Dubai-based Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the largest collection of independent hotels in the world, has welcomed Spain’s NH Hotel Group to its midst, meaning members of its GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme can earn and redeem digital currency at 350 new member hotels. With the new addition to the GHA family, the loyalty programme’s members can now earn DISCOVERY Dollars (D$) at more than 800 hotels and resorts in 100 countries worldwide across 40 brands.

Part of Bangkok-based Minor International, NH comprises three distinct brands: NH Hotels, NH Collection and nhow, and operates primarily in Europe and the Americas, with a new property in Qatar opening soon. Ten million existing NH Rewards members are automatically enrolled into NH DISCOVERY, increasing the overall DISCOVERY membership to more than 20 million, making it one of the largest hotel loyalty programmes in the world.

As well as the ability to earn and redeem D$ on all hotel bookings, members will soon be able to earn on restaurant, spa and sports facility bookings, and have access to unique promotions and destination activities as part of the Live Local experiences programme.

In a recent report on Q1 performance, GHA CEO Chris Hartley noted that the UAE and the Maldives has dominated revenues for the group during first quarter of the year, with average daily rates far exceeding global average. Ten hotels and resorts (out of more than 500 globally) accounting for one third of revenue: six of them were in Dubai and Maldives, with room revenues accounting for 14.4 per cent and 8 per cent of total GHA DISCOVERY rooms revenue respectively for the period.
