Created in 2004, the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is a group of seven independent hotel groups that recognize the members of each other’s loyalty programs and offer special benefits and VIP treatment to members at all Alliance hotels. Participating member programs include Kempinski’s Private Concierge, Omni’s Select Guest, Pan Pacific’s Advocates, Marco Polo’s Tai Pan Club, the Dusit Gold Card and The Landis Card.

According to Business Traveller, the GHA has plans to launch a joint recognition program. The online magazine quotes Chief Executive Christopher Hartley as saying, “All the hotels will continue to have their own cards, if they currently have them, but the offering will now be tiered, just as with Star Alliance. As well as having Kempinski or Omni or Leela on them [the cards] will also have the GHA symbol on them and will be recognized in all the hotels of the Alliance. It means that business travelers can be sure that they are recognized in all the properties in the Alliance.” Hartley said that the program will not be a points-based system but will focus on recognition, offering benefits such as room upgrades and free breakfast.

The GHA expects an eighth member to join the Alliance by the end of 2007 and two more are expected to join in 2008.