The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts and Fellow Global Hotel Alliance Member Brands Deliver Global Recognition and Amazing Local Experiences in the World’s Most Exciting Locales
Experience life as a maharaja in India, get tickets to see Chelsea FC play at Stamford Bridge in London or enjoy an excellent opportunity to view the world of Ocean Park’s pandas from the inside, in Hong Kong. And just when it seems they cannot be impressed any further, tell your friends these experiences were accomplished in between business meetings. Today, Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands, officially launches GHA Discovery.
The new GHA Discovery program - the first-ever, uniting independent luxury hotel brands - was created to deliver recognition and experience-based rewards across 12 brands and nearly 300 hotels globally, turning a business trip or weekend getaway into a one-of-a-kind adventure. With a heightened level of personalized service, as opposed to the more conventional points, the program also provides access to more than 1000 exceptional Local Experiences – designed by the local hotel employees to provide exclusive access to off-the-beaten path activities around the world.
It goes without saying that members also enjoy benefits during their hotel stays:
GOLD (From enrollment to nine nights)
- Complimentary Internet access
- Membership profile of preferences
- Choice of Gold Level Local Experience after first stay at a GHA brand
- Choice of complimentary newspaper
- Complimentary bottled water
PLATINUM (10 to 29 nights)
Gold Level privileges, plus:
- Choice of Platinum Level Local Experience
- Upgrade to next room category at check-in
- Late check-out until 3pm
- Guaranteed room availability 48-hours prior to arrival
- Local amenity
BLACK (30 or more nights)
Platinum Level privileges, plus:
- Choice of Black Level Local Experience
- Double upgrade at check-in
- Early check-in beginning at 9am and late check-out until 6pm
- Guaranteed room availability 24 hours prior to arrival
- Personal choice of local amenity
- Local brand benefits (such as access to Executive Lounges, laundry service and more)
Local Experiences vary by membership level – the higher the membership level, the more exclusive the reward. After just one qualifying stay at a GHA member hotel, Gold Level members can take a leisurely backwater cruise on the Ashtamudi lake while watching the colourful kingfishers fly along and enjoy a traditional Kerala lunch “sadhya” served on a banana leaf or take a tour of the Federal Bank and see the world's largest gold vault in New York or experience a nostalgic trishaw ride and see Singapore from a different perspective. Guests who reach the Black Level membership can enjoy access to a private cruise in the US along the Potomac in a former Presidential yacht, a helicopter tour over the LA skyline or develop their own customized ringtone at Microsoft Studios in Seattle.
The Black Level experience at The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts takes you to the royal and exotic city of Udaipur. Voted by the readers of Travel + Leisure, US as ‘The World’s Best City’ in 2009, Udaipur is the quintessential land of the maharajas. With the architectural heritage of this city intact and a king (though now in name only) who lives in the City Palace and still commands the love and respect of the locals, a “Local Experience” at The Leela Palace Udaipur would entail having a custom-fitted traditional outfit befitting a king/queen; a full day tour of the city in your own vintage car and a private meal in the City Palace, overlooking the magical city of Udaipur.
Mr. Sanjoy Pasricha, Vice President – Sales and Marketing, The Leela Palaces, Hotel and Resorts said, “We are extremely delighted to partner with GHA Discovery! GHA Discovery gives us the opportunity that allows travellers to explore behind the scenes and beneath the surface while experiencing unique activities in authentic local settings, by repetitive stays at seven Leela hotels or across 48 countries at 300 hotels in India”.
Based on the airline alliance model, GHA is the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands. Five years of technological development, collaboration, research and strategy went into creating GHA Discovery. Each member brand utilizes a consistent reservations and customer database platform enabling guests’ membership status and personal preferences to be recognized at all hotels – regardless of the brand.
“GHA Discovery was built with the philosophy that recognition and authentic, local experiences - and not just collecting points - are the true pillars of a rewarding hotel loyalty program”, said Chris Hartley, CEO of the Global Hotel Alliance. “Whether taking advantage of spare time on a business trip or exploring a destination through a local’s eyes on a weekend, the guest experience begins with personal recognition at the front desk of our hotel brands and is made richer with adventures that are not easily accessible to the general public.”
About The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts:
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is owned and operated by Hotel Leelaventure Ltd. headquartered in Mumbai. The luxury hotel group manages seven award-winning hotels in India which includes prime urban locations in Bangalore, Gurgaon, Mumbai, New Delhi and magical holiday escapes in Goa, Kovalam and Udaipur. Properties under development will open soon in Chennai followed by Agra, Jaipur and Ashtamudi, Kerala. The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is dedicated to extending warm, gracious, anticipatory service in settings that ideally capture the essence of India. The group has marketing alliances with Germany-based Kempinski, US-based Preferred Hotels & Resorts and is a member of Global Hotel Alliance based in Switzerland. For further information, contact your travel counsellor or visit our website at www.theleela.com.
About the GHA Discovery programme
GHA Discovery is about making your travel unforgettable. Using a common technology platform, members receive recognition across almost 300 hotels, resorts, palaces and spas in all of the twelve Global Hotel Alliance member brands. Local Experiences, the exciting rewards of the GHA Discovery programme, are unique, authentic activities which are designed by the hotels to give you a taste of local traditions and culture. Naturally, members also receive stay benefits, such as complimentary internet access, room upgrades and of course enhanced personal recognition as they move through the membership levels, each and every time they stay at a Global Hotel Alliance hotel. For more information visit www.ghadiscovery.com
About Global Hotel Alliance
Based on the airline alliance model, Global Hotel Alliance is the world largest alliance of independent hotel brands. It uses a common technology platform to drive incremental revenues and create cost savings for its members, while offering enhanced recognition and service to customers across all brands. GHA currently comprises of Anantara, Doyle Collection, First, Kempinski, Leela, Marco Polo, Mirvac, Omni, Pan Pacific, PARKROYAL, Shaza and Tivoli Hotels & Resorts encompassing almost 300 upscale and luxury hotels with 60,000 rooms across 48 different countries.
www.gha.com
