tl;dr – GHA Discovery just got a little stronger in Japan.
Last year, I wrote about a sneaky status match opportunity where one might possibly be able to turn Marriott elite status into GHA Discovery Titanium status (via Rotana Rewards, which was destined to join GHA). As it turns out, that status match went exactly as I had hoped, and I was able to take my new GHA Discovery status for a spin at the Patina (sister brand of Capella) Osaka just last month. I enjoyed an outstanding free breakfast every day and received a double upgrade to a super large room.
Though it isn’t a traditional ‘redeem those points’ loyalty program, I am a fan of GHA both for its treatment of elites and for the high-end properties that are part of the program.
Which is why I wanted to highlight a small piece of news – the Global Hotel Alliance just signed a deal to add Tokyu Hotels to its portfolio.
While you are here check out this awesome upcoming retreat from our friends at Aetheria Movement.
Tokyu Hotels has roughly 40 hotels in Japan and two US properties – both in Hawaii (The Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort and Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort). For several years, Tokyu Hotels was part-managed by Pan Pacific Hotels, so some properties in the portfolio still appear to use “Pan Pacific” in their branding, and still have that residual luxury touch. This is a clutch move for GHA as it instantly adds 40+ properties in Japan, without having to soft-brand them piecemeal as a traditional chain like Marriott or Hilton might do.
Tokyu Japanese properties are all over the country – from Hokkaido to Okinawa, and the chain has a little bit of everything – functional/business class hotels to some upscale/luxury properties. I wouldn’t say there are a ton of showstoppers – the still-affiliated-with-Pan-Pacific Bellustar Tokyo might be the most luxurious of the bunch – but there’s most definitely value. Or maybe the The Hotel Higashiyama Kyoto Tokyu which is about 20 minutes away from the Park Hyatt Kyoto (walking) and right next door to the The Westin Miyako Kyoto.
What I would say is that Tokyu’s properties have a really local feel. They might be a good choice for that traveler who wants a more immersive Japanese experience, maybe doesn’t want to be around as many North Americans or Europeans, but still values Western amenities and luxury.
One other way to describe the Tokyu portfolio is as follows. I could totally see a ‘points-first’ type of traveler, who is down on their luck (and points), searching for options to fill a trip in Japan. After moving their search to OTAs (Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking), they come across a few Tokyu properties and think to themselves – ‘hmm…not too shabby.
That traveler (and this is the hallmark of GHA’s strategy here), will no longer have to deal with ‘whatever room category the reservation department assigns them’ when booking through a third party. If you book through GHA (and have status), you can enjoy first class benefits at these properties.
