points N places

SLH's Considerate Collection Celebrates its First Birthday
8 Nov

How time flies...

Just over a year ago, SLH launched the Considerate Collection with 25 founding members of pioneering properties, proving that luxury is compatible with longevity.

Environmentally-minded travel agents (like Rewarding Travel) can browse and book from a biodiversity-promoting portfolio of boutique stays around the world, which have been hand-picked to help you find your perfect eco-escape.  

These properties still need to pass the SLH Quality Assurance standards required by all SLH properties, so you can be assured that the sustainability does not sacrifice luxe.  You can read more about how these standards are measured and maintained in our Complete Guide To SLH Invited.

As of this month, the collection celebrates 43 hotels (almost doubling in size) along with almost 40,000 trees planted in collaboration with TreeSisters.

The SLH Considerate Collection has also introduced a first-of-its-kind partnership with new sustainability platform Weeva, and a collaboration with luxury amenities brand VANITY GROUP.

SLH is one of our preferred groups and with the Considerate Collection, your stay will leave the softest of footprints on our planet.
The properties within the Considerate Collection are stunning, so contact Rewarding Travel to learn more for your next sustainable, luxe stay - with free perks !

Qantas FF can now use points on Bangkok Airways
1 Nov

Qantas Frequent Flyers can now book Classic Flight Reward seats to more than 20 destinations across Thailand and South East Asia as a new partnership with Bangkok Airways was launched today. The partnership expands on a codeshare agreement that was introduced in 2014 allowing Qantas customers to book commercial seats on Bangkok Airways flights.

Travellers can access Bangkok Airways flights from Australia via Bangkok, Phuket and Singapore. The Qantas Group operates more than 50 return flights each week between these cities and Australia.

Bangkok Airways is a full-service carrier, with regular flights each day out of its hub in Bangkok to some of Asia’s most popular destinations, including Koh Samui and Chiang Mai in Thailand and Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said Qantas Frequent Flyer was excited to welcome Bangkok Airways to the program. “Thailand is one of the most popular destinations for our frequent flyers and this partnership will make it easier for them to explore more of the region using their points...The option to book reward seats on Bangkok Airways’ expansive network across Thailand and South East Asia will also open up thousands of new redemption opportunities."

The Bangkok Airways partnership follows recent initiatives from Qantas Frequent Flyer to expand members’ opportunities to use their points on flights including 100,000 Classic Flight Reward seats between Australia and Japan, and the extension of its commitment for 50 per cent more reward seats until June 2023.

Luxury hotel brand Capella comes to Sydney - opening March 2023
31 Oct

Luxury hotel group Capella Hotels and Resorts will open Capella Sydney (pictured) in March 2023.

The luxury hotel will be located at the heart of Sydney’s newest retail and hospitality precinct, Quay Quarter - a short walk to Circular Quay ferries, Sydney Opera House, the historic Rocks precinct and a wide range of dining options.

The historic Department of Education building is being transformed into a space like no other. Inspired by the stories of the sandstone building’s past, the restored hotel is a balance between old and new.

Capella Sydney celebrates its magnificent surroundings and respects the traditions of the building, mingled with contemporary design flair. Paying homage to Sydney’s local culture, guests can find touches of the Harbour City throughout the hotel – from the signature restaurant, Brasserie 1930’s modern art décor, McRae Bar, a reinterpretation of Australia in the 1920s, to a 20-metre swimming pool positioned under a large heritage lantern skylight. and an award-winning Auriga Spa. 

Being a low-rise building, views of the Opera House and Harbour aren't available, but the 192 spacious rooms and suites are gorgeous and will suit anyone with an eye for design.

Capella participates in the GHA Discovery loyalty program. Learn more about how to best use GHA Discovery.

Six Senses wins award for Best Luxury Hotel Brand from LTI - 3rd year in a row
29 Oct

Luxury Travel Intelligence (LTI) has taken the past 12 months to apply a rigorously defined algorithm that measures the performance and values of luxury hotel brands.

Six Senses has taken the top spot for the 3rd consecutive year for its ability to deliver, “passion, commitment, ethos and values, as well as the quality of its management and staff.”

The algorithm has 128 touch points relevant to the luxury hotel sector. Each has its own weighted score value with a total maximum accumulative score of 4628. They relate to overall brand performance, not the performance of individual properties. Continuing investment and how it’s used is also a major factor – particularly for new properties and the refurbishment of existing ones.

To make its decision, LTI researchers engage with everyone from the CEO to the management, hosts, and guests. Every year, the process starts again so the results from previous years have no bearing on the following year and therefore reflect what is happening within the dynamic hospitality sector. This is all part of the process for creating destination-led reports for the organization’s members, who wish to make informed travel decisions based on its honest and detailed intelligence.

On awarding Six Senses World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brand, LTI noted, “We continue to be very impressed with Six Senses. It delivers an authentic blend of wellness, sustainability, warm hospitality and crafted guest experiences. Also, with Six Senses London and Rome due in 2023 this is an exciting time for the brand and its loyal followers.”

Responding to the award, Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs credited the whole team, “Six Senses hosts take a bow! To win this award three times in a row reflects everyone’s unwavering commitment over three bumpy years and across our entire group. We take a proactive role in sustainable well-being, whether that means for our guests, hosts, or the land and communities around us. But for it to work, it has to be honest and championed with care. Perhaps this authenticity is what guests appreciate the most.”

Six Senses is one our preferred resorts and spa/wellness brands.  It has long had a focus on bare-foot luxury with sustainability, so this success comes as no surprise to us.  It is well-deserved.

Some properties participate in the IHG One Rewards loyalty program - that alone may be sufficient reason to sign-up as a member. 

USA Today Names Wyndham Rewards "Best Hotel Loyalty Program" for 5th Consecutive Year
22 Oct

Wyndham Rewards®, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' guest rewards program spanning more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally, has once again been named best hotel loyalty program in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.

The accolades mark the fifth consecutive year Wyndham Rewards has taken the top spot in the Best Hotel Loyalty Program category. Nominees in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards are compiled by a panel of industry experts, and winners are chosen based on daily voting from USA TODAY readers over a four-week period.

"Designed to be both simple and generous, Wyndham Rewards celebrates and champions the everyday traveler, offering more value, more flexibility and more redemption opportunities than virtually any other hotel program in the world," said Lisa Checchio, chief marketing officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. "To once again see both the program and our credit card recognized in this way is a testament to the power of the program, dedication of our franchisees and partners, and the loyalty of our more than 95 million enrolled members who, year-in and year-out, continue to make our program number one."

Wyndham Rewards is the only hotel loyalty program to offer members a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay. Free nights start at just 7,500 points per night, while discounted nights start at 1,500 points plus some cash. The program's Member Levels (tier status), which are among the most attainable, allow members to unlock great benefits like a preferred room, late checkout, accelerated earning and more.

For more information about the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, visit www.10best.com.

To learn more about Wyndham Rewards, or to join for free, visit www.wyndhamrewards.com.

Accor and Qatar now offer points double-dipping
15 Oct

Accor Hotels just launched another partnership, this time with Qatar Airways.

Similar to the Miles + Points partnership with KLM/Air France Flying Blue , Accor with Qantas and other crossover programs (eg Marriott and both Emirates and United; Shangri-La and Singapore Airlines; Hyatt and American Airlines), you can now double dip on Accor hotel stays and Qatar Airways flights. Here are the details of the partnership and now to earn both Reward points and Avios.

Accor and Qatar Crossover partnership

Accor Hotels and Qatar Airways have already had a partnership, but now this partnership is being improved. Now, members of either loyalty program can earn both ALL Reward points and Qatar Avios on either flight and hotel bookings.

First, you need to link your ALL account with your Qatar Airways Privilege Club account. You can link your accounts either via Accor Hotels or Qatar Airways.

If you already took advantage of the ALL and Flying Blue partnership, you'll need to choose which airline you want to double dip with. You can only linked your ALL account to one airline at a time. If you linked your ALL account to Flying Blue in the past 12 months, you will need to wait until the end of 12 months before you can link to Qatar Airways.

Double-dipping between Accor Hotels and Qatar Airways

After you link your Accor Live Limitless and Qatar Airways Privilege Club accounts, you will start earning both ALL Reward points and Avios on your stays and flights:

• For every US$2 spent on Qatar Airways flights, you will earn 1 ALL Reward point,  in addition to the Avios you earn on the flight.
• For every €1 spent at Accor properties, you will earn 1 Avios in your Qatar Airways Privilege Club account,  in addition to the regular ALL Reward points earned for your stay.

Make sure to provide your applicable account membership number at booking or check-in to receive points and Avios.

Once you have accrued your Avios and Reward points, you can transfer from one program to the other:

• Convert 4,500 Avios into 1,000 Reward points.
• Minimum conversion: 2,000 Reward points = 1,000 Avios.

T&C's apply, including:

• Members who do not have a Privilege Club membership account before linking accounts will need to take an extra step. You will only earn Avios on hotel activities after performing an international activity. That can be your first stay outside of the country of residence in your ALL loyalty program account or after your first flight on Qatar Airways (all of which are international).
• All domestic stays within 12 months before the first international activity and after the account linkage will be retroactively rewarded with Avios. Avios earned retroactively on stays in a given year will be credited no later than December 31 of that same year.
• To remain eligible for the accrual of Avios on eligible stays, the members will have to perform an international activity at least every 12 months.

Fast-track to Elite Status

The Accor and Qatar partnership includes a fast track to elite status in both rewards programs. Accor elite status members will earn Qatar Airways Privilege Club elite status after their first qualifying flight:

• ALL Gold status members will receive Privilege Club Silver status;
• ALL Platinum status members will receive Privilege Club Gold status.; and
• ALL Diamond status members will receive Privilege Club Platinum status.

Conversely, Privilege Club elite status members will earn ALL elite status after your first qualifying hotel stay:

• Privilege Club Gold status members will receive ALL Silver status.
• Privilege Club Platinum status members will receive ALL Gold status.

These Fast Track offers are only available once. Your complimentary ALL elite status will be good until the end of the following calendar year. So, you have the incentive to try to get your status as close to the beginning of the year as you can. Complimentary Privilege Club elite statuses will be good 12 months after being received.

What does this mean for you?

This is another great partnership from Accor. Double-dipping on points is always a nice benefit and reciprocal elite status levels are also great, especially when you can earn Oneworld Emerald status with your ALL Diamond status.

Avios earned can also be transferred/used for other Avios programs (BA, Iberia etc.), which may suit for say short-haul rewards flights. 

But the ability to accrue rewards with Qatar, consistently rated as one of the world's best airlines, is an outstanding attraction of this new double-dipping program. Depending upon your flying patterns and the alliance program your preferred airline belongs to (Qatar and Qantas are both OneWorld, Air France/KLM is SkyTeam), this may very well be the best double-dipping program.

To learn more about the Accor Live Limitless rewards program... Read More…

Accor marks its 400th hotel in Australia and the Pacific
19 Sep

This milestone for Accor is part of its dynamic Pacific expansion, with 11 new hotels  set to open in next two years in Australia and New Zealand.

Just three decades after entering the Australia/Pacific hotel market, Accor has recently added its 400th hotel, with the launch of The Porter House Hotel - MGallery in Sydney.

Accor's first hotel in the region - Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour (1991) - was a catalyst for the redevelopment of Darling Harbour into Sydney's premier tourism, entertainment and events precinct, and the transformation of the iconic Porter House building into a luxury hotel is set to boost Sydney's CBD revival.

The opening of The Porter House Hotel is part of a large-scale expansion of Accor in the Pacific region, with 11 new hotels and 1,569 rooms scheduled to open before the end of 2023. They include the debut of the 25hours brand in Australia, new airport hotels at Melbourne Airport and Auckland Airport, and another heritage restoration in Sydney, Hotel Morris, which is being created out of the 1929-built former West End Hotel in Pitt Street.

Announcing the 400th hotel milestone, Accor Pacific CEO, Sarah Derry, said it was fitting to celebrate such a major landmark as the hotel industry accelerated towards a full post-pandemic recovery.

Is this the best present for the Festive Season? Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Winter 2022 Journeys
15 Sep

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe, has unveiled its December journeys. This festive season, the distinct midnight-blue carriages will glide through Europe’s winter-scapes on one-night journeys to Florence, Paris, Venice and Vienna.

Expanding its annual season (typically March-November) for the first time, the 10 routes available this December will include classic journeys from Venice to Paris and Vienna to Paris, besides recently launched routes to/from Florence.

Our associated travel agency is a Belmond Bellini (specialist advisor) member. So, bookings made through Rewarding Travel receive select perks at no additional cost:
Complimentary upgrade (based on availability at time of check-in);
VIP welcome treats with a local flavour;
A US$100 on-board credit per person per journey;
A US$500 gift voucher if your booking has a value of US$5,000 or more.

What a spectacular gift idea!

Make a time to discuss how you too can savour the delights of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with departure times leading up to the festive season.

The full schedule is as follows:

Venice to Paris, departing December 2 and 12;
Verona to Paris, departing December 2 and 12;
Venice to Paris, (via Rome and Florence), departing December 7;
Florence to Paris, departing December 7;
Paris to Florence, departing December 8;
Paris to Venice (via Rome and Florence), departing December 8;
Paris to Vienna, departing December 17;
Vienna to Paris, December 18;
Paris to Venice, departing December 20; and
Paris to Verona, departing December 20.

Guests can relax in their private cabin, glass of champagne in hand, while gazing at the passing frosted forests of Europe’s countryside. In the dining cars, Chef Jean Imbert will serve winter-inspired seasonal menus with local ingredients from the scheduled routes. Travellers can then head to Bar Car 3674 for cocktails and entertainment courtesy of the train’s longtime resident pianist.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which made its inaugural journey in 1982, is made up of 17 original 1920s and 1930s carriages, each with its own charm and history. The train offers Historic Cabins and six Grand Suites, which are named after the cities that have inspired the designs—including Paris, Vienna and Venice.

As we noted on 21 July 2022, eight new Suites will join the two pre-existing cabin categories in June 2023. The new Suites will offer a private marble en-suite bathroom and a lounging area by day, converted to either double or twin beds, by night.