Win Black Status (Highest Tier!) with DISCOVERY Programme

As I bid farewell to my Black Status with the Global Hotel Alliance's DISCOVERY programme last year,  I was a little sad - partly because I stay with the Pan Pacific chain so much in Singapore and that double upgrade (which worked on at least 20 of my stays) as well as that 6PM late check-out were all so valuable. When I logged in my DISCOVERY account (they have a really sleek app now too!) this morning, I saw that they were running a Scavenger Hunt where you will have the chance to win an instant upgrade to Black status along with a Black level Local Experience award.

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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! 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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!

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