Prince Hotels - Seibu Prince Club/Seibu Prince Club emi
Feb 13, 2013, 2:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 123
Prince Hotels - Seibu Prince Club/Seibu Prince Club emi
I'm headed to Japan in a couple weeks and staying at two different Prince Hotels properties, and I know very little about them. They rate very highly on TripAdvisor, but I'm curious whether to expect high fees for Wifi (or in-room wifi at all) and things like that. I'm also wondering how their status programs work (Of course, I've joined the program). Would they match my Hilton Gold or Priority Club Platinum status, and would it even matter? The properties look great; I'm just trying to get a sense of how many "extras" there'll be with a fee attached, and looking for some insight into the program.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Jan 16, 2018 at 6:06 am Reason: retitled thread for clarity
Jun 28, 2016, 3:00 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 191
Any insight?
I'm headed to Japan in a couple weeks and staying at two different Prince Hotels properties, and I know very little about them. They rate very highly on TripAdvisor, but I'm curious whether to expect high fees for Wifi (or in-room wifi at all) and things like that. I'm also wondering how their status programs work (Of course, I've joined the program). Would they match my Hilton Gold or Priority Club Platinum status, and would it even matter? The properties look great; I'm just trying to get a sense of how many "extras" there'll be with a fee attached, and looking for some insight into the program.
Apr 18, 2017, 5:48 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,431
Prince Hotels has two different programs. For people without a Japan address, there is Seibu Prince Club Emi. It is so watered down that you can't even call it a loyalty program as such, as there are no points or status to earn.
https://emi.seibugroup.jp/en/
People with a Japan address can register in the full blown Seibu Prince Club. It is very different from international loyalty programs in many ways:
I can list out the benefits of the Japanese program and Gold/Platinum status if anyone is interested.
https://emi.seibugroup.jp/en/
People with a Japan address can register in the full blown Seibu Prince Club. It is very different from international loyalty programs in many ways:
- There are no status matching or challenges whatsoever.
- Status is generally only earned through spending at the hotels. Number of nights/stays mean nothing.
- Status earned in the current calendar year does not become operational until April of the following year. Even if you spend enough to get top status in January, you must wait until April the following year (over 14 months!) for it to take affect.
- Points can be redeemed for a tremendous variety of goods and services, from hotel stays and meals, to pet dental care, amusement parks, baseball games, curry roux, and stuffed otter toys. The 27 page pamphlet for 2017 can be found here.
- Membership cards are actually useful. They can be scanned when eating or otherwise spending at properties that you aren't staying at to register spending, and also at specialised kiosks in the hotels, where you can check balances and redeem points.
- Although you don't have to be a Japanese citizen to participate, everything about the program is written in Japanese.
- Benefits and qualification only apply to the Prince hotels in Japan.
I can list out the benefits of the Japanese program and Gold/Platinum status if anyone is interested.
Jan 15, 2018, 5:56 am
#4
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Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,431
For people without a Japan address, there is Seibu Prince Club Emi. It is so watered down that you can't even call it a loyalty program as such, as there are no points or status to earn.
https://emi.seibugroup.jp/en/
https://emi.seibugroup.jp/en/
Additionally, there's an ongoing campaign where emi members booking online receive free breakfast for themselves and one additional guest for the duration of their stay, good until the end of March.
Breakfast Offered - Prince Hotels & Resorts - Official website
Jan 23, 2018, 1:46 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: JRF
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,784
Is it possible to double dip Seibu Prince Club with Marriott/SPG? I can think of the Prince Sakura Tower and Mauna Kea Resort as Marriott Autograph Collection properties, and the Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho and the Hapuna Beach Resort as Starwood properties. I'm guessing a status match is out of the question...
Jan 23, 2018, 1:51 pm
#6
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Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
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The club is only for Japan properties (I think Hawaii properties have their own special club). I had to choose either Prince or Marriott at Sakura Tower. No status matches.
Jan 23, 2018, 2:12 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: JRF
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,784
I was trying to figure out how it was done in Hawaii but noticed this: Prince Preferred. It's tiered and you can earn status, but how is anyone suppose to hit that many nights with only 3 leisure properties in this part of the world?
Apparently the 3 Prince properties in the islands have their own rewards now, but if you look at their Japanese pages, they still credit regular Seibu Prince Club points (and bonus points), and have Seibu credit card (Saison) offers
Apparently the 3 Prince properties in the islands have their own rewards now, but if you look at their Japanese pages, they still credit regular Seibu Prince Club points (and bonus points), and have Seibu credit card (Saison) offers
Jan 23, 2018, 2:49 pm
#8
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Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,431
SEIBU PRINCE CLUB status is earned in a calendar year, but the earned status isn't awarded until the following April, which lasts for 12 months thereafter. I will finally have Platinum status in April, so I will be better able to speak as to how they treat elites at that time.
What I do know is that, if you are Platinum, you do get breakfast, but, with the lone exception of The Prince Sakura Tower, you are not afforded access to the club lounge, unless you have booked a club room.
emi is definitely Japan only.
What I do know is that, if you are Platinum, you do get breakfast, but, with the lone exception of The Prince Sakura Tower, you are not afforded access to the club lounge, unless you have booked a club room.
emi is definitely Japan only.
Jan 26, 2018, 12:56 am
#9
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Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
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Full details of new SEIBU PRINCE CLUB emi Prince Points program, as well as participating locations and special discounts, can be found in this release:
https://emi.seibugroup.jp/excludes/p...n_20180122.pdf
https://emi.seibugroup.jp/excludes/p...n_20180122.pdf
Apr 4, 2018, 4:00 am
#10
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Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,431
SEIBU PRINCE CLUB status is earned in a calendar year, but the earned status isn't awarded until the following April, which lasts for 12 months thereafter. I will finally have Platinum status in April, so I will be better able to speak as to how they treat elites at that time.
Maybe I'll fare better off at one of the nicer "The Prince" establishments.
Mar 13, 2021, 10:38 pm
#11
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Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,431
The Oiso Prince Hotel was my first taste of life as a SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Platinum member, and it left me far from impressed. Tried to use the Gold/Platinum benefit of "3 Hours Extra", whereby you can extend your stay by three hours by distributing the time as you wish (e.g. check in two hours early, check out one hour late), for three hour early check-in, but was told there was no room available, and ultimately was only able to check in a single hour early. Asked about the Platinum "welcome kit" and was told "we don't participate in that program". Room upgrades actually aren't a part of the SEIBU PRINCE CLUB program, and sure enough we didn't get anything more than a base room on a higher floor. There wasn't even any bottled water in the rooms, necessitating carrying many paper cups from the "fitness room", which consisted of two treadmills and nothing else. The only definite benefit we got from this hotel was free breakfast, which admittedly was quite decent.
Maybe I'll fare better off at one of the nicer "The Prince" establishments.
Maybe I'll fare better off at one of the nicer "The Prince" establishments.
* The Prince Park Tower upgrading us to a Garden Suite on an award stay.
* The Prince Sakura Tower upgrading us to a junior suite on two (Marriott) award stays.
* Prince Karuizawa West upgrading us to bigger cabins on two week-long staycations last year.
This experience, along with the regular benefits associated with Platinum, leads to me to ultimately rank this status as...not bad.
Jan 19, 2022, 11:28 pm
#12
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,431
For the second straight year, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB has carried over status earned in 2019, so I'm still Platinum for the next status period (April 2022 - March 2023)
There has been a slight alteration of benefits for this period, but the big news is the introduction of a new Diamond rank from April 2023. The threshold for this is 200 medals, four times the requirement of Platinum. Still to be determined what Diamond rank benefits will actually be.
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/pss/n...rvicelist.html
There has been a slight alteration of benefits for this period, but the big news is the introduction of a new Diamond rank from April 2023. The threshold for this is 200 medals, four times the requirement of Platinum. Still to be determined what Diamond rank benefits will actually be.
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/pss/n...rvicelist.html
Mar 24, 2022, 12:45 am
#13
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,431
A major change to the points redemption took place from yesterday for both the SEIBU PRINCE CLUB program and the emi foreigner spinoff program.
Points can now only be exchanged for on property spending at the rate of one yen for one point. Gone is the option to exchange points for hotel free nights, hotel free meals, or any number of other goods and services previously provided. So any chance of earning value greater than 1% on spend is gone forever.
Points can now only be exchanged for on property spending at the rate of one yen for one point. Gone is the option to exchange points for hotel free nights, hotel free meals, or any number of other goods and services previously provided. So any chance of earning value greater than 1% on spend is gone forever.
Oct 23, 2022, 7:38 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,431
For the second straight year, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB has carried over status earned in 2019, so I'm still Platinum for the next status period (April 2022 - March 2023)
There has been a slight alteration of benefits for this period, but the big news is the introduction of a new Diamond rank from April 2023. The threshold for this is 200 medals, four times the requirement of Platinum. Still to be determined what Diamond rank benefits will actually be.
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/pss/n...rvicelist.html
There has been a slight alteration of benefits for this period, but the big news is the introduction of a new Diamond rank from April 2023. The threshold for this is 200 medals, four times the requirement of Platinum. Still to be determined what Diamond rank benefits will actually be.
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/pss/n...rvicelist.html
* Room upgrades when available
* Club lounge access where applicable
* 1.5x points multiplier on hotel spend
* Choice of birthday present (details announced in January)
* Access to special events (details announced in January)
* All the other benefits afforded to Platinum, Gold, and Regular members
So finally puts the top level status on similar footing to other international loyalty programs.
The Emi program for foreigners still has no such status levels, offering only 1% point return on qualifiying stays.
Apr 12, 2024, 2:32 am
#15
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,431
Just informed today that the SEIBU PRINCE EMI program will be ending, and new program Seibu Prince Global Rewards will be starting.
[Important] ＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
Notice of Discontinuation of SEIBU PRINCE CLUB emi Membership Program
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
We regret to inform that our membership program "SEIBU PRINCE CLUB emi" will be discontinued as of August 31, 2025 (Japan Standard Time). We kindly ask you to take a moment to review the significant changes and details regarding the new program we will be introducing.
1. Termination of Point Awarding and Exclusive Hotel Members Rates
The accrual of SEIBU PRINCE CLUB emi points and the exclusive member rates at Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts will cease on April 24, 2024 (Japan Standard Time), with the exception of some facilities. From April 25, 2024 (Japan Standard Time), the “Seibu Prince Global Rewards" app will be available, offering the exclusive member rates.
Please refer to No.4 for details of the app. The app will be available for download from April 25, 2024 (Japan Standard Time).
2. Points accumulated can be used at the payment until the service termination
The use of points at the payment is available until August 31, 2025 (Japan Standard Time). However, please note that any unused points will be forfeited after the discontinuation of the service.
3. Discontinuation of Membership Card Privileges
Benefits such as discounts at hot spring facilities will be discontinued as of December 31, 2024 (Japan Standard Time). No further benefits will be available after this date.
4. Introduction of "Seibu Prince Global Rewards" and Point Transfer
The new program, "Seibu Prince Global Rewards," will be launched on April 25, 2024, at 12:00 (Japan Standard Time). For more details, please visit to the following website:
https://www.seibuprince.com/loyalty
Please download the "Seibu Prince Global Rewards" app from the following link to enjoy Seibu Group's services after April 25, 2024, at 12:00 (Japan Standard Time):
https://www.seibuprince.com/loyalty/app
Current points can be transferred to the "Seibu Prince Global Rewards" app if you register between March 1, 2025 and August 31, 2025 (Japan Standard Time). Details regarding the point transfer procedure will be announced at a later date. As previously mentioned, points can be used at checkout until August 31, 2025 (Japan Standard Time), so we encourage you not to wait until the point transfer period to utilize your points.
Notice of Discontinuation of SEIBU PRINCE CLUB emi Membership Program
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
We regret to inform that our membership program "SEIBU PRINCE CLUB emi" will be discontinued as of August 31, 2025 (Japan Standard Time). We kindly ask you to take a moment to review the significant changes and details regarding the new program we will be introducing.
1. Termination of Point Awarding and Exclusive Hotel Members Rates
The accrual of SEIBU PRINCE CLUB emi points and the exclusive member rates at Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts will cease on April 24, 2024 (Japan Standard Time), with the exception of some facilities. From April 25, 2024 (Japan Standard Time), the “Seibu Prince Global Rewards" app will be available, offering the exclusive member rates.
Please refer to No.4 for details of the app. The app will be available for download from April 25, 2024 (Japan Standard Time).
2. Points accumulated can be used at the payment until the service termination
The use of points at the payment is available until August 31, 2025 (Japan Standard Time). However, please note that any unused points will be forfeited after the discontinuation of the service.
3. Discontinuation of Membership Card Privileges
Benefits such as discounts at hot spring facilities will be discontinued as of December 31, 2024 (Japan Standard Time). No further benefits will be available after this date.
4. Introduction of "Seibu Prince Global Rewards" and Point Transfer
The new program, "Seibu Prince Global Rewards," will be launched on April 25, 2024, at 12:00 (Japan Standard Time). For more details, please visit to the following website:
https://www.seibuprince.com/loyalty
Please download the "Seibu Prince Global Rewards" app from the following link to enjoy Seibu Group's services after April 25, 2024, at 12:00 (Japan Standard Time):
https://www.seibuprince.com/loyalty/app
Current points can be transferred to the "Seibu Prince Global Rewards" app if you register between March 1, 2025 and August 31, 2025 (Japan Standard Time). Details regarding the point transfer procedure will be announced at a later date. As previously mentioned, points can be used at checkout until August 31, 2025 (Japan Standard Time), so we encourage you not to wait until the point transfer period to utilize your points.
Last edited by hailstorm; Apr 15, 2024 at 3:07 am Reason: Corrected end date from 2024 to 2025.
