Here is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to earn Gold Elite Status in the Preferred Hotel Group I Prefer program. All you need to do is join the AARP, complete one stay at a participating hotel and the status plus some bonus points are yours.
Back in 2023, the hotel chain launched a partnership with AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) which continues to this day and this is the key for getting this status.
Despite its namesake, the AARP is not just for retired persons nor is it just for Americans. Canadians 18 years or older can join the membership program and it’s very inexpensive to do so. You can purchase a membership for US$12 (for one year) or less if you buy a multiple year membership.
The program operates a lot like the CAA with many discounts and benefits afforded to its members and this I Prefer benefit is one of those. Rewards Canada has also confirmed with Preferred Hotel Group that this status benefit is available to Canadians.
Another benefit that is extremely popular is a discount on British Airways flights, however that discount is only valid on departures from the U.S. So if you are a Canadian who likes to fly from U.S. border cities or live part of the year in the U.S. and travel internationally from the U.S. this discount can be handy for you.
It should be noted that some AARP benefits are only available to retired people since their mission is dedicated to 50+ but most of the travel offers are open to all members.
Earn Gold Elite Status + 2,500 bonus I Prefer points with one stay
When you complete one stay as an AARP Member at any one of over 450 participating Preferred Hotel Group locations worldwide you will receive the upgrade to I Prefer Gold Elite status plus you’ll earn 2,500 bonus points. If you are not an I Prefer member you’ll want to make sure you join the program prior to booking the AARP member rate offer.
Join I Prefer here with our referral code and we’ll both earn 1,000 points!
Once you have your I Prefer membership all set up and have joined the AARP you simply need to book and stay using the promo code “IPAARP” / “I Prefer Member Rate – AARP Member Exclusive” at any of the participating hotels around the world.
Click here to see the participating hotels and to book this offer.
At the time of posting this article, the AARP benefit included 8 Preferred Hotel Group properties in Canada:
AARP stay example
Here’s an example of the AARP rate at Arc The.Hotel Ottawa this June:
As you can see from these examples, the AARP bonus points + tier upgrade rate is the same as the I Prefer member rate. I also checked the CAA/AAA and that was more expensive at $350 per night. In this case the AARP membership gets you the bonus points + tier upgrade with no extra cost on the actual hotel stay. The 2,500 points are worth roughly C$25 (it will depend on your redemption) but if we take the above stay example, that same night required 30,000 points or 1.1 cents per point (C$) which puts the points value at C$27.50 – that alone pays for the AARP membership fee and more!
What does I Prefer Gold Elite Status provide?
Here are the key benefits associated with I Prefer Gold Elite status:
- Enhanced Room Upgrades
- Exclusive Member Rates
- Complimentary In-Room Wi-Fi
- Early Check-In, Late Check-Out
- Earn an Additional 20% Bonus Points per Stay
- Welcome Amenity
Wrapping it up
I would say this is a pretty good deal to spend US$12 for an AARP membership and then complete one stay to earn this Elite Status that normally requires earning 25,000 points (US$2,500 in spending) You’ll definitely want to consider it if you know that you’ll have more stays with Preferred Hotel Group beyond the first stay that you complete to earn the status!
And while I used a C$300 hotel example – there are many Preferred Hotel locations in places luke Mexico, Thailand and other countries which cost even less for this offer. So, if you are travelling to any of those locales and they have an AARP participating hotel, you can achieve this status with even lower spend.
Click here for more details & to book the AARP Preferred Hotel Group offer.
Images via Preferred Hotel Group and AARP
Originally posted on June 4, 2024 @ 12:08 pm