Tl;dr—Rotana Hotels, a UAE-based hotel chain, recently launched a free status match offer targeting Marriott Bonvoy, IHG® One Rewards, ALL, Accor Live Limitless, and Hilton Honors members. As Rotana will be joining GHA Discovery later this year (and adopting its loyalty program), your matched status should transfer over, allowing you to enjoy elite benefits at GHA properties.
Here’s an easy one to start your week. If you hold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, IHG® One Rewards, ALL, Accor Live Limitless, or Hilton Honors, there’s a free status match you can participate in that might net you elite benefits with GHA Discovery down the line. Rotana Hotels, a United Arab Emirates-based hotel chain with properties across the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe, is matching status from those four loyalty programs. Though holding elite status with Rotana may not be too compelling in and of itself, there could be significant value in completing the status match as Rotana will be joining GHA Discovery later this year, and your elite status should transfer over.
If you’re unfamiliar with it, GHA DISCOVERY is a loyalty program established by the Global Hotel Alliance. It includes over 800 upscale and luxury hotels and resorts worldwide, spanning 40 brands and 100 countries. Some heavy-hitting brands are part of the GHA portfolio – Corinthia, Capella, Anantara, Kempinski, Patina, and Pan Pacific, to name a few. I have an around-the-world trip planned for later this year, including a return to Japan, and I’m hopeful to check out the new Patina Hotel in Osaka. If all goes as planned with the status transfer, perhaps being a GHA elite will enhance that stay.
How to Status Match to Rotana Rewards
The first step is creating a Rotana Rewards account. I’d imagine most folks aren’t Rotana Rewards members yet, so you can join here if you’re in that bunch. Be sure to choose ‘Rotana Rewards Select.’ That’s the base-level free loyalty program. ‘Rotana Rewards Exclusive’ is a paid loyalty program offering heightened benefits.
Next, you’ll need to complete the status match form, which includes submitting proof of your elite status for one of the four aforementioned target programs.
Once you successfully submit the form, you’ll receive this confirmation message.
For context, my Titanium Elite Marriott Bonvoy status was my highest elite status among the programs Rotana is matching (I’m a Hyatt Globalist, but that’s no use here). I completed this two days ago and haven’t heard anything yet, but I’ll update once I do.
What Benefits Can You Expect with GHA Status?
GHA Discovery has four membership tiers: Discovery, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium. I’m hopeful that whatever Rotana status I match will at least map to GHA Discovery Platinum, as that’s the first tier that offers room upgrades and late checkout.
Titanium status would be a treat, as it includes complimentary breakfast, offers the mic-drop ‘double room upgrade’, allows for early check-in (and slighty later late check-out). You can also share elite GHA status with others, though I’m not certain if it’s Titanium status, recipients will receive.
Conclusion
This status match opportunity is low-hanging fruit, and as of now, it’s a wish and a prayer, but as it’s 1) free and 2) easy to complete, you should take a swing. Feel free to post your status match updates as you receive them.
Tell ’em, Lionel.
