Ascott Star Rewards is the loyalty program of Singapore based The Ascott Limited, a leading serviced residence provider.
Overall, the program has a relatively simple structure. If you are used to programs with multiple paths to status, or tiered redemption charts, you’ll find none of that. It pretty much follows a revenue-based model. Points and status are earned based on total spend, and redemptions are made with points that have a fixed cash value.
The Ascott (and Ascott Star Rewards) seems to travel under the radar a lot of the time. Maybe it is due to its relatively small footprint, having around 400 hotels. Or maybe it’s due to having more focus on apartment style and long-term stays.
That said, its hotels are popular with digital nomads and expats. People who prefer apartment styles hotels or might have extended stays. I certainly know people who would prefer a serviced apartment over a hotel room on their longer stays.
The program, including some of its perks, is tailored toward The Ascott’s target market. You’ll see perks for functional things like laundry services rather than flashy things like lounges.
Which hotels participate in Ascott Star Rewards?
Most of the brands in The Ascott stable participate in Ascott Star Rewards. Participating brands include
- Citadines
- lyf
- Oakwood
- The Crest Collection
- Ascott The Residence
- Somerset
- Harris Hotels
The main exception is Quest Apartment Hotels which does not participate in ASR. Instead, they have their own discount program (Quest Online Advantage).
Earning Points
Hotel Stays
You earn points based on your spending at a participating property. The base earning rate is 10 points per Singapore Dollar, with elite members receiving a bonus depending on their tier. The earn rates are:
- Classic: 10 points per dollar spent
- Silver: 12 points per dollar spent (20% bonus)
- Gold: 14 points per dollar spent (40% bonus)
- Platinum: 16 points per dollar spent (60% bonus)
Generally, eligible spend will include room rates, dining, and services at participating properties. That said, in specific cases, there may be some exceptions to which services qualify.
Bonus Points Promotions
I have seen ASR run bonus point promotions. These run at times such as new property opening and other special events. It is worth keeping an eye out for these to help boost your points balance.
Using Points
Hotel Stays
Under the ASR redemption model, points have a fixed value. That fixed value is exactly 0.25 Singapore Cents per point. Mathematically, that means 1,000 points is worth SGD2.50. These points can be applied at check-out. This model is similar to that used by the Accor Live Limitless (ALL) and GHA Discovery programs.
ASR points can be used as part payments on stays at participating properties. That all means you don’t need enough points to cover a whole stay. You can just use whatever points you have to reduce the price of a stay.
Status Levels
The ASR program has a four-tier elite status system. The base level is Classic, and from there you can work your way up through Silver, Gold and finally to Platinum level.
There is only one measure to rise through the levels, and that is total spending. That said, ASR count things like buying points as eligible spend for determining status, so that’s worth keeping in mind.
Those four levels, and the qualifications to achieve the levels are
- Classic: Entry-level
- Silver: Achieved after S$1,000 spent
- Gold: Achieved after S$3,000 spent
- Platinum: Achieved after S$10,000 spent
Elite Benefits
The basic highlights of the benefits at each level are shown on the Member Benefits page
As is usually the case, the better perks come at the higher levels, and this is true for ASR. While ASR don’t offer perks like executive lounge access, they do have some interesting perks.
Gold and Platinum Benefits
- Complimentary Use of Launderette: Gold members get one token per stay, and Platinum members get two tokens per stay (with some exceptions, lyf properties in Singapore do not offer this benefit)
- ASR Local Signatures: ASR Local Signatures are invitation-only local events to local events or experiences.
Platinum Only Benefits
- Full 24-Hour Stay: This is a bit of a unique benefit, where you can enjoy a full 24-hour stay. It does need to be pre-arranged with the property, but this could be quite a useful benefit.
- Ascott Privilege Signatures: The Ascott Privilege Signature program offers exclusive access to international experiences and events on an invitation only basis
Regional Benefits
As with a few other programs, ASR offers additional benefits in certain regions. The current regional benefits are available to Platinum members:
- Complimentary Breakfast at Properties in Europe – Platinum members staying at participating properties in Europe receive a free daily breakfast.
- Complimentary One-Way Airport Transfer for Properties in the Middle East – Platinum members staying in the Middle East could receive a complimentary one-way airport transfer. This is available to members staying five nights or more at an ASR property.
Milestone Rewards
Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) offers milestone rewards as part of its loyalty program. These rewards are after achieving specific spending targets in a calendar year. The milestone rewards on offer are shown in the following table.
| Spend in 1 Calendar Year | ASR Milestone Rewards |
|---|---|
| S$500 | Earn additional 500 bonus points. |
| S$2,000 | 25% off next stay voucher. |
| S$3,500 | 5,000 bonus points or 15% off next stay voucher. |
| S$5,000 | S$25 cash voucher or 30% off next stay voucher. |
| S$8,000 | S$50 cash voucher or 35% off next stay voucher. |
| Above $S10,000 Every 10 Nights | 1 Complimentary Airport Lounge Access. |
Final Words
Ascott Star Rewards is a worthwhile program for those staying in serviced apartments in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It’s a growing program, being only six years old, and is still developing. That said, it is worth taking a look at if you are looking for extended stays or prefer the serviced apartment style..
