The ITC Hotels is a popular homegrown Hotel chain from India with 78 hotels in 47 destinations. As a responsible big hotel chain, ITC Hotels launched a Hotel Loyalty program for its customer, “Club ITC”. It also has a separate luxury dining loyalty program, “Club ITC Culinaire”. The ITC hotels have some of the best in India and are on a spree to launch new hotels with new brands but with world-class ITC signature hospitality. Let’s learn more about Club ITC, a Hotel Loyalty program from ITC Hotels.
ITC Hotel Brands
Like other hotel chains worldwide and in India, ITC hotels have different brands catering to customers’ needs. At present, there are six brands under ITC hotels. Here is the list of hotels brand under ITC Hotels:
- ITC Hotels
- Mementoes (To be launched with the Hotel at Udaipur)
- Welcomhotel
- Storii
- Fortune Hotels
- WelcomHeritage Hotels
All these ITC hotel brands allow you to avail of benefits with the Club ITC loyalty program. Here are some details about these brands.
ITC Hotels
ITC Hotels is the flagship and luxurious brand of ITC Hotels. Under this brand, there are a total of 16 hotels, with each Hotel designed based on distinctive architecture, arts, crafts, and rituals. These world-class hotels are part of the Marriott Hotel “The Luxury Collection”. One more Hotel is under construction in Colombo, Srilanka, and is estimated to be opened in 2023.
Mementos by ITC Hotels
The brand “Mementos” by ITC Hotels is the new hotel brand added to the ITC Hotels brand. There are no hotels in this brand, but one is expected to be opening soon in Udaipur by the name of “Mementos by ITC Hotels Ekaaya”. This new brand will bring together a collection of unique hotels across various destinations, ranging from modern marvels and hidden retreats to historical treasures. Isn’t this exciting?
WelcomHotel
India has diverse demography and different taste,e with new-age travellers looking for great hotels at beaches, deserts, and cities. To cater to these new-age travellers, the WelcomHotel brand was launched. There are some excellent properties under the WelcomHotel brand. At present,t 22 hotels are under the WelcomHotel brand.
Storii by ITC Hotels
The Storii by ITC Hotels is another new brand launched by ITC Hotels recently. This brand has premium properties at breathtaking locales and sites steeped in history. It is the most exciting brand since the two properties under this brand are truly spectacular.
Fortune Hotels
The Fortune Hotels are upscale hotels catering to business and leisure travellers. There are sub-brands of Fortune hotels. At present,t 34 hotels belong to Fortune Hotels.
WelcomHertiage Hotels
WelcomHertiage represents heritage hospitality and tourism with a unique Palaces, Forts, and resorts collection. At present, there are four hotels under this brand.
That was about the ITC Hotels brand; let’s dive into the Club ITC, a hotel loyalty program.
Club ITC by ITC Hotels: Tiers & Eligibility
Club ITC is a free-to-join program from ITC hotels, as there are no joining or annual fees. Like other hotel chains, the benefits under Club ITC are made available to customers based on their tier or status.
Club ITC: Tiers & its Eligibility Criteria
Upon joining the CLUB ITC, you are allotted a “Base Member” tier that is then upgraded based on your stays or spending. Here are the four Club ITC Tiers:
- Base Member
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
Club ITC: Tier Eligibility Criteria
The tier eligibility criteria are simple under the CLUB ITC loyalty program. Tier eligibility is based on the number of night stays or the amount spent. Here are the tier-wise eligibility criteria under Club ITC:
- Base Member: Registration
- Silver Elite Member: 6 Nights or Rs. 60000 Spend
- Gold Elite Member: 16 Nights or Rs. 160000 Spend
- Platinum Elite Member: 30 Nights or Rs. 300000 Spend
Pro Tip: Certain ITC hotels have a room rate above Rs. 40000. These hotel properties, such as ITC Grand Bharat, are luxurious. A two-night stay at these properties will get you a silver tier status, saving you four nights.
Club ITC by ITC Hotels: Tier-wise Benefits
The benefits of Club ITC membership differ and are enhanced based on your tier. Here are the tier-wise benefits available to members:
Base Member Benefits
Here are all the benefits available to Base Members of Club ITC:
- Green Points Earning: 2% of base price
- Room Discount: Up to 10%
- Weekend Suite Room Discount: 10% (Only through Customer Care)
- Reward Night redemption
- Green Point Transfer (More on this later)
Silver Elite Members Benefits
Here are all the benefits available to Silver Elite Members of Club ITC:
- Green Points Earning: 3% of base price
- Room Discount: Up to 10%
- Weekend Suite Room Discount: 10% (Only through Customer Care)
- Reward Night redemption
- Green Point Transfer (More on this later)
- Tier Upgrade Voucher – 4
- Retention Benefit Voucher – 4
- Rollover Nights/Spends
- Late Checkout: up to 2 PM
- Club ITC Reservation Guarantee
Gold Elite Members Benefits
Here are all the benefits available to Gold Elite Members of Club ITC:
- Green Points Earning: 4% of base price
- Room Discount: Up to 10%
- Weekend Suite Room Discount: 20% (Only through Customer Care)
- Reward Night redemption
- Green Point Transfer (More on this later)
- Tier Upgrade Voucher – 4
- Retention Benefit Voucher – 4
- Rollover Nights/Spends
- Late Checkout: up to 4 PM
- Club ITC Reservation Guarantee
- Enhanced Room Upgrade
- In-room Amenity
- No Extra Charge for Accompanying a spouse
Platinum Elite Benefits
Here are all the benefits available to Platinum Elite Members of Club ITC:
- Green Points Earning: 5% of base price
- Room Discount: Up to 10%
- Weekend Suite Room Discount: 20% (Only through Customer Care)
- Reward Night redemption
- Green Point Transfer (More on this later)
- Tier Upgrade Voucher – 8
- Retention Benefit Voucher – 8
- Rollover Nights/Spends
- Late Checkout: up to 4 PM
- Club ITC Reservation Guarantee
- Enhanced Room Upgrade – Maximum 7 Nights
- In-room Amenity
- No Extra Charge for Accompanying a spouse
- In-Room Tea/Coffee Service Throughout Stay
- Room Upgrades (Including Standard Suites and Subject to availability)
- Access to Lounges
- 24-hour check-in/check-out facility
- Priority Room Reservations – 72 Hours
Note: Green Points = INR 1; however, the CLUB ITC member must bear any redemption taxes. These green points don’t expire if you have a night stay or any spending in the last 12 months. Also, the Late check-out benefit is not available at WelcomeHotel.
Tier Upgrade and Retention Benefit
Once you have been upgraded to a particular tier, you receive vouchers based on the tier you are upgraded to. The number of vouchers for a silver elite or elite gold member is four, whereas, for a platinum member, the number is 8. If you can retain that tier in the next year, you are again provided with these vouchers.
Below are the tier-wise vouchers given as Tier Upgrade or Retention Benefit:
Silver Elite Member (Below 4 Vouchers):
- Room Upgrade Voucher
- 25% Savings on F&B at Coffee Shop
- 25% Savings on SPA Services
- 30% Savings on Laundry Services
Gold Elite Member (Below 4 Vouchers):
- Suite Upgrade Voucher
- 25% Savings on F&B at Coffee Shop
- 25% Savings on SPA Services
- 30% Savings on Laundry Services
Platinum Elite Member (Below 4 Vouchers, two each):
- 25% Savings on F&B at All Outlets
- 25% Savings on SPA Services
- 30% Savings on Laundry Services
- Buy1Get1 on Select Beverages at the bar
Conditions for usage of vouchers
Below are the conditions on usage of vouchers which are given on Tier Upgrade or as Retention Benefit:
- Room Upgrade Voucher:
- Next Category Upgrade
- Includes suite upgrade
- Subject to Availability at check-in
- Maximum three nights
- Taxes Extra
- Not Valid At – ITC Grand Bharat and WelcomHeritage Hotels
- Suite Upgrade Voucher:
- Maximum 3 Nights
- Subject to Availability at check-in
- Taxes Extra
- Not Valid At – ITC Grand Bharat and WelcomHeritage Hotels
- 25% Savings on F&B Voucher:
- Applicable at All Restaurants
- Maximum up to 4 guests
- Not Valid on- Sunday Brunch Buffet, Special Events, and Festive dates
- Subject to Availability (It is better to call Hotel for information)
- Not Valid At – WelcomHeritage Hotels
- 25% Savings on F&B Voucher:
- Applicable at All Day Dining Restaurants
- Maximum up to 4 guests
- Not Valid on- Sunday Brunch Buffet
- Subject to Availability (It is better to call Hotel for information)
- Not Valid At – WelcomHeritage Hotels
- 25% Savings on SPA:
- Kaya Kalp Spa at ITC Hotels
- Spa/Wellness Centre at WelcomHotels
- Not Valid at – Fortune and WelcomHertiage Hotels
- 30% Savings on Laundry:
- Valid at ITC Hotels
- Valid at WelcomHotels
- Not Valid at – Fortune and WelcomHertiage Hotels
- Buy1Get1 on Select Beverages at Bar:
- Maximum up to 4 guests
- Maximum 4 Beverages
- Not Valid at – WelcomHertiage Hotels
Rollover Nights/Spends
It is excellent that ITC hotels allow rollover nights and spending for all elite tiers, which is usually not seen at a few international hotel chains. Even the rollover spending is something new. Here is how it all works:
Any nights or spends over and above your current tier eligibility are carried forward or rolled over to the next tier.
Nights Rollover: If you stay for 12 nights in a yea,r then two nights will be rolled over since ten nights were your eligible nights per the gold tier.
Spends Rollover: If you spend Rs. 1.5 lacs in a yea,r then Rs. 50000 will be rolled over since Rs. 1 lac were your eligible spends per the gold tier.
How to earn Club ITC Green Points at ITC Hotels?
You earn Club ITC green points based on your tier. The minimum earning is 2%, whereas the maximum is 5%. These green points are earned on eligible spending. The eligible spending includes all expenses at the ITC Hotels except taxes, tips, or banquet billing—also, Green Points for up to only three-room bookings will be earned for a single night. So you don’t earn any green points from the 4th room.
You can also transfer green points from Axis Bank credit cards.
Use of Club ITC Green Points at ITC Hotels
Since the value of Green Points is Rs. 1, its redemption is not complex. As you know, the value of your point. You can use your green points for the following:
- Settlement of Bills of Stays, F&B, Spa, etc.
- Transferring Points to Partners
- Buying Club ITC Culinaire membership
Note: The green point used to settle stay bills does not include taxes.
How to effectively use Club ITC green point?
The default green points earning is low, even for platinum members at 5%. As a platinum member, you must spend Rs. 3 lacs in a year or 30-night stays. Let us consider here INR 3 lacs. You will only earn 9800 green points on these INR Three lacs spending. Since these are worth Rs. 1 each, the reward rate comes to 2.77% on spending, including taxes. However, there is a better option.
Related: Club ITC Exquisite Rewards
Green Points Transfer to Club Vistara
Green Points earned can be transferred to your Marriott Bonvoy or Club Vistara accounts.
Below are the transfer conditions of Green Points to the Club Vistara account:
- Minimum Green Points Transfer: 600 Green Points Per Transfer
- Multiples of Transfer over Minimum Transfer Per Transaction: 150 Green Points
- Maximum Green Points Transfer: 60000 Green Points in a year
- Conversion Ratio: 2 CV Points for every 3 Green Points
As you had 9800 green points above, you can transfer only 9750 green points to the Club Vistara Account, giving you 6500 CV Points. The CV Points worth can differ. It can even fall below 1, so it is not recommended to transfer green points. However, check for the points transfer offer from Vistara. You can check here more about Club Vistara and CV Points.
Note: Keep green points in the Club ITC account since they don’t expire if you stay in the last 12 months and use them when needed.
Green Points Transfer to Marriott Bonvoy
Club ITC Green Points transfer to a Marriott Bonvoy account can be beneficial. Let’s see how. Before that, here are the conditions for the transfer of green points to Marriott Bonvoy:
- Minimum Green Points Transfer: 2000 Green Points Per Transfer
- Multiples of Transfer over Minimum Transfer Per Transaction: 2 Green Points
- Maximum Green Points Transfer: 60000 Green Points in a year
- Conversion Ratio: 3 Marriott Bonvoy Points for every 2 Green Points
Upon transfer of 9800 green points, you will receive 14,700 points in your Marriott Bonvoy account. Then these points can be used to book any Marriott Brand hotel worldwide. On some good days, the value of these points can even reach Rs. 1 at some properties, giving an increase of 50% in reward rate to 4.15%. But there’s more.
Another big difference between Club ITC and Marriott Bonvoy is that you must pay taxes while redeeming points via Club ITC. However, no additional taxes are payable while redeeming points via Marriott Bonvoy.
Also, Marriott and ITC have an agreement for The Luxury Collections, under which luxury ITC hotels which are 16 in number, can be booked via the Marriott Bonvoy account.
So with the increase of green points to Marriott Bonvoy points from a 2 to 3 conversion ratio and with the tax benefit, there is the possibility to use Marriott Bonvoy while booking these 16 hotels at a better reward rate.
Value Test of Transfer of Green Points to Marriott Bonvoy:
We put it to the test to check if the above can be beneficial. Here is the outcome:
Out of the total of 14 hotels that were available to book with Marriott Bonvoy, eight had a better reward ratio than the default reward rate of Club ITC. Even the average benefit was around 4292 green points per night. So you can check on Marriott Bonvoy while booking. However, the benefits of being a Club Member are unavailable with Marriott Hotels. So, transferring points may not work for some, but purely on value terms, it is far better.
Note: Keep green points in the Club ITC account since they don’t expire if you stay in the last 12 months and use them when needed.
Difference between Club ITC and Club Culinaire
Club ITC and Club Culinaire are two separate loyalty programs. The Club Culinaire is a luxury dining program from ITC Hotels, whereas Club ITC is a Hotel loyalty program focused on stay. Another difference is that Club ITC is free to join the program, whereas Club Culianire is a paid program. Since Club Culinaire is a paid program, it has good benefits, but a Club ITC member doesn’t need to register for Club Culinaire.
Bottomline
Undoubtedly, Club ITC by ITC Hotels is a good program as the criteria for tiers are not challenging to reach, and the value of green points is. However, the only downside is the low green points earning, but ITC launches an offer where you can get 2x points once in a while. The game changer transfers points to the Marriott Bonvoy account with an excellent conversion ratio. This transfer lets you use your green points at all Marriott Hotels worldwide. Overall, Club ITC by ITC Hotels is a great hotel loyalty program that would be even more useful when new ITC hotels open, but no hotels outside India are a downside.
