Preferred Hotel Group Marks 1st Anniversary of
I Prefer™ Global Guest Benefit Program with More than 85,000 Members
CHICAGO - August 2nd, 2007 - Just one year after its successful launch, more than 85,000 travelers from around the world have said "I Prefer" to Preferred Hotel Group's global guest benefit program. I Prefer™, which recognizes guest loyalty with exclusive benefits at Preferred member hotels throughout the world, is surpassing enrollment projections as it marks its first anniversary.
I Prefer members enjoy a room upgrade based on availability, priority early check-in and late check-out, and complimentary high-speed Internet access (at most locations; restrictions apply) every time they stay at a hotel within the Preferred brands, including Preferred Hotels® & Resorts, Preferred Boutique, Summit Hotels & Resorts and Sterling Hotels. These are enhanced by additional benefits extended to I Prefer members by the individual hotels, as well as I Prefer Exclusive Offers that are promoted through the program's newsletter and dedicated website: www.IPrefer.com. Guests can enroll online at www.IPrefer.com or at any participating member hotel or resort.
"I Prefer's initial success can be measured not only in the sheer number of enrollees, but by their increased loyalty to Preferred brands," said John Ueberroth, Chairman and CEO of Preferred Hotel Group. "I Prefer guests are valuable to our hotels because they're staying longer, more frequently and they're staying within the Preferred family of brands."
Membership is growing worldwide and enhanced recognition is a big factor in driving those numbers. "Guests appreciate the complimentary high-speed Internet access, room upgrades and the amenities they get as an I Prefer member. Even more so, it's the realization that they're not only someone special in our hotel, but that they will be recognized at other Preferred Hotel Group properties throughout the world," reports Blaine Proctor, Director of Sales for Hotel Philips in Kansas City. Adds Proctor, "Many of our corporate customers are staying with us more regularly now that we have a recognition program."
Travelers appreciate the variety of great benefits. Individual perks
vary to capitalize on each hotel's unique appeals and are extended to
I Prefer members who book their stay through
a Preferred Hotel Group brand website or on the hotel's own website. They
can include everything from complimentary valet parking and airport shuttles
to golf course greens fees and specialty cocktails.
I Prefer guests at the WaterColor Inn on Florida's
Gulf Coast receive a beach bag filled with logoed items on arrival, plus
a beach chair and umbrella set up per stay. At the Savoy Resort in Madeira,
Portugal, I Prefer membership is rewarded with
a complimentary dinner for two at the resort's main restaurant and a bottle
of champagne.
Exclusive spa benefits abound for I Prefer guests at locations throughout the world. There are discounted spa treatments at the Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna in Abu Dhabi as well as Amsterdam's Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin, while I Prefer guests at the Muckross Park Hotel and Cloisters Spa in Ireland enjoy a complimentary "Cloisters Experience" for a day - complete with vitality pool, herbal sauna, ice fountain, salt grotto, and more.
In addition to ongoing local hotel benefits, members can take advantage of I Prefer Exclusive Offers -hotel promotions distributed only through the I Prefer newsletter and members-only section of the website. The SoHo Metropolitan in Toronto, for instance, is featuring a $75 credit on a third night, plus a complimentary upgrade to an executive suite and a bottle of Canadian ice-wine maple syrup from the Niagara wine region. An instant hit, the offer has generated bookings from day one. And for golfers, the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno is currently offering a round of golf at D'Andrea Golf Club for just $25 per person to I Prefer guests staying in the Summit Tower.
I Prefer offers open enrollment and guests of Preferred Hotel Group are encouraged to sign up. To learn more about this program, visit www.IPrefer.com. Preferred Hotel Group is a global leader in the hospitality industry. This creative, cutting-edge company is designed for a new era in travel - an era in which travelers embrace the individuality of distinctive hotels and resorts, yet desire a consistent commitment to excellence. The four brands of Preferred Hotel Group represent a collection of the finest hotels in the world and include Preferred Hotels® & Resorts (www.preferredhotels.com); Preferred Boutique (www.preferredboutique.com); Summit Hotels & Resorts (www.summithotels.com); and Sterling Hotels (www.sterlinghotels.com). Learn more at www.preferredhotelgroup.com.
CONTACT:
Nichole DiBenedetto / Laura Mooney
Middleton & Gendron, Inc.
+1 (212) 980-9231 / +1 (212) 980-9232
EMAIL: ndibenedetto@mg-pr.com/lmooney@mg-pr.com
For high-resolution imagery of our properties, please visit the Preferred Hotel Group Image Library at www.preferredhotelgroup.com/press.htm.
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