How much value do you put on hotel rewards programs? While some travelers are almost obsessive-compulsive in their dedication to collecting air miles and hotel reward points, others simply collect them all and any benefit derived is simply considered a lucky bonus. NextAdvisor decided to calculate the cash value of various luxury hotel rewards programs and their findings threw up some interesting results.
The means for determining the cash value of points was ascertained by comparing the cost of a night’s stay in the peak season in a major US city with the number of points required for such a freebie, thereby getting an actual dollar value per point. NextAdvisor also ran the same scenario for air miles by calculating the value of a free flight using frequent flyer points. They ran the trial on most major US-based programs to compare the best value loyalty schemes.
The simple evaluation showed that Starwood Preferred Guest Program offered the best value in cash terms. This scheme rewards guests staying in Starwood-operated luxury hotels such as Le Meridien, W hotels, St Regis and Sheraton hotels with points which are worth $0.021 each. When double or treble points are offered on promotions, assuming one point per dollar spent, this can add up to 6% discount on the booking. In comparison, other programs such as Marriott Rewards offered points worth $0.008 and Hilton HHonors points were worth just $0.005.
The same value system was also applied to airline points and Southwest Rapid Rewards scheme came top with points worth $0.017 compared to United Mileage plus points which are worth $0.011 when redeemed against a flight, and Delta was slightly lower at $0.01.
Most interesting to American Airlines AAdvantage miles collectors is the fact that the points are worth more if spent on a hotel than if they are used for free flights. Similarly those high value Starwood Preferred Guest points are only worth $0.012 when used against a flight.
by Gillian
Millennium-Copthorne Hotels and British soccer fans are not the usually pairing that springs readily to mind, but the newly unveiled luxury hotel suites at Chelsea Football Club are likely to score high with die-hard Chelsea fans.
This enterprising luxury hotel chain has invested in six luxury suites at the Millennium Hotel in the heart of Chelsea Football Club’s Stamford Bridge Complex in Fulham. The suites are heavily oriented towards guests attending a match. The grounds are right around the corner, making access very easy without the hassle of negotiating London’s public transport.
Football packages automatically include match tickets and a program in the room price along with a pre-match three-course meal in Restaurant 55 and a half bottle of house wine. Guests enjoying a three night stay will receive a complimentary tour of the stadium and a museum pass for two. Hotel gift certificates are sure to be a winning gift idea for football widows and girlfriends to give so these rooms are likely to be booked up well ahead of the game. Depending on the team playing, these spacious suite packages start from ₤135 per person per night.
The master bedroom has a king-size bed for lounging on whilst watching the replays on the large flatscreen plasma TV. A kitchenette for preparing hungry-man size snacks and opening lager cans sets the scene for movies on demand - football oriented of course. The in-room refrigerator is filled on request with favorite drinks and envious friends can crash on the sofa bed. With WiFi Internet access to monitor hot football news, these spacious suites seem to have everything covered.
With a choice of chic restaurants and bars within the Millennium Hotel there are plenty of places to celebrate a win or drown your sorrows too
by Gillian at Luxique Luxury Hotels
Not content with an airline, music and entertainment, mobile phones and a hundred and one other interests, the Virgin Group’s billionaire owner, Sir Richard Branson, is moving into the luxury hotel market.
He’s currently seeking properties in the United States in order to launch a contemporary four-star chain under the Virgin brand. He’s initially looking at New York City, San Francisco, Miami, Los Angeles, Boston and Washington DC, although there are plans to expand globally in the long-term.
The group aims to acquire the management contract or ownership of $500 million (£316 million) worth of 150-400 bedroom properties in ‘appealing neighbourhoods’ over the next three years. The luxury hotels will be aimed at what the company terms ‘high income, well educated, metropolitan, creative class customers’.
Sir Richard said (modestly): “I’ve had great fun turning quite a lot of different industries on their heads and making sure those industries would never be the same because Virgin took them on.”
The entrepreneur has already dipped his toe into the waters of the luxury travel business with Virgin Limited Edition, a collection of exclusive vacation retreats around the world. They include Necker, a small island in the British Virgin [!] Islands owned by Sir Richard and available to hire for up to 26 guests.
by Andy Moreton
The luxury brand LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) has announced that it’s to expand its luxury hotel business.
LVMH, which is the world’s largest luxury goods manufacturer, is to open two further luxury hotels under the ‘Cheval Blanc’ brand and is considering other venues.
It said the luxury hotels would open in Egypt and Oman in 2012. The Egyptian development is on a private island in Aswan, while the one in Oman is on the island of Al Sodah and includes 32 private villas.
LVMH owns more than 60 brands, among them some of the world’s most recognisable labels, including Louis Vuitton, Moët et Chandon, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Thomas Pink, TAG Heuer and Donna Karan.
The existing Cheval Blanc, in the exclusive French ski resort of Courchevel, offers 34 rooms with a Givenchy spa and a ski store stocking high-end accessories.
LVMH have just announced a 13 per cent rise in sales in the three months to the end of March, suggesting that high-spending consumers are showing renewed confidence after the recession.
by Andy Moreton
