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Omni to leave the Discovery loyalty program and it’s going to hurt

April 23, 2021
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3 min read
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Omni to leave the Discovery loyalty program and it’s going to hurt
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Omni Hotels and Resorts has maintained a partnership with the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and its Discovery loyalty program for quite some time.

However, the chain has recently shared that it will part ways with both GHA and Discovery come June 30, 2021. According to Peter Strebel, president, Omni Hotels and Resorts, the move was made "with the goal of focusing on the evolution of [its] Select Guest program and [its] internal Omni customers."

GHA's Discovery program encompasses more than 570 hotels representing 35+ independent luxury brands across the globe. While Omni Select Guest and GHA Discovery are not the same program, they've been intertwined with each other. That's allowed Omni elite members to match their status to Discovery (the two programs currently have the same status tiers) and take advantage of benefits.

Omni's membership updates page explains what members can expect once the two programs go their separate ways in June. Here are the most important points:

  • Omni Select Guest members will stop receiving reciprocal benefits at properties affiliated with the Discovery program
  • While log-in credentials for discoveryloyalty.com will expire on June 30, anyone can register separately for the Discovery program, and Select Guest members who have stayed at a Discovery property will see their membership in the program continue automatically
  • After June 30, stays at GHA properties will not count toward Select Guest status qualification progress
  • Local Experience Awards will no longer be offered at Omni properties after June 30
  • Anyone with an unused Local Experience Award will be able to continue to use them at participating Discovery properties

Likely the biggest impact of this split of the two programs will be the inability to use Local Experience Awards at Omni properties.

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As TPG's Richard Kerr has written about before, the most valuable perk available to Platinum and Black members in the Discovery program is the ability to earn Local Experience Awards, which can be redeemed for property-specific excursions, meals or property credits. And many times, these experiences represent a tremendous value, depending on where you are and what you pick specifically.

While Omni doesn't have a particularly expansive property portfolio, the properties it does have are high quality and in top destinations around the country, so this change will hurt any traveler that's been able to leverage the perk on past Omni stays.

Bottom line

Omni Select Guest members shouldn't notice any interruption to their membership within the program, though come June 30, members will no longer earn or receive benefits at Discovery properties, unless they decide to continue in that program separately.

The most disappointing change resulting from the dissolution of this relationship is that Local Experience Awards will no longer be offered at Omni properties. We hope that as Omni begins to evolve its own loyalty program, it's cognizant of the tremendous value these awards provide to guests and develop something that matches -- or surpasses -- that offering.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.