Instant One Harmony Exclusive status via American Express

Another chance to pick up a hotel status for free! This time, the rather niche player in question is Okura Nikko Hotel.

First, a quick look at the footprint. Unsurprisingly, Japan is where you’ll find the biggest number of properties. Besides that, they’ve got a dozen hotels in Greater China as well as a handful of properties in South Korea, Southeast Asia, San Francisco and Amsterdam.

Its loyalty programme, One Harmony, has a partnership with American Express:

• American Express Gold Card members can match to Loyalty status
• American Express Platinum Card members can match to Exclusive status

You can log into your account on the Amex promotion page to get the relevant link. The actual landing page is generic, but you must be redirected from Amex for it to work, so no hacking here. However, it may work as long as you have an Amex account – there are many success stories from people who don’t have a Japanese or Platinum card.

The benefits of Exclusive status include:

• Discounted room rates
• 50% bonus points
• One-category room upgrade
• Late check-out
• Plus One benefit

The Plus One benefit is a slightly unusual one. At first glance, you might think it means a second guest stays for free (since room rates in Japan can vary depending on the number of occupants). In reality, it’s a property-specific benefit, with each hotel offering its own perk. Th standard offering can is early check-in and / or welcome amenity, but it seems that the more upscale hotels tend to offer better benefits.

For example:

• Okura Garden Hotel Shanghai: executive Lounge access, one complimentary laundry item, welcome fruit and 10% off at restaurants
• Hotel Royal-Nikko Taipei: executive Lounge access, early check-in and welcome fruit
• Hotel Nikko Dalian: early check-in, one complimentary laundry item, welcome fruit and 20% off airport transfers

Some quirkiness of the One Harmony programme:

• Bookings made via OTA are eligible for night credits and some token points
• The room upgrade benefit is applied at booking time, or by emailing the hotel in advance