How to Book Luxury Travel Advisor Rates Online (for Everyone) with HoteLux - Get USD 100 Credit (and Other Benefits) Each Stay at Participating Properties!

Going on a staycation has become increasingly popular over the last couple of months as international travel seems rather unlikely at this point. While it is not uncommon to find hotels launching new promotions and packages to bring the average occupancy up, not many people actually know much about Luxury Travel Advisor rates (which gives you exclusive VIP perks like USD 100 property credit, complimentary breakfast, and room upgrades just to name a few) and it has just gotten easier to book these rates with the newly-launched HoteLux app.

Click HERE to register for a HoteLux account which will give you exclusive access to Luxury Travel Advisor rates!

What is a Luxury Travel Advisor Rate?

Traditionally, Luxury Travel Advisor rates were only accessible to VIP travelers who are able to meet a high level of spend each year. By paying the same Best Available Rate (BAR) or Flexible Rate that is charged at the property (you do not pay anything extra), clients who book such rates will get to enjoy exclusive perks like USD 100 dining or spa credit, as well as a range of other tangible benefits, even on one night stays. HoteLux is a platform that allows registered members to book these aforementioned rates without having the need to go through an actual travel agent or travel advisor - these rates can be booked via the app easily with instant confirmation.

Essentially, HoteLux allows members to access the exclusive benefits of invite-only luxury agent programs such as the following:

• Four Seasons Preferred Partner

• Shangri-la The Luxury Circle

• Hyatt Privé

• Marriott STARS & Luminous

• Mandarin Oriental Fan Club

• VITA by The Leading Hotels of the World

• The Peninsula PenClub

• Rosewood Elite

• Hilton Impresario

• The IHG Luxury & Lifestyle

• Jumeirah Passport to Luxury

• The Preferred Platinum Partner

Photo Credit: JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach

Why Should You Book Luxury Travel Advisor Rates?

While the exclusive benefits do differ slightly between each luxury agent program, the value of booking an aforementioned rate can be easily illustrated with the use of an example. Let's consider a stay at the JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach - the cheapest public rate is S$251++ (S$295.43 nett) for two adults and this rate does not come with any additional perks. JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach is part of the Marriott Luminous program so booking the HoteLux Price (which is essentially the same price as the public Flexible Rate) at S$279++ (S$328.38 nett) will come with the following benefits:

Photo Credit: HoteLux

• USD 100 Dining/Spa Credit

• Daily Breakfast (for up to 2 Person)

• Welcome Amenity

• Early Check-in and Late Check-out (subject to availability)

It is worth stating up front that the HoteLux Price is not always the cheapest public rate but it will almost definitely be the most value-for-money rate (especially on single- or double-night stays). In the example above, the HoteLux Price is only S$32.85 nett more than the cheapest public rate and it comes with plenty of perks like the USD 100 (approximately SGD 130) property credit and complimentary daily breakfast at Beach Road Kitchen.

How to Book Luxury Travel Advisor Rates with HoteLux?

Registered users can access these exclusive rates via the HoteLux app and eligible rates with additional benefits are easily identifiable via the HoteLux Price or Virtuoso logo in the HoteLux app. You may notice that certain properties have additional offers that stack on top of the usual benefits and these typically come in the form of additional property credits or a free night.

How Much does it Cost?

The HoteLux Price is typically pegged to the BAR or Flexible Rate of the property, so this means that you will not be paying more for the aforementioned benefits. With that being said, HoteLux is actually a members-only program but everyone who registers for a free account will get to enjoy the first two bookings for free. For subsequent bookings (after the first two initial free ones), members can upgrade to a HoteLux Elite membership for SGD 99 per year (you can use the promo code ‘MF7HV5TP’ to enjoy massive savings on membership!) to enjoy unrestricted bookings and further benefits like the ability to redeem HoteLux Points. Considering how easily you can "earn back" the cost of this membership through a single stay, it makes perfect sense even for those that do not stay at hotels very regularly. Members can also enjoy a complimentary upgrade to HoteLux Elite by referring 10 friends.

Which Properties are Participating?

The number of participating properties that offer exclusive benefits varies between cities but they are typically limited to luxury hotels. At the time of writing, there are 12 properties in Singapore that you can enjoy exclusive perks when you book an eligible rate on the HoteLux app:

• Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore

• Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore

• The Westin Singapore

• JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach

• Conrad Centennial Singapore

• W Singapore - Sentosa Cove

• Capella Singapore

• Andaz Singapore

• The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

• The St. Regis Singapore

• Four Seasons Hotel Singapore

• Raffles Singapore

As mentioned earlier, eligible rates can be identified easily by the HoteLux Price logo - the benefits are also explicitly listed so be sure to book the right one on the mobile app.

Photo Credit: The Westin Singapore

Double-dipping on Loyalty Programs

All eligible rates that are booked on the HoteLux app are elite-qualifying so you will earn your nights and points on these stays. Unlike a traditional OTA, the actual reservation that you make via the HoteLux app goes directly to the property level. Going back to the previous example on JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach, you will earn eligible nights and points in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. In fact, if you are an elite member of the Marriott Bonvoy program, your membership benefits will stack with the Luminous perks that you will receive when booking through the HoteLux app.

What to Take Note of When Booking HoteLux Rates?

The USD 100 credit is definitely the greatest benefit that comes with a HoteLux booking but since this is awarded once per stay, the average value decreases as the duration of stay increases. While it is typically a no-brainer to book a HoteLux rate on single- and double-night stays, it is worthwhile to consider other promotions and packages if you are planning on a longer stay.

Additionally, unlike an advance purchase rate where pre-payment is often required, guests who book a HoteLux rate will only make payment upon checking out. The cancellation policy associated with a HoteLux rate will typically mirror that of a Flexible Rate which usually allows for free cancellation up to the day of arrival (but always have the habit of checking on the cancellation policy for each property!). Free cancellation also means that you can always cancel and rebook the same rate when the BAR or Flexible Rate decreases.