Golden Circle
Mar 25, 1999 | 10:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Hong Kong soon to be London
Posts: 208
Golden Circle
Has anyone had any experience with the Shangri-La Golden Circle? So far I have been very pleased with the additinal service, although as far as I can tell there are no points toward free stays.
[This message has been edited by Hong Kong Flyer (edited 03-25-99).]
[This message has been edited by Hong Kong Flyer (edited 03-25-99).]
Mar 26, 1999 | 6:38 am
#3
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Half the World & More and then some.
Programs: BA, SQ, AA, QF, CX, VS
Posts: 1,202
Shangri-La's Golden Circle (Club) is a loyalty program and does not earn you miles towards free stays. What you get are 'additional' services,late checkout, upgrades etc. There are 3 tiers. Each tier does give you better benefits and the higher the tier, the more you can earn on your airline programme. Classic members, earn basic points (say United - 500points), the next tier earns you additional 125% and the top tier can be as high as double.
Shangri-La hotels are currently mostly in Asia and one in Vancouver, Canada.
Shangri-La hotels are currently mostly in Asia and one in Vancouver, Canada.
Apr 18, 1999 | 8:29 am
#4
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: HKG
Programs: BA GGL, CX DM, AA LT GO, Marriott LT Titanium, Shangri-La DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM
Posts: 2,030
I agree with HKF...so far I've been very pleased with my stays at Shangri-La...the services and people are just excellent...
But one thing that disappoints me a bit is their Golden Circle membership system...you need 10 stays in a year to get Executive status and 25 stays to get Elite...they only consider number of "stays", not number of "nights"...I've been staying at a Shangri-La as a Golden Circle member for 15 weeks this year (almost in a row, except the week of the Chinese New Year, considering it's now only the 16th or 17th week of 1999), and at least 4 or 5 nights each week...however, I've never gotten a room upgrade at all, not even once...Elite's do get suite upgrades at check-in, depending on availability, not Executive's though...but, considering I've spent 60+ nights here already (and probably 100+ more later this year)...I'm pretty sure I've brought them more business than many other Elite's...with almost all other hotel programs that I know of, these amount of stays would certainly qualify for top tier membership...while now I'm still only 60% to Elite...my colleagues who chose to stay at Hyatt are all Diamond now and got upgraded at least to Regency Club rooms all the time...sometimes I'm really thinking about staying at somewhere else for a day each week, so that I can double the number of stays and at the same time keep my elite status with Hyatt/Starwood/Hilton...
of course, I should only expect to get what I actually pay for...but, if I am so loyal to them, at least I think probably I deserve something more than a little gift that they gave me today when I checked in..."Since it's your 15th stay this year, here's a little souvenir for you"...
I've written to the Golden Circle Service Center, suggesting that they consider also the number of nights as criterion for deciding membership status...the answer is: "Your suggestion to consider the number of nights as upgrade criterion has been reviewed and discussed with the management for future enhancement of the program."...oh well..."future"...who knows what that means...
But one thing that disappoints me a bit is their Golden Circle membership system...you need 10 stays in a year to get Executive status and 25 stays to get Elite...they only consider number of "stays", not number of "nights"...I've been staying at a Shangri-La as a Golden Circle member for 15 weeks this year (almost in a row, except the week of the Chinese New Year, considering it's now only the 16th or 17th week of 1999), and at least 4 or 5 nights each week...however, I've never gotten a room upgrade at all, not even once...Elite's do get suite upgrades at check-in, depending on availability, not Executive's though...but, considering I've spent 60+ nights here already (and probably 100+ more later this year)...I'm pretty sure I've brought them more business than many other Elite's...with almost all other hotel programs that I know of, these amount of stays would certainly qualify for top tier membership...while now I'm still only 60% to Elite...my colleagues who chose to stay at Hyatt are all Diamond now and got upgraded at least to Regency Club rooms all the time...sometimes I'm really thinking about staying at somewhere else for a day each week, so that I can double the number of stays and at the same time keep my elite status with Hyatt/Starwood/Hilton...
of course, I should only expect to get what I actually pay for...but, if I am so loyal to them, at least I think probably I deserve something more than a little gift that they gave me today when I checked in..."Since it's your 15th stay this year, here's a little souvenir for you"...
I've written to the Golden Circle Service Center, suggesting that they consider also the number of nights as criterion for deciding membership status...the answer is: "Your suggestion to consider the number of nights as upgrade criterion has been reviewed and discussed with the management for future enhancement of the program."...oh well..."future"...who knows what that means...
Apr 18, 1999 | 8:45 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Half the World & More and then some.
Programs: BA, SQ, AA, QF, CX, VS
Posts: 1,202
Be forewarned that the Shangri-La Group - hence Golden Circle Club is Singapore owned. By that it means that, your suggestions will get you nowhere.
I was offered Golden Circle - at Executive Level. But I told the Shangri-La representative that I already hold Hyatt Diamond and Hilton Gold VIP. If they want me to consider switching to ShangriLa properties, they must at least offer me equivalent status.
The rep immediately said that it was impossible but said that he'd try to persuade Head Office. Of course, 3 months later - the package arrived in the mail. Executive Level only. Not even a letter explaining the reasons for turning down my requests. The package still remains unopened in one of my cabinets.
However, be deligent - as a 'westerner' you might be luckier than I! But forget about dealing with the service centre. Get an appointment with the GM of the property where you're staying and tell HIM/HER of your intentions (ie : LIE that you're thinking of moving business elsewhere)if you don't get IMMEDIATE Elite status.
[This message has been edited by Celestar340 (edited 04-18-99).]
I was offered Golden Circle - at Executive Level. But I told the Shangri-La representative that I already hold Hyatt Diamond and Hilton Gold VIP. If they want me to consider switching to ShangriLa properties, they must at least offer me equivalent status.
The rep immediately said that it was impossible but said that he'd try to persuade Head Office. Of course, 3 months later - the package arrived in the mail. Executive Level only. Not even a letter explaining the reasons for turning down my requests. The package still remains unopened in one of my cabinets.
However, be deligent - as a 'westerner' you might be luckier than I! But forget about dealing with the service centre. Get an appointment with the GM of the property where you're staying and tell HIM/HER of your intentions (ie : LIE that you're thinking of moving business elsewhere)if you don't get IMMEDIATE Elite status.
[This message has been edited by Celestar340 (edited 04-18-99).]