Peninsula PenClub: Why It’s The Best Way To Book Peninsula Hotels

Peninsula Hotels is regarded as one of the world’s best hotel groups. Peninsula has just a dozen properties around the globe, and they’re all very highly regarded, from Chicago, to London, to Istanbul, to Hong Kong.

While stays at Peninsula Hotels properties generally aren’t cheap, you can maximize your value by booking through Peninsula PenClub, a program available through select travel advisors that offers extra perks. In this post, I’d like to go over the details of the program, as it’s one that I’ve never written about.

What is the Peninsula PenClub program?

Peninsula PenClub is a program available to select travel advisors, offering special perks for stays at all Peninsula Hotels properties worldwide. You’ll pay the same rate you would directly with Peninsula, except you’ll be able to receive additional value-add benefits.

Why would Peninsula offer extra perks for booking through a travel agent? The idea is that hotel brands spend a lot of money on marketing, and one aspect of that is giving travel agents an incentive to book their clients at a particular brand. This is truly a win-win, as the guest gets more benefits, and the hotel gets more business. The other reason is to give guests an incentive not to book through an online travel agency, as those often have much higher commissions.

You’ll find that most major luxury hotel groups have programs like this, including Accor Preferred, Belmond Bellini Club, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Hilton for Luxury, Hyatt Privé, Mandarin Oriental Fan Club, Marriott STARS, Oetker Collection Pearl Partner, Rosewood Elite, and Shangri-La Luxury Circle.

What are the benefits of Peninsula PenClub?

For booking through an Peninsula PenClub travel advisor, you can expect to receive the following perks:

• Guaranteed room upgrade from room to room or from suite to suite, at the time of booking, with select room and suite type exclusions
• A $100 credit once per stay, which can either be used toward food & beverage or spa treatments
• Daily breakfast for up to two people
• Access to Peninsula Time, offering guaranteed check-in as early as 6AM, and check-out as late as 10PM, subject to a limited number of blackout dates
• Upgraded welcome amenities, which vary by hotel
• Access to select special rates, including promotional third or fourth night free offers at select properties over certain periods

Just to clarify, Peninsula Time is a benefit whenever booking direct or through a travel advisor, so I don’t want to suggest that this is exclusive to PenClub. However, it’s marketed as part of the overall value, and PenClub travel advisors can help with confirming that.

What are the advantages of booking through Peninsula PenClub over programs like Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or Virtuoso?

• Peninsula PenClub reservations receive guaranteed upgrades at the time of booking, rather than just subject to availability at check-in
• Peninsula PenClub can be applied to promotional and non-refundable rates, while Virtuoso and other programs typically only apply to the flexible rate
• Peninsula PenClub often gives you access to better third or fourth night free rates, which may not be available through other programs
• Peninsula PenClub bookings are prioritized over other consortia bookings when it comes to things like further upgrades

Ultimately a travel advisor can help you compare the perks through the various programs, and help you book through whichever offers the best value.

Peninsula PenClub booking FAQs

While the above hopefully covers the basics of Peninsula PenClub, let me answer some FAQs regarding the program, in no particular order.

What hotels belong to Peninsula PenClub?

Currently Peninsula Hotels has the following 12 properties, across Asia, Europe, and the United States:

• The Peninsula Bangkok
• The Peninsula Beijing
• The Peninsula Beverly Hills
• The Peninsula Chicago
• The Peninsula Hong Kong
• The Peninsula Istanbul
• The Peninsula London
• The Peninsula Manila
• The Peninsula New York
• The Peninsula Paris
• The Peninsula Shanghai
• The Peninsula Tokyo

As you can see, there are some really iconic properties belonging to Peninsula. Personally, I’m most curious to stay at the Istanbul property, as it’s still new, and I’ve heard many say it’s the city’s best hotel. It looks amazing, as it’s right on the Bosphorus.

What rates are eligible for Peninsula PenClub perks?

Peninsula PenClub perks can generally be combined with any rate bookable directly with Peninsula, including advance purchase rates, best available rates, etc. This is an advantage of PenClub over other programs, as the perks are combinable with more types of rates.

Is there a minimum stay requirement for Peninsula PenClub bookings?

No, you can take advantage of Peninsula PenClub benefits even on a one-night stay, so there’s no minimum stay required.

Can you book Peninsula PenClub rates without a travel agent?

In order to book a Peninsula PenClub reservation, you have to go through a travel advisor affiliated with the program. There is one way that travelers can book these rates directly, though it still (sort of) uses a travel advisor.

Specifically, the TravelWits portal lets you book Peninsula PenClub rates directly. You’re still booking through a specific travel advisor’s platform, but it’s great to be able to compare rates. These portals do have to be password protected, so if you’d like to use Ford Beckett Travel’s portal, you need to email [email protected] to request the password.

For example, this lets you see how you can apply PenClub benefits to a promotional, non-refundable rate…

…and it also shows you the guaranteed upgrade, like that the PenClub rate for a grand deluxe room is the same as the Virtuoso rate for a deluxe room (since PenClub lets you book a deluxe room and then receive a guaranteed upgrade to a grand deluxe room at the time of booking).

How do you pay for Peninsula PenClub reservations?

When you reserve a Peninsula PenClub booking, you’ll still pay the hotel directly, so it’s no different than if booking direct. A travel agent simply has to assist you with making the reservation, and then the hotel handles the stay.

Bottom line

PenClub is Peninsula Hotels’ program available for select travel advisors. This offers perks like a guaranteed room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, a $100 property credit, an improved welcome amenity, and more. It’s also combinable with Peninsula Time, the amazing program that lets you confirm check-in at 6AM and confirm check-out at 10PM.

While there are several programs offering perks at Peninsula Hotels, PenClub is the only one that consistently offers guaranteed upgrades, and that also lets you consistently stack the benefits with promotional and non-refundable rates (in addition to the flexible rate, of course).