The Lobby, Pan Pacific Hotel, Melbourne, Australia

What is GHA Discovery?

GHA Discovery is a hotel loyalty program for the Global Hotel Alliance consisting of 40 brands that have banded together. With hotels located in over 100 countries around the world there are over 800 hotels to choose from. The GHA program offers a combination of affordable, mid-range and luxury brands that suit all types of tastes across the alliance. Of those brands, there are five available in Australia, including; Avani, Cappella, Oaks, Pan Pacific and Parkroyal. 

GHA worldwide brands

GHA Discovery is all about loyalty.

This application is ideal to immerse yourself in loyalty. Hotels spend a lot of time and money to build their brand, their reputation and a loyal base of customers that want to return to their hotels. GHA Discovery has created 4 membership levels in their program. Membership is free and customers begin at the silver level, then move up to gold, platinum and finally titanium. Moving from one level to another is determined by the amount of money spent, the number of annual nights stayed or the number of brands stayed at in a membership year. The higher the level the greater the benefits. For example silver members earn free wifi and 4% of their total hotel stay back in discovery dollars. However, a platinum member will also receive free wifi, but they receive 6% back in discovery dollars, along with upgrades, amenities and late check outs. The member may use the app to follow their accumulation of discovery dollars and their progress through membership levels. 

A GHA Hotel, The Parkroyal Collection, Marina Bay, Singapore

What can members do on the app?

ACCOMMODATION  BOOKINGS

The app allows GHA to represent itself as a hotel alliance that offers competitive rates across low and mid scale properties to high end luxury brands. It is a one stop shop for members to search and compare hotels, book their next stay or make amendments to their current bookings. Bookings can be made instantly for any hotel worldwide.

EARN DOLLARS

One of the key functions of the app is to promote the Discovery loyalty program. It is designed to entice loyalty to the alliance by offering a variety of hotel benefits. However, one the main features of this program is the accumulation of Discovery dollars. Discovery dollars are accumulated with each stay and can be used for accommodation costs and other in hotel services. A unique way to spend the dollars is to join local experiences such as wine tasing, local tours, high tea or cooking classes. The experiences are designed to complement the region and will vary between hotel, brand and country.

SPECIAL OFFERS

The app continually has offers on the go to keep their members interested. They range from 30% off discount offers on hotel rooms, competitions to earn more discovery dollars and even offers to buy discovery dollars at a cheaper rate.

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Unit of Competency Mapping

Please note; the purpose of this article is to introduce current hospitality trends. The content broadly applies to the units of competency listed. It is not intended that all content in this article maps directly to all performance evidence and knowledge evidence in the unit of competency. 

Article and photos original by Stephen Duncan