Your Invitation to Participate in the American Express GLOBAL Preferred Supplier
Program (business travel) For Small Luxury Hotels of the World™
We are excited to launch the exclusive global business travel partnership program with American Express
for 2012! After implementing the partnership program in 2011, participating SLH hotels saw a great
value and increase of business through all American Express channels.
American Express Business Travel generated over $ 25.7 billion in travel volume globally in 2010.
American Express Business Travel is the largest wholly owned global travel network with over 2,200 travel
services locations in over 140 countries. It manages the travel arrangements of 70% of Fortune 500
companies, accessing about 14,500 clients.
The SLH partnership will include AMEX in the United States, Canada, Japan, Asia Pacific, Latin America,
Europe, Middle East and Africa. It is important to highlight that this opportunity is not available to
individual hotels contracting with AMEX directly.
American Express Business Travel sales by region consists of:
 North America: 57%
 Europe/Middle East/Africa: 34%
 Latin America/Caribbean: 2%
 Asia Pacific: 7%
What is this partnership programme?
 It provides participating hotels with AMEX preferred supplier status globally, including biasing in
all AMEX booking channels.
 It is called the American Express Preferred eXtras hotel Program ( sometimes referred to as the
Amex P.E.H.P. consortia program )
o The PEHP program provides rates and amenities to thousands of small companies. The
program is also a great platform to offer promotional rates & discounts to drive
additional demand in need properties & low demand periods.
o Great opportunity to tap into Middle Market clients
 It provides access to all AMEX owned travel offices for presentations and meet & greets with the
consultants
 Access for group and incentive business
 Participation in incentives, familiarisation trips and miscellaneous promotions
 Client and employee business meetings and forums
 Ongoing communications to the AMEX network for new hotels, offers, service enhancements, via
their online marketing opportunities known as maX.
What does it mean to join this partnership programme?
Participating SLH hotels have access to all AMEX Business Travel call centres, participation in the
American Express preferred eXtras hotel program ( PHEP ), marketing opportunities and the ability to
participate in workshops and meetings. SLH hotels will also be invited to participate in new business
product launches, corporate client appreciation events, exclusive corporate business travel fairs and joint
media exposure.
How is this different from existing AMEX relationships such as MTS, Centurion and Platinum?
AMEX MTS (Membership Travel Services) is a marketing partnership with AMEX Platinum & Centurion
card members and is for consumer travel. The focus is on marketing programs and value-added offers
for card members.
AMEX Global Preferred Supplier Programme is primarily focused on business travel. However, there will
be opportunity to gain exposure within the centurion & platinum travel side, including Fine Hotels &
Resorts booking agents. The focus is on educating AMEX Call Centre consultants and on-site agents on
SLH hotels, so they can sell better to their clients. AMEX uses proprietary point of sale tools and GDS
biasing that control the display of preferred hotel content, placing it above the competition, depending
on your offering. Currently AMEX agents only have the ability to book SLH hotels that participate in a
client negotiated program i.e. Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Microsoft.
Participation in the American Express preferred eXtras hotel program (PHEP) may provide you with the
opportunity to be selected in the AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts program as well, by increasing the AMEX card
spend at your property.
Why is this being proposed?
This is an opportunity for SLH hotels to increase business by accessing the AMEX Business Travel network.
It is also a great opportunity to capture business from all other segments including Platinum and Centurion
(FH&R) travellers.
Who runs the programme?
It is a worldwide agreement managed by AMEX United States and the relationship is held by the SLH
New York office. The customers are AMEX offices and AMEX affiliates worldwide and affiliates include
the AMEX franchise network (i.e. Altour).
How does your hotel benefit?
By being part of the preferred agreement, your hotel will have access to AMEX call centres. The
program puts your hotel in front of AMEX consultants and AMEX corporate team leaders, who are often
the influencers to the corporate clients they manage. SLH hotels can also target the relevant offices that
deal with their corporate accounts, and ensure their negotiated rates and information are accurately
displayed at point of sale. Non-participating SLH hotels will not be bookable by AMEX consultants.
SLH hotels will also have access to business travel call centres by participating in our quarterly AMEX
PEHP road shows.
What type of SLH hotel will benefit?
Mainly SLH city centre hotels will benefit, as the focus is on corporate driven business. AMEX has recently
expanded their Groups/MICE division. Any SLH hotel that can host small meetings and incentive groups
should also participate. SLH hotels are great options for small senior management meetings and
executive retreats.
What does a hotel need to do?
Complete an SLH Agreement to participate. Once the agreement is received your hotel will need to
complete an AMEX RFP for consideration by AMEX to participate in the preferred eXtras hotel program.
Once approved, you will need to load the AMEX rates in SLH CRS (TRUST).
Does a hotel have to offer any amenities in the rate?
The minimum requirements to participate in the American Express preferred eXtras hotel program are:
 Provide the best available unrestricted rate
 Standard hotel amenities are included in the rate (i.e. include a welcome drink if that is your
standard for all hotel guests)
 Rates are commissionable
 Accept the American Express card as form of payment
 Additional exposure and higher positioning at point of sale is available as part of the program
if the hotel provides a discount off of the best available rate or provides an extra client value or
customer benefit.
How long is the agreement?
January 1st 2012 – December 31st 2012
What is the cost of the partnership programme?
$2400
What do you need to do next?
Log onto MYSLH.com to access the agreement. Complete and submit the online form by November 21st
2011. You will then receive a confirmation email from SLH and your call to action.
We look forward to your participation and remain at your disposal for any questions.
Best regards,
Jon