I've stayed in probably 10 different LHW hotels (all for pleasure) in the last couple of years. Is there any chance I would be accepted into the Leader's Club and for how long is the membership valid for? Is it worth the application for membership?

[This message has been edited by bagold (edited 07-11-2001).]

The LHW and Relais & Chateaux have formed a "Luxury Alliance" since the beginning of the year. Relais & Chateaux is, like LHW mentioned in previous posts, a marketing group for high end luxury properties. These properties tend to be somewhat smaller than some of the "grandes dames" of the LHW group.

Relais & Chateaux information can be found at:

http://www.relaischateaux.com:80/site/us/home

I have stayed at properties in both groups and they are quite nice. Every year the LHW guide comes out and you can see that they regularly drop properties from their membership (and add some) so I think they use fairly demanding criteria.

I'm not familiar with the Leaders Club. Normally you have to be "invited" by the President of LHW or by a General Manager of one of the properties. You then receive free upgrades, personalized luggage tags, etc etc. If you are a good customer, write to the President of LHW.

But LHW regularly offers some good promotions, often linked with AMEX. I'm taking advantage of their "One More Night" offer in Rio this month: you stay for three nights and the fourth is free (price is prorated out over the four nights). These promotions regularly appear in their newsletters (free) and on their web site.

Edited for typos.

[This message has been edited by blairvanhorn (edited 07-11-2001).]

bagold, check out the link in cwpfly's posting above. It has links to the Leader's Club and from there to the application form, or just click on:

http://www.lhw.com/leaders_club/become_member.asp

I just saw an ad tonight for the new Grand Hyatt in Seattle advertising that it was part of "The Leading Hotels of the World" in addition to being a Hyatt.

Kind of caught me offguard, because I didn't think that there were any Hyatt properties associated with them.

Neither did I. But this property (The Elliott Grand Hyatt) is certainly a member. I saw it in the LHW printed 2001 guide, but it had not been branded a Grand Hyatt at that time.

Here the link:

http://www.lhw.com/profile/profile.a...ng=1&st=2&si=4

I've stayed twice at The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The first time it was part of the Preferred Hotels group, and I got UA miles. The second time it had switched to "The Leading Hotels of the World", and no miles with them.
It's a great hotel, in an excellent (for me anyway) location, so I guess I can live without the miles!

I've stayed in two very nice LHWs: the Pan Pacific in Vancouver and the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, FL. Both properties had incredible five-star restaurtants onsite. Overall, both properties were among the best I've ever stayed in.

We got a room at the Pan-Pacific for about CN$250 through a corporate rate, and it was worth every penny and then some. At check-in, I asked about FF mileage affiliations. Not only did I get 500 UA miles, but the clerk also asked if I had any UA elite status. I had 2P at the time - upon showing the card, I got a complimentary upgrade to a mini-suite with a small living room and PC in the room. (I thought it was slightly ironic that this hotel valued my elite status far, far more than United itself does.)

The Ritz stay was a basic Ritz experience - excellent in every sense. The rooms were covered as part of a convention, so I didn't get any FF miles.

I have been a member of 'Leaders Club' since 1998 and was sponsored by a Regional Manager.

The Membership Guide lists benefits as being:

- Priority Reservations
- Complimentary Room Upgrades
- Early check-in/late check-out
- Welcome gift
- Luggage tag
- Newsletter

In reality you will normally get an upgraded room. A bottle of champagne maybe and some special recognition on birthdays.


But the real benefit is when you make your reservation through LHW. These really are the best hotels in the world and the biggest advantage is that they known you are a 'regular' and treat you as such.

Miles? If you can afford these hotels on a regular basis, do you really need to be worried about 500 miles here or there?


Enjoy the Champagne, the canapes and the room upgrade - of course you would already be paying for a suite anyway, wouldn't you?

Nick

One LHW to avoid is the Helmsley Park Lane in New York -- really in need of a renovation.

I finally got around to submitting the form. Had to look at their web site and see which hotels I recognize from previous stays. Got approved within 24 hours!

Does anyone know how long the membership for the Leaders Club last?

no predetermined validity - the give (they may take it away).

So far no problem for me, I stay, may be, about 8-10 nights a year, but never make my reservation through them (what officially they ask for) but either with the hotel itself, always mentioning my Leaders-Club membership and # (example: Mandarin or Peninsula or all Swiss places) or some other booking organisation (example: Shangri-La).

Though the website states that you need to make the reservation through lhw.com to enjoy the benefits of lc membership the card
was good for upgrades even when presented only at check in time.

Well, at the risk of your calling me an epithet, I will advise you that it depends on the property for as many of those have noted, they are often quite luxurious Grande Dame hotels. However, many of these hotels have often dual or even three listings under certain programs -- that is what I found out for certain of the hotels in and around Switzerland.

Travelocity may list it that way.

Also, I would do a Google search of the hotel's name and see if it comes up under more than one hotel "chain."

From what I recollect, some of the former SwissAir hotels are listed under more than one "brand."

Apply to Leaders Club Today !

If you've stayed at five or more Leading Hotels in the past few years, you may qualify to become a member of Leaders Club, The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. prestigious guest recognition program.

With access to a variety of exclusive privileges from participating Leading Hotels and Leading Small Hotels, the complimentary Leaders Club membership is our guarantee that every stay with Leading Hotels is even more luxurious and rewarding than the last.
===========================================

Posted by Mile ...
The Marquis isn't any better than any other first class hotel in Mexico City - only more expensive. The location is very good. BTW, I booked it online through American Airlines Vacations and paid only 1/3 of the price the hotel was asking.

The Waldorf=Astoria Towers (Conrad) is a LHW. You get HH points when you stay there.