For frequent travellers aiming to elevate their hotel loyalty benefits, there’s an exciting opportunity to leverage your existing elite status from major hotel programs to gain top-tier recognition within the GHA DISCOVERY program through Rotana Hotels’ status match initiative.

What is Global Hotels Alliance?

Global Hotel Alliance is a marketing partnership between 45 luxury hotel brands, with 950 or so combined properties in over 100 countries. It is the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands. The following brands are a part of the alliance, so far:

• Anantara
• Andronis
• Araiya
• ASMALLWORLD
• Avani
• Bristoria
• Capella
• Cinnamon Hotels
• Corinthia
• Divani Collection
• The Doyle Collection
• Elewana
• JA
• Kempinski
• The Leela
• Lore Group
• Lungarno Collection
• Maqo
• Marco Polo
• Mysk
• NH Hotels
• NH Collection
• nhow
• Niccolo
• Nikki Beach
• NUO
• Oaks
• Outrigger
• Pan Pacific
• Paramount Hotels
• PARKROYAL
• Patina
• The Residence by Cenizaro
• The Set Collection
• Shaza
• The Sukhothai
• Sun International
• Tivoli
• Ultratravel
• Unike Hoteller
• Viceroy

GHA DISCOVERY is the loyalty programme for Global Hotel Alliance. It has over 30 million members so far, and has a pretty good set of benefits.

• Silver is the entry-level tier, which is applied immediately when you sign up. You get access to member-only rates, free internet, and 4% back in DISCOVERY Dollars, valid for 12 months.
• Gold requires two stays or USD 1,000 of spending. Your cashback becomes 5% DISCOVERY Dollars and is valid for 18 months.
• Platinum requires ten nights a year or USD 5,000 of spending. Alternatively, you must stay at two brands in a membership year. Platinum gives you benefits such as an upgrade to the next room category, a local amenity, a 3 p.m. late check-out, and 6% back in DISCOVERY Dollars, valid for 24 months.
• Titanium status requires thirty nights, USD 15,000 of spending, or staying at three brands in a membership year. You get an 11 a.m. early check-in and 4 p.m. late check-out, a double upgrade, complimentary breakfast at select brands, a welcome amenity, and 7% back in DISCOVERY Dollars, valid for 24 months.

I am already a Platinum Tier member with GHA Discovery if it matters.

Rotana Rewards Status Match

Rotana Hotels, a prominent hospitality brand with a strong presence in the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, and Turkey, announced earlier this year that it had made a strategic alliance with the GHA and would participate in the Global Hotel Alliance. This means they will move from their Rotana Rewards programme to participating in GHA Discovery. As per Rotana, the transition will be completed by the end of 2025.

What is interesting, now, is that Rotana Rewards currently offers a status match programme. This initiative allows members of Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, and Accor Live Limitless (ALL) to match their elite status to Rotana Rewards Select Gold or Platinum tiers. You should provide proof of your current equivalent tier status to match your status with a Rotana Rewards Select Gold or Platinum status. Blue, Silver, Club and equivalent statuses are not eligible.

Here is how status might be matched at the moment.

• Marriott: Platinum and above will be matched to Rotana Platinum. Gold will be matched to Gold.
• IHG: Platinum and Diamond Elites will get Rotana Platinum. Gold will be matched to Rotana Gold.
• Accor ALL: Platinum and above will get Rotana Platinum. Gold will be matched to Rotana Gold.
• Hilton: Diamond will get you Rotana Platinum, Gold will get you Rotana Gold.

To participate, applicants must provide proof of their current elite status, such as a screenshot of their membership card or account status page. The application process is straightforward and free of charge.

Transitioning to GHA DISCOVERY Elite Status

Rotana’s integration into the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is underway, with full incorporation into the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty program expected by the end of 2025 or early 2026. Once this transition is complete, existing Rotana Rewards members will be migrated to the GHA DISCOVERY program, with their current status levels likely aligning as follows:

• Rotana Rewards Select Platinum members are anticipated to receive GHA DISCOVERY Titanium status.
• Rotana Rewards Select Gold members are expected to be granted GHA DISCOVERY Platinum status.

This alignment offers members enhanced benefits across GHA’s extensive portfolio of about 950 hotels worldwide, including brands like Kempinski, Anantara, Pan Pacific, and The Doyle Collection.

Maximising the Opportunity

For travellers holding elite status with the aforementioned hotel programs, this status match presents a valuable chance to access GHA DISCOVERY’s top-tier benefits without the usual stay or spend requirements. Given the anticipated benefits and the simplicity of the application process, it’s best to take advantage of this opportunity as soon as possible.

Bottomline

By leveraging Rotana’s status match program, travellers can seamlessly transition their existing hotel loyalty status into the GHA DISCOVERY program, unlocking elite benefits across a diverse range of luxury hotels globally. This strategic move offers an efficient pathway to enhanced travel experiences without additional expenditure.

So, what is your strategy for achieving GHA Discovery status?

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