Secret Hotel VIP Programs
This is our guide to the “shadow” programs at your favorite hotels. Consequently, you can get perks like free breakfast, room upgrades, and hotel credits. Best of all, you pay the same price you see in public.
Because we are Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite & Hilton Diamond Elite members, these perks still benefit our own travels. Furthermore, booking this way does give you more value than the best credit card offers.
Why Book These Rates?
Most travelers do not realize these programs exist; however, they are easily accessible through the The Luxury Travel Atlas. By booking via Classic Travel, you gain the Best Available Rate (BAR) while simultaneously stacking benefits like property credits ($100+), free breakfast, and room upgrades.
Additionally, these rates stack with your other hotel perks! For example, you still earn points and nights toward your status.
Should you use hotel points? In short, save your points for flights. Specifically, it is often better to move your points to airlines like Delta, UA, AA, etc.
Stackable
In addition to elite perks, you earn credit card points and status nights.
VIP Recognition
Since management is alerted to your arrival, you often receive better service.
Upgrade Priority
Specifically, you receive higher upgrade priority than standard elite guests.
Navigate Programs
Marriott STARS & Luminous
TOP PICK
Marriott STARS & Luminous are exclusive, invitation-only travel programs for luxury travel advisors, offering VIP perks at Marriott properties like Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis (STARS), and JW Marriott, W Hotels (LUMINOUS).
Benefits often include daily breakfast, room upgrades (higher priority than standard elite), resort/property credits (e.g., $100+), welcome amenities, and early check-in/late check-out, stacking with your existing Bonvoy status for “double-dip” perks and earning points/elite nights as normal.
These bookings can be made with us through Classic Travel. Let us act as “VIP pass on top of your VIP pass”!
STARS
Bvlgari, EDITION, Luxury Collection, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis
- VIP status with hotel
- Free breakfast for two
- Early check-in and late check-out
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- $100 USD hotel credit
- A special gift upon arrival
Luminous
JW Marriott, W Hotels, Westin, Autograph, Renaissance
- Free breakfast for two
- Early check-in and late check-out
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- $100 USD hotel credit
- A special gift upon arrival
- VIP status with hotel
Hyatt Privé
PARK HYATT, ANDAZ, THOMPSON, ALILA + MORE
Hyatt Privé is a special program for luxury travel advisors. Importantly, you do not need Hyatt status to get these perks. As a result, you get treated like a VIP for the same public price.
It’s a way for travelers to get luxury treatment and added value without needing World of Hyatt elite status, accessible only by booking through an approved Privé travel advisor like Classic Travel.
No Min. Stay
Park Hyatt, Andaz, Thompson, Miraval
- $75-150 Property Credit ($100 typical)
- Full Daily Breakfast for Two
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Early Check-in / late Check-out
2-Night Min.
Grand Hyatt, Regency, Centric, Alila, Unbound
- $100 Property Credit
- Daily Full Breakfast
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Welcome Gift & Letter
Resort Min.
3-4 Nights at Ziva, Zilara, AMR
- Standard Privé Benefits
- Enhanced Resort Access
- Confirmed Upgrades (v. valuable for suites)
Hilton For Luxury Hotels
WALDORF ASTORIA, CONRAD, LXR, NOMAD
Hilton for Luxury (formerly Hilton Impresario) is an exclusive, invite-only program for top luxury travel advisors, offering VIP perks and benefits for clients booking stays at Hilton’s luxury brands like Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR, NoMad, and Signia by Hilton.
Benefits typically include complimentary breakfast, resort credits (often $100), room upgrades, early check-in/late check-out, and double points, providing added value beyond standard bookings at no extra cost to the traveler.
Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR, NoMad, and Signia by Hilton
- $100 Property Credit
- Full Daily Breakfast for Two
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Early Check-in / late Check-out
- Double Hilton Honors points
- VIP Guest Status
Additional Waldorf Astoria perks include:
- $150USD equivalent in local currency Resort or Hotel credit
- Bookings in our Beachfront Suites (1,2, or 3 bedroom) will receive an additional $100
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily Buffet breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom,
- Resort or Hotel credit (for a total of $250 during stay)
SLH withIN Hotels
BOUTIQUE HOTELS & RESORTS
SLH withIN is an exclusive, invitation-only program for top luxury travel advisors to offer special perks at Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) properties.
This program works with small, unique hotels. Specifically, it is for travelers who want a boutique feel with VIP perks.
- Upgrade to next category upon arrival, subject to availability
- Daily breakfast for two persons per room
- $100 USD Hotel Credit (some properties only offer $50 USD)
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary WI-FI
IHG Destined
REGENT, INTERCONTINENTAL, KIMPTON, HOTEL INDIGO + MORE
IHG Destined is a special, benefit-rich program for travel agencies and their clients, offering perks like free breakfast, room upgrades, hotel credits, and VIP treatment at luxury brands like Regent, InterContinental, and Kimpton, enhancing stays at select IHG properties globally.
Luxury (Intercontinental, Regent, Kimpton Ex-US)
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily breakfast for up to two guests
- $100 USD Hotel Credit
- Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
- Local Welcome amenities
- Personalized Welcome note
Lifestyle (Hotel Indigo, Vignette Collection, Kimpton US)
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily breakfast for up to two guests
- $100 USD Hotel Credit
- Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
- Local Welcome amenities
- Personalized Welcome note
Ultra-Luxury & Boutique Programs
Brands like Four Seasons and Aman do not have normal points. Consequently, we use “Preferred Partner” networks to get you VIP perks.
Through our partnership with Classic Travel, we can unlock ‘shadow’ loyalty benefits for you—including room upgrades, daily breakfast, and resort credits—all at the same public rates you see online.
Four Seasons Preferred Partner
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Breakfast daily for up to two
Hotel credit for each stay
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Personalized Welcome Note -A warm welcome note acknowledging you, your travel advisor, and your Preferred Partner status
AMAN
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Breakfast daily for up to two
$100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage Credit
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Belmond Bellini Club
- VIP welcome treats with a local taste
- Daily Breakfast for 2
- Complimentary room upgrade based on availability
- $100 USD Hotel Credit per stay for rooms
- $200 UDS Hotel Credit per stay for suites
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Rosewood Elite
- Daily Breakfast for two
- One-category Room Upgrade
- $125-$150 Resort Credit
- Additional property-specific amenities
- Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
More Ultra-Luxury Programs
Jumeirah Passport to Luxury
- Upgrade on arrival
- $75 USD resort credit
- Daily breakfast for two
- Welcome amenity
- Early check-in/late check-out
Mandarin Oriental Fan Club
- Upgrade on arrival
- $100 USD resort credit
- Daily breakfast for two
- Welcome amenity
- Early check-in/late check-out
Shangri-La Luxury Circle
- Upgrade on arrival
- $100 USD resort credit
- Daily breakfast for two
- Welcome amenity
- Early check-in/late check-out
One & Only Resorts
- Upgrade on arrival
- $100 USD resort credit
- Daily Buffet breakfast for two
- Welcome amenity
- Early check-in/late check-out
Accor Preferred
- Daily breakfast for two
- $100 Food and Beverage Credit
- Upgrade upon arrival
- Early check-in/late check-out
- 15% off spa services
Preferred Platinum Hotels
- Upgrade on arrival
- $100 USD resort credit
- Daily breakfast for two
- Welcome amenity
- Early check-in/late check-out
Virtuoso
LARGEST NETWORK
Virtuoso is the largest luxury travel network in the world. In addition to brand programs, Virtuoso covers thousands of hotels.
My top recommendation is booking this master list of hotels on Classic Travel website, which combines an intuitive digital interface with the elite benefits of the Virtuoso network.
Ready to book like a VIP?
Don’t leave benefits on the table. Book online today.
Did I miss a program or need an update? Shoot me a comment!
