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Free Upgrade to Ascott Platinum Membership
We’ve written about the Ascott Hotel Group a few times before (for example here and here). Ascott is a serviced-apartment chain based in Singapore, with a few properties in the UK as well.
They’ve run many status match and instant upgrade promotions before, and there’s another one now. The new offer is in partnership with OCBC, a Singapore-based bank.
You could access the offer here. Create a new account or log in using your existing credentials. The upgrade should apply immediately and if not try signing out of your account and then back in.
The offer runs until the end of the 2021 but I’m not sure how long the matched status is valid for (should be at least 12 months). Platinum members’ benefit checklist is here, mainly including room upgrade, free breakfast in Europe and airport transfer in the Middle East.
IHG UK & Europe 34% off Sale
Lacking in creativity, IHG has resurrected its 3-for-2 sale for UK and Europe hotel stays.
You could access the offer page here.
- Book by 30 April
- Stay by 31 May
- The Special Night on Us rate is 34% off the best flexible rate
- A non-refundable first night deposit is required
- Date is amendable up to 48 hours before the stay
Here are some London examples (rate per night):
- InterContinental London Park Lane £208
- Kimpton Fitzroy £157
- Crowne Plaza London the City £76
- Crowne Plaza Kings Cross £60
- Crowne Plaza London Kensington £76
- Hotel Indigo Paddington £67
- Holiday Inn Regents Park £65
- Holiday Inn Express Vauxhall Nine Elms £46
- Holiday Inn Express Hammersmith £40
It’s a bit weird that IHG still wants a deposit for your reservations given the current climate.
Remember to register to the 2,000 bonus points for every two nights promotion, and if you are eligible for the Milestone Bonus you can earn even more.
Official: IHG Launching Milestone Bonus
Many of us have noticed the mysterious “milestone bonus offer” in our IHG account from as early as December 2020, and now IHG has finally made an official statement.
You can view the offer details here. Invited member can:
- Earn 10,000 bonus points for every 10 nights stayed in 2021
- Earn a one-time 20,000 bonus points on top when you’ve stayed 40 nights
- Only paid nights (minimum rate of $30 per night) count
- Excluding Army, Mr & Mrs Smith and Six Senses hotels
Unlike what Hilton or Hyatt has been doing, this offer is by invitation only, which is a shame. There’s no need to register, you’ll see the offers in your account section if you are eligible.
If the responses are good, IHG might make it public to everyone next year.
Register Now: IHG 2,000 bonus points for every 2 nights
Last but not least, IHG has joined the party by reducing elite qualification requirement by 25% for 2021 (same as last year). All your elite qualifying nights from 2020 will roll over to 2021 as well, helping you retain the status easier.
I don’t see the update reflected on my account page yet, but it shouldn’t take very long.
Moreover, a new global promotion is starting soon and you can already sign up here. You earn 2,000 bonus points for every two nights stayed between 20 January and 31 March, and even better, these are elite qualifying points too.
This is roughly equivalent to 1,000 bonus points per night, which is a good offer, and the fact that they help you qualify for higher status is great!
Marriott reducing off-peak redemption prices
Unlike Hilton or Hyatt, Marriott hasn’t announced any elite qualification requirement changes for 2021 yet. However, it looks like they’re making some other positive change at least.
If you check the redemption chart on Marriott’s PointSavers page, you’ll probably notice a difference.
Here is the current chart:
Here is the previous edition:
As you can see, off-peak redemption pricing has been reduced by 10% across all hotel categories.
Although not a big change, it is still good news that Marriott is doing something to improve its programme. Note that the new pricing isn’t live in the system yet, and if you have an existing off-peak booking, check back in a few days to benefit from the reduced price.
Amex Cutting Tie with Shangri-La Golden Circle
Amex Platinum comes with substantial status benefits with certain hotel groups, which unfortunately has been shrinking over the last years. One more partner is biting the dust sadly.
As you can view on Amex’s page, the partnership is ending on April 1st. If you are an Amex Platinum cardholder and hasn’t linked your account yet, remember to do so by the end of March. Whether you have already linked your account or not, your Jade status should be valid until December 2021 at least, if not longer.
Shangri-la doesn’t have many properties in the UK or Europe, but if you ever visit Asia it offers decent choices, and Jade status comes with free breakfast and welcome amenity. Failing that, Jade offers 25% more value when you redeem points for dining, at the Shard London for example.
It’s a bigger disappointment than you think – Shangri-La Jade also enjoy reciprocal benefits with Taj Hotels and Singapore Airlines, which has been an indirect privilege for Amex Platinum cardholders.
Remember to Select your Marriott Annual Choice Benefit!
If you have accrued at least 50 night credits in 2020, remember to select your annual choice benefit if you haven’t done so already.
The link to make your choice is here. You need to do it by 5am 9th January (UK Time), otherwise 5 Suite Night Awards will be deposited into your account by default.
For 50-night benefit, most people would go for the Suite Night Awards which can apply to both paid and award stays. If you are in need of some night credits for Titanium or lifetime status though, opt for 5 Elite Night Credits instead.
For 75-night benefit, most people choose between Suite Night Awards and the 40,000 Free Night Award. As I don’t really care that much about suites, I went for the latter.
Etihad Gold, Dragonpass Prestige & Lifetime GHA Platinum for joining A Small World
Today let’s talk about a niche membership programme – A Small World (ASW).
A Small World is a paid membership scheme. There are multiple membership levels you can choose when signing up, and they come with benefits including hotel / airline status, award miles and more importantly, “member-only exclusive events”.
I have no idea how those events are like and I didn’t find much information online either, so let’s focus on the airline / hotel benefits today.
There are four different levels:
| Access | Lifetime | Prestige | Signature | |
| Validity | 1 year | Lifetime | 1 year | 1 year |
| Fee | €80 | €390 | €5,200 | €19,950 |
| Award Miles | – | – | 250,000 (Miles & More or Etihad Guest) | 1,000,000 (Etihad Guest) |
| Airline Status | – | – | Etihad Gold | Etihad Gold (*2) |
| GHA | Platinum | Platinum | Black | Black |
| Jumeirah | – | – | Silver | Gold |
| Dragonpass | – | – | Prestige | Prestige |
| Sixt | Gold | Gold | Platinum | Diamond |
And from my point of view, there are two opportunities here.
Lifetime – Pay €390 and you get lifetime GHA Platinum and Sixt Gold. It doesn’t sound too bad, especially the former which comes with solid benefits when you stay at hotels.
Prestige – the annual fee is definitely not cheap. However, the 250,000 award miles is worth around €3,000 already, and whether the remaining benefits are worth €2,200 is anyone’s opinion.