Contents
Overview
IHCL, or the Indian Hotels Company Limited, oversees a group of hotels including the iconic brand – The Taj! Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the company opened its first hotel – The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of over 180 hotels in over 90 cities across 11 countries. IHCL currently comprises the following brands:
- Taj
- Vivanta
- SeleQtions
- Ginger
- Ama Stays and Trails
- Gateway
As part of the esteemed TATA Group of Companies, IHCL is a prominent name in the hospitality sector, providing high-quality service in India and internationally. Taj stands out as the luxury segment among these brands, offering refined and sophisticated luxury experiences.
This Ultimate Guide on IHCL will explore the benefits of IHCL’s loyalty programs and other strategies to enhance your experience. Let’s delve into the details and discover the perks associated with these loyalty programs and various tips to make the most out of your stay. Join us as we navigate through the features that make IHCL hotels a preferred choice, ensuring your hospitality experience is exceptional.
Brands
Within the illustrious umbrella of the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), a diverse collection of hotel brands caters to a spectrum of traveller preferences:
- Taj: Defined as the epitome of luxury, the Taj offers an unparalleled experience of sophistication and refinement.
- Vivanta: A contemporary and vibrant brand, Vivanta is dedicated to serving the modern traveller’s needs.
- SeleQtions: Comprising a unique collection of hotels, SeleQtions captivates guests with distinct charm and character at each location.
- Ginger Hotels: Focused on simplicity and efficiency, Ginger Hotels provides comfortable and affordable accommodation options.
IHCL’s meticulous oversight ensures that these brands contribute to a comprehensive and varied portfolio, crafting tailored experiences for every type of traveller. Whether seeking luxury, modernity, distinctiveness, or affordability, the IHCL family of brands promises a memorable stay in diverse settings.
IHCL Hotel Locations
We have curated a Google My Maps for all the IHCL properties which are listed already on the Google Maps.
NeuPass
TATA Group of companies has an umbrella loyalty program for its brands and is called the NeuPass. It is an exclusive membership service linked with the Tata Neu Application, that confers upon its subscribers, several unique privileges with Tata brands. NeuCoins is the loyalty currency and is earned for every spend done on TATA brands and these add up to give you amazing experiences. The NeuCoins on the Tata Neu App can be used at any participating brands online, at IHCL hotels or in-store. The value of 1 NeuCoin = 1 Rupee and can be redeemed for no minimum order value.
Taj InnerCircle Membership Tiers
Additionally, IHCL has a tier program called Taj InnerCircle within the NeuPass that provides you additional benefits and rewards based on your status. Starting from the top with the Platinum tier, you get unlimited room upgrades and your very own concierge to make your stay extra fancy. Move down to the Gold tier, and you get room vouchers and special help from the concierge. Even the Silver and Copper tiers are packed with awesome perks to make your journey special.
NeuPass is like your VIP ticket to a whole new level of travel with IHCL! Below is the chart of all the Taj InnerCircle tier benefits of NeuPass for IHCL Hotels.
| Membership Tier | Eligibility | Earn Rate | Additional Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum | 80 room nights or ₹8 lakhs of eligible spends in 1 year | Earn 8 NeuCoins per ₹100 of eligible spends | – Early Check-in and late check-out (subject to availability) |
| – Unlimited room upgrades to the next level (up to standard suite) | |||
| – 4 Taj Club room upgrade vouchers (for stays up to 5 days) | |||
| – Priority Check-in and In Room Check-ins | |||
| – 20% Spa Savings | |||
| – 10% F&B Savings | |||
| – Special Welcome Amenity | |||
| 40 room nights or ₹4 lakhs of eligible spends in 1 year | |||
| – 24/7 Dedicated Platinum Concierge services | |||
| – Premium Wi-Fi | |||
| Gold | 40 room nights or ₹4 lakh of eligible spends in 1 year | Earn 7 NeuCoins per ₹100 of eligible spends | – Early Check-in and late check-out (subject to availability) |
| – 20 room upgrade vouchers to the next level (up to standard suite) | |||
| – 2 Taj Club room upgrade vouchers (for stays up to 5 days) | |||
| – Priority Check-in | |||
| – 15% Spa Savings | |||
| – 10% F&B Savings | |||
| – 24/7 Dedicated Gold Concierge Service | |||
| Silver | 10 room nights or ₹1 lakhs of eligible spends in 1 year | Earn 5 NeuCoins per ₹100 of eligible spends | – Late check-out (subject to availability) |
| Copper | Base tier | Earn 4 NeuCoins per ₹100 of eligible spends |
Banking Partners
Currently, there are no cobranded IHCL credit cards in India. In the past before NeuPass was launched IHCL allowed members to transfer credit card points, such as those from HSBC, to their Taj InnerCircle account and redeem them for any of the services in IHCL Hotels.
Although TATA has launched cobranded cards for the NeuPass in collaboration with the HDFC Bank. The cards come in two variants
- HDFC TATA NeuCard Infinity
- HDFC TATA NeuCard Plus
Both cards are quite popular among users since they work on the RuPay platform and thus are UPI-enabled. These cards offer the opportunity to earn up to 10% valueback in the form of Neu Coins. Also, HDFC TATA NeuCard Infinity is one of the highest rewarding UPI-based credit cards in India.
Additionally, you have the option to redeem your credit card points and acquire Taj Experience Vouchers in various denominations through banking partners such as AMEX, SBI, and Standard Chartered Bank. AMEX Platinum Travel is the most popular card if you like to pamper yourself at Taj properties frequently. These vouchers can be applied towards settling bills at IHCL hotels, covering stays, food and beverage expenses, and other in-house consumables.
It’s important to note that when using these vouchers for stays, reservations must be made at public rates rather than the members’ rates. While some hotels may make exceptions, many typically do not allow voucher redemption for bookings made at members’ rates which are visible in the Tata Neu App. Another important point related to these vouchers is that they work only in India and not at the overseas properties of IHCL.
Taj Epicure
IHCL offers a paid hotel membership program called Taj Epicure that offers exclusive discounts on dining, spa treatments, stays, and more. This membership comes in two variants:
- Epicure Privileged
- Epicure Preferred
With Preferred, get special perks, and discounts, and enjoy yummy experiences at IHCL’s top restaurants. For the ultimate gourmet adventure, go for Privileged. It gives you free meals, better rooms, and lots of extra goodies. Preferred membership comes at ₹25,000 + GST and Privileged membership comes at ₹50,000 + GST. Let’s check out the benefits of each membership below:
Benefits
| Benefits | Preferred | Privileged |
|---|---|---|
| 25% Discount on Food & Beverage | Available | Available |
| 25% Discount on Qmin Deliveries | Available | Available |
| 20% Discount on Spa Treatments | Available | Available |
| Add on Card for enabling discount-led Benefits | Not Available | Available |
| Complimentary NeuPass Membership Tier | Silver | Gold |
Experience Vouchers
| Vouchers | Preferred | Privileged |
|---|---|---|
| One-Night Stay Voucher at Participating Hotels | 1 Night | 1 Night x 2 |
| One Level Room Upgrade for One Night | Twice a Year | Four Times a Year |
| Sixty Minute Spa Treatment, access to steam and sauna for one person at our Spas across Participating Hotels | Once a Year | Thrice a Year |
| Set Meal for Two | Twice a Year | Four Times a Year |
| Celebration Cake in Member’s Birthday Month | Available | Available |
| 20% discount on the Best Available Rate for a Room/Suite at Taj Palaces | Once a Year | Twice a Year |
| 20% discount on the Best Available Rate for Rooms at Taj Safaris | Once a Year | Twice a Year |
| 20% discount on the Best Available Rate for a Room/Suite Stay for Unlimited Consecutive Nights | Once a Year | Four Times a Year |
| One-time Access to the Pool, with Set Lunch & Wine at a Special Price of ₹3000 + Taxes per person for a maximum of 4 people | Available | Available |
| Exclusive Access to The Taj Club Lounge for two | Not Available | Four Times a Year |
The complimentary night vouchers can be redeemed at only selected properties of IHCL. The best use case for a free night voucher would be redemptions at:
- Taj Chia Kutir Resort and Spa, Darjeeling, West Bengal
- Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa
- Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, Goa
- Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa, Goa
- Vivanta Dal View, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
- Taj Bekal Resort & Spa, Kerala
- Taj Corbett Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand
- Taj Green Cove Resort & Spa, Kovalam, Kerala
Complimentary Epicure Access
There are two ways to get the Taj Epicure membership in India, either by buying the program membership or as a complimentary gift with some selected cards and bank accounts.
Epicure Privileged
At present customers possessing the AU IVY Debit Card can get Epicure Privileged Membership, which comes with 2 stay voucher with breakfast for two by spending ₹10,000 within 45 days of account opening/upgrade.
Epicure Preferred
Currently, the IndusInd Solitaire is the only credit card in India which offers Taj Epicure Preferred membership complimentary with it including a one-night stay voucher for the first year.
Apart from this customers having HDFC Speciale Platinum bank accounts can acquire the preferred version (Valid for 1 Year) by spending ₹75,000 within the first 180 days of account opening/upgrade.
Epicure Plus
Epicure Plus membership is the stripped-down version of both the paid versions of Epicure. In Epicure Plus you get only the discount benefits and not the experience vouchers. The benefits of Epicure Plus can be broadly summarized as follows:
- 25% discount on dining and takeaway
- 25% savings on food deliveries from Qmin
- 20% off on Spa Treatments at Jiva Spas
- 20% off on Salon
- Complimentary Birthday Cake for Member’s Birthday month
- 20% off on room/suite stay for unlimited consecutive nights
- 20% discount on the Best Available Rate of room/suite at Taj Palaces
- 20% off on the Best Available Rate for a Room/Suite Stay at Taj Safari
- One-time pool access with set lunch and wine at a special price of ₹3,000+tax per person for up to 4 guests
- Happy hours at Taj Club Lounge at select Taj hotels
The following credit cards in India provide Epicure Plus complimentary:
- Axis Burgundy Private Credit Card (Renews Every Year)
- ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card (Valid for 1 year)
- IDFC First Private Credit Card (Renews Every Year)
- HSBC Premier Metal Credit Card
- AMEX Platinum Charge Card (Renews Every Year)
- AMEX Platinum Reserve Credit Card (Renews Every Year)
- AU Bank Zenith+ Credit Card (Milestone Benefit at ₹12L in a year)
- AU Bank Zenith Credit Card (Milestone Benefit at ₹8L in a year)
- Citi Prestige Credit Card (Renews Every Year)
Also, there are certain minor differences even in the Epicure Plus offered by various credit card issuers so do check their T&Cs in detail before applying for them. The most notable difference is that with the ICICI Emeralde Private Metal, you are also entitled to a free night stay voucher similar to the paid version of the program which jacks up the value of that card. The Complimentary Night voucher stands out as one of the most prized features of the Epicure Membership, adding substantial value when compared to the other cards listed.
Other than the mentioned credit cards the Axis Bank Priority Savings Account (Valid for 1 Year) provides you with Epicure Plus when you do 15 transactions worth ₹5,000 or more each within 3 months of opening the account by maintaining the required TRV.
The Chambers
Established in 1975, The Chambers has solidified its reputation as a prestigious membership within the influential business community. Boasting a legacy of over 40 years, it stands as the esteemed club for global achievers who have continually pushed boundaries. Now an exclusive Invite Only membership, it requires a ₹20,00,000 joining fee and a ₹3,00,000 annual fee. Following a recent revamp, it offers a one-time transfer to the next of kin, ensuring your children can enjoy its privileges. This membership includes an upgrade to the Platinum Tier of NeuPass. Presently, a direct invitation is reserved for American Express Centurion Card members. The benefits are as follows:
- Invitations to Exclusive Events:
- Access to ultra-exclusive events curated by The Chambers.
- Complimentary Room Upgrade:
- Priority bookings with a complimentary one-level room upgrade at Taj, SeleQtions, and Vivanta hotels.
- Dining & Wellness Experiences:
- Exclusive vouchers for complimentary dining and wellness services at Taj, SeleQtions, and Vivanta hotels.
- 24*7 Concierge:
- Round-the-clock concierge services for a connected and seamless experience.
- Complimentary Wash & Change Facility, Worldwide:
- Book wash and change facility at Taj, Vivanta, and SeleQtions properties worldwide for 2 hours, complimentary through The Chambers Concierge.
- Complimentary Access to Hotel Facilities:
- Enjoy complimentary access to the pool and fitness centre across all Taj, SeleQtions, and Vivanta hotels worldwide.
- Business Centre & Lounge Access:
- Unrestricted access to the business centre and club lounge across all Taj, SeleQtions, and Vivanta hotels worldwide.
Other Privileges:
- 25% off at restaurants and bars on food and beverages.
- 25% off on the Best Available Rate for room reservations made directly.
- 25% off at J Wellness Circle.
- 25% off at select salons.
- 50% off on laundry services.
- 25% off on business centre usage.
- 25% off at the club lounge.
Noteworthy Points
- Taj Experiences eGift cards can be utilised by members or gifted to anyone and are redeemable against stays, dining, and spa spends across participating Taj, SeleQtions and Vivanta hotels only.
- Some of the Taj Experiences eGift cards are non-transferable.
- Tree of Life Resorts & Hotels which come under IHCL SeleQtions are currently not eligible to Earn/Redeem NeuCoins under the NeuPass loyalty membership program.
- On Ginger Hotels you get to earn NeuCoins only for your stay and not for any other transactions.
- amã Stays & Trails Bungalows, Ginger Hotels and Tree of Life Resorts & Hotels are not participating brands in the Epicure Program.
Bottomline
IHCL stands as one of India’s premier hotel chains, boasting a significant domestic and international presence. Its diverse range of accommodations caters to a wide spectrum of travellers, spanning from budget-conscious options to the epitome of luxury. This diversity ensures that every traveller can find a unique experience tailored to their preferences.
From historic properties steeped in heritage, with buildings standing for centuries, to contemporary hotels showcasing modern architecture, IHCL offers a variety of settings for guests to explore. The membership program mirrors this diversity, with each tier offering its own set of benefits. Notably, the paid membership Epicure delivers on its promises, while the exclusive Taj Chambers, accessible only by invitation, provides unparalleled perks for the most discerning clientele.
With something to offer for everyone, IHCL’s loyalty program is admired by TechnoFino as one of the most versatile and user-friendly options available to Indian travellers.
Are you planning any redemptions at IHCL soon? Do let us know in the comments below.
Former Civil Servant | Entrepreneur | Credit Card Enthusiast | Travel The World | Learning & Growing Everyday | Gratitude is The Attitude
Please check the eligibilty of silver tier there is some mistake in it 😉
Thanks for pointing it out. Information stands corrected now.
Even the Tatas have not put all this together so nicely on their website or on tata neu app. Thanks for simplifying it. Can i ask what according to you would be the best way for a beginner to become a part of this luxury indian brand?
Thank you for your kind words of appreciation. It motivates us work harder and provide more required information to our readers.
The way I and my fellow colleagues make travel plans, is more based on location or unique hotels for staycation. Choose the place first, then choose the desired hotels which you believe will be best suited for you, then book it. IHCL has amazing portfolio of hotels, be it the century old Taj Lake Palace or be it the Taj Chia Kutir for absolutely tranquility in the frame of modern architecture. You can’t go wrong with any.