50% Less GC Points Required for Room Awards
The loyalty program from Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Golden Circle, is celebrating her fifth's anniversary with a Less is More promotion. Between now until the end of the month (31 March 2016), you will be able to redeem for a Standard Room at all participating hotels for stays between 01 April 2016 to 31 May 2016 at 50% fewer points! Standard Rooms generally go for 1,000 GC Points to 20,000 GC Points a night but under this promotion, redemption starts from as little as 500 GC Points!
MasterCard Privileges with AccorHotels
MasterCard Credit Card holders will enjoy exclusive privileges when staying at any selected AccorHotels properties in Asia-Pacific. Look forward to a range of indulgent treats and deals when you stay at any one of the 550 AccorHotels properties in the region. From complimentary breakfasts to an award-winning spa retreat, there is plenty to indulge in when you are a MasterCard holder.
Hyatt Best Rate Guarantee Success - Grand Hyatt Melbourne
A hotel chain's Best Rate Guarantee (or equivalent) can make or break a brand. While different hotels have different Best Rate Guarantee policies, I have had some successes with Hyatt recently when I was shopping for rooms at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne where I might be staying in a month or two. Hyatt guarantees the best rate when booking directly with them and they will match a lower, qualifying rate published on another site before beating that by an additional 20% - remember you will still earn your elite qualifying points and nights this way! While it isn't always easy to find a lower competing rate elsewhere (since the terms of the booking have to match entirely), it isn't at the same time, impossible.
Double GC Points at Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
The Traders Hotel in Kuala Lumpur is one of the few remaining hotels that have not benn (and probably will not be) rebranded to a Hotel Jen. From now until 30 June 2016, earn double GC Award Points (equivalent to approximately 20% rebate if redeeming cash for credit) when you stay at the Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
Some SPG Award Changes to Take Note in Southeast Asia
Your SPG Starpoints could be worth a lot more (or less) from 01 March 2016! In case you haven't heard, Starwood will be implementing some changes to the 2016 Award Category for hotel room night redemption.
Is HHonors Discount the New "Easy Cancellation" Rate on Conrad?
While shopping for hotel room nights (yes, I actually do that!), I realised that the Conrad Centennial Singapore has a HHonors Discount room rate listed - upon closer inspection, this room rate offers the same cancellation policy as the Easy Cancellation rate but it comes with a 10% discount - not bad at all! Strangely enough, I do not see an Advance Purchase (non-cancellable) rate so hopefully this is not a direction that the hotel (or brand) is moving towards.
Get 2,500 GC Points (Worth US$250) with 1-Year of The Economist Subscription
If you have been thinking about a subscription to The Economist, you should definitely take advantage of the Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts' 5th Anniversary Special Offer which gives you 2,500 Golden Circle Points (worth US$250) with 1-year of The Economist Subscription - in Singapore this subscription will set you back S$438 but you do get back approximately S$350 (US$250) from the bonus GC Points. Shangri-La's Golden Circle program is actually pretty decent apart from its feeble upgrade policy - you do get complimentary breakfast and decent points with a mid-tier status though!
iPrefer Loyalty Program Relaunch - Free Room Upgrades for Everyone!
My iPrefer Account from Preferred Hotels & Resorts has been sitting in the corner for ages and today I got an email notifying me that the iPrefer Loyalty Program has been revamped and that "my iPrefer benefits just got better". For those of you who are unfamiliar with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, it is a collection of independent hotels (much like the Global Hotel Alliance) that come together under the same portfolio. In Singapore, the One Farrer Hotel & Spa falls under this collection of hotels.