Reading on Flyertalk the other day, I noticed a reference to the benefits of GHA Discovery Red. While it was new to me, it seems this page has been around a while. While I was looking into it, I found a reference to the same page on View from the Wing.
The existence of a Red tier in the GHA Discovery program is a bit of an open secret. As with many of these ‘secret’ top tier levels, the programs tend to keep things under wraps.
A common feature of these elite levels is that they are ‘by invitation’. However, how you get on the invitation list is part of the mystery. The other part of the mystery is what benefits you get,
GHA Discovery
GHA Discovery is a hotel loyalty program with a difference. While most programs are designed for chains with a common owner. the hotel chains in GHA Discovery generally have different owners. In addition, the chains themselves tend to be on the smaller side.
It underwent a significant revamp in 2021. At that time, it introduced Discovery Dollars. Since then it has been rolling out improvements such as adding breakfast as a benefit for Titanium (and Red) in some brands.
Benefits of GHA Discovery Red
In the GHA Discovery program, there are two sets of benefits. Firstly, there are the program wide benefits, and secondly there are some brand specific benefits.
Program wide benefits
For the program wide benefits, the Red tier has a few benefits over Titanium tier
- Early Check-in (should be requested 2 days prior to arrival)
- Red – from 10 am
- Titanium – from 11 am
- Late Check-out (should be requested at check-in)
- Red – until 6 pm
- Titanium – until 4 pm
- Upgrade
- Red – Upgrade to a suite (there are, however, exclusions to particular types of suites. For example, Presidential Suites are excluded)
- Titanium – Double Room upgrade
It is possible that the welcome amenities and offers vary between the two levels, but the above reflects the differences that are obvious.
Brand benefits
Some of the brands within the GHA Discovery group offer specific benefits to both Titanium and Red level members. In some cases these are the same benefits, while in others there is a bump up in the benefit.
For example, Pan Pacific and Park Royal offer dining and spa discounts to both tiers. However, for Red level members there is a 30% discount, while Titanium members get a 25% discount.
How does one get an invitation?
As mentioned, GHA Discovery Red is an invitation only level. More to the point, GHA Discovery do not publish the criteria that would get you an invite.
The View from the Wing article made reference to a now removed presentation that suggested “100 nights or US$25,000 eligible spend or 5 brand stays (per calendar year).” While the 100 nights or US$25,000 part may (or may not be) right, I have my doubts about the 5 brand stays part. Basically, 5 brand stays seems too easy.
On the other hand, terms and conditions I haves seen explicitly state there are no fixed thresholds. To be precise “Red Tier members do not earn their status by reference to fixed thresholds of Eligible Nights stayed, Net Eligible Spend or Eligible Brand Stays. They are invited to Red Tier status by GHA at GHA’s absolute discretion.”
That said, there seem to be different paths to Red. For example, I have heard that the General Manager of a GHA brand can recommend members. Or three Vice-presidents of a brand are able to do so.
On my own enquiries, it was suggested that the most reliable way was to buy a hotel and reflag it under a GHA Discovery brand. Perhaps this was a suggestion that the GHA Owners program and the elite VIP level were the same thing.
Well, I won’t be buying a hotel anytime soon, so I guess I will have to make do with Titanium.
