Four Seasons Introduces Invitation Only Guest Recognition Program

Ugh, way to start out the email with a dangling modifier, Four Seasons! Shameful.

Why do I get a feeling that another famous travel blogger will be all over this? Somehow he will make sure he gets this card. 🙂 Four Seasons has agreements with many top financial companies (Wall St banks, hedge funds, etc..) where employees from these firms only stay at Four Seasons, Ritz and other top hotels. That is probably the case of this reader that got the invitation. I have a friend that works in one of the big banks in Private Wealth Management and it is part of her job to "impress" potential customers. You don't want to invite a potential client that will probably invest $ hundreds of millions with you to have a coffee at the Hampton Inn, right? Thus, she only stays at Four Seasons or other top hotels but they have special rates that are way more affordable than what one of us would have to pay to stay at a Four Seasons.

Yawn

I was invited to a similar program a few years ago before it was discontinued. No free nights or suite upgrades. Rather it was credit for things like cars from the airport and spa credits. What Four Seasons did well was remember your birthday with a cake in the room etc.

I switched loyalty to Hyatt. As a diamond member the benefits are much better, especially when traveling with family. Park Hyatts are as good as Four Seasons and even Grand Hyatts remember preferences. Four Seasons needs a proper loyalty program.

In the age of big data, does the Four Season really think they can keep track of guests and their preferences and details without a loyalty number? This is a move to keep them relevant. Nothing cutting edge here.

@Santastico
I am the one who gave Ben this heads up and sent him the info so that I would respond on your thoughts as to my profile.
In fact I am a private business owner in the fine arts field. I assure you I don't "do" banking, lol. As well I do not get "bargained" rates at FS and just look for promos as much as possible like the normal guy....the 3rd or 4th night free being my favorite one and usually a good option that lowers rates significantly (almost) in line with JW Marriott on Interconti in some locations. I wish I could tell you I was the high roller guest as you mention that this card might be targeted for - but I am more to the line of a loyal Four Seasons customer who grabs the cheapest published rates like the rest of us and looks for a good value to luxury ratio.

Regarding other comments, I have promised Ben an update of anything different I notice at my upcoming stays. If it is simply just a card and a person to call for bookings it offers me nothing - as I prefer booking online. Quite frankly FS has always been very good at recognizing my preferences across the world at hotels and keeping data on my stays and, as well, offering me upgrades and amenities at check in. I will be curious like you to see if anything additional becomes available.

@Janet

I agree that in some cases Park Hyatt does offer a better value (and points) than FS in select markets. But, properties are limited in location and, as I am writing this from the Park Hyatt in Paris I can tell you that not all are created equal. This particular location is tired at best and not even remotely close to the same category (imho) as the Four Seasons. FS does a much better job overall in most cities and is far more consistent. I personally see Park Hyatt as the niche between Grand Hyatt/JW. Marriott and Four Seasons/Peninsula.

Grand Hyatt properties to me are nothing more than a Hyatt with an additional restaurant inside and a few more amenities. They are not consistent at all in my mind (Dusseldorf is awful, Sao Paulo is superb).

Even the Oberoi Group doesn't have a loyalty program and its been voted the best luxury hotel brand in the World two years running by Travel & Leisure. As an erstwhile General Manager of the Oberoi group, I can say that the focus is always on guest recognition and exceeding expectations which keep bringing customers back, and the fact that companies like Four Seasons and The Oberoi Group cater to the absolute top end of the market. I don't see Sergei Brin, Bill Gates or Richard Gere choosing hotels based on loyalty programs and I have had the pleasure of having them stay at my Hotel. Having said that, keeping in mind the expansion plans of Four Seasons I feel it's time that they work out some sort of a loyalty program as the absolute top end of the market is not that big

Surprised you don't call this out as bogus. Only defined promised benefits like SPG and Hyatt guaranteed upgrades are worth the promise. Fake "recognition" program is not worth the paper it's printed on when there are no actual guaranteed perks. FS already provides perks to frequent guests.

I'm also a business owner who travels a reasonable amount. I've been fairly loyal to the FSs brand (15-20 nights most years) for the twenty years plus. Total spend is not really that much when compared to an enterprise customer. In my experience, what the Four Seasons has done particularly well for a very long time (paper upgrade certificate days), in addition to providing an excellent quality of product, is consistently recognize and reward long term, loyal guests in an understated, sophisticated manner. I'm always recognized at check in as a premium guest, upgraded to a suite often enough that when it doesn't happen I'm surprised, welcomed by a note and a small gift in the room, and often the manager will come out to introduce him/herself. I've received these benefits from them the past ten years plus and it's what has kept me loyal to the brand. In the early years, I attributed this to a case of mistaken identity but I've come to realize they do in fact have a loyalty program, it's just not published.

@Boraxo
I agree, but I would say I get upgraded to a suite far more with Four Seasons than I do as a Diamond member at Park Hyatt, further I am not sure where four guaranteed suite upgrades a year constitutes all the time and, further, depends on availability at the time of booking. As well, you say it yourself, FS already provides perks...indeed...many more than SPG or Hyatt with no fuss or promotion about it. It is still left to be seen if this card will come with more tangible perks. I am expecting the card in the coming days so perhaps that will shed more light on it.

@Dave
Yes, FS is amazing at already recognizing and knowing exactly our trends throughout the entire network. I am shocked at checking in to a property I have never been to and they seem to have all of my room preferences and quirks down perfectly. Right down to a bucket of diet cokes in the room, lol. I am not sure if this card may just be a vanity piece in the end...but we will see as I can't imagine what more they can do for me.

Do I detect a hint of FOMO in this post?

I just experienced an interesting perk of the elite card. This afternoon we organized a meeting at the Georges V in Paris and both lounge and bar were full.
The lady manager said she has a Tabor
Left but she keeps it for gusts of the hotel only and we were not staying there.
The gentleman I was with opened his wallet and showed her his Elite card. All of a sudden she ushered us to the best couch area in the lounge and welcomed us profusely.
Unexpected perk but it allowed us to hold the meeting unannounced in an otherwise very busy FS property.

Card received. Haven't used it yet, but will be able to in November in Asia and again in December. Recognition of frequency and preferences has already been quite good at FS, particularly when booking via a FSPP agent.

Great if the stays get better!

FS is allowing its TOP (not all) Preferred Partner agencies to extend the card to their top clients. The card recognition is combinable with PP agency benefits (first priority for upgrades, welcome amenity, daily breakfast, a property credit, waitlist priority and early/late check-in departure). The elite card DOES come with a loyalty number so the properties can more easily share preferences with each other (a problem they've had for years with their reservation system). In addition to the PP Agency benefits, the welcome amenity will be "amped up" with more flexibility to get creative instead of the standard bottle of wine or dreaded fruit basket. The benefit Elite Card holders who book through a PP agency will probably enjoy most is more opportunity for upgrades at time of booking. There will be many other non-published benefits that will allow more personalized experiences as well. The elite card + preferred partner benefits will be super competitive with other luxury hotel loyalty/recognition programs.

Received the Elite status after completing a jet journey with FS and on a subsequent hotel stay the only perk was to meet a mid level manager upon checkin who gave me her card and invited me to let her know if I needed anything. Did not receive an upgrade and it seemed they went out of their way to NOT fulfill any of my seating preferences in the restaurants. No perks but it was still a nice stay.

I am a FS Elite Guest, three years now and not based off of just one of their jet journeys. Typically, very nice welcome amenities, early check-in/late check-out, upgrades to suites even if booking in entry category, refundable stays even if purchasing nonrefundable rates (assuming legitimate cancelation reason), meet and greet with top management at each property, preferred room amenities, priority dining reservations and seating, customized experiences exceeding normal offers to guests, Elite Contact # and contact person at each property...list goes on. They go way beyond any traditional loyalty scheme. Basically, you get what you want, within reason. While Four Seasons is usually great with providing a consistent service throughout, they absolutely provide consistency to Elites; and if there is a problem, they quickly fix it. They truly appreciate you and recognize you, but in turn you spend a lot with the brand. Truly, no other brand rivals what FS will do for their Elites.