How To Get Thousands Of Dollars In Freebies At Luxury Hotels
Breakfast for two at luxury hotels can easily run $100. Daily WiFi charges can range from $15 to $35. Late check-out is often charged at 25 or 50 percent of the nightly rate, and if you are arriving early, before check-in time, many times you need to pay for the night before if you want to be assured your room will be ready for you. Yet some guests, paying the exact same rates as you are, get these perks for free. Additionally they get dinning and spa credits, guaranteed and space available upgrades, VIP status, free airport transfers and so on.
While you may already get some of these via your corporate travel department based on the revenue your company generates for luxury hotel groups, many of the leading luxury groups have programs for their top producing travel agents.
To get the benefits, you need to book via an agency in the program. The below list was provided to me by Jack Ezon, president of Ovation Vacations, which generates over $250 million in sales to luxury hotels and suppliers, however, ask your agent what programs they are part of or Google the name of the program and “travel agent” and you will find participating agencies pop up. The hotel groups don’t publish lists of agents who are part of their programs.
Jumeirah Passport to Luxury Program
Peninsula’s Pen Club Loyalty Program
Preferred Hotels Platinum Premier
Relais & Chateaux Preferred Program
Sofitel Travel Experience Program
