Originally Posted by dsweet
No upgrade, no gift, no recognition at the two LHW members I tried - Kempinski Atlantic Frankfurt and Helmsley Park Lane NY. Complained after Kempinski (also had extremely poor service) and was assured that Leaders Club would "personally" contact Helmsley. Helmsley did not even have a record of it being a Leaders Club reservation on my arrival and was indifferent as to benefits. I guess you get what you pay for for basic free membership.
Personally, I find that this probelm usually occurs when hotels such as Kempinski use a different "GDS Code" and NOT the "LW" code even though they are part of LHW. Kempinski has their own GDS code of "KI".
If a particular hotel does not use the LW code, then the reservation must be made by calling LHW by PHONE (make sure your travel agent does this). Even if it is made online, there might a a possibility that the reservation is made using "KI" and it would appear to a Kempinski hotel that the reservation originated from "LuxRes Travel" instead of LHW.
To be sure you get your Leaders Club Benefits, make sure you check the section called "GDS Code" under the listing that the hotel has in the PRINTED version of the LHW Hotel Directory (sent to memers yearly). If the hotel you intend to stay has does not use "LW", then you should anticipate problems.
If the hotel DOES use the LW code, then your travel agent has to make sure that the /ID- field is populated with the Leaders Club number (without the "LC" prefix) when the reservation is made in the GDS.