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Start using these Secret Hotel VIP programs!
I thought it would be useful to have a fully compiled list of Hotel VIP programs that run tandem to their loyalty program. Booking with these programs involves contacting a rep that has access and then booking an eligible rate to get these VIP benefits. If you want to know what you may be paying before contacting a rep, usually a VIP eligible rate is akin to the BAR ( Best Available Rate ). The great thing is that these rates can stack with other elite benefits, and of course the earn rate of the credit card you book with kicks in as well. BAR is a typical rack rate, so weigh the benefits offered vs any discounted rates you could access to see if it’s worth it or not.
If I’ve missed something or a program needs to be updated, shoot me a comment and I’ll amend. Thanks so much, and hopefully this allows you to extract as much as possible out of your future bookings. I also added in a few credit card programs along with Virtuoso.
Make sure you’re using the right credit card to get max points on your stay too – check out our favorite credit cards – updated monthly!
VIP Hotel Progams:
Marriott:
Marriott absorbed Starwood and integrated a new bifurcated VIP program for their higher end hotels. The benefits are fantastic if you’re booking an eligible rate. I’ve used STARS a couple of times, specifically at Ritz Carltons, and received upgrades both times. )
- STARS
- ( Available at : Bvlgari, Edition, Luxury Collection, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis )
- Complimentary breakfast for 2 ( continental or full depending on hotel )
- Space available room upgrades on arrival
- $100 hotel credit or something similar
- Welcome amenity
- Early check-in if available/ Priority for late check-out
- Strict no-walk policy
- VIP status with hotel management
- Luminous
- ( offered at select Autograph Collection, JW Marriott, Le Meridien, Marriott, Renaissance, Tribute Portfolio, W Hotels, Westin )
- Comped daily breakfast for two people per room
- Comped basic wi-fi daily
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to avail
- Space available room upgrade at check-in
- Local welcome amenity
- $100 hotel credit at select hotels
We recently used STARS to stay at the exclusive St Regis Aspen
Hyatt
I’ve used Hyatt Prive a couple of times and it’s a paid major dividends. On a recent stay at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong I booked via Prive, used points to upgrade, and received a further upgrade. It was also nice enjoying an insanely extensive breakfast in the dining room even though the club level offered a smaller selection. Best part…the rate was the same as I would have paid in order to use points for a suite upgrade.
No minimum stay:
- Park Hyatt, Andaz, Thompson, Miraval
Min 2 night stay
- Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Centric, Alila, Destination, Joie de Vivre, Unbound
Min 3 night stay
- Destination, Hyatt Ziva and Zilara
Min 4 night stay
- AMR resorts
Park Hyatt
- One category upgrade confirmed within 24 hours of booking
- Odds are you won’t pop from a room to a suite, but you can go from smaller suite to larger suite
- based on availability
- Daily full breakfast for two
- Check-in as early as 9am and out as late as 4pm
- based on avail and late check-out
- A welcome gift and letter
- $100 property credit
Andaz, Miraval
- One category upgrade confirmed within 24 hours of booking
- Odds are you won’t pop from a room to a suite, but you can go from smaller suite to larger suite
- based on availability
- Daily full breakfast for two
- Check-in as early as 9am and out as late as 4pm
- based on avail and late check-out
- A welcome gift and letter
- $50 to 100 property credit
Select Grand Hyatt, Centric, Regency, Unbound Collection, Thompson, Alila, and Joie De Vivre
- One category upgrade confirmed within 24 hours of booking
- Odds are you won’t pop from a room to a suite, but you can go from smaller suite to larger suite
- based on availability
- Daily full breakfast for two
- Check-in as early as 9am and out as late as 4pm
- based on avail and late check-out
- A welcome gift and letter
- $100 property credit
Hilton
- Impresario
- Waldorf, LXR, and Conrad hotels
- Daily breakfast for two guests per room, served through in-room dining or in the hotel restaurant (including buffets)
- Upgrade of one category, based on availability at check-in
- Double Hilton HHonors points for the stay
- $100 equivalent hotel credit once during the stay
IHG Luxury and Lifestyle
- Luxury available at select Intercontinental Hotels ( globally ), Kimpton ( outside US ), and Regent (globally)
- 2 night minimum stay required
- Daily breakfast for up to two in-room guests
- Upgrade to next room category, subject to availability
- Welcome amenity on arrival
- No walk policy
- Free WiFi
- Value-added amenity specific to hotel ($100 value once per stay at Regent and Intercontinental Properties )
- Guaranteed late 2pm check-out
- Lifestyle available at select Indigo and Kimpton ( within US )
- Guaranteed Late Check-Out (until 2PM)
- Upgrade to next room category
- based on availability
- $50 property credit, per stay
- Bottled water, fresh fruit, and snacks in room upon arrival
- Comped WIFI
Belmond
- Bellini
- Comped buffet or full breakfast for 2 daily
- Comped room upgrades on arrival, based on availability
- For any $5,000 booking, receive a $500 gift voucher to be used for any new Belmond product (train, barge, or hotel or resort) of at least $2,500.
- Fully flexible hotel or resort credit up to $200 per stay
- Free internet access
- Personalized in-room welcome amenity
- VIP recognition by property management and staff
- Waitlist priority for high demand properties or experiences
Dorchester
- Diamond Club
- Comped breakfast for 2 daily in room or room service
- $100 or local currency equivalent in credit for room and junior suites on final bill
- Daily $100 or local currency credit for suites
- Guaranteed upgrade at time of booking for guest rooms, subject to avail
- VIP Status at hotel with recognition
- 24/7 Diamond Club Ambassador ready to assist you
- Access to hotel GM
- Unlimited internet on unlimited devices
Four Seasons
- Preferred Partner
- Daily full American breakfast for two people per room ( Dining room or Room Service )
- Space available upgrade of one category at check in ( no signature suites, etc )
- VIP Status recognized by hotel management
- Top priority for best guest room inventory.
- No walk policy
- Priority for sold out locations
Langham
- Couture
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability.
- Welcome drink
- 6 hour pre or post arrival to be used at discretion for early/late check out
- Comped Wifi
Mandarin Oriental
- Fan Club
- Comped full breakfast for 2, daily
- Either $100 Food & Beverage or Spa Credit for each room booked during stay
- Space Available upgrade on arrival, one category
- Unlimited in-room wireless Internet access
- Personalized welcome amenity
- Priority waitlist clearance
Oetker Collection
- Pearl Partner
- At booking, one category upgrade
- Get “best room” within category
- Senior management recognition with personalized amenity
- Daily unlimited internet access for unlimited number of devices
- Priority access to courtesy car, when applicable
- Comped breakfast for 2, daily, includes buffet
- Hotel specific spa or food/bev credit
- 85 euros for one night
- 170 for two nights or more.
Peninsula
I’ve used this benefit three times now, Beijing, Bangkok, and New York. Peninsula treatment is second to none, but having someone in management aware of your stay takes it to another level. We’ve received service and treatment that is second to none.
- Pen Club
- Daily full breakfast for 2
- “Peninsula Time” for early check-in/out
- Upon Arrival, space available, 1 category upgraded
- Comped phone via VOIP in select hotels
Preferred Hotels
- Platinum Partner
- Daily breakfast for 2
- $75 Credit per stay ( Resort, Hotel, FoodBev, etc )
- Comped Wi-Fi
- Upon arrival, space avail, room upgrade
- When available, early check in, late check out
Relais and Chateau
- Preferred Partner Program
- Comped breakfast for 2 daily
- Priority upgrades
- VIP amenties
Rocco Forte
- Knights
- Comped breakfast for 2 daily
- VIP welcome
- Hotel credit
- $100 for rooms and Jr Suites
- $200 for suites with 2 night minimum stay
- Space available room upgrade on arrival
- Early Check-in/Late Check out when available
- Comped high speed internet
- 20% off spa services where applicable
Rosewood
- Elite
- Complimentary Breakfast for two
Space available room upgrade on arrival - Early Check-in/Late Check out when available
- VIP welcome by staff and management
- On property Elite rep to assist with your stay
- Priority waitlist during peak travel
- On property amenity…which could include a $100 credit
- Complimentary Breakfast for two
Sofitel
- STEP Program
- Sofitel and MGallery
- Breakfast for two everyday of your stay
- Space available upgrade on arrival
- Comped Wifi
- Space available early check-in/ late check out
- no walk policy
Shangri La
Note a minimum stay value is required on many bookings
- Luxury Circle
- Comped breakfast for 2 daily
- Space Available Early Check IN/ Late Check out
- Space Available upgrade at time of booking
- $100 credit or 10% of the average daily rate ( which ever is higher )
- Priority waitlist at sold out properties
Credit Cards:
American Express
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used Amex FHR over the years. As much as I travel, I’d say this benefit alone makes up the annual fee of $550 on the personal card. If you stay a week at an Amex FHR property, the daily breakfast for two daily will come close to offsetting the fee in and of itself.
- American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
- Avail to Platinum and Centurion cardholders
- Room upgrade on arrival when space is available
- Daily continental breakfast for two people
- Guaranteed 4pm check out
- Noon check in when available
- Comped Wifi
- Hotel, Spa, Food/Bev credit usually $100
- When pre-paid earn 5x points using Amex Platinum
- The Hotel Collection
- Avail to Amex Gold, Platinum, and Centurion members
- $100 credit on dining, spa, resort ( chosen by property )
- Gold gets 2x on prepaid
- Platinum gets 5x on prepaid
Capital One Travel Premier Collection
- Book via Capital One Travel
- Capital One Venture X cardholders will earn 10x points on Premier Collection
- Earn Hotel Loyalty Points and Status when applicable
- Other benefits
- A $100 USD experience credit (or the local equivalent) to use on dining, spa, and other activities during their stay
- Daily breakfast for two
- Complimentary Wifi
- Additional premium benefits when available, including early check-in, late checkout, a room upgrade, and more
Chase
- The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
- Go here and enter your Chase card info
- Daily breakfast for two
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Special benefit unique to each property, such as a dining or spa credit, greens fees, or other privilege.
Citi
- Prestige 4th night free benefit + Citi Concierge
- Get a 4th night free when booking online at thankyou.com or via the Citi Concierge when hotel is available online
We used this benefit to stay at both the Hilton Waldorf Caledonian and Nun Relais Assisi and will do it again this coming year.
Visa Signature Hotel Collection
- Best available rate guarantee.
- Automatic room upgrade upon arrival, when available.
- Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, when available.
- Complimentary breakfast for two.
- $25 USD food or beverage credit.
- VIP Guest status.
- Late check-out upon request, when available.
Stand Alone
Virtuoso
This is a program I use all the time in lieu of Amex FHR. The biggest difference between the two programs is Virtuoso will provide a full breakfast while Amex FHR only provides continental breakfast. Additionally, Amex FHR will guarantee the 4pm late check-out vs when available with Virtuoso.
Program benefits
- Preferred rates
- Room upgrade upon arrival
- Virtuoso-only amenities
- Daily breakfast for two
- Early check-in and late checkout
If you’re considering a cruise vacation, complimentary extras tend to include:
- Shipboard credits
- Virtuoso-exclusive shore excursions
- Welcome aboard receptions
- Dedicated onboard hosts
- Private car and driver
- Specialty dining
- Pre-paid gratuities
Have you used any of these programs?
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee
$95
Points Earned
Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, including eligible delivery services for takeout & dining out
- 3x on select streaming services
- 3x on online grocery purchases
- (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit via Chase Travel℠
- The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
- 2x on all other travel
- 10% Anniversary Bonus
- Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel℠ and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ( primary ), purchase protections, etc.
- Points are transferrable to 14 Ultimate Rewards partners
- Redeem in Chase Travel℠ for 1.25 cents per point
- No foreign transaction fees
- Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is my favorite
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- $95 Annual Fee
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Historically 80k is a very, very good offer and hit in both 2022 and 2023. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is exceptional starter card and offers transferrable Ultimate Rewards, and pairs well with other Chase cards.
If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash® , Ink Business Unlimited® you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners
Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.
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