I know, the last thing I need is to maintain another elite status level with a hotel chain. Having status with multiple hotel chains is great because it allows you to pick the best properties in each city instead of blindly staying at the hotel that belongs to your preferred loyalty program. But at the same time at a certain point it also backfires, because you’re constantly in a struggle to keep up with requalifying, and don’t stay at the best hotels, but the ones with which you need the most elite nights.
I have Hyatt Diamond status and Starwood Platinum status, which I gladly requalify for each year. I’m also Hilton Gold and next year plan on going for Diamond status with them by putting $40,000 of spend on the Citi Hilton Reserve card.
But there’s one loyalty program that intrigues me, because every single elite member of their program that I’ve spoken to is literally delighted. Kimpton Hotels, the largest boutique hotel chain in the US, has their InTouch Rewards program, which I’ve heard a ton of positive things about. The basics are that you earn one free night after every seven stays or 20 nights, whichever comes first. But it’s not the rewards that they’re famous for, but the amazing service.
Here are the basics of their elite program:
As you can see, their entry level elite status is InTouch (which requires seven stays or 20 nights), and gets you:
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- A $10 minibar credit ($15 credit in New York) whenever you stay at one of their hotels
- Passport Rewards, which means that if you stay at 10 different Kimpton properties in a year you get a certificate for an additional free two night stay.
Then there’s Inner Circle status (which requires 15 stays or 45 nights), and gets you:
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Passport Rewards, which means that if you stay at 10 different Kimpton properties in a year you get a certificate for an additional free two night stay.
- A customized welcome amenity consisting of your favorite drink and snack. Apparently they want you to be as specific as possible, and they’ll do everything in their power to accommodation the request. This could be as specific as the color of M&Ms you like or types of nuts you prefer.
- A complimentary night at every new hotel. They open at least a handful of new hotels every year, and as an Inner Circle member you get a free night at each of them.
- A room upgrade based on availability, and based on what I’ve heard these upgrades can be pretty generous, regularly to suites.
- Direct access to the CEO. Okay, this sounds like a gimmick, but it’s still kind of awesome.
What really seems to set Kimpton apart from other loyalty programs is the personalized service they provide. They genuinely seem to want to “wow” you with every stay. For example, take a look at this email chain that was posted online between a guest and a Kimpton property.
I think what it comes down to is that at a certain points hotels get jaded about elite status. Elite status doesn’t get you a truly VIP experience, but a published list of benefits, and that’s about it. I have hotel stays where I get a suite upgrade, club access, etc., but the agent doesn’t even thank me for my loyalty to the chain. That’s where Kimpton seems to be different, as Inner Circle members seem to get true VIP treatment.
Best of all Kimpton status matches. If you have equivalent status in another program just email them at [email protected] with a copy of your credentials and they’ll match your status.
Anyway, I’ll start staying with them next year, and will be sure to share my experiences.
To those of you that are frequent Kimpton guests, what are your thoughts?
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