We may receive a commission when you use our links. Monkey Miles has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Monkey Miles and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. We appreciate you using our links!!! 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.
Additionally, if you'd like to utilize a program, shoot us an email at miles@monkeymiles.com and we can point you in the right direction with a representative.
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. )
STARSt- ( Available at : Bylgari, Edition, Luxury Collection, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis )
t- Complimentary breakfast for 2 ( continental or full depending on hotel )
t- Space available room upgrades on arrival
t- $100 hotel credit or something similar
t- Welcome amenity
t- Early check-in if available/ Priority for late check-out
t- Strict no-walk policy
t- VIP status with hotel management
Luminoust- ( offered at select Autograph Collection, JW Marriott, Le Meridien, Marriott, Renaissance, Tribute Portfolio, W Hotels, Westin )
t- Comped daily breakfast for two people per room
t- Comped basic wi-fi daily
t- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to avail
t- Space available room upgrade at check-in
t- Local welcome amenity
t- $100 hotel credit at select hotels
We used STARS to stay at the exclusive Ritz Carlton Reserve property Mandapa. Here's how you can use points to book it.
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.
Hilton
IHG
Luxury and Lifestylet- Available at select Intercontinental Hotels, Kimpton, and Indigo properties
t- 2 night minimum stay required
t- Daily breakfast for up to two in-room guests
t- Upgrade to next room category, subject to availability
t- Welcome amenity on arrival
t- No walk policy
t- Free WiFi
t- Value-added amenity specific to hotel ($100 value once per stay)
t- Guaranteed late 4pm check-out
Belmond
Bellinit- Comped breakfast for 2 daily
t- Comped room upgrades on arrival, based on availability
t- 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.
t- Fully flexible hotel or resort credit up to $200 per stay
t- Free internet access
t- Personalized in-room welcome amenity
t- VIP recognition by property management and staff
t- Waitlist priority for high demand properties or experiences
Dorchester
Four Seasons
Langham
Mandarin Oriental
Fan Clubt- Comped full breakfast for 2, daily
t- $100 Food & Beverage/Spa Credit for each room booked during stay
t- Space Available upgrade on arrival, one category
t- Unlimited in-room wireless Internet access
t- Personalized welcome amenity
t- 4 PM late check-out, when available
t- Priority waitlist clearance
Oetker Collection
Pearl Partnert- At booking, one category upgrade
t- Get "best room" within category
t- Senior management recognition with personalized amenity
t- Daily unlimited internet access for unlimited number of devices
t- Priority access to courtesy car, when applicable
t- Comped breakfast for 2, daily, includes buffet
t- Hotel specific spa or food/bev credit
t- 85 euros for one night
t- 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 Clubt- Daily full breakfast for 2
t- "Peninsula Time" for early check-in/out
t- Upon Arrival, space available, 1 category upgraded
t- Comped phone via VOIP in select hotels
Preferred Hotels
Relais and Chateau
Preferred Partner Programt- Comped breakfast for 2 daily
t- Priority upgrades
t- VIP amenties
Rocco Forte
Rosewood
Sofitel
Shangri La
Note a minimum stay value is required on many bookings
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 Resortst- Avail to Platinum and Centurion cardholders
t- Room upgrade on arrival when space is available
t- Daily continental breakfast for two people
t- Guaranteed 4pm check out
t- Noon check in when available
t- Comped Wifi
t- Hotel, Spa, Food/Bev credit usually $100
t- When pre-paid earn 5x points using Amex Platinum
The Hotel Collectiont- Avail to Amex Gold, Platinum, and Centurion members
t- $100 credit on dining, spa, resort ( chosen by property )
t- Gold gets 2x on prepaid
t- Platinum gets 5x on prepaid
Chase
t- The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
t- Go here and enter your Chase card info
t- Daily breakfast for two
t- Complimentary Wi-Fi
t- 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 ConciergeGet 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
t- Best available rate guarantee.
t- Automatic room upgrade upon arrival, when available.
t- Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, when available.
t- Complimentary breakfast for two.
t- $25 USD food or beverage credit.
t- VIP Guest status.
t- 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
t- Preferred rates
t- Room upgrade upon arrival
t- Virtuoso-only amenities
t- Daily breakfast for two
t- Early check-in and late checkout
If you're considering a cruise vacation, complimentary extras tend to include:
t- Shipboard credits
t- Virtuoso-exclusive shore excursions
t- Welcome aboard receptions
t- Dedicated onboard hosts
t- Private car and driver
t- Specialty dining
t- Pre-paid gratuities
Have you used any of these programs?
♥1.5x on all purchases, unlimited
