Originally Posted by
GUWonder
Leaders Club used to be free membership on a permanent basis before LHW switched to make it into a paid membership thing — although they did want applicants to note down a couple of LHW hotel stays as part of applying. In some ways, it’s sort of going back to what it used to be in terms of the cost to become/remain a member. But well before that general elimination of free membership enrollment/retention in Leaders Club, the program was mostly just a way to get at-hotel benefits for use during the stay and not a program for collecting free nights.
I don't mind the lack of free nights, as long as the benefits at the hotel have decent value, and right now it's pretty poor value with LHW. GHA does not give free nights either, but at least top tier members can get +2 upgrade which if you target the correct room type at a Kempinski or Capella for example, it can be quite a substantial upgrade at properties which do not have a gazillion room types. But +1 is pretty much the floor in the hotel industry so nothing to get me excited.
If I could get 100 USD F&B credit by booking via Amex FHR or Virtuoso, plus breakfast, plus +1 upgrade, plus earning points, then it would not be as weak. Or go away from points and give better on property benefits such as more generous upgrades for Sterling tier than what they do now.