In various parts of the world hotel chains are offering a dining club, primarily geared towards local audience but often free to join for anyone. LoyaltyLobby will look at these programs in the coming weeks, starting today with Club at the Hyatt (Asia-Pacific Region).
One item that can be a large expense on your trips is dining during hotel stays. Not all hotels have lounges and even if they do, the F&B options do not really substitute a dinner. Hyatt is one of my most frequented chains with well beyond 50 nights per year. The Food & Beverage Outlets at Hyatt worldwide (especially in Asia) are almost always above average so I was very interested as soon as I learned about the existence of these memberships. After eyeballing the programs for some time and inquiring at the various hotels I frequent the most, I finally bit the bullet and signed up at my local Grand Hyatt Bangkok.
I checked out 3 or 4 different properties that offer this. Here is a quick rundown incl my personal analysis of the Bangkok one and the most important vouchers they include.
Grand Hyatt Bangkok – 11,000 THB First Time Membership Fee (290 USD), Renewal 10,000 THB.
7x 500 THB Cash Vouchers (3,500 Total – 100 USD)
1x Complimentary Celebration Cake (2 lbs)
1x Complimentary Bottle of House Wine when dining for lunch or dinner
2x Complimentary Corkage Charge on Wine & Champagne (2 bottle limit)
1x Buy One – Get One for Spa Treatments at i.sawan (‘might’ make sense but Spa is overpriced)
1x 20% Discount in any Restaurant for 6 people & up (Good for Groups)
1x 50% Discount on Lunch or Dinner at ‘The Dining Room’ for up to 4 people
1x 50% Discount on Lunch or Dinner at ‘Tables’ for up to 4 people
1x 50% Discount on Lunch or Dinner Buffet at ‘You & Mee’ for up to 4 people
1x 50% Discount on Lunch or Dinner at ‘Spasso’ for up to 4 people
Here is the PDF outlining the current (July 2015) benefits of the Bangkok Membership:
The discounts are the usual dining discounts (10% for one, 50% for two, 33% for three Diners and so on). The discount at the Erawan Tea Room is capped at 15% which is a bummer for me as I frequent this one the most. Furthermore: 20% on Spa Treatments (which I find overpriced), 20% off at the Dry Cleaning Shop which is useful for me, 15% off at the Erawan Bakery which shall serve me well too.
The discount vouchers for the group dinners, especially in combination with the corkage fee waiver was the ultimate reason why I decided it is worthwhile to me as I can hold a small birthday dinner basically twice as the Membership validity is 13 months and I timed my application properly for that purpose.
The final thing that gave the ‘Go’ for me are the benefits you get at other Hyatt’s including for myself the Park Hyatt Beijing where it offers 15% at the Xiu Bar on Spirits incl Bottle Service. I frequent that one every now and then. This alone will provide for good savings given the high CNY at the moment.
There is a list (access here) I found with the participating Hyatt’s worldwide (provided by the Hyatt Incheon 2 years ago, the hotels are pretty much the same though).
Keep in mind, to use this discount at Hyatt Hotels apart from the one that issued the card you are required to be a registered guest. On top of that, these offers are geared towards local residents as mentioned. Some hotels might be strict about this (Hong Kong for example) and some others aren’t. These things are subject to change at a moments notice but it should be any problem to use a local address of whatever sort. The issue does not exist for me as I’m currently maintaining a residence in Bangkok but it might be useful for those of you who are interested.
For what it’s worth I looked at the Park Hyatt Beijing initially which costs 2,988 CNY however with 490 USD it is significantly more expensive than the program in Bangkok. In theory you get that fee back completely as you receive 6×500 CNY vouchers plus 1 Bottle of Wine at the outlet of your choice but there were some voucher restrictions I didn’t like plus I find the food at the Park Hyatt Beijing a bit overpriced, meaning I would normally not eat there and therefore the savings would be moot. I eliminated that option very quickly. So you should definitely compare!
Conclusion
This is a great way to save significantly if you are dining at hotels with at least 2 persons and you can make use of these discounts. Estimate your benefits in a realistic way and don’t be blinded by features you won’t be able to use.
These memberships are market dependent. The Club at the Hyatt is the Asia Pacific version of it while in Germany it’s called Hyatt Gourmet Club and works vastly different. You can find information about the Gourmet Club provided by the Grand Hyatt Berlin (access here).
Sorry, you’re wrong on a number of features of the Club at the Hyatt. Not all Hyatt properties participate, and the packages vary extensively.
Do not rely on old info online, participating properties change often.
I have a member card from the GH Jakarta. They offer a dining card only, and a full card which includes 2 weekend nights, afternoon tea, florist credit. The full card is the only one worthwhile. Cost as of June is 4,288,888 IDR or about $325.
You do not have to be a guest at the hotel to use the card. I just used it Sunday there for the deluxe Sunday Brunch at C’s Restaurant.
I’ve used the card in Bandung, with no problem. If you use it for the weekend dim sum, it’s only good for 20% off, no matter how many guests. They have their own card here. I was approached last week here trying to sell me one. Only one free night, and I think 2 buffet meals, and swimming pool passes. I believe the cost quoted was 1,888,000 IDR. About $140 USD.
In Bali, it’s good for 20% off dining. No need to be a guest.
I’ve written a little about this on FT.
I didn’t say that ALL properties participate, hence the link to the list which is quite comprehensive and correct. In any way you will get a new membership package with the application. I always ask at the concierge about the current conditions before I use it.
1. The official rule is to use the card at any out ‘of the country/non-shared properties’ you absolutely have to be a guest to utilize it. Some properties don’t check on that when the restaurant is busy but that doesn’t mean it’s policy. Read your materials!
2, You say you are using the card in Jakarta, Bandung and Bali. Those are all in Indonesia and likely connected in the same way as Bangkok and Hua Hin (you can use the ‘home conditions’ in both of these properties as they have the same owner.
Bangkok only offers one version. I know Singapore has two versions as well and it’s not worthwhile in my opinion to buy only the card. I also don’t consider free night vouchers very good value as those are not qualifying for status. I prefer the 3500 THB cash voucher such as in BKK but that’s just my preference.
Sorry, Sebastian, you’re a dolt.
I should read my materials? The list is “Quite comprehensive and correct”?
Really? So it’s good at the Hyatt in Surabaya? Oh, wait, it hasn’t been a Hyatt for a long time. 4-5 years at least. Or the Hyatt Regency Incheon? Oh, it was rebranded 11 months ago as a Grand Hyatt. The Hyatt Casino Manila? Ooops, that’s not a Hyatt either. I only spot checked a few properties, I’m sure there are many more that aren’t correct.
If you are going to pretend to be a journalist of some sort, you should at least fact check, before you put your foot in your mouth.
And a Club at the Hyatt card is not universally good at all Hyatt properties in a country. For instance, it’s not good in Jogjakarta at all, even though it’s owned by the same company as the GH Bali.
Again, contact the hotel who issued you the card and consult your materials. There you will find the answer to your misunderstandings.
Alternatively check FT and ask the guys who have this card for a long time. Staying at the hotel is a requirement and there is no room for discussion about that.
Sorry, Sebastian, it’s hard to take your answers seriously when you don’t even do the minimum amount of research on this.
Of course some properties have restrictions on use. As I have personally proved, some hotels do not require you to stay to use the card.
“My misunderstandings”? Such as you saying the list you provided is “Quite comprehensive and correct”, is total nonsense. As I stated in my original response, don’t count on online materials to be correct.
Do some actual in depth research, instead of just a copy and paste, and perhaps people will have some confidence in the material you are posting.
I m more interested in the Indonesian version CATH. It seems got much better value while comparing with HK one especially for it comes with two weekend nights.
I would like to know are there any restrictions on nationality for joining different version of CATH? Say, may I join the Indonesian version when I m touring around Bali sometimes later this year?
Moreover I want to know what are the terms and conditions for the use of that two weekend nights? Any restrictions to be used on certain properties? Are there any links for details?
Thanks alot for your help in advance!
In my experience, you only get to use the free nights at the property you sign up for.
At the GH Jakarta, the free nights (One night club room, one night standard room with 2 breakfast buffets) are valid Friday-Sunday. Excludes holidays.
Any plans to write about the IHG and Hilton premium club cards? I was thinking of them (IHG gives gold status at least)…