In the often saturated world of travel and hospitality, hotels compete to offer travelers an experience that exceeds their expectations. Meliá Hotels International is striving to excel when it comes to its loyalty program, MeliáRewards.
This innovative program is designed to reward and satisfy travelers who seek sophistication and luxury at every stage of their journey, enabling them to achieve unique status and privileges, as well as earning points that can be redeemed for free nights. But while all these benefits sound very attractive, are they really? Can the loyalty program compete with those of the biggest hotel groups, such as Marriott, Accor, Hyatt and Hilton? Milesopedia digs deeper.
MeliáRewards is the loyalty program of Meliá Hotels International, a Spanish hotel group founded in Palma de Mallorca in 1956. Today, the group has more than 400 hotels in 43 countries on 4 continents. From Bali to New York, Paris, Milan and London, there are many hotels. Like some of the world’s largest hotel groups, Meliá Hotels International has a particularly diversified brand portfolio, with family hotels, luxury hotels and resorts. In total, the group owns 10 different brands:
Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ME by Meliá, and Paradisus by Meliá are the three upscale brands of Meliá Hotels International.
MeliáRewards points can be earned by staying in the group’s hotels, spending money at participating hotel spas, renting cars or buying train, plane or lift tickets from program partners. Our partners include :
as well as car rental companies:
Please note that members can earn points on up to two rooms during their stay. If you book two adjoining rooms for a family stay, you can double your points.
Points expire after one year of inactivity in the program, but the purchase of points or a purchase on the MeliáRewards Shopping portal resets the expiration date. Shopping portals are often a great way to keep accounts active while earning miles and points simply by making essential purchases.
MeliáRewards is more than just accumulating points. The program offers a multitude of ways to redeem points, giving members unparalleled flexibility. With MeliáRewards points, you can book a hotel room, eat at one of the Meliá Group’s restaurants or enjoy spa services. Of course, the number of points required per night depends on room type, rate, brand and dates.
MeliáRewards points can also be transferred to the loyalty programs of certain airlines, although this does not give you the best value for your points. This option can be useful for those who don’t have enough points for a free stay, or for those who want to fund a frequent flyer account in preparation for a larger award.
Partner loyalty programs include :
Unfortunately, Flying Blue is not a MeliáRewards partner.
Points can also be transferred to other members or redeemed for gift cards from retailers such asAmazon, Netflix and iTunes.
The MeliáRewards loyalty program is based on a hierarchy of four levels: White, Silver, Gold and Platinum. As you climb the ladder, you’ll discover even more exclusive benefits, tailored to your travel needs. A world-class experience awaits you every step of the way.
White status is the basic status that everyone receives when they join the loyalty program. Holders of this status can earn 10 points for every euro or dollar spent on a reservation at one of the group’s hotels, and receive 2,000 Welcome Points and a birthday gift. This is usually an upgrade or discount.
There are three ways to achieve Silver status: stay twice in one of the group’s hotels, stay at least five nights in one of the Group’s hotels, or earn 10,000 points. In addition to the same privileges as White status holders, Silver status holders are entitled to free wifi and a complimentary breakfast for their travelling companion. And instead of earning 10 points for every euro or dollar spent, they earn 11.
To obtain Gold status, the scale is higher. You must have stayed at least 15 times in one of the group’s hotels, or have spent 30 nights there. Gold status entitles you to 13 points for every euro or dollar spent, as well as priority access upon arrival at the hotel. It also offers late check-outs until 2 pm in vacation hotels and until 4 pm in city hotels (unless the hotel is fully occupied).
You could also achieve Gold status without a single night’s hotel stay by acquiring an American Express Platinum card (for certain countries only, not applicable in Canada), as holders of this platinum card can obtain many high statuses at some of the world’s leading hotel chains.
To achieve Platinum status, the highest status in the MeliáRewards loyalty program, you must have stayed at least 30 times at one of the group’s hotels, or have spent at least 50 nights there. You can also earn the status if you have more than 150,000 points. It earns 14 points for every euro or dollar spent, and offers holders guaranteed upgrades to superior rooms and access to VIP lounges at over 900 airports with the Priority Pass and VIP lounges at Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Gran Meliá, ME by Meliá and Paradisus by Meliá. And after ten consecutive years of Platinum status, Platinum For Life is offered.
Becoming a MeliáRewards member couldn’t be easier. Joining the loyalty program is completely free. It is done online. To register, simply visit the MeliáRewards website and enter your nationality, first and last name, date of birth, country of residence, e-mail address and telephone number. Once you’ve completed the form, you’ll immediately receive a confirmation email, stating that you are now a member of the loyalty program.
Although MeliáRewards claims to offer a wide range of ways to earn and redeem points, some travellers have found that the opportunities to earn points are limited. Reviewers have pointed out that it is often necessary to stay frequently at Meliá Group hotels in order to accumulate significant points, which can be a disadvantage for occasional travellers or those who prefer to explore different hotel chains.
However, with four different status levels – White, Silver, Gold and Platinum – the MeliáRewards program enhances the hotel experience by offering more exclusive benefits as you move up the ladder. And if you’re an American Express Platinum cardholder, it’s well worth staying at one of the group’s hotels. You’ll enjoy a host of additional privileges. From free breakfast to upgrades, your stay promises to be a memorable one.
Meliá Hotels International has over 400 hotels in 43 countries on 4 continents. From Bali to New York, Paris, Milan and London, there are many hotels.
The Meliá: Hotel rooms, etc. app, from which you can manage your reservations and status, is available on the Play Store orApp Store.
