Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) is a collection of 400+ luxury hotels worldwide that are loosely affiliated with the LHW.
LHW has had a paid loyalty program called Leaders Club ($175 yearly fee) that now becomes free. To reach the Sterling tier, you need to spend $5,000 in a calendar year.
You can access LHW Leaders Club here.
Leader Club Benefits Matrix:
Conclusion
Leaders Club at $175 per year must have been a rather tricky sell that the number of members who continued their membership during the pandemic must have plummeted.
The free version makes much more sense, and if you find yourself at one of these LHW-affiliated hotels not booked through an OTA, you get some benefits while earning points too.
The small print on the benefits:
* This is an estimate of the average benefit value based on a 12-month Leaders Club membership term during which 2 stays with a minimum of 2 nights per stay at double occupancy are completed. This value is an estimate only and is not guaranteed.
† This is an estimate of the average benefit value based on a 12-month Leaders Club Sterling membership term during which 5 stays with a minimum of 2 nights per stay at double occupancy are completed. This value is an estimate only and is not guaranteed.
‡ To earn and maintain Sterling status, you must spend at least USD 5,000 or currency equivalent on room rate spend within a calendar year (January to December). Room rate spend will not be awarded until you have completed a stay. All applicable Sterling benefits will commence on the date you earn Sterling status and will continue through December 31st of the following calendar year. For example, status earned in April 2021 will last through 31st December 2022.
1 On-Property Benefits:
Leaders Club benefits will only be provided on publicly available rates and Leaders Club special members only rates reserved through an eligible booking channel. Upgrade priority at arrival: valid for a one-room category upgrade from the room type you reserved only. Subject to availability based on Member Hotel occupancy. Early check-in/late check-out considerations: Subject to availability based on Member Hotel occupancy. Must be arranged directly with the Member Hotel upon check-in.2 Program Rewards:
Pre-Arrival Upgrades are valid for a one-room category upgrade from the room type you reserved only, but cannot be used to upgrade to, or within, a suite category. Rooms booked using Leaders Club points are not eligible for a pre-arrival upgrade. Room types and categories will vary among Member Hotels and pre-arrival upgrades are subject to room availability. You must request a pre-arrival upgrade at the time of booking. Changes made to a reservation that contains a confirmed pre-arrival upgrade may affect the pre-arrival upgrade status for your modified reservation. Leaders Club Points: You will earn one (1) Leaders Club point for every USD 1.00, or the currency equivalent, you spend on the room rate at a Member Hotel for each qualifying stay. Maximum of three (3) rooms per booking. Your Leaders Club account must be activated and associated with the booking prior to your arrival to earn Leaders Club points for that stay. 5% Annual Bonus: As a Leaders Club Sterling member, you will earn an annual points bonus equal to five percent (5%) of the room rate you spend in USD or the currency equivalent, excluding taxes and fees, during the immediately preceding calendar year. Your annual bonus will be awarded on January 10 for the preceding calendar year. It may take up to ten (10) weeks for the annual bonus to appear in your Leaders Club account.
