Article and selected photos by Dylan Clements‍

Clements Travel has recently crossed an important milestone: we are now a Top 100 Four Seasons Preferred Partner based on our Four Seasons sales. It is a big achievement for us as an independent travel agency and reflects just how much Four Seasons business we now handle for clients.

What is Four Seasons Preferred Partner?

Four Seasons Preferred Partner is the hotel group's invitation-only program for selected luxury travel agencies and advisors. When you book an eligible Four Seasons rate through Clements Travel, you can receive Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits while usually paying the same rate available directly with the hotel.

Benefits typically include:

• Daily breakfast for two
• US$100 hotel or resort credit, with higher credits on some suites
• Priority room upgrade, subject to availability
• Priority early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Preferred Partner recognition by the hotel

Four Seasons also regularly runs additional Preferred Partner promotions, which can include extra hotel credits and, at selected hotels, confirmable upgrades.

What does being a Top 100 Four Seasons Preferred Partner mean?

Top 100 status is based on the amount of Four Seasons business an agency generates. Reaching the Top 100 means Clements Travel is now among the highest-producing agencies within the Four Seasons Preferred Partner program.

It does not create a different list of guaranteed benefits. The main advantage is the relationship behind the booking. We work with Four Seasons hotels every day and regularly speak directly with reservations teams, sales teams and senior hotel contacts.

That relationship has also led to invitations to events such as the Four Seasons Leisure Forum in Budapest, where leading travel partners meet with Four Seasons teams and hotels from across the portfolio. It gives us the chance to build direct relationships, hear about new openings and updates, and better understand which hotels are the right fit for different clients.

That becomes particularly useful when clients need help with upgrades, specific rooms, connecting accommodation, early arrivals, special occasions or more complicated reservations. Anything listed as subject to availability remains subject to availability, but having an established relationship with Four Seasons puts us in a better position to advocate for our clients.

Why book Four Seasons through Clements Travel?

A Four Seasons stay is increasingly a significant investment. We are finding that clients want more expertise when they are spending several thousand dollars, and sometimes considerably more, on a hotel stay. They want someone who understands the hotels, room categories, promotions and Preferred Partner program rather than simply receiving an online booking confirmation.

For most eligible stays, you can book through Clements Travel at the same available hotel rate while receiving Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits. You normally pay the hotel directly, we do not charge a hotel booking fee, and we check the available Four Seasons offers and Preferred Partner promotions before booking.

If you have already booked directly with Four Seasons, contact us before cancelling. In many cases we can ask the hotel whether the existing reservation can be transferred to Clements Travel and have Preferred Partner benefits added while keeping the same booking.

Hopefully, this is only the beginning

We are very pleased to have reached the Top 100 and hopefully we can maintain our position. I think we will, because we are seeing a clear shift in how people book luxury hotels.

As Four Seasons rates have increased, clients are looking for more expertise and more value from each stay. A good Four Seasons Preferred Partner advisor can help with much more than simply adding breakfast and a hotel credit. We can check the right rates, identify additional offers, explain room categories and speak directly with the hotel when something needs attention.

Our Four Seasons business has grown largely through returning clients and recommendations, and reaching the Top 100 is a good indication that this approach is working.

Book Four Seasons with Clements Travel

If you are planning a Four Seasons stay, send us the hotel, dates and preferred room type. We will check the available rates, Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits and any additional promotions before you book.

Already booked directly? Send us your reservation and we can check whether Preferred Partner benefits can be added.

Contact us today.