Unlock Travel Perks: Benefits of Holding Company Shares

Certain airlines and hotel brands grant you elite status or other perks just for holding shares in their parent company. While you’ll need to invest in shares, meaning it’s not truly “free”, sometimes owning even a single share can unlock valuable status.

Note: Investing in shares involves risk, including the potential for financial loss, so proceed with caution.

These are the travel companies that are offering a status as a shareholder benefit:

• ANA benefits
• JAL benefits
• Accor status
• IHG benefits
• NH status
• Melia status
• Premier Inn benefits

 

Airlines offering shareholder benefits

• ANA (All Nipon Airways)

Share: ISIN: JP3429800000

For Shareholders whose address is registered in Japan and owns 100 shares or more at the end of March or September, ANA will send approximately 50% off discount coupons of the ANA FLEX fare of any ANA domestic flight.

All information about ANA shareholder benefits can be found here.

• JAL (Japan Airways)

Share: ISIN: JP3705200008

Shareholders who own 100 or more shares of the common stock, ANA will grant 50% discount coupons on regular one-way airfare for any flight on designated domestic routes serviced by Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., Japan Transocean Air Co., Ltd., Japan Air Commuter Co., Ltd

. and Ryukyu Air Commuter Co., Ltd

All information about JAL shareholder benefits can be found here.

 

Hotels offering shareholder benefits

• Accor Hotels

Share:  ISIN: FR0000120404

If you hold 50 shares or more, you can enrol to the Accor Shareholder Club. By enrolling to the shareholder Club, you will get the Accor Gold status until December of the following year.

So to maximize your time as an Accor Gold member, you should apply in January to benefit of nearly two year of your newly acquired Gold status.

Access Accor Shareholder Club here.

• IHG PLC
  

Share: ISIN: GB00BHJYC057

If you own 100 shares or more, you can join the SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS PROGRAM

. This program offers great advantages to shareholders. When you book directly with IHG, you can receive a discount of up to 20% on the best flexible rates. Additionally, program members enjoy special rates exclusively available on certain holiday dates, along with other discounts and benefits.

For more information about the discount offered to shareholders at this hotel, you can visit: https://www.ihgplc.com/en/investors/shareholder-centre/faqs

• NH Hotels

Share: ISIN: ES0161560018

It depends on the value of your shares which status you will be given:

• Gold Tier, if you hold a block of shares to a value which is lower than 2,000 Euros; or
• Platinum Tier, if you hold a block of shares to a value equal to or greater than 2,000 Euros but lower than 3,000 Euros.
• Titanium Tier, if you hold a block of shares to a value equal to or greater than 3,000 Euros.

However, as you can see, holding only 1 single share (around €4 or $5) allows you to get the NH Discovery Gold Status.

After registering at NH Discovery and acquiring your shares, you have to email: nh.loyalty@nh-hotels.com

The status remains valid as long as you are in the possession of the shares.

Find all Terms & Conditions of NH here.

• Premier Inn

Share: SIN: GB00B1KJJ408

Premier Inn is a budget type hotel group growing rapidly in Europe.

If you hold 64 shares or more, you receive the shareholder card and get free breakfast for your stay.

All information about the Whitbread shareholder card here.

• Melia Hotels

Share:  ISIN: ES0176252718.

Depending on the minimum amount of shares you own, you will receive the following status:

• From 1 share upwards: Silver
• From 1’000 shares upwards: Gold
• From 10’000 shares upwards: Platinum

All information about the Melia Shareholder’s club can be found here.

 

Bottom Line

Holding shares in travel companies can be a clever way to unlock elite status or discounts, often with a minimal investment, like a single share for NH Hotels or Meliá Silver status

. However, the value of these perks depends on your travel habits, and the financial risk of investing should not be overlooked. Before buying shares, verify the latest program details and assess the company’s stability to ensure the benefits are worth the investment.

Happy travels and smart investing!