Company welcomes 29 new hotels and reports to-date performance report for new points-structure of iPrefer guest loyalty program
CHICAGO — April 23, 2014 — Preferred Hotel Group™, a global provider of sales, marketing, and distribution services to independent luxury hotels, today announced first quarter results. Over the past three months, the company generated a 19 percent increase in reservations revenue for its member hotels when compared to the same time period in 2013. In addition, the company released key findings regarding the increases in enrollments, spending, and repeat stays that its iPrefer guest loyalty program has driven since transitioning to a points-based structure last year. Also during the first quarter, the company welcomed 29 new hotels.
“Last month marked the tenth anniversary of my family taking ownership of Preferred Hotel Group, so we are proud to see strategic growth and other important milestones continuously achieved on behalf of our company and our member hotels,” said Lindsey Ueberroth, President and CEO.
A major factor behind Preferred Hotel Group’s momentum during the first quarter was iPrefer, which, less than eight months since the debut of its points-based structure, has proven its ability to drive strong bottom-line benefits to independent hotels. Compared to pre-launch activity, the program has generated a 52 percent increase in member enrollment and a 120 percent increase in active members (members with at least one stay). In addition, iPrefer members have spent, on average, $110 more per booking at participating hotels than travelers who are not enrolled in the program. Since August 15, iPrefer reservations have shown an average stay value of $705, with the average stay value reaching $942 for iPrefer bookings at properties within the company’s Preferred Hotels & Resorts portfolio.
“The to-date performance results for iPrefer are impressive,” said Ueberroth. “More and more, travelers are favoring the independent hotel experience, but they still want the perks, specifically points and added recognition through status tiers, that the hard-brand loyalty programs provide. The success of iPrefer shows our ability to not only conceptualize innovative programs but also predict industry trends.”
Supporting the company’s goals for strategic expansion that Ueberroth reinforced upon her promotion to CEO in February, Preferred Hotel Group signed new partnership agreements with hotels and resorts across 15 countries during the first quarter. Notable additions include CasaSur Bellini Hotel (Buenos Aires, Argentina); Crystal Energy Resort (Crete, Greece); Farmhouse Inn (California, USA); Gorrian Hotel Istanbul (Istanbul, Turkey); Himalayas Qingdao Hotel (Qingdao, China); Himalayas Nantong (Nantong, China); Lower Slaughter Manor (England, UK); Shilla Stay Dongtan (Hwaseong City, South Korea); and SLS Hotel & Casino Las Vegas (Nevada, USA). A full listing of all hotels that went live and bookable on the company’s brand websites during the first three months of the year can be accessed here.
For more information on Preferred Hotel Group, please visit www.PreferredHotelGroup.com.
About Preferred Hotel Group™
Preferred Hotel Group represents more than 650 of the finest hotels, resorts, and serviced residences in the world. Preferred Hotel Group’s brands include Preferred Hotels® & Resorts, Summit Hotels & Resorts™, Sterling Hotels™, Summit Serviced Residences™, Sterling Design, and Preferred Boutique™. Travelers gain valuable benefits through branded programs iPrefer™, Preferred Family, Preferred Pride, Preferred Golf™, and Preferred Residences™. For more information, visit www.PreferredHotelGroup.com and follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Caroline Michaud
Director, Public Relations
Tel: +1 312 542 9218
cmichaud@preferredhotelgroup.com
Terri McCollin
Senior Manager, Public Relations — EMEA
Tel: +44 207 440 0316
tmccollin@preferredhotelgroup.com
Arlene Benger-Tan
Senior Manager, Public Relations — Asia Pacific
Tel: +65 6577 2487
abenger@preferredhotelgroup.com