Contemplating Taj Innercircle Membership...
 

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and wish to ask a couple of questions regarding Taj Innercircle Program??

I won't beat around the bush and come straight to the point, is it worth it?? Is it really any use??

Have been to two Tajs so far, Goa and Kochi (both in India) and the experience has been splendid. So was thinking of this Innercircle the manager spoke to me about this time...

Please chip in your two pens..

If you are going to stay at a Taj anyway, sure, sign up. But the program is pretty lame, there is no way to really track stays online, and I have to put in a request to have stay points posted every single time I stay at a Taj. Every.Single.Time. There has *never* been an exception to this (for me, anyway).

You may find information on this thread informative. I found it to be pretty accurate. I will say that, while I have had to follow up on getting stays/points credited, only once did I have to follow up a second time--usually they respond w/in 24 hours. Perhaps this is progress? :)

Status....isn't really. Sometimes the fruit and flowers appears, sometimes it doesn't. Mostly it doesn't. Most of the other bennies aren't really applicable to me.

The hotels are pleasant and the staff have been exceedingly friendly and attentive. So someday, they may get their act together on the IC program, and maybe, by then, I will find myself with a lot of points. :)

O/H

I am IC Silver and have no hesitation in saying that this is the worst loyalty program in India (if not, in the world). Poor earning to redemption ratios, very slow redemption process, no promos, hardly any customer support (they operate from 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays or something like that).

Would not bother with it, if you have ANY other options at all (miles with M&M etc.). To be clear, absolutely no problem with Taj. They have the most splendid service, fantastic food and all that - they just don't care about their loyalty program. Will stay with them in a heartbeat but have absolutely no expectations from the Innercircle program.

I'm IC Gold merely from stays in the London and US (NY, SF, BOS) Taj Hotels-- haven't even experienced those in India yet. Love the properties, and agree that crediting of points is hit or miss to happen automatically (although has been much better of late, and my emails have always been quickly and graciously responded to). Have yet to redeem any points but it's fun to accumulate them, of course (that's the FT way...)

Alternatively, you might want to look at LWH (Leading Hotels of the World). Many Taj hotels are part of that 'alliance', and the benefits gained from LHW are likely better than those even from IC status.

Just my two cents, of course.

I think Inner Circle makes sense if coupled with Epicure Plus membership ... Being Delhi based, and when on corporate travel ... it is great to get 25% of in room dining spend credited back to your Epicure Plus account ... cause that is actualy money!

As regard to IC ... mostly agree with above ... Although, I have redeemed points for stays @ Hari Mahal in Jodhpur and Gateway Rawalkot in Jaisalmer!

i have points that are about to expire in March 2013. what's the easiest way to keep the points alive if outside india? I'm in NY. Does F&B spend earn points if not staying at the hotel? I could have a lunch at the Pierre. Any other options? No immediate plans to go to India, but would hate to see the points go to waste.

Epicure Plus comes with complimentary Inner Circle Gold status now.

Does anyone know the annual cost for Epicure or Epicure Plus? Is it worth it?

I'm not going to beat around the bush.... Taj Innercircle Membership is absolutely worthless. Points seldom post automatically, earn/burn ratio is horrible, getting absolutely nothing extra in your stay as a IC member....

It's an Indian membership... so temper your expectation....

Right, ok, thanks. I did submit the application form on the Taj website, but the website isn't working properly and it generated an error message. Not a good sign!

Taj hotels have offered super service and hospitality,on almost all the stays i have had with them.But i havent got involved with their loyalty programme,as i didnt find that good enough and have found rates much cheaper at OTA's then their own sites multiple times.

They never responsed to my request for membership, so I'm not going to bother. Thanks for the feedback :)

Contemplating Taj Innercircle Membership...
 

Any suggestions on how to use 494 points? Had a few stays in India a few years ago and unlikely to go back soon, but want to use them before they expire.

VERY disappointed with Taj Inner Circle "Redemption"
 

I have been blown away by the travesty that is the Taj Inner Circle membership program.

I tried redeeming "online" for some credit certificates and for a cash and points redemption, after earning a lot of points from a stay at Taj Exotica Maldives.

Firstly, they told me they can't send any credit certificates to anyone outside of India. Wow. They have to mail these things instead of giving an online credit? But MORE IMPORTANTLY, so non-Indian members might as well forget about this program since Taj can't even send them their rewards!

Secondly, despite wide open availability in September at the Taj Rambagh, they have told me that they can't fulfill my Points & Cash reward booking.

Thirdly, there has been about a dozen emails from them, including several that don't make any sense, and I am dealing with a new person at every juncture with a general email address.

They have surely shown me to not bother with this program whatsoever. What a shame.

taj epicure plus memmbership
 

hey all,

Hope whoever hv enrolled with taj epicure plus membership are enjoying the benifits and discounts and the most taj :):)^

sir hope till now you have been member of taj and enjoying the benifits and discounts of taj all over india