pretty pathetic compared to SPG and other proper programmes.
Has ANYONE got any use out of this programme? Mainly I did it for the free internet but it seems pretty pathetic compared to SPG and other proper programmes.
http://www.gha.com/nxc_gha/search_le...ate=&keywords=
Did they not let you book any of them?
#73
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Ba gold, gha black
Posts: 277
As a follow up to some of my previous posts and others, its still shocking that GHA cant communicate with its hotel chains, some of which are the finest in the world... Im still having problems and chasing stays.. I strongly believe GHA can have an adverse effect on some of the better hotel chains like Kempinski since all you do is spend your time chasing stays and airline miles.. I actually wrote a letter of complaint and got some compensation as i have 70 stays this year which warrants some loyalty back from GHA.
#74
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 just tried to book a Local Experience in Yangon - I only booked at the Parkroyal to FINALLY try and use an experience - all my others expired before I got to even try them. And the website says there is NOTHING available! What a fraud.
Has ANYONE got any use out of this programme? Mainly I did it for the free internet but it seems pretty pathetic compared to SPG and other proper programmes.
Has ANYONE got any use out of this programme? Mainly I did it for the free internet but it seems pretty pathetic compared to SPG and other proper programmes.
I had some use out of the program:
- Black Local Experience @ Kempinski Geneva: Very delicious diner for me and my wife. Although it was supposed to be in the largest suite in Europe we ended up in a rather small room "because the largest suite was booked that day". Well...
- Black Local Experience @ Kempinski Abu Dhabi: 90 minutes Rolls Royce tour is on my program for January
- Internet: Free Internet in the hotels
- Upgrades: Two levels only - but still a nice thing to have
- Very early check-ins (as early as 9 AM) and late check-outs
And after all, I discovered some very nice hotels which I did not know before. So, there were some benefits for me
On the contrary: There is something missing once one got his Experiences at the different chains. And what others already mentioned there are often stays and/or airline miles missing.
#75
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York and Vienna
Programs: PA WorldPass Platinum, AA, DL, LH. GHA Black, SPG and HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,870
I have 2 black experiences on my account and not too long ago had a gold experience which I wrote about in Frequent Business Traveler.
Tea Tasting at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski - A GHA Local Experience
The VJ doesn't have a black experience available (or didn't on the days I was there, I don't recall) but I really enjoyed the afternoon and learnt a lot too. The picture below from the article should give you an idea of how it went.
Tea Tasting at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski - A GHA Local Experience
The VJ doesn't have a black experience available (or didn't on the days I was there, I don't recall) but I really enjoyed the afternoon and learnt a lot too. The picture below from the article should give you an idea of how it went.