Numerous companies in the travel sector are publicly traded, with some providing extra perks or discounts to their shareholders. Meanwhile, others opt for subscription models, like IHG’s ambassador program or Accor’s various subscription services, which allow members to enjoy hotel status and other advantages. This discussion will center on shareholder benefits from travel companies. Please note that this information is not intended as financial advice.
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Hotel companies with shareholder benefits
Accor Hotels
Accor operates more than 5100 hotels globally. Shareholders who possess either 50 bearer shares of Accor listed on Euronext Paris or a single registered share can become members of the Accor Shareholder Club. If you purchase shares through a broker, you will hold bearer shares. Members enjoy a complimentary year of Accor Gold status, which, if acquired in January, lasts for the remainder of that year and the entire following year. There are no extra perks for holding shares beyond this period. Those with Accor Gold status can enjoy a complimentary welcome drink at select hotels along with additional benefits. For further details about the Accor Shareholder Club, please refer to the the Terms and Conditions.
NH Hotels
The Spanish hotel group listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange operates approximately 300 to 400 hotels and provides Silver, Gold, and Platinum membership statuses. These statuses remain valid as long as you maintain your share ownership. Holding just one share grants you Silver status, while an investment of €2000 in NH Hotels Group shares elevates you to Gold. If your shares exceed €3000 in value, you can request the Platinum status.
For more details, please refer to the Terms & conditions. Check out the benefits associated with each status below.
Mélia Hotels
If you’ve held a specific number of shares in Mélia Hotels for at least a year, you can request a status as a shareholder. Owning just one share qualifies you for silver status, while having 1000 shares bumps you up to gold status. If you reach 10000 shares, you achieve platinum status. Check out the terms and conditions for more details here. With platinum status, you gain access to VIP areas, enjoy free upgrades, and a lot more perks.
Premium Inn Hotels (Whitbread)
Whitbread is a hotel chain that may not be widely recognized. If you own 64 shares in the company, you can enjoy a complimentary breakfast for two during your stay at a Premier Inn hotel. With more than 800 hotels primarily situated in the UK and Ireland, the chain also operates restaurants where you can receive a 10% discount on your bill for up to four guests. For more details, you can find all the information here.
Boat cruise companies with shareholder benefits
Carnival Corporation
The company, famous for its Caribbean cruises, provides onboard credit to shareholders who hold a minimum of 100 shares. This offer is available until the end of 2024 and could potentially be extended. Click here for more information.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Similar to the previous cruise company, a minimum of 100 shares gets you onboard credit on their cruises. More info here.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
It looks like all the competitors are on the same page since Norwegian Cruise Lines is also giving onboard credit for owning at least 100 shares. All the details can be found on their page.
Discussion
Each person should evaluate whether the deals from hotel or cruise companies are valuable to them. Investing in shares can be rewarding due to the perks they provide, but it’s crucial to assess the associated risks, as some companies may not be financially stable. If you enjoy cruising and frequently choose the same line, exploring the offers discussed here could be quite advantageous.
Disclaimer: this is not financial advise. This post is just intended to show the reader which additional perks travel companies offer at the time of writing this article. Invest on your own risk.